(JARED’S POV)
It was a Saturday, and I walked out of the gym room after a strenuous workout. I was stunned to see Sofia slouched on the couch, flipping through TV channels. Wait, wasn’t she supposed to be preparing for the Charity event? “Hey, aren’t you supposed to be leaving for the charity event soon? I asked, approaching her.
She turned to me with a dismissive shrug. “I’m not going.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t feel well,” she said, placing a hand on her stomach. “The baby doesn’t want me to go.”
I raised an eyebrow. “So, the money I gave you was for nothing, then?”
“Oh, I did order the dress, but I won’t be donating anymore.”
My anger flared up like it had been waiting on the surface. “What’s going on with you, Sofia? Why did you demand such a sum of money and now you’re not even using it for the charity event?”
Her anger flared too, matching mine. “Don’t shout at me over such a little sum, Jared.”
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my temper. “Sofia, was there even a charity event, or was it just an excuse to get money from me?”
Her silence spoke volumes. I didn’t wait for an answer. I turned and walked away.
“Jared, wait!” Sofia shouted after me.
But I was already skidding up the stairs.
I got to the room, stripped out of my gym wear, and got under the shower. While at it, my mind wandered.
I thought of Arielle and couldn’t help but compare her to Sofia. Arielle would never lie to extort money from me; in fact, she disliked demanding money from me to the point I had to forcefully give her my card. Arielle -sweet, calm, reserved, and virtuous. For a moment, for the first time since our divorce, I wondered if I did the right thing.
Was I right by going after my teenage love instead of staying with my wife? But I quickly shook the thoughts off. I don’t regret anything, not one bit. It was Sofia I loved, and not Arielle.
And Sofia was the way she was now because she was pregnant. Once she gives birth, she’ll return to her good old self. And with that consolation, I focused on my shower.
After bathing, I got dressed and walked out. I needed to step out and get some air. It was not a working day, so I could hang out at my favorite snooker game house.
I got downstairs, and Sofia was still in the sitting room. She looked up as I approached.
“Going somewhere?”
“Yes. I want to get some fresh air,” I responded simply.
“Are you trying to insinuate that I suffocate you?’
Without waiting, I walked off despite her protests.
“I’ll talk to you later, Sofia,” I said over my shoulder, not looking back.
************
I walked into the snooker house, welcomed by the familiar sounds of clicking balls and laughter. Spotting a group of regulars, I joined them for I the
a game. Hours later, I dominem for
QUMS
table, whipping all their asses
“Man, you’re good!!” one of the players exclaimed.
“I know, right?” I said, smiling with pride. I like the euphoria that comes with winning.
After a few more games, I bid the guys goodbye and headed to the bar to grab a chilled drink.
The bartender, a friendly woman named Amara, greeted me with a smile.
“The usual?” she asked.
I nodded, and she handed me a chilled beer took a sip, savouring the cold soothing taste. Just as I was starting to unwind, someone cleared their throat beside me.4 turned to see a figure sliding into the stool beside me.
“Mind if I join you?” the person asked.
On seeing the owner of the voice, my face hardened. It was Denzel.
“What brings you here!” I asked gruffly, casting him a stern look.
He flashed me his signature smile, the one people found charming but I found annoying. “Just enjoying the evening, my friend. I saw you and thought I’d drop by to say hi.”
“I’m. Not. Your. Friend. Denzel,” I said, punctuating each word. “Leave while I’m still being nice.”
“Come on, man, what’s the hate for? If there’s anyone who should be mad, it has to be me. You took the woman I loved -“
“The woman you tried to rape when she was barely seventeen, rather. How Noble of you,” I sneered.
“That’s in the past. Yo, get over the past, Jared. We were just kids then.”
“Just kids? You’re nauseating, Denzel. Leave here.”
“I’m not leaving, I’m here to grab a drink too.”
I Ignored him and focused on my drink while he turned to the bartender and placed an order.
“How’s your company going?” He asked.
I paused, my grip on the drink glass tightening. “Which of them? Oh let me guess, the one you set its warehouse on fire?”
“How many times do I have to say that I had no hand in that?” Denzel groaned. “You love casting me in a bad light, don’t you?”
“You’ve always been made for the bad light, Denzel. Just wait until I get all the evidence I need to charge you for arson, and you’re gone, man.”
“Oops, I’m scared,” Denzel said with a mock scared expression. “I’ll love to see you try, but be rest assured that you’ll find nothing. Do you know why? Because I’m innocent.”
“Fine. We’ll see,” I said and gulped
down the last of my drink. I had intended to stay a bit longer, but with Denzel beside me, I would rather leave. Else, I might be forced to strangle him to death.
I paid the bartender and left her a generous tip before walking off.
In the car, as I drove home, I turned on the radio to listen to the mid-day news. A commercial advertisement was on, and after it, the news came on.
The reporter was reporting about a restaurant that had a fire outbreak in it, and although the fire department had arrived, significant damage had been done to a part of the building.
But I wasn’t listening anymore, as my heart began to pound in my chest. Panic rose inside of me; that was the restaurant Arielle worked in!
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