Chapter 2 Men Are Scum

• Several Months later.
• BETH.
• The moment had arrived. It was finally happening. To say I had been eagerly anticipating this day my entire life would be an understatement. My boyfriend was about to propose to me, and soon I would have a dazzling engagement ring on my finger, becoming a Mrs. I may sound traditional or overly enthusiastic, but I couldn't care less—I simply adore love.
• I had a strong inkling that the proposal was coming, thanks to the numerous hints dropped by Sam, my boyfriend, even though he didn't intend to. I had even caught a glimpse of a beautiful case containing the most exquisite ring nestled in his wardrobe. And then he suddenly asked me out on a dinner date, urging me to dress nicely. Well, he didn't explicitly say it, but he has always been shy and nervous, so the signs were pretty clear.
• And the venue he chose for our date? The renowned Moon Fountain! It was the most romantic spot in the city, well-known for its picturesque scenery and countless proposals. Only someone utterly clueless would miss all these signs and not catch on.
• My excitement was palpable, and as theatrical as I could be, Lara was undeniably even more dramatic.
• "When he kneels and pops that 'will you marry me' question, girl, please don't disappoint me by jumping up and down like someone desperately seeking a ring. I might disown you on the spot," Lara playfully warned, leaving me slightly bewildered.
• "I genuinely don't know what you're talking about. Shouldn't I be ecstatic? Don't rain on my parade, okay? Remember that I'm about to embark on marriage, and it deserves all the enthusiasm. When I return, we can begin planning the wedding right away," I retorted with a hint of confusion.
• "Oh my goodness. Why don't you just show up in a wedding dress to meet him, huh? You're such a drama queen," Lara exclaimed, teasingly gasping for effect.
• "Oh, come on! If that were possible, I'd do the same. By the way, do you think this dress is suitable for the occasion? I don't want to give off the impression that I have nothing else to wear for a dinner date. Should I apply more makeup?" I questioned for the umpteenth time, twirling around to get another look at the white dress in the full-length mirror.
• The dress fit comfortably, with a wide waist and a delicate bow resting gently on my belly. It hugged my figure below the waist, following a straight style. Falling just below my knees, the dress had a longer length at the sides and back, and I must say, I looked stunning.
• "Ugh! I've told you countless times that you look beautiful, both in the dress and as yourself—perhaps a little too extra. The dress might blind me, and you could even go without makeup," Lara replied, rolling her eyes.
• "Oh, no way! Not everyone feels comfortable going bare-faced, especially for an important date like this. I'm not as confident as you," I replied, causing her to burst into laughter.
• "Whatever, just try not to appear overly desperate in front of him. He might take you for granted," she lectured once again.
• "Oh my God, Lara! I am desperate. How else am I supposed to act? Come on!" I rolled my eyes.
• "Just act like you're nonchalant about it, okay? Don't feed his already inflated ego even more. Come on, girl! By the way, I still think you're overdressed. What's with the heavy makeup and the shiny white dress? One might mistake you for a bride. And those death trap high heels, Beth! You might get so nervous and end up flat on your face while walking towards him!" Lara exclaimed.
• Ah, there was my best friend since childhood at her finest. She was the most experienced and lucky one among us, always attracting incredible guys. Unlike me, the hopeless romantic who believed in the power of love, Lara thought it was all nonsense.
• "I won't fall, Lara. Try to be positive for once instead of dwelling on negativity," I replied, watching her roll her eyes.
• "Whatever, just make sure to come back early!" she nagged like a mother.
• "No worries, Mommy. That's not possible. I'll be with my fiancé, probably cuddling him, or maybe indulging in some other activities as a token of gratitude for the ring. You know how it goes," I said, observing Lara's face contort with a mix of disgust and disappointment at my words.
• "The fact that you think a guy is doing you a favor by proposing to you disgusts me! What?! You, an epitome of beauty, a combination of beauty, brains, and sophistication! You're an absolute catch! Let go of that nonsense thought, please. Saying yes is your choice, not gratitude!" she exclaimed, hyping me up while also giving me a much-needed lecture. I couldn't help but smile, my cheeks turning a shade of pink.
• "Okay, okay! I've heard you, woman. I have to leave now, though, before my overflowing excitement makes me late. I'll be back with all the juicy details tomorrow morning!" I announced as I walked out the door. My driver had already parked my white car outside the building, waiting for me. He greeted me, and we zoomed off.
• Minutes later, we arrived at Moon Fountain. My palms grew sweaty as I took one last glance at myself in the makeup mirror. I touched up my powder, applied a bit more blush, and wiped off the excess lip gloss, knowing that I would have to kiss him after the paparazzi frenzy.
• As I stepped out of the car, the sky rumbled, and I realized it was about to rain. Despite that, I took a moment to savor the beauty of the place. The shimmering lights around the artificial fountains captivated me, and I could have watched them for hours if time allowed. Two couples stood nearby, whispering and taking selfies by the fountain. Even from where I stood, I could see the exquisite first-floor interior, adorned with elegant dinner tables and a stunning aquarium teeming with colorful fish.
