MINE

MEL

The driver drops me off at a junction close to the bar where I met Dimitrio last night. I did not want him to find out where I live.

“Are you okay here, miss?” The driver asks

“Yes… yes, I am. Thank you so much.”

I step out from the car and move a bit forward till he drives off. I hail another cab to take me back home. Home. More like my twisted reality.

The cab drops me off and I stare at the mansion. I feel my stomach churn, I remember the sight I witnessed last night. I shake my head to fight back the memories, the feeling of disgust and disappointment crawling up my throat.

I realize from my night with Dimitrio my feelings towards my marriage have changed.

I immediately panic when I realize I am still wearing his clothes. I slid quietly into the house, hoping Jonah won’t notice. But as soon as I place my foot on the stair, I hear Jonah’s voice cut through the house.

“Where did you go last night?”

I turn to look at him. He is sitting at the dining table in his bathrobe, watching me.

I gulp hard. I take off my shoes, placing them beneath the staircase. I feel his gaze burn through my skin as he stares at the clothes I am wearing.

“Who were you with last night, Mel?”

I pretend not to hear him and start climbing the stairs.

“I asked you a question, goddammit!” He slams the tea cup against the table. I hear the sound of the glass shattering on the floor.

“Don’t you dare walk off on me.”

I quicken my pace. I hear the scrape of his chair as he stands.

I run.

I lock myself inside my room just as his footsteps thunder down the hallway.

My heart pounds heavily. I press a hand to my chest, trying to steady my breathing. But my body is sent into a jolt when I hear a loud bang on the door.

“Open the fucking door, Mel. You crazy bitch.”

My hands tremble and I immediately take off Dimitrio’s clothes, tossing them into the laundry basket. I am not going to open the door because Jonah might just strangle me to death. I could feel his anger blazing through the door.

“Leave me alone Jonah” I shout.

I jolt again as he continues pounding on the door.

“Don’t act dumb with me Mel. Whose clothes are you wearing?”

I think of what to say, I have to come up with something.

“If you don’t answer me, I swear to fucking god I’ll break this door down.”

“They’re my dad’s!” I yell. He keeps quiet for a moment.

“You fucking cunt. Just how stupid do you think I am?”

I gulp hard.

“You haven’t seen your parents in years.”

He’s right. The last time I saw them was the day I signed the marriage contract.

“I swear, Jonah. They’re my dad’s.”

I hear his laughter from outside.

“I don’t know what is going on in that dull brain of yours. You think you can retaliate? I won’t have you going out ruining my reputation, Mel.

“Maybe you should have thought of that before tainting your marriage.” I answer, my voice trembling.

“If I find out you cheated on me, you’re dead. Your whole family is ruined.”

I finally hear him walk away. I let out a sigh and slump on the bed. This fucker was crazy. Talk about me cheating… he cheated on me. I know he won’t talk to my parents.

My thoughts trail back to Dimitrio, his eyes. I shudder and blow the thought off.

I find my way to the bathroom and turn on the shower. As the water drizzles over my skin, flashes of my night with Dimitrio surface.

His breath against my ear.

“You’re so sensitive Mel.”

I remember his touch. The trails of his fingers down my neck.

Gosh! I need to stop this. I’m a married woman for God’s sake. I immediately regret it after saying it. Married woman my ass, more like trapped.

I scoop up the water with my hands and splash them on my face.

I let out a soft chuckle.

I wonder how Dimitrio’s expression would be when he wakes up and realizes his clothes are gone.

I let out a deep sigh. I have to face reality. What happened with Dimitrio was not something that could happen again.

I remember the driver from the hotel. He gave me a card, Dimitrio’s business card.

I gather myself, throw on my towel and rush out of the shower. I rummage through my laundry and find his trousers. It still has his cologne on it. I pull out the card.

The front has nothing written on it. Just a white symbol of a lotus. There’s a number written on the bottom right of the card. But I would never do that, you know… reach out to him.

My phone rings. I reach out to grab it from my purse but the call ends before I can reach it. I hear it buzz and pick it up.

I let out a scream. Dimitrio. It had to be him.

The text staring at me read…

“Hope you had a good time last night?”

This is impossible. I never gave him my number.

Another buzz.

“Are you there, Mel?”

I feel a mild ache on my head. I was going to have a migraine.

“I know you’re seeing this. You left your bra behind.”

Heat floods my face. I immediately dial the number.

I hear him from the other end of the call. The calm of his voice.

“You stole my clothes.”

“I didn’t. I just borrowed them. You tore my dress, remember?”

I hear a low chuckle.

“I suppose I owe you a new one. I’ll take you to get them when we meet again.”

That’s not what this is about.

“There’s no next time, Dimitrio. This is why I called you. It’s creepy enough you have my number, but I’m married I can’t be having an affair.”

I have to stop this. I have to clear him now so he won’t be getting any ideas.

“You know you don’t mean that Mel.” The quietness of his voice made my stomach tighten.

I feel something tug in my chest. What I had with Dimitrio was the most amazing experience of my life. I felt whole.

I can’t say it but he is right. I didn’t want it to stop.

This feeling terrified me more than anything ever could.