EDDISON

LOLA

Eddy didn't smile.

He didn't say a word, but I could hear his thoughts loud and clear.

He probably thinks I've had eyes on Connor since that day I met him.

He must be thinking I was shameless to put up that rebellious act when he asked me to seduce Connor, only for him to catch me alone with him, in the most inappropriate outfit at an odd hour of the day.

Or maybe...he will see obedience and the desire of a wife to know what her husband's love feels like even if she had to do unspeakable things for it.

I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat from wanting to speak so many words at the same time.

I wanted to apologize, explain, excuse myself, start a conversation to lighten the atmosphere, just say something.

The urge to cough travelled rapidly from the bottom of my stomach. Suddenly, I didn't want to be the one to break the awkward silence.

I covered my mouth with my hands.

Connor spoke first.

"Hey, man! I didn't know you were up."

It was awkward enough before anybody said anything, but now that the silence had been shattered, it felt like hell was about to break loose.

My heart was beating fast. My eyes were fixed on Eddy's.

He shifted in his stance, turning to focus on Connor. I watched a small smile cross his lips and disappear again, like a glimpse of hope gone for good.

My thighs were still sticky and my p*ssy was still throbbing from Connor's touches, his words and the dream I had not been able to stop thinking about.

It made me feel more guilty to even say a word

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. Yes?" Eddy spoke, taking a few steps towards where we stood.

My foot shifted on its own, a step backward.

Eddy's gaze returned to me. I balled my fingers into fists beside me.

"I was on my way to the kitchen for some water. I heard a noise," I spoke before I was able to stop myself.

Eddy chuckled.

"Or... perhaps you were craving a bite of sandwich when the day had barely started."

His words tore through my heart like a clean push of a sharp dagger.

My body stilled with shock, but not surprise.

I looked at Connor, he was still there. He was listening. 

I didn't care about the thick expression of displeasure on his face.

What did Eddy want?

We made a deal, and he goes back on the end of his bargain easily like this.

I searched my head for the best response to what he had just said.

"Tell me. Connor asked for some snacks too?" Eddy continued, as unhinged as he usually is, determined to ruin me completely before I get a chance to save myself.

I balled my fingers tighter, my nails digging deep into my skin, the sharp pain reaching out to every inch of my body.

"Eddy, you heard her. She..."

"No. I'm sorry. I was just about to leave, but I thought I should try some of these exercises. I heard they were good for people like me. Then, I got carried away, and ended up staying longer. And I wasn't going to get a sandwich. I just needed some outside air. I---I---," I blabbered down in my bid to stop Connor from talking.

Connor shouldn't be taking my side. It would only complicate things for me.

"You got carried away," Eddy repeated my words.

I looked up at him with teary eyes, in a silent plea to let me go.

I could handle him talking down at me to strangers, but not Connor, especially giving that my own part of the deal concerns him.

Eddy had left the door slightly open, so the corridor lights sipped into the dim lit room like a witness to what I had become to my own husband.

Eddy's face formed a smirk - the way his skin stretched to one side of his face in triumph made my skin crawl with shame.

Connor will never look at me the same again.

My head felt so heavy with shame, guilt, and regret.

I took another step backwards. I could feel.the force of the tears against my eye lids.

No! Don't cry. Not here. 

My tears wouldn't win me any point for this one. Eddy would only laugh in satisfaction and Connor would pity me.

I didn't want any of that.

I turned abruptly, the hot trail of tears immediately hitting my cheeks.

I drew up a hand and with one stroke across my face, wiped the much my strength could carry.

I sniffled, and began to hurry out of the room. My legs were wobbly, but my mind was made up.

To hell with Eddy. 

To hell with his ridiculous deal - one he could not even follow himself.

From when my parents got greedy and decided to trade me for their own financial benefit, I should have known that my life was doomed.

I shouldn't have believed that misleading thought that grew silently in a corner of my stomach - that I'd be liberated one day.

I shouldn't have listened to Eddy yesterday. I shouldn't have imagined being seen differently from imperfect, unappealing, nuisance.

Shame, heavy as lead, rested on my shoulders as I drew my legs across the floor, back to the room.

I heard footsteps - behind me, quite, steady and persistent.

Eddy was the last person I wanted to see if I must face somebody.

But then again, I can't throw him out of his own house, and I can't leave his house no matter how much I wanted to.

I sniffled again, the tears refusing to stop.

I kept on walking, faster so as to get to the room before he does, get to the bathroom before he had the chance to pull me around by the arm.

I had gotten to the door, and even turned the knob, about to swiftly let myself in when somebody grabbed my wrist causing me to freeze.

My ears tingled with the noise of all the mean words Eddy had ever spoken to me - the tone with which he had said them, the occasion, the people present.

Everything combined created a mess my body couldn't control in my head.

My sight was glazed with a thick film of tears, and my breathing heightened abnormally.

I grabbed my head with my free hand, but my body was too weak to hold up.

I found myself melting down.

Then, he let go of my wrists, and a pair of strong hands caught my weight from the back.

He held me from falling.

Eddy?