OLIVIA
“Olivia, please stop what you’re doing because it doesn’t make any sense. Don’t get so hard on Kate. None of this was her fault and you know that. She was just trying to be helpful. It’s you who’s being unreasonable here. You always act like you know it all when you’re not even close to perfection.” Just when I thought I’d heard it all, Adrian blasted me without holding back because of Kate.
“I’m being unreasonable?
You dare open your gutter-infested mouth and say that to me?” I pointed to myself. I was close to shedding uncontrollable tears. I was hurt by Adrian’s utterances. I decided not to retaliate because he would be gone soon.
“That’s not the point. You got it wrong.,” he wanted to explain after realizing his mistakes.
I didn’t let that happen, knowing that he meant everything he said. “No, it’s fine. You weren’t under duress when you said that.”
“You still haven’t answered my question, though. Don’t act like I’ve forgotten so soon because I haven’t. What the heck are you doing here?” I asked him again. To my understanding, Adrian hasn’t said anything significant since he got here. It wasn’t enough for him to show up unannounced, he still had the guts to take sides with Kate and expect me to act cool.
Adrian went into silent mode. He stutters at every attempt to speak. My utterances might have hit him real deep and seized his breath.
He was sweating profusely despite the conducive environment. I kept him in a hot seat. I could perceive the smell oozing out from his burning butt already.
“I am sorry for everything,” he apologized and leaned towards me. I didn’t hit him, neither did I yell at him. It only took an awkward glance to scare him away.
“What are you sorry for? I can’t recall berating you for hurting me. You have to be more specific,” I taunted Adrian and made him miserable. I knew what he insinuated. I just wanted him to say it like he meant it, without having to fake emotions.
“I’m sorry for yelling at you. I apologize for showing up unannounced. I should have notified you of my arrival,” he added.
“And?” I rolled my brows. I wasn’t satisfied with his apology.
“For the sex, too.
I apologize for taking advantage of you knowing that you’re married. I capitalized on your weakness, and I’m deeply sorry about that,” he finally hit the nail on the head.
I had waited for this moment all my life. The last time I spoke about the sex, he acted unbothered as though I never mattered to him. It was fun to see him apologize in such a manner. It sends butterflies in my belly. It assures me that the sex is never going to happen again.
“What can I do to get us back to winning ways?” He pleaded.
“You want to know, don’t you?” I asked him. He nodded in response like a lizard. If I could make Cyril act like this, I would be the happiest woman in the world.
“You already apologized and it was accepted. Now I want you to leave and never return. Your presence isn’t needed here. Isn’t that obvious?” I dismissed Adrian. Yet, he refused to leave.
I got tired of kicking him out and thought it was best to walk away from him. Perhaps, my absence would be enough to make him bow out.
I was wrong.
The moment I walked away, he followed me like a confused tourist.
“Are you seriously asking me to leave? What was my crime? I deserved to know. Don’t punish me for what I know nothing about,”
“I’m glad you find it funny, but I’m deadly serious. Since you want to know, I will tell you. Adrian, you’re the reason my husband is in a critical condition.” I pin the blame on Adrian, knowing that I was the architect of my misfortunes.
“I’m what?
You were the one who hit him with your car. Why pin it on me?” He lamented.
“Who told you?
How did you find out? Wait, it’s Kate, right?” I freaked out. Kate had one job, to keep her mouth shut and she failed woefully.
“Yes, she did,
Why you’re panicking? She was trying to get help,” Adrian defended Kate and justified her actions. He’s been taking sides with her lately, which makes me wonder if they’re having a secret relationship.
“What else did she tell you? Speak up now!” I flared up.
Suddenly, Kate walked in on us and satisfied my curiosity.
“What did you tell Adrian over the phone?” I focused my attention on Kate. She’s in the best position to provide the answers I seek.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She looked confused. Her gaze was aimed at Adrian while she responded to my question. I could hear her heart pounding faster.
“Fuck your pretense.
Of course, you know what I’m talking about. You told Adrian that I hit Cyril” I wailed.
“Yes, I did.
I am sorry.
I just needed someone to talk to.
I was confused and scared,” she finally admitted.
“How nice of you?
You needed someone to talk to and figured that it was Adrian. I thought you were smart. I am so disappointed in you. Who else did you tell?”
“What do you mean?
I’m still here,” Adrian cuts in to interrupt me.
“Stay out of this.
You’ve caused enough damage already,” I yelled at Adrian to put him in his place.
“Back to you,” I focused my attention on Kate. “Who else did you tell that I hit Cyril? I don’t want to believe that you only told Adrian,” I asked Kate in a calm tone. I wouldn’t want everyone in the hospital to find out about my dirty little secret.
I expected Kate to debunk the allegations against her immediately. Unfortunately, she didn’t. Her silence was the response I required. She gave me a thousand reasons to believe that she was guilty. If Kate, whom I trusted so much, would hurt me in such a manner, it equally means that I’m not even safe to an outsider.