SHE HIRED A HONEYTRAP TO CHECK HER HUSBAND'S FIDELITY

chapter 2

Amid the calmness of a relaxing morning, the soft beams of sunlight caressed Stella's eyes as the light filtered gracefully through her comfortable living room's curtains. Balloons with white and pink glitter hung. Just to the side of the purple curtain was a graduation gown contrasting perfectly with the color.

Stella had an unexpected visit from her longtime friend. In a moment, Luisa looked surprised. She could not help but stare at the gray gown, as her mind wandered for a while. When she came back, her attention had shifted to flower decoration.

They exchanged casual talks, which, of course, touched upon those stylish couches that adorned Stella's living room. The way that Luisa was primed, her manner of communication, which was the best kind that other people liked. The fact that she enjoyed her juice as she responded should tell how deeply she was invested in the conversation.

Stella makes an inquiry about Luisa’s restaurant when the response she receives turns out to be cold and quite short. To the very attitude, Luisa shuttered the topic because she did not bother to delve deeper. It was very obvious that there was something else skidding through her mindset. Her friend’s husband was secretly involved in getting some capital invested and she had to hide that.

She took a sip of her juice and immediately broached the topic out of the blue. "Well girl, how is Ben? I haven’t found him at home lately," she asked. Stella, sounding slightly tender in her voice, said that her husband had gone to his job as usual.

Luisa, even without her asking, informed her that her undying husband, Jude, was endearing and giving up on anything. She greatly admired her husband, without whom Stella's condition would be much worse. On the other hand, Stella wondered why her husband was not as similar to Jude, who showed more affection for her than for his job.

Interest prompted Luisa to explore the possibility of Stella’s husband’s commitment to their relationship. “Is he investing in you or working on something else” she asked.

“It doesn’t matter, as long as he loves me,” Stella responded.

“As long as he loves you?”

“Yes, and that’s what I am sure of, that he loves me,” Stella continued.

“Do you really know what love is, friend?” Luisa asked, as if to communicate a message, but Stella didn’t get carried away.

“Love is sacrifice, love is pain, it is patience, it is honesty, our love for Ben is unwavering, but above everything is patience. I will stay until I feel unwanted,” Stella said in a low, convincing tone.

Stella didn’t even bother with what her friend implied with the question. While Luisa was not done with her questions, she inquired about Stella’s well-being, remembering an eerie undertone in their prior conversation.

“I feel there is something you are hiding from me girl, you sounded so unusual, just tell me.” she continued.

Stella responded with her noticeable fake smile and replied, “I’m okay, you can see I am smiling and looking healthy.”

“Indeed you are okay. Maybe I should stay away and watch you losing everything”, Luisa replied sarcastically. Stella now seemed to be in thought for a while, but then, kept the conversation going. But why couldn’t Luisa give her space? Why does she even ask such questions and say such words?

The room was filled with laughter as they giggled. Teasingly, Luisa hit Stella with a couch pillow. She noticed something in Stella and she asked, “Stella, is that a hickey on your neck?”

“what? No, it is a mosquito bite”, Stella answered.

Their merriment was short-lived as Benson made a sudden intrusion into the room. Surprise fell on both women like a bolt from the blue, as he came home from work ahead of schedule.

“Hey guys”, Benson greeted in a joyous mood, showing amusement at something.

In a quick whispering sound, Luisa responded, “hey mosquito.” Stella barely heard her. At that moment, Stella rose from her seat and hugged her husband with a big smile on her face. She didn’t know that behind her back was a dark secret.

Benson acknowledged Luisa and then he discretely used a phone to reply to his pretend phone call. And memories of the past suddenly appeared, makeup that was almost a disaster. It was only in her mind that her anxiety had escalated, as everything appeared to be fine for the women.

For some minutes, Stella had to get to the kitchen and prepare something for them to eat as they talked. Ben hung up the phone call and they began some conversation with the visitor. As they secretly hugged, Luisa said to Ben as she looked straight on his eyes, “I wonder if things that remind me of you remind you of me too”. “Just like the moon, I am even feeling good admiring you from afar”, she added.

“And just like the moon, you will also leave me alone when the time is right and it might have to be sooner if not now”, Benson replied.

Benson moved distance from Luisa as he noticed his wife coming back from the kitchen. Stella seemed to have noticed something strange. Things were not as usual, but she didn’t like judging. The pain of having a friend who looks at you, smiles and then stabs you in the back.

The following day, just like the custom, Luisa’s usual coming happened. This time I realized that beauty lies in the fatigue and shapeliness of any human being. Her light pink dress was very elegantly fitting to her curves. A golden ring lay on her neck with two jewelry earrings that complemented her look. Stella, reflecting on the solidarity that had already developed, thought it was okay to unburden herself regarding what happened the night before.

Stella started by saying, "I wore my best dress," her voice betraying a small trace of excitement. "He had told me that we would dine at seven o'clock, so, looking lovely in a stylish artist's dress, I had hoped for the evening to be great. Can you imagine how I was sitting alone until? And only to be asked why I was dressed that well at night". She ended her sentence by laughing. Luisa’s fingers were animated, it seemed, as she joined with all of them in the laughter, her hands rubbing together.