• Thanks to the transparent entrance, I spotted Sam by the side of the enormous aquarium before even entering. He sat there, glancing around impatiently. A smile formed on my lips. 'Someone can't wait to make me his.'
• As if it had been planned, the song suddenly changed to an underrated track I adored, by the artist Timi Dakolo. "Like an angel in the morning, shooting star across the night, the most beautiful girl I've seen in all my life, every second spent with you is like a day that starts brand new..."
• To the tune of the song, I made my way towards him, exaggerating the sway of my hips and dramatically flipping my hair, hoping to create a grand entrance worthy of a queen. Sam and I locked eyes, and the moment felt magical.
• "Hey, have a seat," he said, motioning to the chair in front of him. I had expected him to greet me with a hug, compliment my dress, and perhaps even pull out the chair for me. But even though he didn't do any of that, I still felt special. Nothing could dampen my mood.
• He raised his hand, signaling one of the waiters dressed in white shirts and black trousers or skirts. A server approached with the menu, and I perused the dinner combination platters. I found myself torn between the salted pepper chicken and wings combo and the hot and spicy chicken Cantonese combo. In the end, I opted for the least expensive option on the menu, which still carried a considerable cost.
• I was amazed when Sam chose the most expensive wine and food from the menu. It seemed like he wanted everything to be extravagant and costly until the very end. I couldn't help but think that he must have gone to great lengths for this, considering that Sam wasn't exactly financially well-off. After all, he still owed me almost half a million dollars. Lara, who preferred not to date what she called "hustlers," had warned me multiple times that marrying him would mean a life of struggle and supporting him. But love is supposed to conquer all, right?
• As the waiter departed to prepare our order, an uncomfortable silence hung between Sam and me. I found myself growing impatient, waiting for him to start the conversation. "You said you wanted to tell me something, Sam," I began, realizing that he wasn't going to initiate the discussion anytime soon.
• "I want us to eat first," he replied simply.
• ‘Oh, so the ring will be in the wine glass, right? Nice move, Sam,’ I thought, jumping ahead of myself as usual.
• "I'd really like the DJ at our wedding to play that song as I walk down the aisle, instead of the usual 'Here Comes the Bride.' What do you think?" I blurted out, mentally facepalming myself for getting so ahead of the situation. But it was already out there. Sam looked shocked and uncomfortable, struggling to process what I had just said. I found myself smirking, assuming his shock was because he feared I had discovered his plan.
• Soon enough, the waiter returned with our orders, and I had to commend them for their prompt service. I glanced at both wine glasses, trying to see if there was a ring hidden inside, while Sam dove into his food like someone who had been famished for days.
• Out of the blue, when he was nearly done with his meal, he finally spoke.
• "We should break up."
• "Yes! Yes, I do," slipped out of my mouth before my brain fully registered what he had actually said. As soon as I realized it, I gave myself a hard slap on the cheek. "What... what did you just say? Say it again," I stammered.
• "We need to break up, Elizabeth," he repeated, his expression devoid of emotion.
• And then I laughed. I mean, I knew where this was going. He would act like he was about to break up with me as a prank and then surprise me with a marriage proposal.
• "Yeah, nice try, Sam," I scoffed, remaining unfazed.
• "Why are you laughing? Didn't you hear what I just said? I want to break up with you," he insisted.
• I remained unshaken. "Ugh! Baby, just cut the drama already, okay? I know that by revealing this, I'm spoiling my own surprise, but I found the ring in your wardrobe. I already know the purpose of this meeting is for you to propose to me, so let's get it over with, okay?" I rambled on, while shock spread across Sam's face.
• "Wait, what?... That... that ring doesn't even belong to you, Elizabeth. It was for my girlfriend, and I proposed to her with it on Tuesday. We're getting married in the next two months," he revealed.
• I grew tired of his pranks this time, feeling like I might actually break down. These jokes of his were just too costly, whether it was a proposal or not.
• "God, Sam. Just stop it already."
• "I deeply apologize for giving you the wrong impression, but I'm not proposing to you. Instead, I'm breaking up with you to focus on my fiancé. I can't marry you, Beth," he said, dismissing me as if I were insignificant.
• "Wait, I'm utterly confused. You're really breaking up with me? This isn't some kind of prank? You're not proposing? You can't marry me? You proposed to another girl?" My voice escalated higher than intended as I asked the final question.
• "You have another girlfriend? A girlfriend that is not me?" I questioned, struggling to process the revelation.
• "I can't marry you, Elizabeth. In our family, it's forbidden to marry white girls. It's either someone from our own community or nothing. Besides, I prefer women with a curvier figure, Liz. You're too petite and slim to be my lifelong partner," he callously declared, provoking an intense desire within me to smack him across the face.
• "I'm sorry, Liz. Truly sorry. Our time together was enjoyable nonetheless. I hope you won't take this too personally," he concluded, and just like that, he left, leaving me bewildered and grappling with the shock of the situation.
• As if adding insult to injury, the waiter placed a piece of paper on the table. "Here's your bill, ma'am," he said and swiftly departed. I picked up the slip of paper and was stunned to see the exorbitant amount written on it.
• And then, I let out a piercing scream.