SLEEPING
They were sitting on the living room sofa, her head against Zachary’s broad chest. Zachary hugged her and played with the tip of her hair. He gently kissed her brow.
“Love,” she said, capturing Zachary’s attention.
When she heard nothing back, she looked up to see him. When she saw Zachary close his eyes, she smiled. Maybe she, like her, didn’t sleep well.
She slowly took Zachary’s hugging hand away from her. She moved slowly and stood up to get throw pillows to put on the side, as she would on Zachary. She followed his feet to lie down properly when she fixed his head.
Samarra’s only intention was to stare at Zachary’s face, so she sat beside him but didn’t realize she was already asleep next to him.
When someone hugged Samarra tightly, she awoke. She blinked open her eyes. Zachary’s smile appeared to be watching her while she slept.
“I love seeing you sleep and wake up next to me; Ara, my life is incomplete without you. I appreciate you coming into my life; I love you,” Zachary said passionately, his gaze fixed on hers.
Zachary touched his face and kissed her gently until his kiss deepened. She longed for his return as if he was reclaiming the days when he had never kissed her again.
She reacted with the same ferocity until they were both out of breath. She was even taken aback by Zachary’s position on top of her. Zachary rushed off on top of her and sat down as he assisted her in sitting.
“I apologize, love.”
She smiled and squeezed his hand, with no need to apologize because she wanted it to happen, and she responded voluntarily.
“It’s fine. There’s no need to apologize.”
He drew her into his lap and hugged her.
“Where would you go if I wasn’t coming home?” Zachary inquired, sniffing her neck. She could feel and smell his fragrant breath as it hit her.
She lifted his chin to correct their vision. She then showed Zachary the card Ezekiel had given her before he left.
“That’s my Buenavista Condominium room unit. How come you have that?”
Zachary frowned as he held the card she had earlier shown him.
“It was given to me by Kiel.”Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
She even displayed the keycard that Ezekiel had given her.
“Did Zeke give it to you?” Zachary inquired, holding the keycard he displayed.
“He said it was for my future.”
“Are you going to visit me like that?”
She kissed his cheek and nodded.
“What would you say if you ever caught up with me at the condo?” Samarra swallowed and returned her gaze to Zachary’s hand.
“‘The truth? I’m going to apologize for saying what I did. That’s not what I meant to say because I was jealous of your girlfriend’s presence. I was at a loss for words, so I introduced myself as your cousin. Then you got angry, which led me to believe that you didn’t want your girlfriend to know we knew each other, and you even shouted at me. You were furious when we got home. So I reasoned, I can’t do that if you ever ask me to see and be with your girlfriend,” she sighed. She felt a stab in her chest as she realized she couldn’t leave without her husband.
“So you chose to push me away and Claudel away because you thought I still loved Claudel?”
Samarra nodded timidly.
“I’m sorry; I thought it was the best thing for the two of us. Sorry for always overthinking and thinking ahead. I apologize. After all, I always make decisions for the two of us because I didn’t think the two of us should discuss such matters.”
Zachary nodded and kissed her on the cheek.
“Ara, promise you will never leave and never push me to others.”
She shook her head and gently touched Zachary’s face.
“Never.”
“Talk to me, love, if something is bothering you. Let’s talk about it if we have a problem. Let’s talk because we can’t solve the problem if one of us isn’t telling the truth.”
She hugged Zachary and nodded. Her back was caressed by his hand.
“Didn’t I make you realize how much I love you?” Zachary spoke softly to her.
She apologized to her husband, “I’m sorry.”
That was all she could say except “sorry.” She didn’t talk to or even ask Zachary because she didn’t trust him.
“After all, you’re dressed, love. Let’s go to Aunt Lucille and get our clothes to fit.”
She nodded as Zachary assisted her in standing.
Samarra couldn’t help but smile as she and Zachary held hands on the road. She can see the joy on his handsome face. Samarra’s last silent wish was for their marriage to last.
“Hey, first go inside. I’ll properly park the car.”
Samarra nodded and kissed Zachary on the lips before descending. Someone grabbed her hand as she walked. She cocked her brow at the woman.
“Yes?”
“May we speak?”
Samarra took a deep breath before softly nodding. Perhaps they need to talk to be equally silent. Before following Claudel, she checked to see where Zachary was.
They walked across the street to the opposing coffee shop; as she stepped inside, Samarra couldn’t help but wonder what Claudel would say to her. If Claudel asks her to leave Zachary, she refuses and promises Zachary that she will never leave.
They chose that seat upstairs because there weren’t many people, and the ambiance was great. They sat in chairs that faced each other. Claudel gave her a friendly smile before turning to the waiter to place their order.
“One latte coffee.” Claudel turned to face the waiter.
“One double shot espresso, please,” she told the waiter.
The waiter left as soon as they finished taking the order. Claudel looked at her as if she was considering how to begin their conversation. They thanked the waiter before he left when their order arrived. She noticed Claudel take a sip before turning to face her.
“I’m pregnant.”