The appearance of Luisa’s attention was restlessness. In the middle of her laughter, she asked what Stella’s countenance was when her husband asked her to wear so well. After all, it didn’t happen to them as they planned to go for a dinner but Stella wasn’t contented.

Able to laugh about it, Luisa shared her thought, "You know I don't give a damn about where he is or what's keeping him late. Every skirt will get back to where they belong at the end of the day."

Luisa, however, opted for a more cognizant strategy to strengthen her conviction. She advised to embark on new places like clubs and bars that is where they would enjoy themselves and make the most out of the nightlife. Stella’s reaction was a unique aspect of perspective.

She told Luisa that she would go out with her but she felt it was important to appreciate getting permission from her husband. Luisa was surprised. She said, “at some point, you have to decide for yourself who you are going to be with, you can’t let him make such decisions for you”.

According to Stella, the question was not just about asking for permission, but making the decision for consideration. She felt like the honest gesture of exposing her plans was more of a show of respect towards him instead of walking out of the house without his consent. Luisa seemed to be of some influence that was going to break the bonds and get her friend’s way.

Quickly, Luisa joked back with a sarcastic tone demanding, "Why don't you go ahead and ask him if you can go out". Stella's acceptance of the remark pretty much sealed the deal that they could indeed plan out their outings after first asking for permission.

It was already afternoon and Luisa came to see Stella again. The atmosphere was filled with an air of belonging and warmth that their friendship had generated for them all along. The pensive look on Stella’s face suggested concern and anxiety, which were a manifestation of the burden that she bore.

In her presence, Luisa somehow invited the sharing of the secrets and Stella felt that it was now impossible to hide it anymore. She breathed out her secret to her friend. Her words were tinged with uncertainty, and she ended with, "I am beginning to suspect something about my husband". Her voice shook as she unveiled the growing gap that separated her and her spouse.

"Next to no attention he has been giving me lately", Stella went on, her worry obvious. "I can't recall the last time we had a s****l encounter."

Luisa heard her and that her solicitude was obvious. "I know how you feel, but why do sound to make things look difficult," she tried to arrange a sympathetic tone in her voice. "However, this is not the solution, is it? Men will be men and it is up to us women to do our part to preserve marriage. A bad day does not equal a bad life. "

“So what is easy? Hoping from one man to another?” Stella was angry.

“Well, it is not hopping, it is kissing the frog to find a prince”, Luisa added.

“Really?” Stella asked in disbelief.

“yes” she responded.

Stella looked reluctantly contented. She took a step, advising her, “those frogs like you call them will bite you one day and you will have sense.”

Stella stared at her fingers, her thoughts going off on air. She proceeded to divulge that additional information to her friend. "Benson was the one who bought me the necklace," she said with a heavy voice, although her emotions were far from settled.

Leaning forward, Luisa looked into her eyes. "Remember, not everything on the internet is true. Don't give the devil a chance."

Stella hesitated, though her heart was full of silence. And then came the flash flood. She elaborated the underlying reason for her suspicions. "Benson got a call from his office friend," Stella recalled in a heart-wrenching way. “He walked outside to talk to someone, and I couldn't help but listen in. I heard the woman's name, 'Jocelyn,' and I turned right into a rage.”

Luisa’s face turned somber as she listened to Stella’s story, which became more exciting. "And then?" she asked.

"I asked him who Jocelyn was, and he said she was his workmate assigned to the case he was discussing on the phone, but then I asked yet again why he went outside to make that phone call, and why he hung up in a hurry when he saw me." Stella's voice showed a mixture of bitterness and humility as she narrated.

She continues, “Benson's answer was smart but a little preemptive. He said that particular talks are private. I asked why secrets were becoming part of our relationship. He got furious and that was when I couldn’t take it anymore."

Through her eyes, Stella recalled the emptiness of that second, as if it had just happened. "He left me behind, walking away into the distance."

Luisa smiled what could be called a knowing smile. "Dear Stella, miscommunication could be the worst enemy sometimes. It is therefore necessary to communicate your feelings freely with him. And you have to be careful girl, you might be watering a dead flower."

Stella's face made a surprised look followed by a frown. "What do you mean? Sometimes, letting go isn’t a solution. So are you trying to say I should uproot them and throw them away? Even a dead rose still carries a smell, but then we keep its soil wet, not for the flower that died but for the ones that may come."

Amused, Luisa giggled and just like that, she rose, her eyes sparkling with the universe. " When you are happy, you enjoy music, when you get sad, you understand the lyrics. Men will remain men. I would love to go. Don’t worry, we will run into each other soon friend." She said as she hung her bag on her shoulder, communicating that she wanted to leave.

“The worst thing about being strong is that nobody knows you are hurting”, Stella said the last words before letting her friend go.

Luisa seemed to ask something, she was quiet for a moment, then began, “Girl, you always smile at me but you seem not okay now. Is everything right?”, she asked.

“ Are you realizing it now? Did it come to your mind that I was not okay all along as we talked? But I am okay, as you see,” Stella said as she let make some little smiles. By the looks, it was evident that she is someone who hides all their problems behind their smile and while in it, is a world of pain.