Chapter 9 Take Better Care Of Yourself

• "Whether she stays in Anglandur or comes back has nothing to do with me. I made it clear to her on the eve of the wedding when she decided to leave that if she left, there would be no connection between us anymore. We have nothing to do with each other anymore. She can have her Anglandurn citizenship, and I'll continue with my grilled food business. Zoey, I'll be upfront about this. How you all get along with her is your business, not mine, but remember one thing—don't give her my address or my phone number, or else I won't even consider us friends anymore," Enrique said firmly.
• "Why are you being so heartless, Ricky? Take a moment to reflect on your feelings. Have you genuinely let go of her entirely? If you had truly moved on, why hasn't anyone else piqued your interest among the girls I've introduced you to? The truth is, she's always held a place in your heart, and you haven't truly erased her from your memories. Ricky, why make things difficult for yourself?" Zoey tried to convince him to reconsider.
• "Hey, let's drop the theatrics. There's hardly anything in this world that's truly unforgettable. Money? That's the one thing you can always rely on. Love? Well, that can be a real mess," Enrique muttered as he lit a cigarette. Just as he was about to leave, something crossed his mind, prompting him to turn back to the table.
• "Why? What's wrong?" Jesse asked.
• Enrique took a drag from his cigarette before hesitantly inquiring, "Do you happen to have any extra cash on you?"
• Zoey asked, "Why? Are you in dire need of money? How much do you need?"
• After a moment of consideration, Enrique said, "Well... I've run into a bit of a situation and could use some help. How about you give me back the eight thousand I returned to you a few days ago? I'll make sure to repay you next time." He didn't ask for a large sum, mindful of Jesse and Zoey's financial situation. He had already borrowed quite a bit from them and didn't want to burden them further.
• "Sure, I'll go get it." Without asking any questions, Zoey stood up and went to the bedroom.
• "What's wrong? What trouble are you in?" Jesse asked in a soft voice.
• "I played the role of an unsung hero, rushing into a blazing fire to save someone's life, but in the process, I accidentally lost the diamond ring another woman had given to me, so now, I have to compensate her for the cost of the ring. Would you believe me if I told you that?" Enrique asked, looking at Jesse.
• "Huh? What are you talking about? That sounds ridiculous," Jesse answered.
• "Yeah, I find that ridiculous, too," Enrique admitted with a bitter smile.
• In that instant, Zoey returned, holding a bundle of cash. She handed it to Enrique, saying, "This is the money you gave back to us a couple of days ago, and we haven't used it. As I said when you gave it to us last time, you don't have to be in such a rush to repay us. It's important to prioritize improving your own life first. Instead of overexerting yourself by selling grilled food, you should quit. We can help you find an office job. Look how tired you are now."
• Enrique remarked, "How much can I make working in an office for a month? Three thousand? Four thousand? If that's the case, I'll never manage to pay off these debts in my lifetime." After keeping the money, he then took out a small notebook he carried with him and recorded another eight thousand in debt under Jesse's name.
• "We haven't pressured you to repay the money. It's fine if you don't want to change your job, but could you please take better care of yourself? Consider moving to a better place, eating better food, and treating yourself to some decent clothing."
• "Settling debts is a matter of integrity, and I can't simply owe you money while I enjoy myself. Don't portray me as some helpless soul; I'm managing well. It's just that running a grilled food business doesn't yield much, so I'll have to slowly repay your money. I hope this won't hinder your plans to get married and have children. Otherwise, your family's future may be at risk. Unfortunately, I can't assist with that," Enrique earnestly expressed.
• "Scram!" Jesse angrily shouted.
• "Okay, I'll take my leave now. I'm tired and want to go to bed," Enrique responded with a grin. He walked out, waving goodbye to Zoey and Jesse.
• "Ricky, you should reconsider Madeline. She's remorseful and has returned, genuinely committed to spending her life with you," Zoey began to implore as she rushed out. However, at the doorway, she witnessed Enrique abruptly closing the door in her face.
• After leaving Jesse and Zoey's house, Enrique lit a cigarette and slowly walked away. Madeline Vale was a name that had long been absent from his life but had never truly faded away. Yet now, it suddenly reappeared in his thoughts. All he could do was chain-smoke one cigarette after another.
• Madeline had been his university classmate and also the campus belle. Her undeniable beauty and their passionate love during their university days had been the envy of all their classmates. In her final year, Madeline faced sexual harassment from her professor due to her thesis and her striking appearance, although the professor's advances were unsuccessful. However, Madeline tearfully confided in Enrique about this incident. The young and reckless Enrique burst into the professor's office without evidence and beat the professor up. In the end, Enrique was detained for fifteen days and, on the verge of graduation, expelled from the university, leaving him without a diploma.
• After leaving university without a diploma, Enrique worked physically demanding jobs such as a courier and food delivery. His social status remained relatively low. Conversely, Madeline, a graduate of a prestigious university known for her academic excellence and her self-taught proficiency in two foreign languages, secured a position with the Chanaean branch of a Fortune 500 multinational corporation. This role provided her with a substantial income and promising career prospects. During this period, even though they remained a couple, their relationship had begun to evolve from their university years. A subtle transformation had taken place, largely influenced by the substantial disparities in their social statuses and economic backgrounds. These variations in their financial foundations and social standings also shaped their outlooks and values.
• A year after graduating, Enrique's family began urging him to get married. Coming from a rural background, Enrique's family was not financially well-off. His parents had used up their savings to help Enrique prepare for the wedding. Just when all the wedding arrangements were completed and even Enrique's relatives from the countryside had gathered in Salinsburgh for the ceremony the next day, Madeline informed Enrique on the eve of the wedding that the company's headquarters had decided to transfer her to the main office in Anglandur. She had known about this for two weeks but hadn't decided whether to tell Enrique. Her decision had been uncertain, but ultimately, she chose to go. She aspired to a better life and brighter career prospects, wanting to avoid a lifetime of mundane routine.