The escape and the after … Chapter 7
Remember English is not my native language, I hope the translation is correct, I check it, but
sometimes I miss some incorrect, sorry.
I repeat, I am not the owner of the characters, I only rely on them for the sheer pleasure of practice writing stories without any economic interest, and these two characters inspire me.
Monica told Phoebe…."I really don't understand why Steven behaved like this…. Maybe the first two or three days I distrusted Chandler a little, but he insisted on doubting him and considering him a fake, I don't understand why…"
Phoebe looked at her... "Mon you seriously don't know why..."
Monica looked at her intrigued and shook her head.
"Jealousy, Monica, Steven ever since he saw Chandler felt jealous, terrible jealousy, and he
wanted at all costs to show you that he was a bad person, a fake. Suddenly a very handsome, very intelligent young man arrived home, who, although he seemed humble, had class, and he realized that in the competition he could lose... "He is clear that you are not in love with him,"
Monica, as if surprised, replied, "But Phoebe, there was no competition, I was his girlfriend, and at first I didn't even like him…"
Phoebe reflected: "Are you sure you didn't like him? When you met him, he didn't impress you physically. When you saw his room, weren't you delighted with his organization? …. When you fought with him over the game, wasn't that competition mutual flirting? ……. Weren't you upset because he didn't come and ignored you? … Aren't you worried that I would like it for something else and that's why you asked me? …. Mon, you like him more than you want to admit, and Steven
will be arrogant, that your mother insisted on putting it in front of your face, but the man is not stupid, he knew that you were not in love with him, and he notice the signs regarding Chandler... so he had no choice but to try to get him out of our lives."
Thinking out loud, Monica said, "I don't know what to think anymore, or how I feel, now I'm
furious with Steven for his behavior, I wonder if he's always going to be like this, jealous of
everyone who gets close to me... also... at the same time... At first I felt that I couldn't be so
closed, that I could give him a chance, after Richard, Steven seemed to represent everything Iwanted from a man..., but I could never imagine a life with him... Maybe Ross is right, he is arrogant and wants to run my life" and she continued.
"But I don't know if Chandler likes me to be more than a friend…"
Phoebe interrupted her. "Mon look, because of the type of man Chandler is, I know that he will never do anything or think anything while the girl is someone else's girlfriend, and to top it all off you are Steven's girlfriend. A character that really makes Chandler uncomfortable. Furthermore, you run the risk that while you decide, some girl will appear in his life.
"But if I leave Steven and then Chandler doesn't care about me other than as a friend."
Phoebe, somewhat angry, replied, "Monica, are you listening to what you say, whether or not to continue with Steven, you only have to decide based on your feelings or not feelings towards him, you cannot base your decision on what may happen to Chandler, once he is free, truthfully." "And if nothing happens with Chandler, it will surely happen with someone else, but at least you won't be with a man you don't love just so you won't be alone."
Monica simply said "……yeah, I think you're right…"
On Friday afternoon, Monica waited for Chandler to come home from work, and she crossed to ask him two things, one how he felt about the family gathering the next day and if he wanted to go to dinner with Ross that night.
To the first question Chandler answered that he was a little nervous, but also very excited, he would be with his family after many years.
He thanked the second one for the invitation, but he told her that he had arranged to go to the movies with a co-worker and then to dinner. He told her that she was a very pretty and nice girl, that he hoped they would have a good time.
Monica's stomach tightened, she couldn't hide the disappointment and annoyance on her face.
Monica told him with a forced smile, "well, I hope you have a great time tonight and that
tomorrow will be a beautiful family reunion. Good night"
Chandler stared at the door, Monica's reaction surprised him, although he had to say pleasantly.
That night Chandler goes out with Susy, she is a co-worker, she has a boyfriend, only he is in LA taking a course. Susy had gotten tickets to go with another of the girls from the office, but this one had gotten sick, and Susy didn't want to go to the movies alone, so Chandler offered to accompany her. It wasn't actually a date, but an outing with a friend, but he was amused that Monica thought it was a date.
The next day he went to Thomas' house, the whole family was there, in reality he only knew his uncle Thomas and his aunt Marilyn, he did not know his uncles' children, but everyone was very warm with him, the aunt was happy when she saw him, she also saw her mother's face in his face and that moved her.
