For Better And For Worse
Chapter 122

Home of Ernestine.

This morning, Ernestine is having lunch with her brother when she receives a call from Yves.

Ernestine: Yves, hello!

Yves: hello princess, how are you this morning?

Ernestine: I’m fine, thank you.

Yves: today is the weekend so tell me we can see each other.

Ernestine: I don’t know, I…

Yves: have you ever thought about something constantly without being able to see it?

Ernestine: yes, of course.

Yves: and what does that make you?

Ernestine: It hurts quite a bit.

Yves: can you imagine what I have endured since that day we met?

Ernestine: ok, I promise we will see each other this evening.

Yves: ok, I’ll console myself with that. See you tonight then. I’ll wait for you at the place where you dumped your garbage the other day at 4 p.m.

Ernestine: OK.

He hangs up.

Hervé: who is Yves?

Ernestine: a guy I met.

Hervé: do you like him?

Ernestine: he’s not bad.

Hervé: do you realize that this is not the answer to my question?

Ernestine: he’s quite nice, I like him a bit. He’s very handsome and…

Hervé: it’s okay, I just wanted to know if you like him or not. I didn’t ask you what he is like.

Ernestine: It’s true. But I don’t like closed questions. I prefer open-ended questions.

Hervé: I see.

Ernestine: well, it’s time, I have to go to work. See you.

So she goes to work.

Leon’s home.

Krist himself goes to Léon this morning. His wife will open it for him.

Krist: hello ma’am!

Delphine: Krist, what a pleasure to see you here!

Krist: shared pleasure. Is your husband there?

Delphine: yes, come in!

So they enter and he replaces Léon in the living room.

Krist: Hello Commander!

Léon: Krist, what a nice surprise to see you at my place! Take a seat.

Krist: Thank you. Hey, I looked at your project and I replace it really excellent, it’s a good project that will help the Dottanais people a lot. I am ready to finance you.

Leon: really!

Krist: Yes. Here, read this agreement I worked out with my lawyer and sign if you agree.

Léon: wow, I didn’t think it would be this quick.

Krist: What is done for the good of humanity must not wait long.

Leon: you are right. I’ll read it and send it to you.

Krist: Okay. So I’m going to ask for directions.

Leon: thanks for stopping by Krist.

He takes him to his motorbike and leaves.

Home in Florence.

Isabelle went to her mother’s house this morning, she found her ready to leave for work.

Isabelle: Mom, how do you manage to act as if nothing happened?

Florence: What do you want me to do, my daughter, that I mope and refuse to work? Tell me, what use would that be to me?

Isabelle: you still manage to fall asleep, because I can’t?

Florence: My daughter, it’s better not to know. You realize, all my life I have loved a man who is not who he says he is, I have loved a fake person, my daughter.

Isabelle: don’t say that, he was a real person, except that he was a bad person and he’s my father. Imagine everything he did to me, Mom, and imagine my pain.

Florence: I’m sorry my darling, but as your mother who loves you, if you want to replace peace, forgive him; otherwise this hatred that eats away at you will end up eating away at your home. Forgive him, not because he deserves it, but because of the goodness of your heart. This will allow you to have peace of heart and to definitively turn the page, because until you have forgiven him, you cannot be happy.

Isabelle: I know, mom, but I’m not ready.

Florence: well, sorry my daughter, I have to go to work.

Isabelle: have a good day, mom.

They exchange k****s and separate.

Krist’s home.

Back at home, Isabelle receives a visit from Clémence.

Clémence: hello Madame Isabelle.

Isabelle: Madame Clémence, what a surprise! Enter, please.

Clemence: thank you.

She comes in and they go inside to talk.

Clémence: I didn’t imagine that you would be so welcoming to me, considering how I treated you last time.

Isabelle: ah, that’s in the past ma’am. You were angry and anyone in your position would have reacted the same way.

Clémence: you have such a good heart. I came to apologize to you Isabelle, I learned the truth. I judged you very badly and I am sorry, I ask your forgiveness.

Clémence: you have such a good heart. I came to apologize to you Isabelle, I learned the truth. I judged you very badly and I am sorry, I ask your forgiveness.

Isabelle: I knew that if you had reacted like that, it was because your husband certainly lied to you so I don’t blame you at all madam, I forgive you.

Clémence: thank you very much Isabelle, thank you.

Isabelle: that’s okay. How is your husband ?

Clemence: he paid for his infidelity. He lost his job and became seriously ill. It was by the grace of God that he escaped. He is still recovering.

Isabelle: I am sincerely sorry for everything you had to endure.

Clémence: thank you very much. I learned about your husband’s story on television, how are you now?

Isabelle: Thank God today is okay.

Marie starts to cry and goes to look for him.

Clémence: ah, you have a daughter?

Isabelle: yes, a very nice gift.

She takes the baby in hand.

Clémence: she is magnificent!

Isabelle: yes, the spitting image of her father.

Clémence: it’s fascinating! I am sure that she will also inherit his qualities.

Isabelle: I will see to it.

