Chapter 45 Misunderstanding

Ares is headed home. He is kind of in a hurry to get home because he is worried about his wife. He was speeding, and when he arrived, he immediately went inside and turned on the lights.

“Hon, I’m back—” Ares saw his wife sleeping on the couch. “Sillygirl... She does not worry about catching a cold,” Ares said, and he removed his coat to make it a blanket for Kianna. He gave her a kiss before heading to the bathroom.

While Ares is taking a bathroom break, Kianna suddenly wakes up to the sound of water dripping. She slowly opened her eyes and observed her environment.

…There is the sound of someone taking a bath in the bathroom. Is Ares back?....

“Hon— Oh, what is this? — Eh? A coat?” Kianna grabbed the coat and a smile slowly flash on her face.

…He is worried that I will catch a cold…

Kianna hugged the coat and smelled it. She was stunned when she smelt something different from Ares’ coat. “This can’t be our fabric conditioner… It smells something different… Something like—a girl’s perfume…” She immediately search for something on the coat when she suddenly saw a lipstick stain on his shirt.

…Lipstick?! Why—why is there something like this on his shirt?! He came back so late and went to take a bath as soon as he entered the room. Is he trying to...

“Impossible,” she said, shaking her head. “He is not that kind of person. Sh*t! Why can’t my tears stop flowing?” Her voice was soft, almost fragile as if it and her heart would break any minute. Perhaps her heart was already broken.

"Why am I so fragile…” she cries, struggling to swallow down a still-beating heart.

The rest came in a continuous stream after that first tear broke free. Kianna knelt down where she was sitting on the floor and put her palms on the mat before starting to break down and cry.

“Ares... I had thought you were different.”

She struggled to finish her sentences and could only emit stuttering noises. She squeezed her eyelids close as hot tears spilled down her face in the hope that they would cease. She sat there still for a considerable period of time, her eyes wet and her breathing labored.

While Ares was still in the bathroom, Kianna suddenly stood up and went to the bedroom to hide in the blanket while pretending to be asleep, but actually, she was hurt and crying. Half an hour had passed and Ares had finished taking a bath. He went back to the living room while trying to dry his hair.

…At last, I finish bathing. I smelt like sh*t earlier because of the people I talked to at the banquet. It’s disgusting!...

“Wait — Where is Kianna? Did she go back to the bedroom?” Ares asked when he didn’t see Kianna on the couch. He immediately went to the bedroom, and when he opened the door, he saw Kianna peacefully sleeping.

“Hon, are you asleep?” he asked, but he didn’t get any answer from Kianna.

…Looks like she is maxed out today. I just let her rest for now. I should be quiet…

Ares turned off the lights and lay next to his wife. “Good night, hon…” Ares said while he hugged his wife. He closes his eyes and tries to sleep.

KIANNA

“Hon, are you asleep?” he asked.

I could feel him looking at me from behind, but I didn’t move nor talk. Maybe if I just keep quiet and pretend that I am sleeping, maybe in this way he will be able to see a sign that he needs to say something to me.

I hear a clicking sound; it seems like he turned off the lights. The next thing I know, he is now beside me and hugging me.

“Good night, hon…” After he said good night, there was total silence in the room. I can’t hear anything.

…Ares, you bastard! Don’t you have anything to tell me? Or maybe he thought I didn’t know. That is why he keeps it a secret from me so he can be a two-timer…

-

When I woke up, I heard someone cooking in the kitchen. He is definitely preparing our breakfast since I have classes today. I immediately went to the bathroom and prepared myself for school. It’s still early, but I already want to go to school. I don’t want to stay here with this two-timer.

“Hon, breakfast is ready!” he said, flashing a bright smile at me, but I only nod at him and walk towards the chair. “Here! I made you a panda hot cake today. Although it isn’t perfect, it tastes good. Come on, try it!”

I pour the syrup onto the hot cake and eat it. While I was busy munching, I saw him in my peripheral view staring at me.

“What?” I asked while my attention was still on the hot cake.

“Do you like it?”

I answered him again with a nod, but he still didn’t notice anything was wrong with me, and that nod made him happy. As soon as I finished eating, I immediately stood up.

“I’m going—”

“What? Now? Wait, hon. I will just get the key—”

“I will just take the bus; don’t bother,” I interjected.

“Bus? No, hon. I can’t let you travel on your own again. Remember the last time you went home?”

He really pissed me off. “Fine! Get the keys and hurry.” I said and walked towards the car. He was rushing to set up the car, and when we got inside the car, he looked at me worriedly.