He told everything he had done during those years, his cousins were surprised and admired by the courage he had to live on his behalf all those years. Maybe he advised them not to see him as the hero of an idyllic situation in an adventure movie, it is very hard to be alone and work from what you can find, sleep on the floor, eat what you can.
"You have to take advantage of what you have, especially the love and support of your parents, because the lack of that love was the worst of all."
His uncle Thomas was so proud of him, he had become a good man, with drive, he knew he would go far.
Chandler had a beautiful day.
Monica didn't see him on Sunday, she and Phoebe went to the movies, but she felt uncomfortable, which was absurd since he didn't owe her any explanation for her date, and she hadn't given him one either.
When Thersday arrived, Steven called Monica to meet at the cafe, but she told him it was better to go to her house.
When Steven arrived he wanted to kiss her, but Monica rejected him, she told him
"Steven, this is over, not only because of the lack of loyalty, since you ran to find Chandler's uncle trying to prove at all costs that he was a fake, or a bad person, but your arrogance worked against you, it turned out that Chandler had not lied and his family is happy to have been reunited." And continued
"But it's also over because I don't feel anything for you. I tried, but nothing appeared, and now that I know you better, I know that I could never have a future relationship with an arrogant man who didn't respect his word."
"Look Monica, I think differently, he asked me for something, but I never answered that I would do it, so I shouldn't betray anyone. As for your feelings towards me, I accept it, in reality I always knew that you weren't attracted enough to me, but I like you a lot and I did everything possible to win your love, obviously I didn't succeed. I'm leaving and I wish you to be happy."
Steven left without fighting anymore, it made no sense, he had been wrong about Chandler, but he had not been wrong about Monica, she had no feelings for him.
The next day was unusual, but Chandler had been intrigued by the way Monica had reacted when he told her he had a date, and that's why he decided to stop by Mon's house when he got back from work.
Upon entering the sad note with red eyes from having cried.
"Mon what's going on? "He asks she softly.
"Yesterday I broke up with Steven," Monica answers.
Chandler asks if it was just a fight or they broke up.
"No, we broke up permanently, I never really felt attracted to him, but my mother insisted that I go out and I decided that, maybe, I should give him a chance, but I never managed to feel anything real for him, and I never felt that I was going to have a future or a life with him" "And after seeing how he behaved with you, how he betrayed you, there was no point in moving forward even one more day"
Chandler hugs her and tells her: "Mon, someone will show up, I'm sure, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met in real life…. He kisses her head and tells her, "I'm sure you'll find the right man."
Then he releases the hug and tells her "I was just coming to say hello, I have an appointment and I don't want to be late, we'll see each other tomorrow and I hope your mood improves.
When he leaves Monica starts crying, Phoebe was right, while she was going around with that idiot Steven someone was going to appear in Chandler's life.
She later asks Ross if he knows who Chandler is on a date with……. And she asks him if he likes the girl a lot, if he is in love...
"Mon, what are you talking about, it's just the second date, no one falls in love on two dates…"
"Besides, I think she's just a co-worker, from what he told me she has a boyfriend and he only went out with her a couple of times to keep him company"
The next days Monica hardly sees Chandler, he is busy that Saturday he went to lunch with his uncle Thomas, who met him at a restaurant because he wanted to talk to him alone.
Thomas greets him with a smile. "Hello, how are you, how is work?"
Chandler replies "everything is fine, man, and you are fine."
Thomas tells him "yes, the family was delighted with you, especially the young people who see you as a hero."
"Man, I already explained to them that, although I had to do what I did, it was out of necessity, the journey is very hard."
Thomas replied "yes, I know they understood it, but they can't stop admiring your bravery at only 16 years old."
"Well son, but I summoned you because there are inheritance issues that you have to know.
Chandler waved him to stop. "Uncle, I didn't come looking for anything nor do I want anything, if Grandpa left something it's for Aunt Marilyn and you."
Thomas explains to him, "Chandler, my father had a lot of faith in you, and he knew that one day we would find you or you would come, he knew that you were of good material, and he decided that the part of the inheritance that would have corresponded to your father would remain for you, he made a trust in your name that I have been safeguarding for these years is an interesting fortune. He also arranged for us to sell the family home and we also integrated the third that corresponded to you into the trust and it is time for you to take charge of your inheritance."
