Chapter 2

“I thank you again, attorney.” The last thing Kaye said to me was after we drove her to her house. I just tried to draw a smile on my lips even though my attention wasn't there but on what I saw at them earlier. However, I didn't ask her any more questions or say anything, instead I just quietly turned my back on her and then got into the car. Gael immediately drove the car away from that place, but my mind was still uneasy. I know that I have no right to doubt about them both because I know that I should not be jealous of my husband, besides that, I have a lot of trust in him that he will never cheat on me. Maybe it's better if I just forget about what I saw. I just closed my eyes rather than think about it. I took a deep breath and turned my attention to our happy memories. After a while, I heard a slow song where that song seemed familiar to me. I slowly opened my eyes, and then I turned to my husband where I noticed that he was smiling at me. He held my hand while I was just silently staring at him.

“I know you're tired, so take a rest.” He said in a voice that seemed to be in a good mood. I frowned and looked down at his hand resting on my left hand.

“You look happy today.” I spoke softly, but he didn't seem to hear me and just focused his attention on the road while he whistled as if he was going along with the music.

“Honey.” I called him, but he didn't turn to me, so I called him again, but his attention seemed to be diverted to something else. I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

“Gael.” At this point, he turned to me and I caught his attention as he removed his hand from me and then turned off the radio.

“Yes, hon? Are you calling me? I'm sorry because I was too focused on the music.” He responded to me with a wide smile still on his lips. Those smiles of his often lighten my mood, but at those times I feel annoyed and want to erase those smiles. “Why? Is there a problem? Do you need something? Or maybe you're hungry? Where do you want to eat?” he added, but those were not the words I wanted to hear from him. I can't even understand why I still seem to be nervous even though I have nothing to be afraid of, but I still can't help but feel like this. What I don't like at all is that I see him talking to another woman besides me. Maybe it's because I love him so much, and I've become so obsessed with being his legal wife. Perhaps I should also avoid watching dramas on shows and reading books about romance.

“Are you okay? Does something hurt you?” he asked me worriedly, but I didn't say anything but my head was bowed while my two fists were clenched. Unexpectedly, tears suddenly fell from my eyes, which he also noticed immediately, so he quickly stopped the car on the sidewalk. He removed his seat belt and then held both of my hands. “What's wrong with you? Why are you crying?” he added, and I slowly looked up at him where our eyes met each other and my tears kept falling. I saw his eyes on me that still didn't change, and his face showed the utmost concern for me.

“I'll tell you the truth, Gael. I'm nervous.” I replied to him that he was curious about me. “I'm jealous because I saw you and my client while changing conversations. I'm afraid she might steal you away from me.” I added in a trembling voice while my tears were still falling steadily. There was silence around us for a minute, but it was immediately broken when he winced and smiled mischievously as he stared at me. He cupped my cheek with his two hands and wiped the tears from my eyes.

“Have you forgotten what I promised you when we both got married? That I will not look at any other woman but you. I have no other woman to love but you. Even if I live again in this world, you will still be the woman I choose to marry.” After he told me that, he gently pulled me closer to him and then hugged me as he's gently tapping my back. Because of the words I heard from him, the fear and nervousness I was feeling suddenly disappeared like a bubble. I breathed a sigh of relief and everything that was bothering my mind disappeared. I was reassured by his hug and everything became clear to me. We stayed in that position for ten minutes until all my doubts about him disappeared as I rubbed my eyes.

“You can't prevent me from being jealous because I'm your wife.” I told him that he just smiled, and then he nodded while staring at me. “And besides, you can't get rid of me doubting you because you're handsome and besides, there are many women hanging around you.” I added in a shy voice, and at the same time he grinned and laughed. He hugged me again and gently rubbed the back of my head, and then kissed my forehead.

“Hon, always remember that no one else is important to me but you. No matter what other woman comes to me and even if she undresses in front of me, I will ignore them, I will not give them the slightest attention. Because you are the only sexy woman in my eyes.” He whispered to me, and then he suddenly kissed me on the lips, which surprised me, but I didn't stop him, but I responded to his kiss while placing my two hands on his shoulders.

