Yufa

Nathan's eyes were like daggers. Sharp, short and deadly. For the shortest moment that he stared at me, I saw the eye of a raging storm. I lied for him, yes. But that was to conceal his disappearance from his mother. For once, I hoped to see a tiny glimpse of gratitude in those eyes. What I did wasn't something to be proud of, or something to be thankful for but a nod of approval will put myself at ease. But no, I did not receive any and I was disappointed.

"Oh, it seems like my wife failed to remember that yesterday was Caleb's bachelor party and I was invited. The man is getting married today, Ali." he smiled. The emphasis on 'wife' gave me chills.

Nathan too, is lying to his mother. I don't remember being informed about a bachelor's party he's attending. Let alone knowing he had a friend named Caleb. The thing is, I don't know anything about Nathan save for what I hear from Martha and what I see on him, and it frustrates me. I don't know what game he is playing now but one thing is for sure, he wants to make a fool out of me in front of his mother.

Ali looked at me with confusion.

"Uh, shouldn't you be attending the wedding, Hijo? I'll have Reomero pick me up and be on my way so the two of you could prepare, or something..."

"No, no that's not necessary Ali. Besides," Nathan came to where I'm standing. He grabbed my waist and pulled me closer while his fingers dug painfully on my side. It must be a romantic sight because Ali grinned. "...my wife and I have . . other plans. Right, sweetheart?" He turned to look down at me, as he stands several feet taller than me. I always pray that Nathan would held me close like this and smile at me like this. But I couldn't enjoy any of this. Not if his eyes were slits, like daggers caught by the moonlight. It scares the hell out of me.

Tears starts to well on the corners of my eyes as his fingers were still digging deeper on my flesh. Smile is very painful at times like this, but I had to. I had to return Ali's smile. She seemed entertained at Nathan's little display of affection. Little did she know, Nathan is trying to dig a hole on my side. My teeth grits between my smiles. It was painful but I don't have a choice but to stand firm and bite back the sob that threatens to escape my throat, until Ali leaves.

I nod at him. Thats all I can do, nod.

"Ooh! I see." Ali grinned wider and looked at us teasingly. "Off you go, lovebirds! Give us grandchildren sooner." I felt Nathan's hand squeezed my waist with his fingers still sinking deeper on the soft spot of my side. Nathan smiled to his mother, sweetly.

"Martha, go get Ben and tell him to drive Ali to the mansions." The old lady bowed and disappeared from the living room.

As soon as Ali disappeared behind the front doors, leaving blinks for the both of us, Nathan loosen his grip and quickly create a distance between us, like I was some kind of virus. I reached the spot where Nathan's finger dug and apply a little pressure to ease the pain, glad that somehow he released me.

Now, its time face the storm.

"What do you think you are doing?" He seethed. I looked at the tiled floor, the vases, anywhere. I felt my knees buckled and my fingers starts shaking too. I was too afraid to meet his eyes. The eyes, that I know is shooting knives at me. "...are you trying to make a fool out of me in front of my mother?! Answer me!" He roared.

His voice reverberated in every corner of the house, enough to make me jolt with fear. He just shouted at me. My own parents never shouted at me when they caught me lying. My mama would always speak calmly at me and point out what have I done wrong. Even my papa, he never snapped at me let alone shout at me. I felt degraded. The tears stung my eyes, I couldn't hold them back anymore. They start racing down my cheek and felt hot against my skin.

"N-Nathan, I . . I " I look up to meet his eyes. The smallest courage I had with me, vanished at the sight of his eyes. The accusation in them is beyond anything I imagined.

"What? You're sorry?" He closed the distance between us and grabbed my arms. "Answer of me."

"N-Nathan, it hurts! L-Let me go" His eyes linger for a while before pushing me into the couch. I know I had to tell him something. I bowed my head and let my tears run freely on my cheeks. My chest aches from holding my breath.

"What's so wrong about it, Nathan? I lied. I admit that, its not something I am proud of. But I did it because I don't have choice." I whispered. Mustering the tiniest courage left in me to speak up to him. I tried so hard not stutter because if I do, fear will betray me.

"We all have a choice! Dammit!" he run his fingers over his disheveled hair in frustration. "She's my mother, and you dare lie to her? You could have just tell her the truth!"

"The truth? what truth Nathan? That you're out there on some bar drinking? That you barely come home?"

"I would rather have you tell that to Ali." My eyes went wide.

"Why?"

"Because thats the truth!"

There was silence between us.

"Why are you doing this to me?" My voice was came in whisper. "What have I done?"

"What have you done? Good question." he glared. "What have you done?"

"Please, just answer me Nathan, I want to work it out." I pleaded.

He laughed, as if what I said was something funny.

"Are you dumb? or are you trying to be funny? You cannot work it out, woman!" his jaw twitched violently. "You cannot bring back what I lost. You see, you came marching into my life and turned it all upside down. I had a life and I was happy. We were happy. That's until you showed up and fucked my whole life. It was all your fault, you made me who I am today.

"The sight of you makes me sick. My misfortunes starts here, in this fucking house. I want to avoid you, you see? Every time I walk past that door, I prayed to whoever god was listening, that I wouldn't see you. That they would grant me peace from whiskey and midnight. But, alas! you are here waiting for me. Gods are truly cruel."

I stood there, dumbfounded. His words were harsh, throwing daggers into my heart. My stomach twist violently, I felt sick.

"You ruined my life."

Those words were enough to kill every little hope I had with me. He sound deadly, his eyes were deadly, his whisper was deadly. I should say something. Something that would save myself from his degrading accusation but it seemed like my mouth was frozen shut. I was devastated.

"Remember, Yufa. I married you because I had to protect someone so important. You should be thankful to her." He gathered his things and made his way upstairs leaving me alone, with my heart shattered in thousand pieces all over again.

Maybe he is right, I should be grateful to whoever she is. But I don't know if grateful was the right term. I ruined his life. It was my fault.

I married Nathan because of money.

Vote. Comment. Share. Enjoy.