ALESSIA
It was already nine in the evening, but Claude still hadn’t come home. Since we got married, this was the first time it happened. He usually came home early, picking me up from school. But tonight, it was already late, and he still hadn’t arrived. Is he still at the office?
I couldn’t understand why I was worrying about Claude when he didn’t seem to care about me. I should just leave him alone. After all, he was old enough, and he knew what he was doing.
I decided to just go to sleep. I didn’t have classes tomorrow because it’s the weekend. But I still needed rest. Studying was exhausting, especially when I have a husband. Besides my school worries, I couldn’t help but think about my husband, like now.
In the deep of the night, I woke up because I needed to use the bathroom. Claude still wasn’t home. When I checked the time, it was already one in the morning. Where could that man be? Was he still at the office at this hour? If only I had Claude’s cellphone, I would have called him.
I just sighed and went into the bathroom. When I returned to bed, I couldn’t go back to sleep anymore. I stared at the ceiling for a few minutes until my eyes grew tired and I eventually fell asleep.
I woke up at seven in the morning. I didn’t know what time I fell asleep after taking a shower. When I looked at the space beside my bed, it was still tidy. It seemed like Claude hadn’t slept next to me.
As I went downstairs and faced the dining table, Claude wasn’t there. Only his parents were.
“Good morning!”
“Good morning, dear!”
“Good morning!”
I was starting with my meal when Mom spoke again. “Is Claude still asleep? What time did he come home last night?”
That question froze me. I didn’t know how to answer my mother-in-law’s question. Should I tell the truth or cover up for my husband? It was difficult to decide.
“Sia, are you ignoring your mom? Why aren’t you answering?”
I was forced to lift my head. I nervously met the gaze of my in-laws. “Uh, well…” What should I say?
“Hello! Good morning, everyone!”
I flinched as I heard the familiar baritone voice. When I looked at where it came from, I saw Claude panting. He wasn’t wearing office clothes. It seemed like he had already showered because his hair was still wet.
My husband approached and greeted his parents before sitting next to me.
“Hey! Good morning!” he greeted me with a smile.
I blinked. I hadn’t realized I had been staring at Claude. I had been caught red-handed.
“G-good morning,” I replied shyly, returning my gaze to my food.
“What were you guys talking about earlier?” Claude inquired.
“We were asking Sia what time you came home last night. It was late, and you still weren’t back,” Mom answered.
“Hmm… I think it was past eleven. Zion invited me out. He doesn’t often invite me, so I couldn’t refuse. Besides, our other friends were also there.”
I noticed that Claude’s parents exchanged glances.
“Try to limit your hangouts with friends now that you’re married. Don’t stay out too late either, so Sia won’t worry about you,” Mom advised.
I suddenly felt embarrassed, especially with the last thing that Mom said. How did my mother-in-law know I was worried about Claude? Did she notice? Will my husband be angry with me?
“Your mother is right, Claude. The priority of a married man is his wife. It’s not like when you were single and could meet your friends anytime. But now, your situation is different. Do you understand me, son?” Claude’s father intervened in the conversation.
“Yes, Dad. I’m sorry,” Claude said apologetically.
Dad sighed. “Don’t apologise to me. Apologize to Sia. As your mother said, she’s the one who worries about you the most.”
I couldn’t sit still in my seat. I felt like it was burning beneath me. I didn’t want to look at my husband. I was nervous about his reaction.
“I’m sorry, Sia. Next time, I’ll ask for permission,” Claude said.
I couldn’t do anything but steal glances at Claude. He was staring at me seriously.
“It’s okay. I understand,” I replied, trying to sound composed despite my nerves.
I finished my meal first, then quickly excused myself. I nervously headed straight to our room. Less than five minutes later, Claude arrived.
“What was that for?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?” I asked, startled. Claude’s face couldn’t be read when he faced me.
“You told Mom that I didn’t sleep here last night?”
I shook my head vigorously. “I didn’t say that. I didn’t even answer Mom’s question about what time you came home. You arrived just in time when she was asking me.”
Claude approached me and grab my chin. His jaws clenched as he stared sharply at me.
“Don’t make up stories if you don’t want to get hurt. Of all the things I dislike in a woman, it’s being nosy. I didn’t give you the right to meddle in my life. You’re just my wife. Learn to stay in your place. Do you understand me?”
I could only nod. I couldn’t answer out of fear. I was afraid that Claude would get angrier if I didn’t.
Claude let go of me and abruptly sat on the edge of the bed. He removed his shoes before lying down.
Meanwhile, I just stood there, watching his every move. I couldn’t even leave my spot. I felt like a statue for several minutes.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard Claude’s soft snoring.
Feeling weak, I sat down on the edge of the bed. I felt exhausted. I also held my chin, which was slightly hurting. I went into the walk-in closet and faced the large mirror. The part of my face that Claude held was red. I would just apply concealer to hide it. I didn’t want Claude’s parents, especially Mom, to notice. I might get scolded by Claude again if they did.
I was sure that next time, I would get something worse than this if I made a wrong move or said the wrong thing.
My father was strict too. But he only disregarded me. He never spoke ill of me or raised his hand against me. He just seemed to ignore me as if I weren’t important. He was closer to Lia. That was okay with me because I wasn’t neglected in my needs. My mother and Aunt Edith were there, and I knew they loved me dearly.
My father was very cold towards me. Just as cold as Claude’s treatment of me. The only difference between the two was that my father didn’t get angry like my husband did. He didn’t interfere much. Sometimes I thought maybe I wasn’t his real child, which was why he treated me that way. At least Claude noticed me somehow, albeit always in anger. It was as if in his eyes, I couldn’t do anything right. But that was better than being ignored.
I opened the vanity case and applied makeup to my face. I didn’t want to be criticized later when I faced my in-laws. After putting on makeup, I returned to bed. I looked at Claude, who was sleeping soundly. Where could he have come from? Why didn’t he come home last night?
Was that woman, whom I heard when he called me yesterday, with him last night? What did Dad say earlier? Was my husband really a womanizer? Maybe that was true. Could it be that Claude didn’t come home last night because he was with another woman?
But whatever the reason was, I still didn’t have the right to interfere. Besides being forbidden by Claude, our relationship wasn’t normal. We would still go back to the fact that our marriage was just an agreement. We weren’t a normal married couple like Mom and Dad wanted us to be.
There had been so much in my thoughts already, mostly about Claude. I could not also keep my mind away from the thought of falling in love with this man.
We would eventually part ways. But could I bear to stay with him for a year? What if I fell in love with him during that time? Hopefully not. That would just double the pain. I was in danger. What if I got pregnant? I wasn’t using contraceptives. Claude also ejaculated inside me. What would happen to us and our potential child? Would my husband accept it?
Whatever will be, will be.