Chapter 5: His Slap

“M-Momma? Momma!” a little voice echoed from behind, which made my heart jump with mixed emotions. In a swift motion, my wide arms enveloped Leira’s little body and hugged her as if I haven’t seen her for years. 

My eyes landed on the man just almost a meter away from us which made me give him a face with menace, but deep inside, I am thankful that it was him who saw her.  I bit my lower lip and sighed when he fought my stares with a genuine concern and placed his hands on his pocket while his eyes is still focused on mine. 

“Your kid is smart. So likely to grow like you when she grows older,” he uttered out of nowhere with a face without any emotions. My face heated upon thinking he really thinks Leira is my daughter. Well, as time goes by, I am starting to see myself as the little kid in my arms.

I noticed Leira’s giggles so I slowly released her from my grip and stood up but still holding her right little hand. She instantly took off her sunflower clip, making her hair gets messed up and some strands of her hair went on her face. I secretly pinched myself and another sigh escaped from my mouth when she instantly gestured her hands-on air in front of Freion and gave the clip to him. I was literally surprised when he accepted it and patted her head as payback. 

All I could do is to look at them with confusion written on my face. They’re now close? Just like that? 

I roamed my eyes around the perimeter, thinking there might be someone staring at us, and diverted back my attention to Leira when her little sneeze echoed all over the parking lot. I kneeled in front of her, trying to hold her shoulder and stop her from attempting to talk to Freion but upon seeing her watching him with amusement, I got frozen, still holding her but could no longer stop her from talking.

“Are you momma’s friend?” she asked which made me secretly lick my lower lip. 

A smile escaped from his lips revealing the dimples under his mouth, nodded as a response, and moved his head towards my direction.

Well yeah, he was an old friend before we separated. Freion is my ex who unfortunately cheated on me without even feeling guilty and just left me hanging in the midst of the rain. I once loved him, yet he broke my trust making me promised not to see his eyes or even feel his presence ever again. But as time passed by, I’ve learned to forgive him even though he’s not asking for forgiveness. I just realized he’s no worth my time—even my anger. But the promise I’ve said before will never be forgotten, the reason why I still don’t want him around. Hmm... This is the first time I saw him after 5 years though, and I hope he already changed. 

Why on earth would he appear out of nowhere? Well, that’s the least of my care.

“So, why did you hide yourself from your momma?” He asked her with his playful smile and gave me an eye, trying to capture my reaction.  “She is so dead worried about you. Aren’t you aware of that?” he added with gentleness visible in his voice. My eyes landed on him, and surprisingly, I saw a glint of worry in his eyes which is so unusual.

“You are both talking... Momma said not to eavesdrop when an adult is talking with someone, so I left and decided to play hide and seek with momma. I know she will find me—”

“But still, sweetie. Playing in a public place is not a good idea. Don’t do it again, okay?” I interrupted her while gesturing my hands in the air. She only pouted, placed her hands on her back, and nodded without hesitation. I then diverted my gaze to Freion and lowered it in an instant when I caught him staring at me intently. I didn’t let him see my eyes and stood up, still placing my hands on Leira’s.

“You’re more gorgeous than before, Euph—”

“We need to go home now, Leira sweetie,” I suddenly uttered while staring at my kid and ignoring what Freion have said. I don’t want to have any conversation with him, even with the shortest one. 

I motioned my body, ready to walk away with Leira, ready to take her to my car, when Freion uttered again. 

“I saw her in the corner near the elevator, calling her Dada. I guess, that’s your husband and you should know about it.”

I stopped and was rooted in place due to what he just said. I then gave him an eye while my hands are now starting to sweat, still trying to digest it.

“If you are asking if he heard me, I don’t know, but I called your daughter before she turned off her phone,” he added, making me feel so dumbfounded and slightly parted my lips.

My heart started to pound, so my lips whose now slightly in a state of being pale. I was still staring at him like I am staring at no one while still holding Leira who is oblivious to what she just did. 

“What’s the matter? It is not like he will get jeal—”

“Leira, let’s go.” I chose to cut his words and immediately carried her with my full might and walked away from him without bidding him goodbye or giving him thanks for finding my daughter. 

The thing that sticks in my mind is the fact that Steffano knew what happened lately. 

I tightened my fist and placed Leira on the passenger seat when she said she wants to sleep first. 

It is not her fault, I know. This is due to my carelessness, and I am now near to my consequences. 

I maneuvered the car with a trembling hands and looked at Leira in the mirror who is now lying freely at the back. 

—

As we entered the gate, Steffano’s blazing stares from the car where we are currently placed welcomed my sight. His lips were perfectly close with intersecting brows. Leira, on the other hand, is peacefully staring to nowhere.

I was scared lately, but it instantly faded away when I saw his unemotional feature. I then remembered everything I heard lately. 

Gone the fear, replaced with anger and pain.

I parked my car and tightened my fist upon remembering what I just heard lately. My nervousness and fear vanished like bubbles, and all I could think right now is the echo of his voice telling how he love his fucking mistress. 

I instantly carried Leira to take her inside the mansion without giving Steffano an eye and just walked past through him with a feeling of nothingness. My lips are perfectly in their shape upon closing my eyes before I continued walking to Leira’s room. His steps keep on echoing in the hallway. 

I noticed him following us, making my tears start to pool, not with fear, but with frustrations due to these ranging emotions I’ve been controlling since then. Here I go again. 

I can’t look at his face, for I will always remember what happened lately. It keeps on replaying in my mind. All I could do is bite my lips while sensing him watching my every move from my back. I then placed Leira on her bed and kissed her forehead before walking away from her to head to the door whose ajar. I know, he’s already waiting there, wanting to hurt and berate me. 

A deep breath escaped from my lips before holding the doorknob, and my straight face activated upon controlling and calming myself from its outburst.

I am only his wife on paper. I have no stand in life. This is fucking frustrating. 

 As the door got opened, a slap welcomed my face, making my head tilt due to its huge impact. All I could do is gulp but still in a straight face and instantly stared back at his eyes who were now also on an unemotional feature. I sighed with bitterness, taking a grip on my fist with a trembling lips.

His slap is bearable, and I already expected this. Being immune to so much pain is somehow a talent I should be thankful for.

“You still haven’t learned your lesson, huh. You even brought Leira to your coquettishness,” he uttered and gave me a disgusting look from head to toe. He’s downgrading me, I know. 

All I did is to lower down my gaze to control my outburst. I placed my hands on my back when I found it trembling, and bit my lower lip upon covering my face with my long curly hair. I need to hold myself together. 

“Well, what to expect? A bitch will always be a bitch. I don’t even know why I like you before. You’re no half of—”

“Your mistress...? Okay,” I instantly diverted my gaze to him with my blazing pair of eyes and uttered with sarcasm to interrupt him from talking. I smiled bitterly without letting my tears fall in front of him. 

“Are you done now?” I stared at him straight into his dead pair of eyes. “If you want to beat me, go ahead. I’ll be waiting. But if you’re done, just tell me. I need to rest,” I added with menace while giving him a tiring look.