It's been more than two years since I got married to a man fourteen years younger than me. We were in a relationship for six years and I don't regret the decisions I made in life, especially when I accepted what he offered me to be his spouse. However, it wasn't easy for both of us because we often heard negative things from people around us. They frequently judge me because of my age and also because of my looks. Sporadically they mistake him as my son or as his aunt, but their eyes suddenly widen when they realize that we are a couple. We have almost moved our residence several times because we both want to avoid trouble, gossip and judgmental people. But it appears that there are many such people in this world, and people like them are not simply being avoided. That regardless of where we go, it is inevitable that we will both be judged. But over time, we are getting used to hearing gossip about the two of us, and we just ignore it because nothing is more important to us than being together. Besides that, I have a lot of trust in Gael that even though he is twenty-nine years old, he is a more matured thinker, and he always reminds me that there is nothing more essential to him in this world than me, his wife. And regardless of what he tells me, I believe him because I love and trust him so much. Every so often I can't help but be emotional and angry when another woman is looking at him and approaching him. But Gael is kind. He is not the type of man who will seize the opportunity to get close to other women just because he is handsome and many people like him, but he, himself, will stay away from them and find a way so that he cannot hurt me and so that there is no reason to be jealous with them. However, the problem is always with me because I can't stop my emotions and I can't avoid thinking about anything about the two of us, that maybe one day he will leave me too. Occasionally I ask myself in front of the mirror, can I live alone without him? I don't think so, I don't want to lose him in my life. Because since he came into my life, my world suddenly became colorful, and he brought me happiness, he is also the reason why I am still alive in this unfair world.

 ***

“Hon, what do you want me to cook for our dinner tonight?” I'm currently shopping for groceries inside the market while I'm talking on the phone with my husband, and I'm gently pushing the big cart with my other hand.

“I'm sorry, but it looks like I'll be able to get home late today because we have plenty of patients to treat here. The bus they're riding in crashed into a pole, so we're flooded with patients today. I'm deeply sorry.” I can feel in his voice that he is busy with his work and he looks tired, but he needs to be strong for his patients, especially since he is one of their expectations in the hospital. He is not just a staff member of that hospital, but he is a doctor. That's why I understand his situation and I also know that his patient are more important to him than me and that is one of the replacements for the decisions I made since I married him. That's why even though I feel sad because I won't be able to eat dinner with him again tonight, I just tried to put a smile on my lips, and I was about to speak, but he immediately hung up on me, and it looks like they're very busy right now at the hospital; however, I fully understand it, so I just took a deep breath and put my phone in my shoulder bag. I just continued shopping for the things we need at home while slowly pushing the big cart. Until I stopped when something caught my attention, a new brand of dishwashing detergent. I was about to reach for it, but I was immediately stopped when a familiar voice called out to me.

“Attorney Cynthia?” when I heard her, I immediately turned to her, and unexpectedly I saw her familiar face again.

“Oh that's you, Kaye.” I responded to her, and she quickly came to me while carrying a small basket in her hand which she immediately placed on the floor, and she holds my hand with a wide smile on her lips.

“Look at how small the world is, isn't it? Is it a coincidence, or are we really destined for each other?” She said, to which I shook my head with a trace of curiosity on my face.

What is she doing here in my neighborhood? Then as far as I know, she doesn't live here. I whispered in my mind as I looked at her from head to toe. Nothing has changed in her dress style, she is still the same, simple but still pretty. I just tried to draw a smile on my lips because I would rather not look rude to my client, besides that, she was good to me. I'm an introvert person and I don't like making friends with anyone, especially if I don't know them well. But I'll just think it's related to my work, so I'll entertain her properly.

“How are you? What are you doing here?” I inquired of her, which seemed to surprise her, but she still managed to smile and be calm in front of me even though I knew what I asked her was a bit out of line, as if I wanted to avoid seeing her. However, I don't mean anything bad to her, but I actually want to say hello to her as it has been seven days since I finished her case. I'm curious if she's happy now, and can she do the things she couldn't do when she was with her ex-husband? Or if there is someone new that makes her heart beat? Because she looks like she's blooming now, and her eyes are shining as if she's in love with someone.

