He was so close when my phone rang, I quickly jerked back. My hands trembled as I saw the name on the screen; it was my husband…
“He… hello” I stuttered.
“Where are you? Are you okay? I hope you are not in the storm” I heard the voice from the other end. I tried to talk, but I couldn’t. I don’t know why, but I felt strange, there was something in his voice, something I hadn’t heard for a long time, I couldn’t figure out what it was, but I knew it sounded like ‘care’….
“Are you there?” he asked.
“Yes” I replied aback; “I… ehm… I am safe, don’t worry. I will be home as soon as the storm is over”.
He asked if he should come pick me, but I told him not to that I wasn’t in the shop, I told him I was with Mark, in his house. He didn’t even bother to ask how I got to Mark’s place, he only asked to talk to Mark. I gave him the phone and they greeted each other. I was worried, what if he gets angry? He wasn’t usually this cool, he never liked Mark for once. What had come over him?
“He said he’d come for you in the morning”. I heard Mark’s voice.
“Ohh, okay” I replied.
It was a very long night. I went to the guest room after eating dinner and Mark went to his room. We didn’t talk much after the call, we just ate, and tried as much as possible to avoid eye contact with each other. I tried to sleep, but I couldn’t, the thought of the earlier incident kept coming to my mind. I tried to ignore it, but it didn’t stop! I recalled every single moment, his blue eyes, his pink lips, his hair, and his perfume. God, he looked so handsome.
Then, the thought of Mark crept into my mind. How come he wasn’t angry? I had never known him to be like that, he was always the jealous type, especially when mark was involved. That wasn’t my husband, that was nothing like him. Then the thought came; ‘what if he’s having an affair?’ I tried to repress, deny, regress, and displace it, but it didn’t stop coming. That was the only logical explanation for his behavior. God! I just hoped I was wrong.
“Good morning” I heard the familiar voice; Mark. I didn’t even know when I slept off. He brought me breakfast in bed. I felt like blushing, it had been such a long time since anyone did that for me. I ate the sandwich and coffee and it was so delicious.
“Do I have something on my lips?” I asked
“No!” he answered bewildered
“Do I look scary?”
“No!” he replied again.
“Then why are you staring at me like you are just seeing me for the first time?”
He laughed; “Nothing” he said.
“You are beautiful” I heard him say, just when I was about sipping my coffee… I chocked and the coffee spayed out of my mouth. “I’m sorry” I apologized, “and thank you” I added.
Now I was feeling strange, it wasn’t like I hadn’t heard such compliment before, I just wished it was my husband who said that. He used to tell me that each time I woke up, but now, he was alredy gone before I was awake. I just missed those time.
“You are sad” Mark said.
“What?” I asked aback.
“You are not happy. Jack is not making you happy” he said
“My marriage is just going through some tough time now, every marriage does. We will get through this” I encouraged myself. I just wished I believed what I just said. Then I heard him say;
“You deserve to be happy. I want to make you happy”
I looked up at him in surprise; I am marri…” I couldn’t finish my statement before his mouth covered mine. I tried to struggle, I wanted to push him away, but I found myself holding him close, I kissed him too. Then, like I just regained consciousness, I jerked away, and ran to the bathroom.
I stood under the shower for a while, I just couldn’t stop thinking about what just happened, I felt so dirty. How could I do this to my husband, how could I?
I got dressed and came out, then I saw my husband and Mark talking, then he looked at me and he smiled… He saw me this time, he saw me!...Then that thought came; “I really hope he’s having an affair”…