Chapter 5

For as long as I could remember, I had always been alone. No parents, no siblings and no family. Although I was put in a harsh system, I was one of the lucky few who did experience anything trumatic. I only wonder why I had to grow up with other children who didn't have families. Some I made friends with, others I never had a chance to. Once I hit eighteen, they left me to fund for myself. Due to high grades and scholarship opportunities, I had no choice but to go to college. At least I will have a roof over my head. I couldn't say the same for other orphans who didn't have my luck.

Although I was able to build a life for myself, I struggled. As an orphan, I didn't have as much of an education as other children. When it came to college, I had to take the most basic of classes which cost money I didn't have. Not only was I suffering financially, but I was also street about keeping my scholarship, my grades were beginning to tank, and I was anxious. Then with a job I managed to get with experience, I was overworked and exhausted.

It wasn't until I had broken down into tears while my roommate had been away that someone managed to help me. As I was crying about my situation, I hadn't noticed someone walk into the room. It wasn't until I heard that person ask if i'm ok that I turned around, then I met a man, who now I call my husband.

The sound of a bell ringing above my head as I opened the door greeted my ears. I snapped my eyes up to view my surroundings and I was instantly shocked. What I thought to be a small run-down coffee shop could be considered a diner or such. The appearance on the outside makes the place seem small, stiff, and old. However, the site had made me gaping like a starfish. It was vibrant inside, filled with many colors. As soon as I stepped inside, I was faced with a bar that ran from the front to the side with a menu right behind it. The counter had marble and was decorated in blue with white chair in front to sit on. There was light above it on the ceiling that looked to be marble itself and was quite beautiful. It made the shop look brighter. The walls of the entire shop were decorated in red bricks and the floor was wooden. There were booths lining the left side of the shop and a few tables sitting on the other side with glass partitions separating the section. Of course, there were mini decorations such as plants in a few places, but what really caught my eyes was the black wall. Unlike the rest of the wall in the shop, it has a white background. Yet on it, there was a mural taking up the space and it was….. breathtaking.

"It's gorgeous, isn't it?" A rough voice interrupted my thoughts.

Not wanting to take my eyes off the mural, I replied in a daze, "yes it is."

"It doesn't quite reach your beauty though," the stranger spoke again, breaking whatever spell that was cast on me.

Flustered, I could hardly come up with a response, "well-I-um-" laughing awkwardly. I glanced up at the stranger. Dressed in cream-colored slacks, a white long sleeve shirt, and an apron covering his front, the white man before me held a smile on his face. Surprisingly we were close to the same height, except he was about two inches taller than me. His figure was lean but has some definition of muscle. With brown eyes, dark hair and a wild smile, he was attractive, especially with his aura of confidence surrounding him. Not having been complimented in years, I honestly felt flattered. I guess I did pick the right clothing for breakfast. If only Kenny thought the same.

"Thank you-" before I could finish my sentence, the bell rang above the door and Kenny came in. Suddenly a part of me felt ashamed for accepting the worker's compliment. He wasn't my husband and here I am excited that some stranger noticed that I tried to look pretty. Although I wasn't attracted to the stranger, I just felt happy. Even if it was just a moment.

While I was stuck in my miserable mind, I hadn't noticed that my head was lowered in shame. Or that the worker's smile has turned into a frown. I turned to Kenny just to see if he had the same reaction I had when I first walked in, but I was disappointed. To my dismay, his expression seemed….. boring as he hardly glanced around the place. I tried not to let it bother me as Kenny walked in front of me. Effectively blocking my sight from the worker who spoke to me.

"Welcome!" The waiter said in a cheery voice as greeted my husband.

Choosing not to greet the worker back, Kenny spoke in a rough voice. A booth for two."

"Of course, sir, but I was svercing the woman behind you first. So-"

"We're together," said Kenny dryly.

"Oh, apologies. I didn't realize you were siblings." The waiter still held a cheery tone as he spoke.

"We're married not-" The waiter cut Kenny off.

"I'm not exactly sure that's legal, but I'm not the one to judge. "The waiter joked , and I bit out a laugh as I still stood slightly behind Kenny. Although I found the waiter to be amusing, my husband did not. His back straightened a bit more and he let out an irritating sigh.

"Listen, my wife and I, who are not siblings, want a table. Unless you stop acting like an immature little shi-"

"Kenny," I grabbed his arm to stop the words he was speaking. "He's just messing around."

"Is everything alright here?"

An unknown voice entered the conversation a little ways away from us. All of us turned our attention to the new voice and faced a man dressed the same as the waiter, except he wore a baseball cap. Unlike the first waiter, the man was extremely tall with jack-black hair, a chiseled face,pink full lips, and a Honey complexion. And I could tell he worked out based on the definition of his arms through his shirt. Although the baseball cap shielded his eyes, the man looked handsome, dashing even. As he approached us, I felt my husband tense up from behind me, as I still had his arm gripped in mine. Deciding to take charge so as to not get kicked out, I Stepped up.