“Because of you, attorney, the course of my life has changed. I wake up in the morning without fear and nervousness. I can do things that I couldn't do before. In addition to that, I was able to leave the place that I've been wanting to leave for a long time. I didn't know you lived right next to here. Actually, I just moved to a nearby apartment, and I'm currently seeking employment closer to this place. I'm glad that see you again, attorney.” When I heard her overwhelming message to me, I suddenly felt guilty with myself because I immediately judged her even though she is a very kind person. That's why I removed my doubts from her, and I breathed a sigh of relief as I smiled at her.

“I'm also happy to see you again. I want to tell you that you made the right decision and the right place to move to so that you can start a new life.” Those words really came from the bottom of my heart, and I am really happy to see that she is in a good condition and I don't see any more bruises or wounds on her face.

“Can I hug you?” Unexpectedly, she burst into tears and even though I didn't respond to her yet, she suddenly hugged me tightly. But I couldn't push her away from me because I knew that this is all she needs at this moment, a sympathy. But because of her, I also felt a strange comfort. It is unclear to me why I feel good about her, and even though we don't know each other very well, it's like we've known each other for a long time. That same night I invited her to our house and I can say that she was the first guest I ever had in that house. There is often no one there, as my husband and I are both busy with work, which is why we don't often bring guests there or let anyone in. But I think that Kaye can be trusted, and I believe that the two of us will see each other more often as she lives close to us.

“Is this a palace, or am I just dreaming?” I turned to what she said, and I smiled when I saw her innocent face as if she were amazed at everything she saw.

“This isn't a palace, and you didn't even dream, it's the result of our hard work.” I shook my head, and then I went straight to the kitchen to fix the groceries I bought.

“Believe me or not, but I've only just entered this kind of elegant house. You could be considered a queen and a king living in the royal palace.” She said in amazement, and I just laughed at her as I put the fruits and vegetables inside the refrigerator. Until my attention was drawn to a grape juice that was Gael's favorite, I thought that I should offer my guest something to drink, so I took it and poured it into a glass. Then I went to the dining area to give her the juice, but I noticed that she wasn't there.

Where did she go? Can't she go out for a while? I whispered to myself as I gently placed the glass on the table. I was about to go back to the kitchen when I heard a loud noise from the living area where it seemed like a frame had been broken. Furthermore, I hurriedly went there, and my eyes widened in shock when I found her there.

“Kaye?” I said as I looked down at the floor where I noticed that she broke one of my most treasured flower vases that my close friend who came from Canada gave me as a gift.

“Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to let go of it. I was too amazed by its beauty, and I was about to put it back in its place, but it suddenly slipped out of my hand. I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to.” What she kept telling me, but I was speechless at that moment and I didn't know how to react as I didn't want to look rude in her eyes. I don't know what I should do because this is the first time I've let a stranger into my house, besides that, I don't know how I should treat a guest like her. But because of what happened, my mind went blank, and I just kept standing there as I was staring at her, and she was picking up the broken vase. But unexpectedly, she got hurt and got a long cut on her hand. In my shock, I immediately came to her and sat next to her while holding her injured hand.

“What do you think you're doing?” The tone of my voice rose a bit and I frowned looking at her where she didn't expect it, and she was looking at me in surprise. She apologized to me again and again, so I was left breathless and confused. Until I thought of my husband, so I took my phone from my pocket and thought of calling him. My hand and lower lip were shaking with fear as I looked at her bleeding hand.

“Hon, is there a problem?” he was curious about me, but I could feel in his voice that he was busy with his work, and it looked like he was in the middle of his operation.

“W-what, should I do? Gael, help me.” I stuttered to him.

“Why? What's the problem? Are you okay? Where are you now, hon?” His voice was worried, but I didn't respond to him, but I just turned my head as I cried. I don't know what to do at those times, as if what happened was my fault. I felt like I had killed someone at that moment and that person was the woman in front of me now. Because I'm not used to those kinds of situations and I often avoid other people, especially if I don't know them well. That's why I've never encountered that kind of thing, and I don't know what else to do but ask for help from someone who is closer to me.