CHAPTER 2. FORGIVENESS? NEW LOVE?

I finally got discharged from the hospital a week later. All those seven days at the hospital, Chris tried contacting us, but my mom didn't respond to any of his calls. He even sent a text message begging mom to at least give him the location I was being taken to. The nerves! Why does he even want the location, or does he want to finish off what he started? I mean, this man almost sent me to my early grave. 

“Are you sure you don't want me to take you in or at least talk sense into him?” My mom said when she got to our gate.

“Mom… don't worry. I'll be fine, okay?” I assured her as I stepped down from the car.

“Okay, be good. Don't forget to contact me in case anything happens again” my mom said. She looked worried. 

“Mom… “

“I'm sorry, I'm just worried, sweetheart. I love you." My mom chuckled. I smiled. 

“Bye, I love you mom” with that I went into the compound. I waited until she drove off before I continued walking.

I took a long breath before opening the door. 

Chris was home. He doesn't work on weekends.

He was somewhat startled when he saw me inside. I didn't say a word to him, I just gave him one glare and walked upstairs.

For the first time, I wasn't scared of Chris. I wasn't scared of my life. I mean, what's the worst than can happen?

An hour later, Chris walked up with a tray of freshly prepared fruit.

“Here. You should have these. It's gonna help” He said as he sat next to me. 

For a minute, I thought I was dreaming. This has never happened. I folded my arms.

“And why should I accept anything from you, huh?” I frowned.

“Because I want you to get better, Aria” he responded softly. 

“So is your way of apologizing?” I rolled my eyes.

“Ohhh, please. To hell with it!” I yelled.

I got up from the bed and tried to walk away, but he grabbed me by my arm. I was scared. Was he about to beat me up?

“Aria…” his voice trailed off

“I've been a terrible person, but I am sorry…” he continued. I wasn't even struggling for him to free me from his grip, I just stood there frozen.

“I don't know if you can ever forgive me, but eat these fruits…it'll help with your healing” he added.

“ Just leave me alone, please” I finally freed myself from his grip, then I went to the kitchen. 

It was getting late already. I was surfing through I*******m when I heard the bedroom door cracked open. I swiftly hid my phone under the pillow and played asleep.

Slowly, he crawled to his side of the bed and calmly laid still. He didn't try to touch me or even ask me to please him in whatsoever way. I was stunned.

Did this seven days away from him shape his character, or he's just pretending to be nice to me, or is he trying to play with me? I've known Chris for about two years and a few months, but this new character development is what I haven't seen before.

My alarm woke me up as usual. It was a Sunday morning. Chris was not in bed, I wondered where he must have gone to. I went downstairs, but he wasn't there. He wasn't in the toilet, neither was he in the bathroom nor dinning table. I was panicking.

“Why are you even panicking, but I thought you didn't care about this man?” My subconsciousness questioned me. I crazily laughed it off then it dawned to me that he might be in the kitchen, but again, Chris never goes to the kitchen, especially in the morning.

“Good morning” Chris greeted softly.

“What are you doing?” I asked, still unsure.

“Making breakfast for us” He replied with a grin.

“See, I don't know where this is all coming from or what's going on exactly, but I still haven't forgiven you, so stop trying…” I said as he shrugged.

“Okay. I'm making us breakfast, so can you go to the dinning table while you sit and wait for me?” He asked.

“No. I'm going back upstairs” I responded.

“To the dinning table, Aria. This minute! Don't make me lose it!” He ordered. Fear gripped me.

I tucked out my middle finger before leaving for the dinning table.

His pancakes were good, but I make better pancakes, though. He added honey to my tea and asked me if it was enough, like I cared. I just gave him that “whatever” look.

After breakfast, he insisted he bathed me. This was another level of torture, and kept blaming the baby's treatment on the fact that I just returned from the hospital.

“Hope our divorce paper is still going” I finally broke the silence. He looked at me, I looked away.

“Yess… I think it should be ready in a month or so” he finally responded as he washed the soap off me.

“ I'm glad” I got some water and poured it over my face.

“Okay” he muttered.

The rest of the bath continued in silence.

The next day, he made breakfast for the both of us before leaving. These few days have been weird for me. This was so unlike Chris. Whatever character development he claims he's going through right now, I'm not just buying it at all.

The rest of the day, I kept applying for jobs online, hoping I would find one.

As for dinner, Chris bought food on his way back from work.

“I've been applying for jobs online, I just need something to keep myself busy with” I finally broke it to him.

“Is your dad in agreement with this?” He asked. I shook my head negatively.

“Why don't you want to reconcile with your dad instead? I mean, why apply for jobs instead of working with your dad?” He asked again. I was quiet.

It's been a year plus since my dad and I last spoke. He is the reason I even got married to Chris in the first place, and that broke our relationship.

“Aria…” Chris called me, bringing me back to reality.

“Mmmh” I mumbled.

“I don't think you require a job. If you need something to keep you busy, read books…” he paused.

“Listen to music, watch movies or do art. Just anything” he completed. I glared at him.

“Don't tell me what to do, okay?" I said.

“ I'm not telling you what to do, Aria” he responded. 

“I think it's best if you just rest for a while before thinking of working” he calmly said. I watched him play with his fork, then I stared at him and back to his food.

"Never mind" I mumbled again then I stretched for a glass of water, gulping everything down.