New Husband's Gift
1115 Words
Thea stepped out of the mall with a small thrill bubbling inside her chest. She held a neat gift bag gently like it was something delicate.
For a moment, she almost forgot the chaos of the last twenty-four hours. She moved quickly towards the direction where she left Henry before he started asking questions.
But the moment she reached a few distance, a familiar voice tore the excitement away from her body like someone yanked a cloth.
“Thea.”
She stopped immediately, her stomach tightening painfully.
“I’m surprised, Thea.”
Osita’s tone came with that same quiet arrogance she once found attractive when she was younger and too desperate to be seen.
Now, her chest only tightened harder. She turned slowly.
Osita stood only a few steps away, tall and confident like nothing about yesterday bothered him. Natalia stood close to him, her arm deliberately almost brushing his.
Ray hovered behind them awkwardly, avoiding direct eye contact with her.
“You’ve held out for quite long this time,” Osita added with a mocking half-smile Thea knew too well. It was that smile he usually wore after winning arguments she didn’t even know they were having.
Her heart had no intention of beating fast today, yet it did.
She just stared at him. Quiet.
His gaze dropped to the gift bag in her hand, and his lips curved again. “Wow… you even got a gift to plead with me.”
He reached for it casually but she moved it behind her quickly like someone protecting a secret document.
“Who said this is for you?” Thea asked gently, but there was firmness beneath the softness. She didn’t blink.
Osita paused, absorbing her tone. She watched a flicker cross his face, something uneasy, before he hid it behind that same confident smile he always used to manipulate situations.
Instead of backing away, he moved even closer and snatched the bag from her hand by force.
“Thea—”
He cut her off sharply, lifting the bag as if he just caught proof of a crime.
“It’s Armani,” he said, admiring it like the item was his. He looked at Ray. “Can you imagine? She came all the way here just to buy this. Don’t lie through your teeth, Thea.”
Her body tensed but she didn’t let him hear even the smallest tremble.
“Osita, do you think I’ll die without you?” she asked, her voice surprisingly steady.
“Yes, I do.” He said it without hesitation. “This is proof.” He raised the bag higher like a trophy.
Her fingers moved sharp and fast. She snatched the bag back from him before he even realised her hand had moved.
“That’s not for you.”
Osita chuckled quietly like her reaction entertained him.
“Oh? Who could it be for then?” He asked, pretending curiosity, pretending innocence, pretending everything he never was.
Thea simply looked away with a small laugh she didn’t plan. She didn’t trust herself to look him in the eyes without revealing how much he once destroyed her.
“Thea,” he continued, “you’re always like this. You run away a few days and block my number. Then you come back with a gift. You cook a few meals for me and we kiss and make up.”
His confidence was almost insulting.
“The way you believe everything revolves around you is unbelievable,” Thea replied. “I bought this for someone else.”
“Someone else?” he repeated, still amused, hands still comfortably in his pocket.
She simply nodded. He tilted his head slowly, studying her face like he was trying to see if she meant it.
“It’s been years, and I know you best,” he said. “You have no friends or family outside of me. No one wishes you well on holidays and birthdays either. You’re just pulling this pitiful act so I’ll ask you to come back, right?”
Natalia suddenly stepped forward, holding fake hesitation, her voice sweet like someone rehearsing sympathy.
“Thea, I’m so sorry for everything I’ve caused you. I didn’t mean to come between you and Osita.”
Thea didn’t move. Natalia reached for her hand like she meant peace but her eyes were sharp, almost competitive.
Then next thing happened so fast, even Ray jerked backward.
Natalia suddenly pulled her own hand backward dramatically and let herself fall hard on the ground, gasping painfully.
Osita froze, eyes wide. Ray stared in shock.
“What the hell!” Osita shouted, pointing at Thea. “Thea, have you completely gone crazy?! What did she do to you now? Don’t you know she’s sick?”
Natalia lay on the ground, tears forming too quickly to be real.
“I’m sorry, Thea. You can do anything you want to me. I don’t mind. Just don’t take it out on Osita. I know he loves you.”
Thea almost laughed. She felt her lips curve bitterly. The naivety they expected from her was really incredible. She didn’t trust her voice, so she just kept quiet.
Her silence made Osita even angrier, which she loved quietly.
He helped Natalia up immediately, holding her close like she was fragile glass. Natalia buried her face against his chest like she belonged there. Then she opened her eyes just enough and smirked at Thea.
Thea shook her head slowly. She didn’t bother responding to either of them. There was no point.
She turned, ready to walk away from all of them forever, but Osita grabbed her by the wrist immediately and pulled her back.
“And where the hell do you think you’re going?” His voice carried more panic than anger.
“To my husband.” She said it without blinking.
Everything stopped. It was as if the air stopped moving.
Ray looked confused. Natalia looked up sharply. Osita blinked like he didn’t hear well.
“What—what did you just say?”
“I said,” she repeated, her eyes not shaking, “I’m going to my husband. I’m married.”
She didn’t raise her voice, yet every word stabbed deeper.
Osita stared like someone slapped him unexpectedly. His breathing changed.
“What does that even mean?” he whispered.
“I’m married,” she said again, “and this is a wedding gift for my husband. Happy now?”
He inhaled sharply, voice low, shaky, completely opposite of his earlier confidence.
“What did you say?”
“I said this is a wedding gift for my husband!” she fired again, louder this time.
“Get it now?!”
- Writer
