Leah closes the door behind me and sighs.
Leah: About what happened back there-
Ashton: Why did they look at you?
Leah: Huh? W-Well, how would I know?
Ashton:....
Liar, it must have something to do with her.
Leah: Anyway, I actually wanted to tell you this long ago, when I met you overseas. That bitch-
Ashton: She has a name.
Leah:...!
She says nothing for a while.
Leah: Do you know how she has been making a living after you left?
Ashton:... No.
Leah: She worked as a... prostitute.
Ashton: What?
I turn to look at her. That's impossible!! She would even hesitate to hold hands with me, her then boyfriend, let alone sleep with just anyone!
Ashton: You're lying.
Leah: As much as I don't want to say admit it, I'm not. Have you given it a thought that she only did this after you left? She couldn't milk you for mone-
Ashton: Shut up!
I cover my face with my shaking hands. This means I was right about the real relationship between her and Troy all along. It all makes sense, that expensive jewelry, that too-bold-for-the-Claire-I-know dress and her attitude. But why? She never asked for money or anything from me, ever. Leah places her hand on my shoulder to soothe me. I don't even know what I'm feeling for Claire now; love? Affection? Anger? Or frustration?
Meanwhile-
Claire: I'm leaving, Mum.
Claire drags a suitcase to her front door. Her mother looks at her with sadness.
Claire's Mother: Are you really going to leave me like this?
Claire freezes but quickly plasters a smile on her face.
Claire: I'll come to visit you. You know how he is; we're so in love that he can't stay without me.
Claire's Mother: I haven't even seen this man's face and it's already been seven years. When are you planning to get married?
Claire:... Soon. Then, I'll get going, take care.
Claire takes her suitcase and leaves the apartment building to find an expensive car waiting for her outside. She opens the door and gets seated next to... Troy.
Claire: I hope you weren't waiting long!
Troy: I would've driven off if that was the case.
Claire: Aw, don't be so mean.
Troy: Did you get everything?
Claire: Yeah...
Troy:...
Claire hesitates.
Troy: You look like you want to say something.
He says still looking ahead.
Claire: Well, I know you said I'm not allowed to ask you for this but, how about we get married?
Troy: Married? What for?
Claire: Umm, I just wanted to have a wedding; it's every girls's dream y'know. And it would make me happy to get married to you.
He casts a sideways glace at her. She smiles nervously.
Troy: You're not a little girl.
Claire: You're saying I'm old?
Troy: I mean you're a woman.
Claire: Whatever.
She grips her skirt tightly careful as not to let him see it. He pulls over in front of a luxury apartment building.
Troy: Get off.
Claire: Okay.
She gets out of the car with her bag. Troy parks his car and returns to her.
Troy: Give me that.
Claire: What? Hey! I can carry it on my own!
He swiftly snatches away her suitcase from her.
Troy: What would the people think if I let my fiancee carry heavy baggage on her own?
Claire:... Fine.
They head to his apartment. Claire goes straight to the kitchen.
Claire: I'll make you something to eat.
He grabs her arm and she looks at him in surprise.
Troy: There's no need. I only want to eat... this.
He smirks and takes her hand to plant a kiss on her palm but notices bruises on it. He knits his brows.
Troy: What happened to your hand?
Claire: Ah, it's nothing. I just... burned myself.
Troy: How do you keep burning your hands always? Take care of yourself.
Claire:...
She thinks of a certain someone's face as they held her hand the same way. That person's concerned expression, sad face and words play in her mind. She slowly pulls her hand away.
Claire: It's gonna be fine.
Troy looks at her, having seen through her white lie.
Troy: Anyway, satisfy me; I'm gonna be out for work for a few months.
Claire: Then why did you ask me to move back in today?
Troy: So I could do this all night.
Claire: Hey! Put me down!
He picks her up so their chests are facing each other. She looks down at his face as he buries his face in her chest and bites her lips in frustration. He looks up at her.
Troy: What are hesitating for?
Claire:... Who said I'm hesitating?
She plasters a fake smirk on her face as she tilts his head back and reluctantly kisses him. He carries her to the bedroom. Though she doesn't say it out loud, she knows his purpose of asking her to live here. This house is her cage, a cage she can't escape from....