Clémence: thank you very much Isabelle, God bless your home.

Isabelle: amen!

Clémence: I’ll ask for directions.

Isabelle: I’ll take you home.

She takes her home and she goes home.

Komer Prison.

In prison, Krist decided to visit his friend Léo

Léo: Krist, what a surprise to see you here!

Krist: hello Leo!

Léo: the other day, Aristide told us that you had passed, I didn’t want to believe it. I thought you abandoned us?

Krist: he didn’t tell you what happened to me?

Leo: no, what happened? Who was this man who brought you?

Krist: Well, just know that today the prison warden sold me to a Mexican drug dealer, so I couldn’t visit you from there!

Leo: oh, excuse me bro, I’m sorry.

Krist: no it’s okay, you didn’t know. Otherwise, how are you?

Léo: It’s okay, I’m going out in a few months.

Krist: already, time flies!

Leo: yes. And if not, how are things going on your side?

Krist: I’m fine at home, everything is fine now.

Léo: I’m happy for you

Krist: thank you, good luck!

Leo: thank you.

So they separate at that moment.

Restaurant.

In the evening, Yves goes to pick up Ernestine and they go to a restaurant for dinner. They place their order, Ernestine takes the same thing as Yves.

Ernestine: this dish is really excellent!

Yves: it’s my favorite dish.

Ernestine: you have taste. So, how is your internship going?

Yves: yes it’s okay. And you, your work really takes up your time it seems.

Ernestine: yes, I come home at the boss’s time. Except on weekends when I finish at 1 p.m.

Yves: I see. And if not, I wondered why such a beautiful girl would be all alone.

Ernestine: I am not alone.

Yves: you’ll excuse me but, I’ve been watching you for a while but I’ve never seen you in the company of anyone.

Ernestine: were you spying on me?

Krist’s home.

Commander Leon visits Krist with the project financing agreement he read and signed. Krist therefore signs him a check.

Léon: thank you Krist, when the project is executed, I will ask you to train the agents in mixed martial arts.

Krist: No worries.

Leon: thank you for everything.

They shake hands and Léon leaves. Krist calls Célestin.

Célestin: yes Krist!

Krist: The commander agreed to sign the agreement. I signed him a check.

Célestin: okay. There’s no problem with that.

Krist: ok thank you.

Restaurant.

Ernestine: were you spying on me?

Yves: no, I was looking for the courage to talk to you.

Ernestine (smile): Are you afraid to talk to me?

Yves: yes, I was a little hesitant. But that’s in the past now. Today, I am here before you and I am not dead.

Ernestine (laughing): are you serious, did you think I was going to hurt you or eat you?

Yves: no, no, you know it’s just this part of us that often tells us that we can’t, no she’s too good for you, etc. you see.

Ernestine: I don’t worry. I believed that nothing frightened men, but for a girl to frighten them, it was really stupid.

Ernestine: really! You haven’t said that agreeing to have dinner with you means agreeing to go out with you.

Yves: I’m happy but I congratulate you on the task because if I ask for it, you’re saying that you’re going to think about it and you’re torturing your mind for nothing.

Ernestine: you’re not beating around the bush!

Yves: no, beating around the bush, these are old techniques. We are no longer at this point.

Ernestine: you know nothing about me, you don’t know if I have anyone in my life.

Yves: if it’s these, we just have to make an iron bead that I’m sure to win because to see this smile every day of my life, I could surprise myself. And then, I’m sure you’re all alone, that’s why you’re so beautiful.

Ernestine: why do you say that?

Yves: because if you are with someone, you will certainly have problems that will make you forget your body.

Ernestine: eheh, very funny. Are you not someone in your life? For a young boy like you, that would surprise me.

Yves: you think I’m nice then, thank you!

Ernestine: don’t feel like you’re growing wings ok? It was just a compliment as usual.

Yves: I am and thank you. To answer your question, I’m alone too. I tried to go further with my best friend, but some friends are doomed to stay this way.

Ernestine: I see, I’m sorry.

Yves: you’re sorry, but why? If it was a bargain, I wouldn’t have met you?

Ernestine: we’re not in a relationship yet.

Yves: yes it’s true, I dream too much.

She laughs about it.

Yves: otherwise, what didn’t work in your previous discussion?

Ernestine: I discovered that he was a drug dealer and that his name was Corneille and that he was out for Geuthier!

Yves: oh, what a nightmare! I’m sorry.

Ernestine: thank you. You see, I’m not a virgin anymore.

Yves: yes, excuse me!

He takes a tissue and wipes his forehead.

Ernestine: what are you doing, why are you wiping your forehead?

Yves: I thought you read on my forehead I’m looking for a virgin girl?

Ernestine: you’re really funny, you know!

Yves: I like to spread good humor, it brings joy to my heart. Sadness gnaws at the bones. Do you still love him?

Ernestine: no, no and no.

Yves: good news for me. I drink to that! Felt like a princess.

She only smiles and laughs. If she could understand or see this laziness of love that burns in Yves’ heart for her. It’s as if he’s just encountered love for the first time, but he has to master this guy.

