Days After You's

Chapter 15 - One Life (1)

Time passed quickly, not feeling like Stella and I had entered the first one year mark of our marriage. Nothing special happened, but I can say that now everything feels better than the first few months. I had gotten used to the presence of Stella's figure in the same place and space as me and almost no longer felt too awkward to chat with her.

Almost.

That awkwardness is certainly still there, and I think it will stay for another four years. After all, from the beginning, Stella and I were two individuals who were not meant to be together but forced to unite, so it was only natural.

Instead of celebrating the anniversary like other couples in general, on this sunny Saturday morning I was even surprised by Stella who appeared in front of the entrance with Kevin with a grim face.

What the hell is this?

Stella and somber are not common words associated together, coupled with my mood that is actually good because it has completed all the important work for the next two weeks to be able to relax enjoy morning coffee on this holiday, I felt an inner conflict to give a proper response.

"What's wrong?" I asked quietly as Stella and Kevin were still standing in the entrance hallway with their pouting faces without saying anything. I was still in my pajamas and had no time to reflect because I went straight to make coffee but I guess my morning face was not that bad until it had to make them both look there.

"Oh, Luiz are you awake?" Ask Stella.

"Hm."

Then to my surprise again, after hearing the answer, Stella just waltzed away to the stairs with Kevin without saying anything more. I—Is he mad because I missed breakfast time? I know it's ten o'clock past but don't blame me if I wake up late after working all night, Stella also knew about this habit of mine this weekend so why would she suddenly ignore me so easily this time?

While putting an empty cup of coffee in the sink, I saw Stella coming back down on her own. The atmosphere of my heart that was already affected made me not directly say anything to him. Besides if something happens—and I'm sure something happens—he'll tell me first.

"Luiz, are you having coffee before breakfast again?"

"You weren't there when I got off, so..."

"So you want to cheat and skip breakfast again?" Stella smiled, but her eyes did not smell anything she said, "Don't be so Luiz, the food is on the table and—"

"Stella, what's going on?"

I had no intention of being disrespectful by cutting out Stella's sentence, but I wasn't looking to hear her talk. I wonder what so disturbed his mood that it had to pollute mine this morning. I could have thought it would be related to Kevin and Naomi again, but I still have to know what really happened in order to take the next stance. Whatever it is so that I can enjoy this rare holiday without the burden of the mind.

"Oh.it's nothing, Luiz."

"Stella, story."

Impressed by my increasingly assertive tone of voice, Stella then advocated a pair of palms to me. Still confused, I saw his hands, the texture of his skin looked a little rough but it was the small scratches there that grabbed my entire attention right then and there.

"When I went to bring food for Kevin and Naomi this morning, it was a mess. Many broken plates were scattered and Naomi was crying. I—"

"Hold Stella, take care of your hand first."

I had a bad feeling about what he was going to say, but I was also uncomfortable seeing the scratches on his hands being left just like that, so I told him to treat and close the wound first before telling me.

Stella followed my words and went to get the medicine box. My eyes were attached to the one who covered the scratch with the wound plaster. Just then because I spontaneously had a hold of his fingers, realizing it was not as rough as it seemed but also immediately released it so aware of what I had done.

"I honestly don't want to tell you, Luiz. I don't want to bother you about this anymore."

I let out a breath. I thank him if he has caught my reluctance, but from the beginning, I have been involved in this matter, right?

"But I've already seen you bring Kevin here. So there's no point in rambling anymore, Stella."

Stella nodded, "This concerns Naomi's husband. I told you once that he looks bad, right? It was not just from looks but his nature as well. He always spent the money that Naomi's father transferred every month to save their family just for gambling and drinking. When banned, he will get angry and run amok. Sometimes I hit Naomi."

"Naomi's father?"

"Oh, I haven't told you. Naomi's father owns a large ice factory in C City. He's the one who bought the apartment unit here for Naomi and her family."

What about her husband, doesn't he work? As if reading my thoughts, Stella continued to speak.

"His husband worked as a salesperson at one of the insurance companies after being fired several times from his old job. Naomi said her salary is nothing compared to the cost of living in this area, so the money from her father is more supportive of their lives so far."

"If you realize so, why don't they just move to a simpler housing? Which costs less."

Stella sighed, "His husband doesn't want to. Naomi said to her husband living here raising her name in the eyes of colleagues and people she met. He always hallucinated becoming a millionaire who would soon rule the region with that reputation and he was also thrilled to buy expensive suits like yours with their money. Last night, Naomi couldn't stand her behavior anymore..."

