Tia.
I stood at the veranda, gazing out at the evening sky while my eyes kept drifting back to my phone every few minutes. Jade was late again and it made me wonder what was always taking his time. He was meant to be at home at 9pm latest but it was almost midnight already.
I tried placing his number on the ring for the hundredth time and as usual it went straight to voicemail. "Where are you, Jade?" I muttered to myself, feeling a knot of frustration in my stomach. "Why are you doing this to me?" I questioned no one in particular as a sigh escaped from my lips that made me shift my attention to the papers in my hands.
Was I really doing the right thing? What if it goes against how I planned it? Was Jade going to finally let out his mind? I couldn't fathom as fear gripped my heart and all I could do was mutter some words of prayer. "Lord, let your will be done."
Just as I was lost in thought, the sound of a car horn broke the silence. I looked up and saw the gateman running towards the gate and immediately, I hurried back into the room, smoothing out my dress to compose myself. I wasn't going to let him see that his actions were making me vulnerable.
Never.
After what felt like a decade, the door creaked open, and Jade walked in, his eyes fixed on his phone. He didn't even notice me as he moved from dropping his suitcase to the table and pulling out his shoes to unknotting his tie.
He did all of these while I remained calm, watching.
Still pretending not to have seen me, he headed to the wardrobe, pulled out his shirt and picked a top to put up. Still, I kept watching not until I saw him heading out again. Was this man for real?
My hands twisted into a wrecking ball but I wasn't going to let him go this time. "Jade," I called out, my voice firm but shaky.
There was a pause with silence following before he finally turned to look at me, a hint of annoyance on his face. "What's up?"
I jabbed myself out from the bed, my voice rising. "You know exactly what's up," I confronted. "I've been waiting for you."
He shrugged and moved to the slab beside the bed, dropped his phone and began pulling on the top he had taken. "I'm home now. What's the problem?"
"The problem?" I repeated, my anger boiling over as I walked further to him. "You know exactly what the problem is. This is past midnight. It happened two days ago too and now you won't even utter a word to me."
He rolled his eyes, and picked his phone as he headed for the door. I knew I had to stop him, to make him listen to me. I wouldn't miss my chance again.
I hurried after him as I called out, grabbing at his arm. "Jade, wait!"
With his strong body, he shook me off, his face twisted. "Let me go, Tia," he growled but I refused and pulled on his clothes, trying to anchor him to the spot. However, he stumbled. "What the hell is this?!
His voice came out and then, in a split second, his hand connected with my face and I felt a searing pain, followed by a numbness that spread through my cheek that made me stagger backward, my eyes wide with shock.
"Jade, you...you hit me," I stammered, my hand flying to my face.
"You're pushing me too far, Tia," he snarled, his voice cold and detached.
"You slap me, Jade?" I repeated, holding my face in amazement. What has just happened?
He answered without a flinch. "Yes. And I will do it over and over again."
There was no remorse, even the look on his face confirmed he was serious with his words. I thought Jade was only hurting me emotionally, I never knew he could go to the extent of extorting physical abuse on me. What the hell has gone wrong with him? I questioned my inner self as our blazing eyes locked into each other.
It's been over six months since Jade has been acting all strange. At work, he ignores me. At home, it was like I was a random stranger. He was no longer all over me again which I couldn't fathom the reason.
Although, I knew not bearing a child for almost five years could've been the reason for his change of attitude but he has always assured me that he wasn't after having a child soon. He was happy we could have time together before a child comes in. Yet, what exactly was happening? The love was no longer there again. His touch had vanished, his sweet words had turned sore. Where have I done wrong for him to raise his hand and hit my face all because I was trying to make him speak to me.
I sighed and shifted backward. Then, ignoring the pain on my face, I stormed back to the bed where I had the papers. I picked them up and brought them to him, shoving them into his chest.
"Sign these," I demanded.
Jade's eyes widened as he read the contents of the papers. A chuckle then escaped his lips, and he looked at me with amusement.
"Divorce papers, Tia? Really?"
"Yes, really," I said, my voice firm. "I'm done waiting for you to come around. I'm done being ignored. I'm done pretending like I'm fine with all you do."
I stood frozen, watching as Jade's face transformed from indifference to a wide, beaming smile. He laughed again and it somehow sent shivers down my spine. What the hell is wrong with him?
"Finally, Tia," he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction as he strode over to the table desk in the room. "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time."
My heart sank as he picked up a pen at the corner of the table, placed the papers down on it as he scribbled on the divorce papers with a flourish.
Was he trying to tell me he was really interested in us divorcing? "You're really doing this," I requested, trying to keep my voice steady.
He raised his head to look at me, his eyes glinting. "Oh, I'm not just doing it, Tia. I'm embracing it," he countered and added, "Thanks for making it easier for me."
With that, I watched him storm out of the room, leaving me feeling stunned and bewildered. I became dumb instantly. Was he for real? He accepted the divorce?
I thought threatening him with divorce would make him see the light of how he has been acting all these while but I was wrong. He seemed very much happy with it.
No. No. It can't be. Jade must be joking with me.
I quickly regained my composure and did the right thing. I ran out to meet him. Why should he be okay with our divorce when nothing happened between us? We were fine months ago but now, he wouldn't tell me why the change of his attitude all of a sudden? He even went ahead to sign the papers without arguing about it. So wrong of him.
I ran as my legs could carry me only for me to reach the front door to behold the shock of my life.
"Jade?" I called with a very low disappointing voice but no response came. Instead, he went from embracing the figure in front of him to exchanging a passionate kiss that made a wave of shock wash over me.
Disengaging from the hug, I saw the familiar lady spared me a glance, winking in the process before taking Jade's hands as they began to walk away and immediately, I recognized her as the daughter of his manager.
"Jade, I thought you were just colleagues," I whispered once more, watching them move towards his car, exchanging laughter.
They left me dumbfounded. Why does it feel like all those promises were in vain? Why does it feel like I have been betrayed by the only person I have come to trust with my whole life? I was shattered.