"Sigh..."
Riri let out a long breath and slumped into her chair, staring blankly at the computer screen that hadn't changed for the past hour. She had just reported Serena's decision to their superior—a decision that, unsurprisingly, had made their boss furious. Riri couldn't do much except endure the scolding with her head bowed and her chest struggling to stay calm.
"What's wrong?"
One of Riri's coworkers asked, noticing the weary expression on her face.
"The usual… got yelled at," Riri replied softly, leaning back in her chair, trying to ease the tension pressing against her ribs.
"Hang in there. What can we do? We're just employees. All we can do is do our jobs the best we can. Don't let it get to you too much."
"I know," Riri replied curtly.
Growl...
Suddenly, the sound of Riri's stomach cut through the quiet. She looked up, startled, as her coworker stifled a laugh. It didn't take long before they both burst into chuckles, realizing how busy they'd been that they forgot to eat.
"I'm going to grab some food,"
Riri said as she stood up from her seat.
"Alright. Don't forget to bring back some motivation too," her coworker teased with a smile.
Riri walked out of the office building. The soft afternoon breeze brushed against her face, but her mind felt noisy. Her stomach was certainly empty, but she didn't even know what she wanted to eat.
After standing still for a few minutes on the sidewalk, she finally decided on Chinese food. The place was close to the office, and the menu had plenty of options.
She walked briskly, trying to distract herself from the workload that still loomed over her.
When she arrived at the restaurant, she ordered her favorite dish and took a seat while she waited. She pulled out her phone, her thumb quickly scrolling through her email inbox.
Ever since Serena's book became a bestseller, Riri had been flooded with emails from various companies. Offers kept pouring in—endorsements, book signings, interviews, even invitations to TV shows. At first, she'd been excited to respond to each one. But now, they all felt repetitive. Everyone just saw Serena as a "hot commodity"—a trend.
Suddenly, a voice snapped her out of her concentration.
"Adriaaan…"
A woman's playful, flirtatious tone drew the attention of everyone nearby, including Riri. She looked over, and what she saw made her brow furrow.
In the corner of the restaurant, a beautiful, sexy woman was clinging to the arm of a man—a man Riri knew very well.
Adrian.
Normally, Adrian appeared cold, composed, and almost untouchable. But today, he looked annoyed, though he didn't push the woman away or try to free himself from her grip.
Riri squinted, observing more closely.
If you're really uncomfortable, why not just push her away? she thought irritably.
She rolled her eyes and glanced at the woman holding onto Adrian so possessively.
The woman was practically perfect—stunning face, tall figure, and an alluring appearance. Anyone would be tempted and struggle to look away.
Men... they're all the same, Riri muttered in her mind.
Soon, her food arrived. She began eating, but not just out of hunger. There was emotion in every bite—frustration, confusion, something else.
But by the fifth spoonful, she paused.
Why am I even upset?
she asked herself, puzzled.
She stared down at her food, her appetite gone.
She hadn't realized it until now, but seeing Adrian with another woman stirred something uncomfortable in her chest.
A feeling she didn't want to name: jealousy.
---
Meanwhile, on the other side of town
Iril sat in her office with a serious look on her face. Across from her, Mrs. Knight—her mother-in-law—stared with piercing eyes.
Although Iril's relationship with her mother-in-law had generally been civil, things had grown tense since the topic of children came up again.
"You've been married for almost six years, Iril. It's time you had kids! You can't just keep prioritizing work,"
Mrs. Knight said in a condescending tone.
Iril took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. But this time, her patience was wearing thin.
"Mom , we've decided not to have children,"
she answered firmly, directly, without sugarcoating.
It was the first time Iril had ever said it out loud to her mother-in-law.
Usually, it was Frau—her husband—who bore the brunt of this pressure. But Iril had had enough. She didn't want Frau to carry the weight alone anymore. So she came forward.
"What did you just say?"
Mrs. Knight's eyes widened. Her voice rose an octave, shocked and clearly disapproving.
"We've decided not to have children,"
Iril repeated, her voice just as firm.
"WHAT?! Why?!" her mother-in-law snapped.
Iril went silent.
That question stung—like their decision needed an explanation that would be acceptable to others. But it was their life.
Seeing her lack of response, Mrs. Knight's gaze narrowed with suspicion, her tone turning sharp and accusatory.
"Are you barren?"
It wasn't just a question—it was a veiled accusation, wrapped in a loaded phrase.
Iril frowned. She and Frau had agreed from the beginning not to have children. Frau always used protection, and Iril regularly took birth control pills. They had never checked their fertility status, so Iril didn't know if she was infertile or not. But it didn't matter—they had made their choice.
"Let's get you tested. Now."
Mrs. Knight stood up, her voice commanding.
"Mom, I'm working. And besides, there's no point. We truly don't want children,"
Iril replied calmly, though her frustration was clear.
"YOU!"
Mrs. Knight's voice rose in fury. She glared at Iril, then stormed out of the room without another word.
Slam!
The door slammed shut.
Iril closed her eyes for a moment, letting out a long sigh. Though she appeared composed, her heart was shaking. Her mother-in-law's words echoed in her head. She began to wonder,
Am I really infertile?
Other people using contraception still ended up with "accidents." But she and Frau—after all these years—never once had a scare.
Even during moments of passion when they forgot protection, nothing ever happened.
Should I get checked?
A soft knock on the door broke her train of thought.
Knock... knock... knock...
"Come in," Iril called out.
Her assistant walked in with a professional demeanor.
"Madam, the meeting with XX Corporation will begin in five minutes."
"Understood."
Iril stood and adjusted her blazer. She walked toward the meeting room with steady steps.
For now, she chose to focus on work.
Her health... she would think about that later—when her thoughts were clearer and her emotions calmer.
Outside, the sky was changing color.
An ordinary day was slowly turning into a day full of lingering questions.
---