Yves: if you continue to smile like that, I risk spending the whole evening and even the night here with you. I could spend all my time here looking at you and feel bored.

Ernestine: don’t you flatter me pes per heserd?

Yves: no! I want to tell you a truth Ernestine. I fell in love with you since that day on the motorcycle with Krist! Damn, do you know that’s all I’ve wanted to tell you since we got here?

Ernestine (laughing): I like you too Yves.

Yves: that’s what I told you. Thank me for saving you from unnecessary thoughts.

Ernestine: who tells you that I’ll tell you that I’m thinking about it?

Yves: I was sure of it and that’s what I wanted to hear from you.

Ernestine: Damn, you’re setting me up.

Yves: and you just agreed to go out with me. That’s the goal for tonight so we’re going home already.

Ernestine: we have only just arrived.

Yves: Are you just looking at yourself?

Ernestine: it’s pes vrei, 9 p.m. already? My brother is worried.

Yves: So it was your brother at the ceremony the other day, I was sure of it. Come on, I’ll take you back, we’ll do it another time.

Yes, do that, you prolonged this episode too much.

Ernestine: thank you for this evening, I really liked it.

Yves: me the same princess.

So he takes him back to her place to go home.

Ernestine: I didn’t know. I thought that nothing scared men, but for a girl to scare them, it’s really funny.

Yves: hum, you don’t know men. Behind this masculinity hides a morbid fear but hey, enough about men, let’s talk about us instead. If you accepted this invitation, it’s because you agreed to go out with me.

Ernestine: really! You didn’t say that agreeing to have dinner with you means agreeing to go out with you.

Yves: I know but I’m making it easier for you because if I ask, you’ll say that you’re going to think about it and you’ll torture your mind for nothing.

Ernestine: you’re not beating around the bush han!

Yves: no, beating around the bush, those are old techniques. We are no longer at that stage.

Ernestine: you don’t know anything about me, you don’t know if I have anyone in my life.

Yves: if that’s the case, we’ll just have to do a showdown that I’m sure to win because to see that smile every day of my life, I could surprise myself. And then, I’m sure you’re all alone, that’s why you’re so beautiful.

Ernestine: why do you say that?

Yves: because if you are with someone, you will certainly have problems that will make you forget about your body.

Ernestine: haha, very funny. Don’t you have someone in your life? For a handsome boy like you, that would surprise me.

Yves: you think I’m handsome then, thank you!

Ernestine: don’t feel yourself growing wings ok? It was just a compliment like so many others.

Yves: I know and thank you. To answer your question, I’m alone too. I tried to move forward with my best friend, but some friendships are destined to stay at this point.

Ernestine: I see, I’m sorry.

Yves: you’re sorry, but why? If it had worked, I wouldn’t have met you?

Ernestine: we are not in a relationship yet.

Yves: ah yes it’s true, I dream too much.

She laughs about it.

Yves: if not, what went wrong in your previous relationship?

Ernestine: I discovered that he was a drug trafficker and that his name was Corneille and that he worked for Gauthier!

Yves: oh, what a nightmare! I’m sorry.

Ernestine: thank you. You see, I’m not a virgin anymore.

Yves: oh yes, excuse me!

He takes a tissue and wipes his forehead.

Ernestine: what are you doing, why are you wiping your forehead?

Yves: I thought you read on my forehead I’m looking for a virgin girl?

Ernestine: you’re really funny you know!

Yves: I like to spread good humor, it brings joy to the heart. Sadness gnaws at the bones. Do you still love him?

Ernestine: no, no and no.

Yves: good news for me. I drink to that! Cheers princess.

She just smiles and laughs. If she could understand or see this flame of love that burns in Yves’ heart for her. It’s as if he’s just encountered love for the first time, but this guy knows how to control himself.

Yves: if you continue to smile like that, I risk spending the whole evening and even the night here with you. I could spend all my time here looking at you and never get bored.

Ernestine: you’re not flattering me by any chance?

Yves: no! I’ll tell you the truth, Ernestine. I fell in love with you ever since that day on the bike with Krist! F**k, do you know that’s all I’ve wanted to tell you since we got here?

Ernestine (laughing): I like you too, Yves.

Yves: that’s what I told you. Thank me for saving you from unnecessary thoughts.

Ernestine: who tells you that I would tell you that I was going to think about it?

Yves: I was sure of it and that’s what I wanted to hear from you.

Ernestine: Damn, you tricked me.

Yves: and you just agreed to go out with me. That’s the goal for tonight so we’re going home already.

Ernestine: we have only just arrived.

Yves: do you just have to look at your watch?

Ernestine: it’s not true, 9 p.m. already? My brother will be worried.

Yves: So it was your brother at the ceremony the other day, I was sure of it. Come on, I’ll take you back, we’ll do it another time.

Yes do that, you prolonged this episode too much.

Ernestine: thank you for this evening, I really liked it.

Yves: me the same princess.

So he takes her home before returning home.