Chapter 8: Ross Decides
That night, Emma, holding a six-pack of beer, knocked on Ross's door.
Ross opened the door, a phone in his hand, looking dejected.
"Hi, Ross." Seeing his expression, Emma had a rough guess.
"You still haven't reached Emily, have you?" Emma asked, and Ross nodded despondently.
"I figured you'd need beer today, so I brought some." Emma walked in and placed the beer on the table.
"Thank you, Emma, I really need a drink."
Emma opened two bottles of beer and pushed one towards Ross.
"I understand Emily being angry, but... when will she contact me? We're married, oh my god, how did I end up like this, married, and I can't even see my wife." Ross rubbed his hair, speaking dejectedly.
"Ross, I've heard your story from beginning to end, including you and Rachel."
"It's so dramatic, isn't it? First Carol, then with Rachel, and now Emily, she's my wife... Rachel is my wife... Em! I! Ly! It's Emily! What's wrong with these two names!"
"You always call Emily Rachel, isn't it really because you still have feelings for Rachel?" Emma asked tentatively.
"Rachel and I... we broke up a year ago..."
"I know, she's the person you liked since you were a teenager. Is a year enough time for you to let her go? Is it really enough...?" Emma looked into Ross's eyes, asking softly.
Ross froze... hesitated for a moment... "What I told Rachel about letting go was when I first met Emily... but actually, before that, I was already familiar with John, the one Rachel knew..."
"Joshua," Emma corrected.
"Joshua, I didn't really like him. I always thought that I would be the one by Rachel's side in the future... until Emily... Emily... she's very different... but... I don't know anymore... I'm so confused..." Ross tilted his head back and drank half a bottle of beer in one gulp.
"Ross, if you married Emily without completely letting go of Rachel, it's not fair to Emily at all..."
"I really don't know anymore... Today she even said she still loved me, I refused... I..." He tilted his head back again and drank more beer.
"Ross, let's do a test. Close your eyes and repeat the parts of my words that involve you," Emma said. Ross didn't understand, but he did as he was told.
"Imagine, you're at your wedding with Emily, you see me, and I congratulate you. At this moment, the pastor asks you to repeat after him, 'I, Ross...'"
"I, Ross," Ross repeated.
"Take Emily as your wife," Emma continued.
"Take Emily as my wife."
"The ceremony is beautiful, you see Phoebe, you greet her, you're especially happy, you say to her, 'Hi, Phoebe, I married Emily.'"
"Hi, Phoebe, I married Emily."
"Then, you turn around and see Rachel. She smiles and congratulates you. You take Emily's hand and walk towards her, saying: 'Rachel, allow me to introduce you, this is my wife, Emily.'"
"Rachel, allow me to introduce you, this is my wife, Rachel..." Ross suddenly opened his eyes. Emma looked at him meaningfully.
"Test over. I mentioned three people, but only Rachel... This isn't an accident, nor is it a coincidence..."
"Oh, oh my god... how could this be? I... I'm married..."
"Ross, Phoebe said she's your lobster. You've liked her for so long; it's not something that can be completely cut off in one or two years, especially since you're also good friends. And Emily, although she's your wife now, ask yourself again, is your heart truly and completely hers?"
Ross thought it over carefully, then shook his head.
"Ross, I knew someone whose situation was very similar to yours. He also called out the wrong name. Although the woman decided to forgive him, she became very controlling. She wanted to know his every move, there was no trust between them, and eventually, the marriage ended in failure. But it didn't stop there; one failure after another began to make him doubt himself, becoming irritable and emotionally unstable... Ross, you're different from him. You already know what's truly in your heart. I believe you'll make the right decision, and it will be the decision with the least damage."
Ross opened another bottle of beer and drank it blankly until it was empty.
"After we finish this trip with Phoebe, I'll continue to contact Emily. If she still doesn't answer my calls, I'll fly directly to London to find her. I'll have a good talk with her... about the divorce... I know it's hard for me to let go of Rachel, you're right, I can't be this selfish, I have to let Emily go..."
Emma smiled.
"Then, will you and Rachel still..."
Ross, however, shook his head, then spoke with tears in his eyes: "Ross and Rachel, Rachel and Ross, it's like a seesaw, one end goes up, the other goes down... We've been together, broken up, gotten back together, broken up again... I don't know if we get back together again, will we break up again? If we break up, can we still be friends like last time? I'm scared... Rather than that, it's better to just be friends. At least, I can still see Rachel..."
"Believe me, Ross, you two will eventually get together. The life you've always wanted will surely come," Emma said.
"Thank you, Emma. It's strange, you're not even 25, how do you see things so clearly?"
Emma thought for a moment.
"Maybe because... I'm smart..."
Ross smiled: "Thank you so much for helping me clear my thoughts. I'm ashamed that the first time I met you, I thought you were just like Joey."
"We both love to eat." Emma glanced at the time.
"I have to go back."
"Bye~"
"Bye~"
The next day, everyone was holding their luggage at Monica's house, watching Phoebe look happy, but Emma didn't have any luggage.
"Emma, didn't you pack your luggage?" Monica asked, puzzled.
"My pockets are emptier than my future," Emma said. Although she said that, she knew she couldn't go.
Sure enough, just as Phoebe was about to walk out with her luggage, her water broke...