Chandler looked at Thomas very seriously... "Man, these years I learned to live off what I got working, I don't know what to do with a fortune..."
"Look, Chandler, if it's okay with you, you take charge of your inheritance and I promise to help you manage it correctly so that it grows as much as possible or at least is maintained. With investments you have to be cautious, it is preferable to play it safe. On Monday I spoke with the lawyer and we agreed to a meeting to arrange the papers, I feel calmer the sooner everything is arranged and in your hands as was Dad's wish."
Chandler expressed to him. "I had no idea that grandpa had left me anything, in any case I thought that even if he was angry with dad, he wouldn't take it out of the inheritance."
"Chandler, my dad was from another era, other codes, I never forgive Charles, he don't even look for him. I did look for him, he is our brother and Marilyn and I wanted to know where he was, if he lived, and we know that he is in Las Vegas, that he owns a nightclub, and has been in a relationship for years. We tried to get in touch with him through a friend from his youth, but he met with rejection, telling him that he didn't want to know anything about his family."
"And I really don't know if he wants to know about you?"
Chandler reflected. "Look man, for my dad I was a thorn in his side, but I also understand that he was young and at a time when coming out was difficult, especially with such a traditional family. I don't judge him. Right now I have a thousand things in my head, but at some point I will decide and ask you for the information. Maybe he wants to see me, he knows I ran away?
Thomas told him, "I think he knows, because the detective Samuel hired contacted him and told him that you had run away from the boarding school."
"Maybe that makes him happy, but we don't know." "Chandler, when you feel ready, it would be good for you to try to see him, and if he doesn't want to, it will be fine, it will be his decision and it will help you close a path, but if he see each other maybe you can build a relationship."
"Thanks man, your help and advice are more than necessary"
And they continued with lunch talking about old family stories.
When he returned from lunch there was no one in his apartment, so he went to 20 and found Phoebe alone.
Chandler "Hello, how are you, I came from lunch with my uncle, everything is fine here."
Phoebe replies "yes, Ross and Monica took Ben to the park."
Chandler asks, "Monica is better, these days I saw her sad about her breakup with Steven, it seems like it was final."
Phoebe …… "Well the breakup was final because that's how Monica wanted it, she was never in love with him, she went out with him due to constant pressure from her mother, for whom he was the ideal candidate, a doctor from a very good family and rich, and she ended up accepting to see what would happen, but nothing happened,"
Chandler mentioned "the most important thing must have been that he was rich."
Phoebe immediately responded, "No, never that, Monica was not interested in his account status, she dreams of starting a family, a husband, children, a house with a white picket fence and she thought that Steven could be a possibility, and she decided to give him a chance, maybe she could have a future with him, but then she realized that not only did she not feel anything for him, but
he was also arrogant and wanted to manage her life, and she wants a man by her side who loves her, with her virtues and flaws, an equal with whom to fight together"
Chandler said smiling... "Someone who loves her despite her competitiveness and her jealousy that you like my food...?
Phoebe responded "yes something like that, accepting the other as he are and being accepted as she are…"
Chandler then asked her, "Phoebe, but I don't understand, if she made the decision and is sure about what she did, why is she sad…?"
Phoebe replied…. "Actually, she thinks she has found that man, but it seems that the attraction is one-sided, it seems that he does not think of her in that way"
Chandler told her "and how do she know, she asks him?"
Phoebe looked at him with her eyes open…… "No, neither she nor any woman is ever going to ask the man she likes if he is interested, it is horrible that they reject us"
Chandler was amazed and said, "Phoebe, I repeat, then how does she know that he's not
interested?"
Phoebe replied, "Well, he doesn't pay much attention to her, he's always on something else, and he's also dating another girl…"
Chandler replied "ah……and who is it…. I don't think I know him... actually I don't know any of
Monica's friends, except her ex..."
Phoebe told him with a mischievous smile, "well, I can't tell you that, trust is not betrayed among friends, you'll have to guess…. Well, Chandler, I'm leaving, I have a client who only has Saturday afternoons free for massages... be careful, the wife is also there," and she left laughing.