The all too familiar truck pulled up on the driveway of his house in her usual calm fashion. There was excitement as he watched the truck door open, and there was also tension deep in the pit of his stomach.
The two children rushed up to the door and he put on a smile.
"Daddy!"
He takes them into his arms, easily lifting the both of them with ease. Yet that did not stop the sinking feeling when he saw her.
Yushi Huang commanded attention, even when she did not intend to. Even against the bustling street in front of him, Pei Ming's eyes will always gravitate towards her clear eyes and tall figure. Though clad in plain, messy clothes, she still stood out like a ray of sunlight on a cloudy day.
"Hey,"
Just one word felt like she was forcibly squeezing it out of him, and he hated himself for it.
"Hey yourself,"
Her tone did not betray anything, but he knew her long enough to know what she really thought of him.
A homewrecker.
A bad influence.
But why is she still extending him so much courtesy?
"Children," she chided the two kids in his arms, "Get down from there and go play with Ming Guang"
He put them down gently, and they immediately ran inside the house and towards his retired K-9. The old German Shepherd wagged his tail as he got up to greet his new guests.
Meanwhile, they stood in somber silence.
If it were with any other woman, he would be confident enough to initiate a conversation. But this was his ex-wife. She might be civil towards him now, but deep down he knew she still despised him for what he's done.
She hands him a stack of brightly colored tupperwares neatly tucked into a large cloth shopping bag.
"Their lunch. We were running a bit late," she said blankly.
"I…" the words died in his throat. What even was he supposed to say? 'Sorry for cheating on you'? 'I miss you'? He made those choices, and he must face the consequences. It's not like he could turn back time.
"Thanks," he said quietly.
Her lips turned upwards in a slight smile.
"There's one there for you too. Your favorite. Just put in the microwave for around 30 seconds and it should be good,"
Now he truly hated himself. Throughout the divorce process she never once got mad at him, save for the time she stormed off to work on her garden when he first broke the news. But other than that, she had been nothing but courteous and respectful of his decisions, even if it hurt her inside.
And here she is, having deliberately cooked him his favorite dish despite it all.
He watched her go without uttering another word, his facade finally cracking as she drove away.
Truly, he never did deserve to have been married to someone as strong as Yushi Huang.