Aileen
The next morning, I was a bit late to wake up. Because Dave had passed out right on top of me. And we slept the night off like that.
I somehow managed to move him off me and when I tried to get up from the bed, he pulled me into his arms again.
“Come on, I’m late. Let me go!” I said, trying to push him away.
“No, I don’t want to,” he grunted, his eyes still closed.
“This isn’t the time to be funny.”
“You find me funny? That’s great,” he chuckled.
He’s not listening.
“Look, if you don’t” My phone started ringing the very minute.
I looked around searching for it. Only to find it under the pillow.
I picked up to see Mom calling. I answered it immediately.
“Hello.”
“Aileen, good morning. I’m on my way home. Are you awake?”
“Uh, yeah. When will you be back home?”
“In 20 minutes. I’m very close.”
“Oh……20 minutes, you’ll be home. Very good then, we can have breakfast together,” I said aloud for him to hear.
But he pretended not to hear me, keeping his eyes closed.
“Yeah, sure. I’m going to sleep after eating. I had to take someone else’s shift yesterday night to go to the party today.”
“I see, All alright then. I’ll be waiting, come back fast.”
“Sure, and…”
“And?”
She went silent for a minute before speaking again, “I may not be in my best mood lately. I’m sorry if I caused any nuisance to the both of you. Forgive me.”
I gripped the phone tightly. “You still aren’t over that, are you? Just forget about it already!”
“It’s easy to say but I can’t get over just because you told me to,” she replied. “I’m trying my best to forget about him, his words and everything. Still, it’s etched into my memory. I can’t just shake it off like it never happened. Cause it did. It’s the reality.”
“You should never allow him to take so much control over your life and emotions. He shouldn’t matter that much to you”Dave snatched the phone away from my hands the very minute suddenly.
He heard what she said silently, and handed me the phone.
“The way he pointed out my insecurities stained my image. I already had low self-esteem, to begin with. This only made it worse,” her voice was on the verge of breaking up when she spoke.
“I understand. But, you have to get over him,” I replied.
By then, Dave sat up on the bed and seemed to be thinking about something.
“Trust me, I’m trying. I’m trying my very best. And I don’t want to show this side of me to Dave. That’s why I haven’t told him about our meeting with Peter. I kept it a secret from him.”
What? She didn’t tell him about it? Then, should I have kept my mouth shut for the better?
What if she finds out I told him everything without her permission?
That sounds bad.
I need to speak about this with Dave.
“But, it’s been two days already. You should tell him about it, don’t you think so?” I asked.
“I know. I’m feeling bad for keeping everything secret as well. And right before our anniversary, something like this happened. I was planning to throw a surprise party for him along with a vacation for two days in Miami. I was going to book the tickets this weekend. But, I’m not mentally prepared for any celebrations at the moment.”
“Guess I have to postpone our plan till I have sorted out my matters. I’m being an emotional burden to everyone around me.”
Their wedding anniversary? Dave didn’t tell me anything about it though. And she wants to go on vacation by themselves too?
Not that I’m jealous.
“Don’t worry. You aren’t an emotional burden to anyone. I’m there for you,” I reassured her. “Now, come back home and we’ll talk. I’m hanging up.”
“Yeah, alright. Bye.”
After ending the call, I kept the phone aside on the table and turned to Dave.
I’m feeling bad for Mom as well. But, first things first.
“What are you thinking about right now?” I asked, placing my hand on his shoulder.
“Hm…. nothing that much. Your mom is really suffering, isn’t she? How can we help her to fix herself-imagee?”
He’s thinking about Mom now.
“I don’t know. The only one who can help her is herself only. Unless she can face her real self and comes to terms with the reality she’s going to suffer.”
“That…sounds quite problematic, doesn’t it?” he added, gazing back at me. “We can’t help her out without beating up your dad?”
“Don’t beat him up without me!” I retorted, “Anyway, she’s coming in 20 minutes. Go and freshen up or put on some clothes. You’re butt naked.”
“So are you,” he smirked.
I crossed my arms to cover my chest the very minute.
“You are mean. By the way, can I ask you something?”