Lies

We dined on the rooftop of the restaurant, surrounded by immaculate glass walls that kept out the cold air, and gave us a clear look at the city below.

The rooftop had been cleared for just both of us, and dinner was excellent. 

That night was probably the most fun I have had with Kan.

“We should do this more often,” I said, as I watched him fill a glass and push it to me. 

He shook his head sadly. “We should have started doing this earlier.” 

His sadness was infectious and for a few seconds, I did not know what to say.

“Well. Better now than never.”

He placed his hand over mine on the table, and caressed my knuckles lightly before he raised my hand up to kiss it.

It was sometime later, we were done with dessert. Kan had just cleared the bill and stood up to use the restroom before we left when I heard my phone vibrate in my purse.

I was feeling so sated and calm for the first time that I was hesitant to perform all the motions that would put my phone in my hand.

This was where a P.A. or maid came in handy. 

I laughed at myself, feeling half drunk. Who do I think I was now that I could not check my own phone myself?

I pulled the phone out of my purse finally, and slid it open. 

It was a video message from a private contact. I tensed up, my almost-drunkenness clearing.

I clearly could smell trouble. 

I clicked on the video, and as I watched it, I heard the sound of Kan’s footsteps returning. 

In my daze, it seemed so loud I would not have been surprised if the floor had been amplified with a microphone like they did in movies.

Still, I could not tear my eyes away from the screen.

I stared at the video, watching the woman I would never have suspected in a million years making out with Kan, and then she began to pace the floor.

Finally, she stopped and began to stage the video she had sent me that night. I went to Mõshon with Kan's food.

I saw this woman every day at Mõshon and had no idea she possibly hated me.

“Let’s go, sweetheart?” 

I looked up at Kan, and smiled slowly. Unable to speak, I simply nodded.

He stretched his hand out, and I reached out and placed my hand in his. 

I felt a shiver go round my body at the contact of our skin, as I thought this man was who I had just been about to pledge my life to finally.

“Are you cold?” He looked at me with concern now. “Here.” he took his jacket off and hung it around my shoulder.

I smiled at him again, and he smiled back as we went towards the elevator. 

On the drive home, I pretended to be sleepy. That was the only way I knew to not draw his attention to my silence. 

I could not speak even if I wanted to, even though I had a thousand horrible things to say to him. 

I just wanted to go home and hug my son, hug him till I fell asleep.

He was the only one who had not betrayed me so far. 

When we got home, I knew Kan would definitely try to make a move on me, so I escaped to the bathroom and closed the door. 

I found a way to make my line private, and scheduled the video to ‘send’ around the time we would be getting into bed.

And then I got in the shower.

When I stepped out, he was just in his pants now, and his body that would have made me blush in the past, revolted me now.

He was watching me as I walked around to sit on the bed. “Drank too much, honey?” He teased, standing up and closing the floor to me.

“Just a little.” I raised my fingers to form a hair’s width symbol, and he laughed. 

I held my breath, willing the phone to ring. 

But when it did not, I turned around and hurried to our walk-in closet. 

I pulled out the blow-dryer, and turned it up high so the noise would discourage any conversation for the next couple of minutes. 

I had just stepped out of the closet in a night robe and dry hair when I finally heard his phone buzz. 

He smiled up at me, and I merely nodded, discouraging him from coming closer so he would have no option but to check his phone while he wondered what was wrong with me.

I took a position in front of the dresser, and faced the mirror where I could watch him as I did my night’s skincare routine.

From here, I saw his face go pale and his eyes quickly darted up to look at me, then his eyes returned to the phone as his hand moved quickly, and I knew he was deleting the text. 

There was no other confirmation I needed.

When I finally turned around, he was more low-spirited and seemed to be consumed with his own thoughts.

“Honey,” I called, smiling at him. “Are you OK?”

He jerked and swiveled his head around to look at me. “I am.” He made an effort to smile, and then the smile seemed more natural as he walked towards me.

His arms were soon around me, his hand moving down my back to clutch my butt, while his other hand softly held my chin, tilting my lips up to kiss him. 

“Is there something you want to tell me?” I asked midway.

And he froze, as his hand dropped and he stepped back. “What do you mean?”

I said nothing, just watched him, waiting. Waiting for him to lie one more time. 

“No. Why do you ask?” he said, moving closer again.

He did it. 

There was no going back from this anymore, using more lies to cover his lies up. He had done it, took a hammer to our marriage and struck it.

I smiled sadly, and shrugged. “I only thought you got the message I sent you just now.”

Kan went deathly white.