MARITA

Reason to Stay (Part 6)

Marita leaned her head on the edge of the passenger door. Frank has been driving quietly allowing Marita to have a quiet moment. But the more he tried to pushed it aside, and not saying a word, the other half of him demanded to know.

"Mari..." called Frank gently.

"Yes..?" Marita answered without looking at Frank and fixed her gaze to the far horizon. The sun has gone down.

"Can I ask? This is perhaps... an intrusive question." He continued.

"Uhhumm..." murmured Marita.

"Is everything alright with you and Arnold?"

Marita closed her eyes. There goes her moment of escape from today's matter.

"You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. But I gotta ask, is it because of me?"

Marita expression abruptly shifted to a serious look. "Nothing is the matter, Frank. We are fine."

Frank bit his lips to try to stop himself of asking anymore questions. But after a few minutes he can't. He pulled over to the side of the road which made Marita sit up straight puzzled.

"Why are we stopping?"

Frank shifted his body so he faced Marita. "I had to ask and I better stop the car in cased I am infuriated by your answer."

Marita cowered backward. She didn't know what Frank wanted to ask and why he is having a dead serious look on his face.

"Mari, is Arnold violent at you?"

"What?! No..." Marita answered quickly but somehow her 'no' sounded weak.

"Did he hit you?"

Marita didn't answer straight away. Her face is ashen white being confronted directly like this.

Frank pointed at her left collarbone. "You're bruised. I don't think it's there this morning. You were also not put together this afternoon. You couldn't look at me all this afternoon. So, I had to ask."

Marita felt her eyes hot. A sign that tears were forming. Frank saw Marita breaking down so he reached to her hand and clasped it in his.

"If he did hit you, I swear to God I will not be able to contain myself when I see him." Frank was looking intently to her eyes. Marita was looking back into his. His hands are cold where her warm hands snugged. But it felt safe. Moments later, she got hold of herself and pulled his hand away.

"Frank...., " she stopped to take a deep breath. "Listen to me. Yes, I have an argument with Arnold. No. He did not hit me. I was hurt by the seatbelt when the car stopped abruptly. And Finally... No... It's not about you." She did her best to answer in a steady voice.

Frank looked down at his empty hands where Marita's hand was. He felt a little hurt. Perhaps deep down inside he wanted to be him. To know that he amounted to something for her. But he knew his place. Frank repeated to himself that he is not a home wreaker, not a relationship breaker. He must honor what commitment this woman had to Arnold.

"Alright..." He took the steering wheel and turn on the engine again. "My apology for the questions. Let's go back now." Frank closed the roof again because it was dark and cold.

They drove in silence all the way back to the office.

It was almost 7 PM when they arrived at the Etnodia parking lot. Marita had exited first and walked ahead up the stairs to the lobby. Frank has just locked his car when Arnold suddenly appeared and grabbed Marita's arm.

"OUCH!!" She screamed.

"HEY!" Frank shouted.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Arnold growled at Marita. "What time is it? Where have you been?" He bombarded her with questions.

"What The HeLL!! Let go of me!!!" Marita squirmed and pulled hard to get her arm off Arnold's angry grasp.

Frank ran up and put his hand on Arnold's and break the grasp loose. "Easy now, Man!! You don't have to use violence."

"STAY OUT OF IT!!" Screamed Arnold to Frank. Frank was agitated but he tried to remain the sane one in this situation. He stepped back with his hand up.

"Hey, Chill. Just want to make sure Mari is OK."

"Who are you to her HUH? She is none of your concern!!" shouted Arnold angrily and stepped forward that he is now position in the middle of Marita and Frank.

"Are you OK, Mari? Do you want me to do something about this?" Frank asked looking over Arnold's shoulder to Marita. He clenched his fist ready to barraged Arnold in front of him.

Arnold lunged forward and grabbed Frank's collar. "Shut it!! She's mine!!!"

Frank was forcefully pushed back but he knew his way around fighting and defending himself so he manoeuvred his body using the momentum to break free. Arnold was having none of it and tried to grabbed him back.

"Stand Back, Mari!" Frank shouted knowing that this has escalated to a fight.

However, out of nowhere, Marita got between them and planted her fist to Arnold's face. It was a clean punched to his face. Frank and Arnold were both shocked with different reason. Frank for not expecting violent from sweet looking Marita and Arnold for not expecting Marita to actually know how to punch.

"Arggghhh...!!!" grunted Marita. She fanned her hand in the air for the pain he felt after punching Arnold. But she felt satisfied.

"Shit, MARI!!" groaned Arnold.

"Shut up!!" cursed Marita to Arnold. "MAN!! That felt Good! I should have done this LOOOONG time ago. I don't know why I didn't"

Arnold staggered back by her words. He was witnessing the Marita he has never seen before.

"I AM NOT YOURS!! I am not a property! You are an ASS!!!" finished screaming her heart out. She turned around and walked. "Frank!! Take me home."

"DON'T YOU DARE, FRANK! SHE IS MY WOMAN!" shouted Arnold shooting threatening look to Frank.

"YOU DON'T MAKE THAT DECISION. I SAID I AM GOING WITH FRANK. YOU SHUT UP!!" Marita shouted at Arnold. Then she looked at Frank who was looking at her. "Take me home, Frank!"

Without being asked twice, Frank rushed to the car and opened the door for her. They drove off leaving Arnold astonished at a very different Marita than the one he knew these 9 years. His blood boiled watching Marita drove away with his enemy. He gritted his teeth and felt stinging pain in the corner of his mouth. Marita's punch was not super hard but it hurt nonetheless.

Frank stepped on the gas making sure the car sped away fast to leave the Etnodia building. He wanted to make sure that Arnold didn't tailed them.

"Can you open the roof, Arnold?" requested Marita as she pulled the scarf from her neck. She looked furious. Frank did what she asked.

Marita pulled her hair up and tied it up in a high bun. Frank stole a glance at her. Her V neck cream dress illuminated by the yellowish amber street light. The bruise on her left collar bone was now visible when the scarf was removed.

"Grab my jacket from the back, Mari. You can use it. It's windy with the rood down" He said.

"I don't care" She snapped. Frank didn't reply. Marita calmed down.

Realizing that her voice might be too rude, she said "I am sorry. I wanted to feel the wind. I feel so stuffed."

She turned to look at Frank who drove in silent. He was staring straight ahead to the road. "Are you cold?"

He gave her a quick glanced and gave her a thin smile. He shook his head. "I like driving with the roof down at night too. It clears my mind."

Marita leaned her head tothe passenger door. She felt better shouting and screaming and of coursepunching Arnold. She closed her eyes. She never thought she would ever do that.Diah told her one day when they were growing up that she must learn to hitpeople. Diah herself practiced Karate until they are in High school. Glad thatDiah taught her how to throw a punch.

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