…Finally, you have noticed…

He started the engine and drove away. “Hon, are you okay? Didn’t you get enough sleep last night?”

“I’m fine…”

I continued to be silent while we were on our way to my school. When we arrived, I immediately got off the car. I heard him say good luck and I love you, but I didn’t look back and just continued walking.

My mind becomes dull after eight lengthy periods. Additionally, I can't stop thinking about what I found out last night. Today is a restless day. We eagerly anticipate the last quarter. Many of us have started to pay less attention in class. They can't stay still in their seats. The boys prepare their bags as the peon approaches the bell. When the last bell sounds, school is out for the day. The gate is open. The boys spread out like a creek in a mountain range.

The scene at this time is very noisy. Some naughty students make a whistling noise. Every student tries to rush out of the classroom before the others. The ground is crowded with people. All are in a hurry to reach their homes. But not me. I don’t want to go home early. I looked for Miaree and Marcy, but only Miaree was the only one I saw. Maybe Marcy went home already.

“Yes, girl?” Miaree asked.

“Would you like to have some ramyeon?” As soon as I said that magic word "ramyeon” her eyes started shining.

“Yes, of course! Let’s go!”

She immediately grabbed my hand and ran towards the parking lot. He doesn’t have a driver today, so Miaree will be my driver for today. We went to a simple restaurant where you can also order some soju. Soju and ramyeon are the best combinations when you have a problem or you just want to chill. As soon as we arrived, the waiter immediately came to take our order, and of course, we ordered two bowls of ramyeon, two bottles of soju, and some side dishes. While we were waiting for our order, I already started telling Miaree the reason why we were here. I told her about last night.

* Bang! *

She suddenly dropped the glass on the table. “What do you mean, you just cried?! You can’t cry in the dark. Ask him directly! He did something wrong and dared not to say it in front of you. Is he man enough?"

“It’s not that he doesn’t admit it. It’s just that... I don’t have the guts to ask him about it. I just... I am afraid that if I ask, everything we started will be gone… Recently, I found out how much I love him and that I don’t want to be apart from him. Since we started this setup, I believed everything he said to me. Looking back now, I just realized that I know nothing about him. He is a complete stranger.”

While I was pouring soju into the shot glass, I could see my hand trembling. “I know nothing, such as his parents, his friend, and even his background. I don’t know what kind of marriage we have. It feels like a game…”

“The way I see it, men are playboys! Everyone will play. It’s a matter of fact, if he is really into you, that’s when they will change for the better. Come on, Kia. I have your back! Don’t be so crazy in love!”

While we were busy drinking and eating ramyeon, my phone suddenly rang, and there was a notification. When I checked it, I saw his name.

[Hon, what time does your school finish? I'm coming to pick you up.]

…Humph. He even dares to text me. I don’t want you to pick me up!...

I replied that I was with Miaree and we were eating somewhere, so I would be home late. After that, I turned off my phone so that I would not receive any messages or calls from him.

“Why do you still reply to that cheater?! If I were you, I would have shot his head off! Kianna, you are so soft… Forget it, forget it! Stop mentioning that asshole! Today is my treat. Let’s order more soju!”

We ordered five more bottles and while we were in the middle of serious conversation, a group of guys approached us. I was kind of tipsy, so I didn’t mind them and just continued drinking, but suddenly I felt something in my belly. When I look at it, someone is trying to hug me. I push him away and slap his face, making him shocked by my sudden action.

“Oh, chill! We just want to join you. Don’t you girls feel lonely by drinking like this?” a frog-looking guy said.

“Get away from us! Or else we will call the police!”

He didn’t mind what I said and started getting close to me. “Wow, this chick is very hot. You're kind of my type.”

There are some people here in the restaurant, but no one dares to help us. I heard someone talking from another table. They said that they were a gang here in this area and no one dares to offend this guy in front of me. But who cares? I just slapped him. I’m not afraid of him.

“Did you hear that boss? She said she would call the police!” the guy behind him said, and started laughing like a duck.

…Am I in a zoo or what?...

“Oh, you are going to call the police? Oh, I am so scared! Pretty babe, please don’t! HA-HA-HA!”

He held my waist and forced me to get close to him. “Get the f*ck off me! You dirty man! Help!”

“No one’s gonna help you if I tell them that this is just a lovers quarrel, besides, you are trying to seduce me a while ago! You keep on looking at me when I enter this restaurant!”

“What the f*ck are you talking about?!”

* Bang—*

I was shocked when Miaree suddenly hit the man with the bottle. The bottle of soju broke into pieces due to the strong impact or maybe because this frog-looking guy’s head is hard as f*ck.