Cassie laughed heartily then smiled at him. "Nice one Jade ! You really made me laugh !"
Jade grinned at her, his eyes acknowledging her good acting skills.
Half an hour later, Jade was aware it was time to get off the train to head home, so he thought it might be the most convenient opportunity to take the diamond and flee to home. But, that stupid irritating old man was a real issue.
How to get rid of him ? He couldn't know.
But, he depended on Cassie. She was a machine of devilish plans.
He turned to her, and found her distracted, her eyes all sparkly and dreamy. They were directed up to the ceiling.
Or, probably, beyond it.
"Stupid Cassie !" Cursed Jade. "She is daydreaming about the life we may have when we sell the diamond..."
And Jade was correct. She had built castles upon castles, and bought hundreds of fashionable clothes and the maids and the...
"Cassie !" A faint voice called.
"Cassie !!"
Cassie came back to reality, and looked at her huffed husband.
"What were you thinking ?" His jaw clenched.
"Sorry !" She said, then turned her eyes to the old man indifferently.
He was as he had been the moment he saw the diamond, as motionless as a monument.
"Hey.." Jade began murmuring again "We are approaching our station. When the train stops, you will stand and head to the matrix carriage, and I will be behind you to cover you or block the old man if ever wanted to push through. Okay ?"
"Got it !" She said through closed lips.
One minute before arriving, the station seemed distinguishable for Jade. His heart began to beat rapidly, and his hands were sweaty.
But Cassie was fine.
She didn't exhibit any signs of stress or concern. She only had her nails dug so deeply into her thighs.
Jade would have chuckled about it, but only if there had been no diamond in the seat.
30 seconds, the atmosphere was poisoned by the stressed hot breaths of Jade, Cassie and the old man.
The fat lady ?
She was snoring.
Suddenly, the old man stood briskly from his seat.
Jade was taken by surprise, so he stood firmly himself, causing the old man to back a little.
"Excuse me my boy !" Said the old man "I want to take my leave, and you are blocking my way !"
"I want to get off too !" Jade answered in a rather angry voice. "And I'm in a hurry as you are!"
The old man ignored him and in a fast move he stepped off the carriage and tried to reach for the diamond, but Jade caught his hand, and pulled him back. Yet, the old man used his other hand and seized the diamond, then jerked his other hand forcefully from Jade's causing him to lose his balance and fall upon his face.
The old man dashed through the passage and fled away as fast as he could.
"Idiot !" Cassie screamed from her seat "An old man beats you ?"
Jade sat up and glowered at her "You had better shut up !" He yelled "If you didn't remain where you are, you might have caught him !!"
"Excuse me ?? He was faster than you ! How am I supposed to catch him ??"
Staring daggers at each other for a moment, they realized that another fight is likely to be useless.
So, Jade stood and brushed off the dust from his jacket, and Cassie stomped off, and left the train without her husband.
She was unable to believe that they wasted a rich life which lay ten feet away from them.
"Stupid Jade !" She cursed "His presence was like gravity. It attracted all the unfortunate things.."
As she was walking away, she heard steps pacing behind her.
"Cassie !" He called.
She whirled around, a frown in her face, her arms crossed.
"I'm sorry !" Jade said quickly. "I know you are thinking that I'm stupid !" He lowered his gaze to her feet.
"I am !" She said coldly.
"I know !" He said, his tone sad.
Cassie suddenly burst in tears "I mean.." She said through gasps " We could have bought a decent house...!"
"I know.." Jade said again.
"And a luxurious car..." Cassie sobbed.
He puffed sadly and rubbed the back of his neck.
She started to cry a little loudly, and he felt embarrassed.
Walking to her, Jade held her hand and led her away.."Let's go home !" He spoke, his voice decisive but still sorrowful.
Silently they walked down the road. The hot sun burnt their faces, so they turned a corner, and walked along the long shady street. Yet, although hand in hand, Cassie was looking away, her expression blank.
Jade felt her deep sadness, and he couldn't take it. He was obliged to do something, to at least lighten her heavy heart.
So he squeezed her hand, and
abruptly stopped.
Cassie stopped and faced him. Even though her face seemed gloomy, there was a speck of curiosity.
"Forgive me ?" He asked, running a hand through his hair.
She gave a long weary sigh, then her gaze drooped. "How can I not ?"
He hugged her heartily, and she, her arms around his neck, rubbed his neck, muttering apologies in his ears.
Tears were clinging to the corner of her eyes, yet she blinked them away. She silently watched the empty street in front of her as the cars drove by. There was only an old man who was passing by, his pace slow and somehow melancholy.
THE OLD MAN !
"HONEY !" She screamed in her husband's ears.
Jade flinched but said in a sympathetic voice "Don't worry honey..I'm here to hold you.."
"IDIOT ! THE OLD MAN !" She pushed away and turned him to see.
In shock, Jade instantly understood and darted toward the old man.
The old man looking with surprise and fear, he covered his face with his arms, and stayed where he was. The moment Jade reached him, he flipped him off.
The old man hit the concrete, and the diamond fell to the ground, rolling away. But, Jade immediately snatched it away, and turned on his heels.
Cassie was watching like an excited child, clapping to him. In the way, Jade caught her hand and they ran away.
They had run long enough afterwards that their gasps turned into coughs. Jade slowed down Cassie. He was sure they ran a much longer distance than they should have.
Gasping, Cassie still had a smile on her face. It looked weird though because of her red face.
When their breathing calmed down, Cassie began with a low voice. "We did it..." She turned to him, her eyes wide and expressive "now we can buy whatever we want.." She laughed awkwardly and repeated "Whatever we want..." Her features seemed like that of a fool.
Jade laughed at her awkwardness, and watched her as she looked upon the sky with such an open heart and a flooding joy.
He was so captivated by her beauty that he almost forgot about the diamond in his hand.
"Oh.." Jade said, opening his palm to her "the diamond !"
Cassie was like a cat which suddenly smelled fish.
She came closer to him, and they both looked with awe at the shiny thing. "Yup, Now we can buy..." She said again, but her words were fading this time..
Horror started to form in their faces, and a grey cloud gathered between them when they saw a split in the diamond. The diamond suddenly fell to pieces in Jade's palm.
Cassie finally coughed a sob, then squinted at Jade with deep pain in her eyes.
Jade forced a painful smile at her then said. "A sandwich ?"
A Sarcastic Life Page 3