Natalie gave me a big hug. It seemed like she was more excited about the news than I was.
“Tomorrow, I’m going to work. Tonight, I shall give you a big treat. Let’s go and get a good dinner!”
Since I would be able to start work in Joyful Success the next day, I decided to be generous that night. I wanted to treat Natalie to a big meal as an appreciation of her kindness in providing for me for so many days.
“Let’s go. Tonight, I shall choose the venue!”
Natalie was even more excited when she heard about my offer to treat her.
“Oh, yes, invite your boyfriend to come along as well. You said we’ll meet, but we haven’t had a chance to do that yet. Tonight will be a great opportunity.”
Remembering our conversation about meeting Natalie’s boyfriend, I suggested that I meet him tonight as well.
Natalie was my best friend, so I knew she would agree to my suggestion. Immediately, she took out her mobile phone and called him.
Natalie booked the restaurant, and we both arrived by cab.
After arriving, we waited for about half an hour before Natalie’s boyfriend, John, arrived.
I checked him out from top to toe. He was tall, slim, and wore a pair of glasses. He seemed scholarly and gentle.
“John, why did you take so long to come here? We waited for quite some time.”
The moment the man appeared, Natalie went forward and held his arm affectionately. Her normally straightforward and boisterous character disappeared; she became a sweet and demure girl.
I could not help but smile when I saw the way Natalie changed. It happened so fast that I wondered if John knew what she was like at home.
With a face filled with remorse, John glanced at me and explained, “The traffic was rather heavy. I’m sorry.”
“No worries. We are not in a hurry.”
I smiled at him, but I was a little skeptical. At this time, it was past the rush hour, and the restaurant we chose was relatively remote. Since we were not in the downtown area, why would there be a traffic jam?
Upon seeing Natalie so excited to be with him, I kept such suspicions to myself, not wishing to embarrass her.
Although I had proclaimed we would have a good meal, Natalie did not order any expensive dishes. I knew she was trying to help me save some money, knowing that I had just found a job. All my previous savings had been used on the preparations for the wedding with Justin.
During the meal, I saw John constantly stealthily checking his mobile phone, and he seemed a little anxious, which was strange.
“Mr. Young, you have been constantly looking at your phone. You look preoccupied. Is there something wrong?”
I did not want to spoil the atmosphere. Although the man looked very scholarly and quiet, there was something weird about him which I could not pinpoint.
The expression on John’s face became obviously a little flustered, and he quickly put the phone in his pocket.
“No… It’s nothing, it’s just an idle habit, checking my Instagram for posts and messages.”
“John, you shouldn’t play with the phone when we are eating together. We haven’t met for a few days. Now that we are together, don’t you want to pay more attention to me?”
Natalie looked at her boyfriend, pouting with displeasure and gently reproving him. Through some miracle, she did not catch the guilty look on his face.
Although John’s expression was reasonably normal, I had become more observant and smarter after being betrayed by Justin.
I couldn’t believe someone checking Instagram posts and messages needed to be stealthy. I could feel that he was hiding something from Natalie.
However, my friend, being such a jovial and boisterous character, would never be suspicious of John.
I was not trying to find fault with John. I simply did not want my good friend to go through what I had suffered. I did not want her to be betrayed by a man. It was such a heart-rending pain that I did not want Natalie to go through.
John was still looking at his mobile phone nonstop and occasionally typing messages in it. Natalie, who was congratulating me excitedly over my new job, did not notice John’s behavior, but I observed his every move.
Halfway through dinner, the man made the excuse that he needed to visit the bathroom and took his phone with him, heading in that direction.
While walking in the direction of the bathroom, he seemed hurried and had a flustered expression on his face which further aroused my suspicions. John is not as honest as he looks on the surface.
Natalie concentrated on eating, not noticing at all John’s weird behavior.
“Natalie, how does your boyfriend usually treat you? How well do you know him?”
I gazed at my friend, who was eating nonstop, and asked her quietly.
“John is an ordinary employee in the company like me, but we work in different departments.”
Natalie replied to my questions about John without reservation.
“Is he good to you? Do you usually spend a lot of time together?
I continued asking while observing Natalie carefully.
“Anna, why are you so gossipy today? You were never interested in my boyfriend before. Do you have something against John?”
I usually minded my own business, so it was only fair for Natalie to be surprised to see me asking so many questions.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just random questions.”
I bent my head and gave her a nonchalant reply, keeping my mouth shut after.
Even after a long time, John had not come back. I was growing even more suspicious. Even if he was passing motion, it would not take that long.
“Natalie, I’m going to the bathroom. You wait here for me.”
After finding an excuse, I picked up my phone and headed towards the bathroom.
Before I got to the bathroom at the corner of the corridor, I heard John’s voice talking on the phone.
“Babe, I’m really working. I’ll call you again later, okay?”
Hearing his voice round the corner of the corridor, I leaned close to the wall and did not walk forward.
“How could I ever lie to you? When have I ever lied to you? After I have finished my work, I’ll be with you. Is that okay?”
Hearing the coaxing tone of John’s voice, it was obvious that the person on the other end of the line was a girl. At that moment, I felt furious.
Outwardly, John looked like an honest person. It was unimaginable that he was a scumbag. Here he was as Natalie’s boyfriend, speaking to another woman on the phone in such tones!
The man ended the call shortly after and walked in my direction. I did not avoid him, choosing to wait for him instead.
Natalie was the only friend who treated me sincerely now. I definitely could not let her suffer betrayal as I did. I did not want my best friend to suffer that kind of pain.