"Yes. Everything is fine. My husband and I were just asking for a booth. "I told the stranger with a smile I usually give my clients. When he finally reached the three of us, I had to tilt my neck up a bit to look at him. He towered over me easily, and to my surprise he was even taller than Kenny. As the man finally came to stop in front of me, we made eye contact. I had to stop myself from backing up from him. Not out of fright, but from some electric shock. Cheesy, I know. But as soon as my brown eyes locked eyes with his greenish-brown eyes, it was as if something inside me awakened.

Clicked.

The man was beautiful, yes, but he made me feel something with just one look. And if his lips that had parted subtly meant everything, then he may have felt what I did. How is a man besides my husband able to make me feel electrified with just one look? Shit my husband. I wanted to slap myself for even thinking of another man in such a way. Having imaginary fantasies about a man without a face was one thing. But to actually feel lustful towards another human being that wasn't my husband was modifying. The stranger who approached us responded to what I said.

"Of course, right away. I'm sorry about my younger brother, he tends to be a pain. I can show you to a table right away," Neither I nor my husband were able to speak as the stranger gathered menus for us. As he did so he shared a glance with his said brother, before pulling away with my husband and I following behind, leaving a tense vibe we had earlier.

The place was living and full of people sitting at tables, booths, or the bar. No matter the person I glanced at, everyone seemed to be happy as they chatted excitedly. We quickly reached our Booth and sat down across from one another as the man handed us our menus. "Your server will be with you quickly, enjoy." He informed us before he walked away, he glanced at me one last time. Deciding to not wonder more about the man who I shamelessly eye fucked earlier, I picked up the menu, seeing Kenny do the same. To my surprise, there were quite a few options on the Menu that all seemed delicious. Pancakes stacked with strawberry on top and whip cream, french toast deluxe, chicken and waffles, and the smoked bacon decked in the special sauce! The restaurant even has a vegan Manu and I'm not even vegan! I was particularly salivating over food I had yet to taste.

"Everything looks good, I don't know what to get," I said to Kenny trying to stir up conversation.

"What was that back there?" He asked calmly.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly what I just said. He's just joking." Kenny said using an air quote. "Are you serious, rose?" You're supposed to have my back."

"I-"

"I'm your husband and you are my wife. Act like it.' He spoke harshly in a lower tone so others didn't hear. "And watch what you order. Remember, we will be seeing the doctor by the end of the month and I don't want you over eating. You still need to be as healthy as possible to carry our child." He went back reading Manu as if his words didn't affect me. Or maybe he wanted his words to sting as if to punish me for not having his back. I just didn't want things to escalate earlier since we hadn't been outside as much. We just follow the same routine everyday and some days I was tired of it. I wanted to be the best wife and make Kenny happy. But sometimes I just feel impossible.

Fighting back my tears, I excused myself from the booth to use the restroom.

Once I reached the restroom I locked myself inside a stall and shed a few tears. I was trying to hold them in so as not to ruin my makeup, but I couldn't help it. I wasn't sure why I was even crying. Sure he has hurt my feelings, but normally I don't get this way. I brush off and convinced-to-remind myself I love him. I love Kenny.

Where will I be without my husband?"

Crying little tears, I dried my eyes with a tissue and exited the stall. I walked to the sink and faced the mirror. I wasn't too messy, but my eyes were a bit red. I straightened myself up as fast as I could so that if someone came in, they wouldn't see that I had cried. As I ran the water again to clear away some smear Marks, the bathroom door opened. I noticed someone came in who wasn't a woman. Spinning around, I was shocked to be faced with the man from earlier, the older brother.

"What are you doing in the women's room? I asked with no bite to my tone but caution.

"It's uh-it's actually unisex, " he said and he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. I'm sorry, I just wanted to watch my hands.

"No, no. I'm sorry." I sniffed. "I didn't even - I wasn't paying attention."

Slowly approaching the sink so as to not scare me off, he asked, "would it be of your tears?" I paused and cleared my throat. "I apologize on my brothers behalf of he said anything offensive-"

"He didn't say anything and. In fact I found him funny," I laughed a little. Slightly embarrassed that he knew I was shedding tears in the bathroom. "It's just marital problems. I-I mean." Stuttering through the words I blurted out by accident, he nodded.

"I see, he began to wash his hand.

"I-uh, I should get back to our table. Excuse my mess," I joked, gesturing to myself. Taking one last look at myself in the mirror, I threw away my tissues and began to leave.

"You're far from mess." His words reached my ears and I pulled the door open. Looking back at the man, I saw his eyes already focused on me in the mirror. As impossible as it should be, it felt as if his eyes were me wholeheartedly. As if I were the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. Impossible, I thought. But nonetheless, I accepted the compliment.

"Thank you." And I left the bathroom feeling lighter while my thoughts lingered on the handsome waiter.