EPISODE THIRTY.
HAZEL.
“Thank you for putting me to sleep yesterday, Stefano.”I said warmly the moment he ignited the car back into life.
“I didn’t put you to sleep. You slept yourself”He chuckled. He moves his hair back in a sexy manner.
“Still, Thank you.”I mumble.
I turn to the window, staring at nature as we drive away from the outskirts of the city.
Shortly, My phone starts ringing, I bring it out and touch the sensor but it won’t pick up.
I continued tapping it until the fifth ring. Still, The reception was bad.
The phone suddenly went off, I got frustrated at this point.
“Can you please lend me your phone?”I ask Stefano in a soft manner.
He gave me one of his iphones which is still brand new.
I dial Mom’s number and place it on my ear.
“Mom. This is Hazel.”I introduce myself immediately.
“Oh. Hazel. I’ve been trying to call you since.”
“Mom, I’m sorry. I should have tried to call you.”
“Hazel. Why are you not getting in touch with us? You’ve not been sending Josh money. What the hell are you doing there?!”She shouts over the phone.
I press my lips together sadly, I really don’t want Josh to suffer but I’ve not been working. My laptop got spoiled and my minor online jobs have to be put on hold.
“You only have Josh to take care of now. Why can’t you work, Mom?”
“Your father hasn’t been giving me peace of mind. He left three days ago after you got married and hasn’t been coming home since then.”She shouts over the phone.
“Mom, Let me talk to Hazel.”Josh whined over the phone.
“Whatever!”She huff passed the phone to her.
“Hazel! Happy Birthday.”He squeals over the phone.
I got confused for a moment. How did he know my birthday? How was he able to remember?
“Josh.”I sob.
“You don’t have to worry about me. We are doing fine. Dad sends us money sometimes. We are living fine. Just, enjoy your day.”He says in his normal childish tone.
“Thank you.”I cried, cleaning my tears which kept falling profusely.
“Make sure you get your favorite chocolate cake. I love you so much.”He sobbed.
Mom collected the phone from her and cleared her throat awkwardly.
“Hazel, Today is…”
Stefano grabbed the phone from me and ended the call immediately.
“Ste…”
“You don’t have to continue the call.”He mumbled, not sparing me a glance.
“That’s right. Which kind of mother doesn’t remember their daughter’s birthday?”He huff getting pissed off.
“It’s just a normal day. That’s the day I work hard the most. I don’t have friends to celebrate it with.”
I placed my hands on my laps sadly.
Stefano slowly intertwined his hand with mine and rested it on my belly, He rubbed on the back softly without staring at me.
“Ste…”
“You’re cold. This will make you warm.”He mumbled simply.
Why’s he nice to me? This is so unlike him.
“You really don’t have to do this. You’re making me feel uncomfortable.”I say truthfully.
He stopped the car abruptly in the middle of the road. He turned to me with a blank expression on his face.
“I’m not doing this because I want to make you feel uncomfortable. I don’t fucking care about that, Hazel.”
“Then, why are you doing this to me?”
“Because I want to.”
“But…”
“No more questions, woman.”He snapped.
We got home after a long ride, I stepped down the car before he did.
“Thanks for the ride.”I bow slightly before walking into the house.
The girls aren’t back yet, Marcos was with Stefano’s Mom running errands for her. About food of course.
“Do you like eating that much?”I ask in an amused manner.
“I exist for food.”He wink at me.
I excused myself to go take my bath, It’s almost 11PM.
We will be going to the cinema in the evening.
I want to grab as much sleep as possible before evening so I won’t miss out on any details of the movie we are watching.
I wore a short shorts and a crop top which only covered my boobs.
I tied my hair up in a smart manner, I was about to lay back on the bed when the door opened.
“Happy Birthday!!”The ladies screamed at me once.
I gasp in surprise and walk closer to them.”How did you know?”I ask curiously.
“Your husband told us of course. And we got you this.”They pointed at Amanda who was holding a jewelry box.
She opened the box revealing a sparkling diamond necklace.
“It’s so beautiful.”I sob, melting in her arms.
She patted my bare back while the other joined in the hug.
“Now. Let’s go downstairs to cut your cake.”Megan squeals.
“A cake?”I asked in surprise.
“Yes. Mom baked it for you. A chocolate cake at that.”
“Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I thought today will be like another normal day.”I cried hugging Amanda again.
She chuckles and rubs my back soothingly.”You’re with us. With Stefano. And with his friends. Stefano is dear to us. We should cherish everything that’s around him.”She shrugs with a small smile lingering on her face.
They led me to the dining room. Others are waiting for me except Stefano who’s nowhere to be found.
They sang a birthday song for me while they took turns hugging me.
I was crying throughout, I really don’t deserve this. Why did Stefano arrange something like this for me if he’s not going to be around?
They cut the cake into moderate pieces for us and we all ate it together with expensive wines.
“Where’s Stefano?”I ask his Mom discreetly.
“He’s in his room. He doesn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. That’s why he told us to celebrate it with you.”
“Oh.”I mumble.
I excused myself after a while, I cut a small part of the cake, and took it with a glass of wine to his room.
I opened it without knocking since my hands were occupied.
Stefano was on his bed, working on his computer.
“Stefano.”I called even though he’s aware of my presence.
“Hi.”He greets.
I stretch the glass cup containing red wine at him, He sighs before collecting it from me.
I cut the cake with a fork and pushed it into his mouth. His face crumpled but he chewed on it.
“I don’t need to join in your fun.”He huff dismissively.
“Thank you.”I mumble.
He turned to me sharply as if he wasn’t expecting me to say that.
He took a deep breath and nodded slowly.
We stayed in that position for a long time until he got tired of the deafening silence.
“Get some sleep before evening. We are going to the cinema.”
“You don’t want me around you?”I ask in a sad tone.
“I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable and do what I don’t want to do.”
“What don’t you want to do?”
“Did you forget we weren’t on good terms before today? Remember what happened the last time, Hazel. Don’t forget it so fast.”He replied in a frustrated voice.
“Stefano…”I trailed off with pain visible in my voice.
“What you said last night, Let’s work towards it. I don’t want to make life harder for you. I ruined your dignity and made you feel worthless without apologizing to you till now. Are you not angry at me at all?”He shouts, dropping the laptop at the other side of the bed.
I slowly get down the bed and pick the glass.
“I shouldn’t have come.”
“You came to my room in that tempting outfit. You must really think of me as a considerate Husband.”He scoffed.
“I will get some sleep.”