Love in Reverse

“Who is she?!" Daniella shouted to the top of her lungs when her husband, Peter, finally came home late as usual. He feigns her ignorance and makes his way to the kitchen. Clearly doesn't want to make another round of quarrel and confrontation between who is who. Daniella followed him, gripping the mobile phone in her hand which the picture her private investigator sent her. For the last few weeks her husband hadn't come home and she found out that he slept in a luxury hotel with a woman. That idea itself made her blood boil. ‘Does he think he can escape with me this time?’ She thought. “I’m asking you Peter, who is she?!" She faces him, shoving the phone on her husband's face with a picture of him and a woman— a potential mistress. Frustrated, Peter eyes the phone then gulps the wine he just poured himself with. He clearly doesn't want to fight with his wife and ignoring her again would be his way of escape. Unfortunately, that's not what's on Daniella’s mind. “What's your excuse this time? A colleague, a friend, or an employee? What? Say it!" She yells, utterly disappointed that the husband she loved takes another woman aside from her. Recently, Daniella was being paranoid about whose woman her husband is going with for a night so she hired a private investigator to track his every move and now that she got him, she won't get no as an answer. “No one. She's no one you should concern yourself with." Peter said, nonchalantly. With a frown, Daniella replied. “Why shouldn't I be worried when my husband is sleeping with another wo—” "Because I'm not sleeping with her!” Peter's voice echoed through the entire house, that Daniella felt a shudder creeping to her system. She has known Peter Hughes when they were kids and ever since then she knew every face of him. Peter was a busy businessman back then and had to study his undergraduate degree abroad so she would always wait for him to go back to the city, just to see him and even though he clearly doesn't like her, he never once shut her off. She surrendered to the ground, tears rolling down her cheeks, utterly defeated. She didn't know what to do anymore. She thought that if she married him—the man she loved—he would eventually also return her feelings. They were married for four years and she still found no improvement in their relationship, if anything, it went dry and awry. From the first time, she knew that he didn't love her but she still forced herself in with him and now she paid the price. Their marriage was nothing but an arrangement with their parents and because she wanted to as well, she didn't object the marriage because it would be a chance to make him fall in love with her. They have spent their nights in separate bedrooms, at first that didn't bother Daniella but as time went on, her husband refused to go home and was sleeping in another house other than their marital home and that made Daniella furious. Never mention the fact that her husband denied each accusation of his woman. Peter slammed the glass to the table so hard, it shattered. “f**k this." He snake a hand on his raven hair out of frustration. He walked away from the kitchen, clearly dissatisfied about the event. Seeing her husband walk away, Daniella clings on his leg preventing him from making another step. “Please don't leave me, Peter. I beg you." She doesn't care anymore if she weeps like a child as long as she can make him stay. Peter glared at her. “Get off me, Daniella! This is not the Daniella I knew before. What makes you change?" That stung her. ‘I didn't change, this is still me. Except for being desperate to get his love for more than four years but not receiving none of it in return.’ She thought. He forced himself to sway away from her and eventually she let go. Still on the ground gawking at him with eyes spilling tears of yearning. Daniella knew that no matter what she would do, she can't have her husband's heart by force. She knew that, but she still had hopes that maybe someday he would change his heart. Looking down at her with menace, he said. “I didn't come here for this." He turns from her and walks away leaving her pathetically lying on the cold ground bawling her eyes out as if that would make her husband come back for her. The last thing she heard was the sound of his car moving and fading from the distance and she knew her husband would never return. *** “Ma’am, can I get you some water?" Missy, the head maid, approaches her side, witnessing just another quarrel of her Mister and Misses. Daniella, feeling utterly ashamed, nodded without thinking then she thought. ‘You’re pathetic Dani, after all you chase for a man's heart without realizing you crush your own poor heart’ After a while, Missy returned with a glass of water and helped Daniella to get on her feet. Witnessing the quarrelling everytime, she couldn't help but feel sorry for her Missis. “Don't you worry now, ma’am, the Mister will soon return." Daniella looked at her woefully, " How could I make him love me, Missy?” She never asked anyone that before ever since she became Peter’s wife. "Love isn't something you should force to, ma’am, if he doesn't feel it then maybe it's not meant for you." She replied. That made Daniella nodding and slowly she got on her trance and headed her way down to her bedroom. The bedroom she had hoped to share with Peter and once thought she could make him hers. She looks at herself and after a while, she laughs, a miserable laugh. ‘I did change’ she thought. Maybe Missy was right. I shouldn't force myself on someone that didn't love me. But Peter was my husband and I am his wife. He will love me eventually. The once exultant and bright young lady she embodies was now replaced by a depressed and sullen maiden she never wished for to happen. She was once a promising student and right after graduating law school, she locked her way to marry Peter Hughes, abandoning her dream and achievements. For what?! ‘I should be a great lawyer by now.’ She thought. ‘Love made me like this.’ Her eyes turn to the picture frame where she got first married and felt joyous to finally make her dream come true, unbeknownst to her, she would face a miserable life for love. That night Daniella weeps ‘till she sleeps still hoping that her husband would return and love her.