"They quarreled?"

Both of my eyebrows shot up, "...Moving out?"

"Yes, go back to her parents' house. She was also determined to divorce her husband."

"So that's why you're sad, 'cause he's moving?"

Stella's eyes were round, "Not Luiz, I was sad because all of this had to happen. The problem of moving, it's better for them. I honestly tried to persuade Naomi to move from two months ago when she saw her husband yelling at her in front of me."

Oh, and he didn't tell me about it at all. What if she's also hurt by Naomi's husband?

"OK.." I said.

Stella tilts her head, "So...Isn't Kevin here for a while? I told him to sleep in my room first because there are no more empty rooms. He hasn't slept all night."

I nodded, "Hm."

Stella smiled, this time looking a little happier, "Thank you, Luiz. I know you don't like having strangers in your house, but you're still trying to understand. As expected, Luiz is a good and reliable person."

Compliments so again. I was always unprepared to hear such compliments, I was not a good person or one that should continue to be relied upon as in his view. I just let Kevin stay because everything has happened, he's been asleep upstairs and there's no way I'm going to throw him out just because of the displeasure. After all what Stella calls 'my house' is now her home as well.

Unknowingly I had been biting my inner cheek earlier while looking at Stella's hand wrapped in plaster. Stella who came to her senses then waved her hand slowly, "It doesn't hurt. Don't worry Luiz."

I take my eyes off. No, I'm not worried about anything.

"Luiz, you know, actually I didn't really believe in Naomi the first time I met her. I was worried that he was just acting well in front of us, so I decided to stop by as often as possible to see Kevin. But as time went on, I felt more and more sympathetic towards Naomi and wanted to help her."

What Stella did was honestly quite surprising but my brain did not have time to process it deeper because of the gesture she did next. Without a cue, he raised his hand to comb my hair, I could only sculpt while he was trying to tame the stray hair after my sleep.

"Oh and of course I still remember your advice not to interfere excessively. And on the other hand, I'm more grateful that my father married me to you, even if for just a moment, I can't imagine living with someone like Naomi's husband."

I didn't want to imagine that and didn't want to think about the movement of her hands in my hair, so I continued asking, "Are they also betrothed?"

Stella shook her head, "No, they met while still in college and fell in love. But Naomi's husband changed one hundred and eighty degrees after marriage. Though Naomi and her parents believed in her when she said she would develop a career in this city."

"Did his parents not know about any of this? Why are they still letting their daughter be with a guy who's been no good all this time?"

"About that, I also don't understand why Naomi refrained from telling her parents until now. But thank God he changed his mind and chose to go back and be honest with them about what really happened."

"Hm..."

I realized Stella's attempt to justify my hair was not going to be fruitful in a short time, so I stopped her hand movements by lowering it from my hair while clearing a soft throat.

"...I just remember checking email first," I said as I moved on. I've gotten the gist of the problem going on, so this story session is enough to get here.

"Ah, I also remember having to cook for lunch," Stella looked at the wall clock before moving on, "Thank you again Luiz, you've taken the time to listen."

"Hm."

I then spent half of the time before lunch in the room to check and answer emails that were not really urgent. While the other half I use to double-check all the documents I just finished last night. I did everything so as not to think about the tingling sensation that had arisen at the top of my head since earlier.

When it was time for me to go out and go downstairs, I found Stella arranging the dishes on the dinner table. He looked up when he sensed my existence, "Oh, Luiz. I was just about to call you. Kevin's not up yet. Wait, yeah, I'm gonna go wake him up after tidying this up."

Stella then hurriedly put the new utilities she used in the sink as if being chased for time, I noticed she almost dropped a kitchen knife and grimaced softly. If this is how he can-can he will finish the wound plaster in the medicine box even more today.

Instead I heard my own voice say, "Let me wake him up."

Stella was silent, looking shocked for a moment after hearing my initiative despite still smiling at the end, "Oh.oke. Thank you, Luiz."

I went to Stella's room. Once there, I didn't go straight in. I just realized, this is the first time I'm going into Stella's room. The room that used to be a plain guest room and no tail whatsoever because it was never occupied, after Stella occupied it, honestly I was a little curious how it looks now.

Stella is an innocent person yet she is also a bright personality, I imagine she will definitely pour a little feminine taste into her room.

Not wanting to look like a freak if lingering in front of that door, I slowly turned the doorknob in front of me.