Chapter 6 Indifference

A few moments before the call with Alexandrine took place—----------

“ Tina, what are you doing sitting here alone?” Feeling uncomfortable due to Johnson's grandmother’s words, Tina escaped to the living room where she sat and reminisced about the event that had taken place between them when Johnson unexpectedly arrived.

“ You have not answered me, Tina?” What are you doing here alone?” Johnson asked his first love once again to which she finally responded, “ What else can I do but sit here alone?”

“ Grandmother doesn’t like me and will never accept our relationship.” What else can I do but weep here silently?”

Johnson felt sorry for Tina’s situation; He felt the need to comfort her but thought that it wouldn’t make her feel better completely. Johnson suddenly remembered how his grandmother was fond of Alexandrine and thought of an idea that might make Tina feel better.

“ You shouldn’t worry needlessly like that, Tina, because things will be just fine,” Johnson uttered to Tina who had yet to understand what he meant by his words. Johnson continued and said, “ Alexandrine will get you justice.”

“ Alexandrine?” Tina was startled by Johnson’s last sentence but regardless, she wanted to hear more of Johnson’s idea.

“ How exactly would Alexandrine get me justice?” Johnson explained to Tina how his wife would be the one to forward their divorce agreement to his grandmother. Tina was delighted to hear such great news from her boyfriend that she couldn’t help but hug the latter joyfully.

“ You’re the best, Johnson. You always know best what to do to make me feel better; I love you.” The flashback ended there between Johnson and Tina.

Back to the present, as Alexandrine hung up the call, she couldn’t believe her husband’s selfish request and irony at the same time.

“ Johnson, how selfish can you be? She mumbled. “ I can’t believe that just to please Tina, you would deliberately hurt your grandmother like this and on her birthday no less.”

Reaching the outside of the hospital, the driver was eagerly waiting for Alexandrine to drive her to the grandmother’s residence upon Johnson’s orders.

“ Madam, are you ready to leave?” The driver asked Alexandrine enthusiastically. Alexandrine responded, “ Yes, but before we leave for grandmother’s residence, I’d like to stop at someplace first. Will you take me?”

“ You needn’t ask me that question, Madam; I’ll take you anywhere you wish to without hesitation.” The driver said strongly and his response enchanted Alexandrine who simply said in retortion, “ Thank you.”

At the grandmother’s residence, the crew was reunited in the dining hall for her birthday. Johnson's grandmother was pissed at Tina for being so glued to Johnson.

“ Happy birthday, Mother!” One of her children wished her well but she was too distracted by the scene in front of her to pay attention to her daughter’s well wishes directed at her.

Apparently, it wasn’t only grandmother who wasn’t pleased with Tina’s presence but most of the individuals present for her birthday.

Grandmother could no longer keep up with such disrespect and fortunately, she wouldn’t have to keep up the pretense.

“ Grandmother, your beloved Alexandrine has arrived at last.” Hearing the voice, Johnson and Tina turned backward and saw Alexandrine advancing joyfully toward them.

“ She’s here at last,” Tina mumbled.

Alexandrine noticed Tina’s joyful grin and mumbled, “ You’re so happy Tina because you mistakenly think I’m going to make things easier for you, aren’t you?”

“ Alexandrine, my dear, come to me quickly; Let me embrace you!”

“ Yes, grandmother, I’m coming.”

Alexandrine walked across the room and when she reached grandmother’s table, the two shared a joyful hug that lasted for about a minute.

As they separated, the grandmother asked her granddaughter, “ How are you faring now, my dear? I heard from your husband how you had to go to the hospital as you were feeling a bit under the weather.”

To not worry her husband and grandmother, she deliberately lied to both of them as she said without blinking an eye, “ I’m fine, grandmother; The doctor said I was perfectly alright.”

“ That’s good to know; I’m relieved to know you have nothing too concerning to worry about.” Johnson’s grandmother’s attention was directed at Tina who was seated in Alexandrine’s seat.

Coldly, Johnson’s grandmother uttered to Tina, “ Hey you, shouldn’t you step away from Johnson now that his wife is here?” How more of a disrespect will you be?”

Johnson threw daggers at Alexandrine; Alexandrine knew pretty well what Johnson wanted from her as he grabbed Tina’s hand firmly as the latter was about to stand.

Looking at the two shamelessly misbehaving in front of the grandmother and all of the guests present, she uttered, “ Grandmother, I’m fine; I’m fine seating wherever.” Alexandrine said cordially to the grandmother who wasn’t pleased at all. On the other hand, she was annoyed at Tina and her grandson, Johnson.

Seeing how pissed her husband’s grandmother was, she kindly asked Tina to step aside from her seat which she did in exasperation. The grandmother was happy to see Alexandrine seated at her rightful place as Johnson’s wife, but not anyone was pleased by this, especially a particular person.

Furious at Alexandrine, Johnson threw his anger at her, “ How could you be so selfish? What would it have cost you to sit somewhere else?”

“ You know how Tina is my friend and how I invited her to come with me to my grandmother's birthday party and yet, you acted so disrespectfully.” Alexandrine was deeply hurt by her husband’s harsh words and venom directed at her. Tina seated at another table was grinning sneakily at the latter’s misery.

The grandmother felt bad for Alexandrine due to how unfairly he was treating his wife in front of her. Alexandrine grinned through it all as she tried to keep her tears from falling. She was doing her best to appear as normal and natural as possible in front of the grandmother and all the guests. Alexandrine didn’t want her husband’s grandmother's birthday to be a fiasco due to the unfortunate incident.

Johnson was standing up to sit someplace else when Alexandrine uttered, “ Aren’t you the one acting childish here?”

Johnson was stunned by her word language. Alexandrine continued in the same tone. “ You know how grandmother’s health is fragile and how she shouldn’t be pressured and yet, instead of making her happy, all you care about is your friend’s uncommon situation.” Saying so, Alexandrine glared at Tina with daggers portrayed in her eyes.

As a finishing sentence, Alexandrine added, “ If your friend Tina here is more important than grandmother and her happiness, then, you can go ahead and sit with your dear friend.”

At that moment, Johnson took a moment to think about everything his wife had enumerated and although it was hard for him to admit, he had to agree with her claims. To make his grandmother happy and not trouble her further, he sat back with his wife, Alexandrine to the happiness of grandmother.

Dinner went on silently and after a while, it came to a close. After wishing his grandmother a happy birthday one last time, he grabbed Tina’s hand firmly, and together, they drove off from the dining hall and toward the exit.

Alexandrine felt deeply pained seeing her husband leave hand-in-hand with another woman. The grandmother noticed her granddaughter’s sadness and muttered to her, “ Don’t be sad Alexandrine! That girl doesn’t compare to you in any way, but if you must know, there’s a simple way to keep her away from your husband for good.”

“ A way?”

“ Yes, there is a way to get rid of her for good and that is a child.” Alexandrine was stunned for a moment by grandmother’s tone.

???

“ If Johnson and you were to have a child, who do you think he would prioritize?”