MY ONLY PROBINSYANA

Chapter One: Fractured Promises

Maya's POV

I rested my chin on my hand, staring out the window as the tree-lined avenue blurred by. The scent of freshly cut grass wafted through the air, but I couldn't appreciate its sweetness. Not when my mind was preoccupied with the elephant in the room.

"Alright, cheer up. Do you really have to get so worked up over her?" My husband, Larry, spoke in a calm voice, breaking the prolonged silence.

I turned my head to look at him, my gaze steady. "You promised me it would just be the two of us." The words came out laced with a mix of disappointment and accusation. "This wasn't part of the plan."

Larry averted his gaze, looking out the window. "I was just giving her a ride. We know her situation. Ever since her husband passed away, she's been miserable."

My eyes narrowed. You sure know her situation inside out, considering how much attention you've been giving her. But I swallowed the words, knowing they would make me seem jealous. Instead, I kept calm and said, "I'm not targeting her. After all, you're the one who made promises to me, not her. Don't forget what's important here."

I hinted at something more serious, but Larry didn't respond. "Larry, I'm talking to you." I said, swallowing hard. "And I know you can hear me."

"Why do you always do this?" Larry asked, his tone tinged with frustration.

"Do what?" I snapped at him.

"Act paranoid," he responded calmly.

I felt a surge of anger, but I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "I already explained to you."

"And I also need you to listen to me." Larry said. "You keep talking, but you never listen." 

The tension between us was palpable, like a living, breathing entity. It was suffocating me.

Just then, the car door opened, and a delicate hand rested on the frame. Brandy smiled as she stood by the car, breaking the tension with a cheerful, "Sorry to keep you waiting. Can we get going now?"

God damnit! She smelled heavenly, like a field of roses on a warm summer day.

She slid into the backseat effortlessly, as if completely unaware of the tension in the air. The car started again, and I sighed inwardly, hoping to rest for the remainder of the drive.

But the car wasn't silent for long. Brandy's voice filled the space, and I felt suffocated by the conversation.

"Sigh, life has been so hard lately. The house feels so empty. I've been all alone, and there's no one to talk to. I'm so grateful to you both, especially you, Larry. If it weren't for you, I don't know how I would've coped."

Larry kept his eyes on the road, his tone gentle and calm. "We're friends."

Brandy's voice wavered, and tears started to fall. "Everyone else turned their backs on me after my husband passed, but you've stayed. I know you're his true friend. If only he were still here…"

My eyes rolled involuntarily. This was getting ridiculous.

"Hey," Larry said softly. "It's okay, don't cry okay?" He continued. "I'm sorry about Darey, I know it's still fresh and nobody ever heals from this pain but I promise to try my best to be there for you." 

Brandy nodded, wiping a tear off her cheek. "Thank you." She muttered softly. 

"Everybody needs somebody." Larry said again. "And I'll be that somebody if you need one." 

How convenient! I nearly scoffed but I held myself. 

A while later, we reached Brandy's destination, a small alley. Brandy unbuckled her seatbelt and got out, then turned back to Larry with a hint of helplessness in her eyes.

"I need to pick up some things. Can you come with me? It'll only take a few minutes."

I interjected coldly, "I thought we were just giving you a ride."

Brandy sounded aggrieved, "These things are important… they were his belongings. I can't carry them alone."

Larry turned to me, "Wait in the car. I'll be quick."

"But..." I couldn't finish the sentence before Larry cut me off. 

"I said I'll be quick." He firmly then turned to leave with Brandy. 

That "quick" ended up being an hour, and I was on the verge of falling asleep, irritation creeping in. Just then, my phone lit up. It was a call from Larry.

His tone was more of a statement than a request: "There's been a slight delay. Brandy ran into some old classmates. They want to have dinner together. We'll stay here tonight and leave for the camping trip tomorrow."

My frown deepened, my tone laced with resistance. "Old classmates? Hers or yours? We were supposed to go camping, just the two of us. How many times are you going to break that promise?"

Larry responded, "Why are you in such a rush? We can still go camping tomorrow. It'll be fine."

I took a deep breath, "Listen, we need to talk about some things. It's been three years—"

Before I could finish, Larry cut me off. "It can wait until tomorrow. Let's discuss it then."

He added, "There's a restaurant behind us, Freshland restaurant. We're there."

And with that, he hung up.

"Great!" I yelled to myself. "How great and awesome!" I scoffed, fighting back tears. 

I stared at the darkening phone screen, feeling a mix of disappointment and helplessness. Taking a deep breath, I tightened my grip on my purse and pushed the car door open. Without another word, I stepped out and headed toward the restaurant.

The cool evening air hit me like a slap in the face, snapping me back to reality. I had a choice to make: confront the situation head-on or let it simmer, potentially destroying what was left of our already fragile marriage.

As I walked toward the restaurant, the sound of laughter and clinking glasses grew louder. I could feel my heart racing, my mind whirling with thoughts of Larry, Brandy, and our failing marriage.