Adrian straightens his shirt, feeling the fabric of the cloth against his body, comforting him amidst the night. The crispness of the fabric echoed the tension in the air. He wets his hand with a transparent gel before spreading it across his hair, before tucking it neatly. Looking into the mirror and feeling his face all fresh and tight from the facewash, he smiles for a split second before it dies out. Tightening his metal strap to his watch, his eyes fell on the time.
9 P.M.
Right on time. My eye twitches as I start to miss the presence of my wife. The house feels kinda and empty and devoid of life without her. I miss listening to her talk about random cases she's working on or something funky that happened at work.
'I wonder when she'll come home'
I start to worry about Anita, seeing how bad she was seething when I told her earlier this evening about how I was going out with some friends for the night. She left home shortly afterward for a 'walk', storming off with an angry expression on her face, which is now starting to burn into my mind. Anita was...let's just say, not pleased with the idea.
-
"HUH?", Anita looked at me with a confused expression, before glancing away thinking about something. I guess she realized even her hubby needs a social life or else I'd go crazy.
"Fine. But I want names, okay?", Anita resumed while snapping her head to me.
Smiling innocently, I provided her with every one of their names.
"Hm. All males? Are you seriously expecting me to believe you? Do you think I was born yesterday or something?", Anita scoffed while sitting on the couch, sipping on warm tea that I made for her.
"N-No, honeybug. I'm telling you the truth. It's all men. We're just probably gonna go get some food and then some drinks at a club. That's all there is to it.", I comforted her with a soothing voice and her cute nickname, two of Anita's many weaknesses.
She exhaled a deep sigh while folding her arms, still having an unconvicted defense.
"Yeah, yeah. Fine, whatever. Go have fun with your rowdy gang."
The thought of her beloved being around other gorgeous girls irked Anita. She knew she couldn't control Adrian like a puppet, which she always wanted to do. But fighting over as trivial as this and ruining both of their nights was also not favorable to her.
The teacup shook as she brought it to her face, as her insecurity started to seep in. She just couldn't shake off the image of the disco strobe lights flashing and the thought of some woman flirting with Adrian. The front of her head starts to feel like a needle is slowly being pierced into her brain, almost causing her mental pain, as her mind strives off somewhere, thinking about another woman being with her beloved.
'What if he...'
No. Fucking. Way.
Anita shook her head quickly. She looked me up and down looking at how gullible and innocent I looked before snapping her head away from me, making a 'hmph' sound
"Tsk."
Adrian noticing the subtle change in Anita's demeanor, starts re-assuring her.
"Hey, hey. I won't be too long, okay? I promise to come home before 2 A.M. I've already cooked pasta along with some garlic bread for dinner."
"...Just make sure to keep leftovers in the fridge, okay?", Adrian asked with genuine concern, hoping she'll comply.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Anita nodded, while still having that uneasy expression.
She suddenly stood up and declared with a heavy voice,
"I'm going out on a walk. Need some fresh air."
Confused by this random gesture, I allow her.
"O-Okay."
-
I spot Anita near the door tightening her shoelace near the door while I was talking to a friend. Putting my hand over the phone, setting the call on hold, I call out to her.
"Want me to tag along?"
"No need.", Anita shot down my hopes with a stern voice.
"H-Hm. Just make sure to be safe, okay?"
"A..And don't take too long!!", I pleaded to her, to which Anita just grunted. She got up, stretched her legs for a bit before stepping outside and slamming the door close, making me flinch.
"W-Wonder if it's that time of the month for her...", I think to myself, scratching my temple with a finger seeing how she's been so moody today. I look at the phone before I realize I was on a muted call all this time. My concern washes away, as I resume talking to Jay.
"Yeah. I'll be right there at 9:30 P.M."
-
Adrian closes the door behind him, and the door makes a beep sound confirming the digital lock is in place. He walks down the street to the train station leaving behind a faint trail of fuzzy citrus scent, a signature of Anita's prized fragrance-bottled gift from when they had just gotten married.
The train rumbled and shook before it finally came to a stop, making Adrian hop off. As he walked to the club, he couldn't help but notice how cold it was even underneath his jacket that he wore tonight. His favorite blue denim jacket that hugged his arms comforted him, yet the weather would still send him chills even though it was summer.
'Maybe...I should've stayed...?'
I shake my head, clearing all my doubts about tonight. Tonight was about having fun, not about thinking of Anita.
Speaking of, I wonder where she went off to. I slide my phone out of my jacket and sling her a message.
"Make sure to call me when you get home, honeybug. I'm worried about you, okay?"
My face starts to fall pale as the message is seen and read instantly by the application. This means Anita was staring at her phone and our chats. She had it opened up for god knows how long. Damn. She never disappoints me with her clingy and creepy behavior. Seeing how she doesn't respond with anything, I send her a cute cat meme to break the ice, to which she responds with a love emoji.
'At least I'm out in the clear. For now.', I smirk.
As I bring my head up and put my phone back in, I realize I'm right outside the club. Looking around, I spot some of my friends whom I was going out with before I run for a brief moment catching up to them. As I enter their semi-circle of the group, gushing like the wind, they all seem very surprised.
"YOO, it's so nice to see you here, Ade.", Josh greeted him with a brotherly voice and a nice nickname that everyone called him by.
"Yeah," Luke inserted himself into the conversation while pointing fingers at all the people in the group," We almost thought you were gonna flake out on us, ya cunt. Just like last time."
Adrian giggles nervously before cooking up a lie and reasoning his absence when he didn't go out with them previously. Making up lies and fabricating the truth was a special skill Adrian had honed, with his time being a husband to Anita. He didn't want any of his friends to know about his relationship. How weird would it be for someone as young as 19 to straight up marry a 25-year-old? No. He'd get weird stares from girls and all the boys would think he's some sort of a player. He shook his friends' hands greeting all 4 of them, while the strong scent of booze, and cigarettes filled the air. The fragrances of the crowd mixed in to make a cocktail, now indistinguishable from one another.
My eyes scanned the group before finding one person missing. The one that I have the most fun with when I go out on nights like these. I suck in a sharp breath between my lips and ask,
"Hey, where's Ja-"
A sudden force from behind jolts me and interrupts my question. I feel rough fingers dig into my shoulders, proceeding down to my ribs for support, as I stumble a few steps in front of me.
"Fashionably late. I almost thought you wouldn't show up~", I hear a familiar voice whispering right in my ear.
I roll my eyes, realizing who's clinging to my back. This idiot. Why am I friends with him, again?
-
The group talks amongst themselves as Adrian and Jay continue their conversation, further apart from the circle.
"I'm surprised she let you come here. You really got permission from her?!", Jay asks with genuine excitement.
"Jay.", Adrian domineered with a low-tone voice. "Not here."
Jay pulls back and looks as if he is remembering something before he breaks into a smile.
"Right. You don't want anyone else to know except your close friends, right?" Adrian nods while sucking in a deep breath and exhaling a stressed sigh.
Jay turns to the crowd and exclaims,
"So, are we going in or what?"