“It’s just past midnight.”Christian muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. Pulling himself up, he rested his head against the wall with his eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Even though he had just woken up from a dreamless sleep which had left him drained, he wanted to return but each time he closed his eyes, they would be wide open the next minute.
Frustrated, he fixed his gaze on the clock only to start calculating the hours left before dawn.
“12…1…2…3… ugh! More than four hours left until dawn. What am I going to do now? Going back to bed is impossible.”He groaned as he let out a low sigh of frustration.
Swinging his feet off the bed, he made his way towards the bathroom and after washing his face, he returned to the window and then parted the curtains.
Now leaning against the wall, he began to stare at the sleeping city.
Minutes after minutes went by, still yet, he didn’t have the urge to return to bed despite all his attempts to tire himself out.
In contrast to the sound of the bustling city, it was the chiming of the wall clock which was directly above his head together with the chirping of insects and the night birds that were the only sound which could be heard.
Suddenly there was a stir and a startled Christian turned around only to see Antonia running her fingers on his side of the bed.
Knowing fully well that the next minute she would be up, he quickly made his way to his side.
“Hey, you’re up.”She said immediately her eyes fell on him.
“Please get back to sleep, it’s nothing.”He coaxed when she tried to sit up but she was obstinate.
“Nothing? It’s in the middle of the night and you are up, you don’t expect me to believe that you are okay.”She scoffed.
“I’m fine, please just go back to bed. You have a long day ahead of you.”
“And…”
“Don’t worry about me.”He said hurriedly as he helped her lie on her back.
Antonia, still not convinced that all was alright, wouldn’t shut her eyes. She was just staring at Christian who was still trying to convince her to return to bed.
“You’re the one keeping things away from me now.”She scoffed, sitting up once again.
“Who says so? I’m not feeling sleepy that’s why. I bet it’s the effect of the coffee I took while at work.”Still not buying it, Christian had to grab her arm and with a calm voice, though he was boiling on the inside, he said, “Believe me, it’s barely twenty four hours since we talked out transparency. I wouldn’t be the first to break it, you just need to trust me.”
“It’s not as if I don’t trust you, I’m just worried that you are up. You wouldn’t be if your mind is settled, something serious must be bothering you right now and it’s best if you share…”
Seeing there was no way he could convince Antonia, he had no choice but to join her in bed. Leaning towards her, he gave her a swift peck on her forehead and with his hands now around her waist, he closed his eyes to sleep but it was to no avail.
Rian – He called in his head, snapping his eyes open.
Instead of getting some sleep and taking his mind off the things that were bothering him, his mind went to Rian. He found it funny that he was thinking about Rian of all people.
“Rian, let’s see…”
Flashback…
Just before using the subway, Christian had seen Rian holding hands with another lady that wasn’t Laura. At first, he wanted to ignore it, but on a second thought, he decided to trail after the duo.
Due to the mini crowd, it was hard to keep up with them but since he really wanted to find out what they were up to, he didn’t stop.
When they got into the convenience building, he halted for a moment. Curiosity gnawing on him, he hurried towards the building.
The moment he stepped in, he came out the next minute since Rian was going to see him.
“That was close.”He muttered, holding his chest as he stared at the closed door. Even in his haste to leave, he had walked in on them kissing.
End of flashback…
“Holding back it’s like betraying Laura, I have no choice but to tell her.”He said aloud and the next minute he covered his with, his eyes wide open with shock.
He had totally forgotten that Antonia was with him. When she didn’t stir or say a word to him, he took a peek of her face and immediately he let out a sigh of relief since she was fast asleep.
“That was close.”
Grateful she didn’t wake up, he turned to the other side of the wall. This time around, he didn’t find it difficult to get some sleep.
*****
The following morning, when his eyes fluttered open, he turned towards Antonia’s side of the bed but it was empty. He was about to start searching for her when the door of the bathroom creaked open and she stepped in.
Smiling at him, she said, “You’re awake now.”
“Yeah, I managed to get some sleep after a futile attempt.”
“Did you sleep well?”She was already preparing to leave for the gym that morning since it was a part of her morning routine.
“Uhm, yeah thanks to you.”Christian replied with a wink as he flopped on the foot of the bed. Grinning, Antonia went ahead with her preparation and when she was ready, she pecked him before leaving.
A few minutes after her departure, Christian reached out for his phone that was on the lamp stand. Since he woke up that morning, he had the prompting to call Laura but he didn’t want to do that in Antonia’s presence and so he had to wait.
Meanwhile, Laura was getting ready for work when his call came through. Pushing her buzzing phone into her bag, she hastened up with her preparation.
Her ringing phone wouldn’t let her concentrate so she had no choice but to receive the call.
“About last night, it was a mistake.”She said immediately the lines connected.
“I didn’t call because of last night.”Christian replied. Slightly embarrassed for being quick to give a response, Laura began to rub her nape. Biting the side of her lips, she tried to guess why he had called but she was unable to come up with any reason.
“So… why did you call?”She asked after a brief silence.
“Can we meet? I have something to say to you.”
“This morning? Can’t we just talk on the phone, I’m on my way out or maybe if you want, I can come see you during the day.”Shs replied as she grabbed her purse that was lying on the table.
With her phone still against her ear, she kicked her shoes on, “Hello, you’re still there?”
“Just come around, I wouldn’t take much of your time, I promise.”
“Okay fine…”she mused.
“I’m home.”He said and with that ended the call.
Though the idea didn’t sit well with her, Laura had no choice but to go see him like he had requested.
On her arrival, she called out to him but he didn’t reply. She even tried to reach him on the phone but the lines wouldn’t connect.
Left with no other option, she had no choice but to push the door in.
“I’m here now, where are you?”She asked, stepping into the living room. Instead of a response, she was greeted with silence, it was as if no one was home.
“But he said he was home, where did he go within thirty minutes.”She mused, dialing his phone again but like before, it didn’t connect.
“Christian, where are you? I’m home.”She called out again.
When he still didn’t answer, she lowered herself on one of the couches, hoping the entrance door would cave in and then he would return but time flew by, still yet he didn’t come through like she had expected.
Now tired of waiting, she made her way towards the hallway, and soon she was heading towards his room.
The more she got close, the clearer the faint voice became.
“He’s in here all along.”She mused, walking cautiously.
Getting to his room, the door was slightly open. She wanted to go in and inform him of her presence but suddenly she halted and then pressed her ear against the door. She was eavesdropping on the conversation he was having on the phone.
The moment she heard approaching footsteps, she peeped through the keyhole only to see Christian walking towards the door.
Scared that he would catch her eavesdropping, she turned around to leave but in her haste to do so, she didn’t see the lone chair she had walked past earlier so she bumped into it.