INSIDE

CHAPTER 10

The silence was unnerving. He hadn’t spoken to her since he got back home. He didn’t look happy either, didn’t even make an effort to mask it either. His eyes were low, no spark or mischief. He didn’t look too keen on her smile nor comment on her efforts at the meal she prepared. She didn’t think it was work related, he was on leave. Was it about last night? She wondered if it was even that serious, plus he looked fine this morning. She was getting impatient and didn’t like that feeling for one bit. She hated losing control. She felt her smile slipping. Engaging in small talk did nothing to change the mood. She looked over from the kitchen counter. He still had that solemn look on his face. She decided to give it a try one more time.

” Did something come up at work??”. She said in a low voice, commending herself on how sad it sounded.

“Not really, I just stepped out for a while”. She noted how stable his voice sounded compared to his eyes. They both told a different message entirely.

“Ooh. It was a long walk then.”

“I went to the orphanage”. He said it like an afterthought, looking her straight in the eyes this time. She noted how much more stable they looked now.

He was masking something

“Did something happen”. It wasn’t surprising that he would go to the orphanage.

“Nothing really. I figured it was long I last saw Sister Martha. Surprisingly, she looked very fine for her age, still witty as ever. He smiled; she noted it.

“I never went to see her after leaving. Though I did think about it”. She did, but never went. She couldn’t stand the woman’s scrutinizing gaze, she had too much on her plate already.

“You were always a pain in the neck”. He said it as a matter of fact.

“Now you know that is not true”. She said with a slight laugh, walking out of the kitchen, she headed to the room searching for her phone, silently figuring out she had left it in the bathroom sink.

“I told her we got married”. She heard his voice and paused for a moment.

So, his mood had something to do with her after all. Walking back to the living room, she sat next to him.

“I don’t know what to say, but I guess it is fine” she looked over with a distant smile “I mean we did get married”.

“I thought it was okay too. She is the closest I could share my happiness with. Aside from you, of course” he said with a grimace.

“That was an afterthought, right”.

“My bad”. He looked apologetic.

“Did something happen, Jason? You didn’t look your best. Did she say something?”.

“Say something”? He asked with a confused expression.

“About me, perhaps.”

“Did you do anything”. It sounded like a silent plea of affirmation.

“No. Nothing I can think of. I don’t know why I said that even”

“Mm. You sound nervous for a reason”. “We just had a little talk. But she was particularly surprised that you said yes to someone. Too surprised even”

“She has always been a careful type. She particularly cared about you. Her worries are valid.”

“I think so too.”

“Lisa. They are things I want to know about you”. He sounded careful. She knew what was coming next but stayed quiet.

“Your life before coming to the orphanage. And how you ended up there to begin with".

“Are you digging”. He felt the chill tone and the empty look.

“No. Just genuinely curious”.

“I see what got your mood in a twist now”. She gave a slight smile. “Actually, there is nothing to know about my family. I don’t remember much. I was only a little girl. But what I do know is my house is that it got burnt to the ground with my mother in it. I don’t know how I managed to escape, so I cannot help you with that information. It doesn’t matter anyway”.

“It must have been hard trying to remember those times. Sorry I brought it up”. He said, watching her reaction. She wasn’t traumatized by whatever happened.

“Do I creep you out”??. That was certainly not a question he was expecting to hear, it caught him off guard.

“No, why would you think that”. He was genuinely confused.

“I thought I did. I feel relieved”. She wasn’t looking at him, she seemed distant. Making up her mind to let him in on her troubles, she called out his name.

“Jason”. She had never called him this way.

“I have a stalker”.