Kiss of Revenge

I immediately got up when I felt a warm touch on my face. When I opened my eyes, I saw my husband opening the window. I scratched my nape and inspected him while he fixed the tangled ribbon on the curtain. The sunlight must have been the culprit of warming my face.

“Need help?” I asked. He immediately glanced back and smiled. “Oh, you are awake! Did I wake you up?” I grinned and shook my head. I don’t want him to feel bad. He told me how he always felt bad whenever I tried to help him. He often emphasizes that he is a man, and he should be doing all the work. The next second, I see him breaking down, so that’s the time I intervene. I love him to death, but perhaps that is the only thing I hate about him. Out of the blue, someone opened our bedroom door.

“Ana, can you please knock first before entering?” Hans scolded his little sister who is currently chewing gum. Oh, the other thing I hate about Hans, is his family. Luckily, he was adopted, so he didn’t get the trait his current family has.

“Mama wants to see you,” Ana uttered and closed the door as if she planned to break it. I flinched, which made my husband sigh.

“I’ll just talk to Mom. Stay here.” I nodded and stared at my husband as he disappeared from my sight. The wind suddenly blew, which is why I stood up to fix the window. However, a small notebook resting on my husband’s table piqued my attention. I didn’t want to touch it, but there was something inside me that wanted to read it. The wind blew again, making the notebook open on its own. I was intrigued, which is why I took a peek. My eyes widened when I saw a picture of his secretary, kissing his cheek, pasted on the notebook.

“This is Tina…” What made me mad even more was seeing hearts drawn around it.

“Is he cheating on me?” I whispered as I nervously picked the notebook up. I gulped and flipped to the next page. That was the moment I found out it was Hans' diary.

[I spent the whole evening talking to my childhood friend, Tina. She is the sweetest person. I still don’t get why I didn’t take the initiative to ask her out back then. Maybe if I only had the courage, we would be married by now.]

“Childhood friend?” I asked myself and gulped. “But he never told me about this. I didn’t know they were childhood friends…”

This information stayed on my mind for hours, and even for days. I want to talk to him about it, but I am afraid of what he might answer. In the end, I think people were right when they said that ignorance is bliss. I wish I didn’t read it. Maybe, I won’t feel bad about myself.

“Sasha!” I came back to my senses when I heard Cecille shouting at me. “Look! The fish is already burnt! When are you going to learn how to cook?!”

She immediately moved me away from the stove and held the cooking equipment.

“I am sorry, mama,” I whispered and clenched my fists. “It’s just that, I am thinking of something.”

“You are always thinking of something. What’s new? You can’t even dress yourself up. You have wrinkles, pimples, and you suck at makeup. If you don’t have money, Hans won’t mar–” Cecille didn’t finish her words, but I already know what she meant by that. She loves his son, and I remember the day we were at the church. She was crying not because of happiness, but because he ended up with someone she didn’t like.

“I am sorry, mama,” I whispered. “I will do better.”

“You always say that. Nothing’s new.” I gulped and started walking away. My heart stings.

“Hey..” I glanced back and saw a tall guy with thick eyebrows. “Are you crying? Are you okay?”

I wiped my tears and smiled.

“Yes, love! Do you want to eat outside? Let’s have lun–Wait, is that lipstick?” I pointed at the pocket of his long sleeve when I saw a pink cap showing up. My friends always bring those types of lipsticks, that’s why I got familiar with them. Hans peeked at his pocket and took out the lipstick.

“Oh, this? This is my gift for you!” He smiled and handed it to me. I grinned.

“Thank you!” I uttered and opened the lipstick. I glided it in my hand to see the shade, and I was taken aback. This was the exact color I often see on his long sleeve after work.