𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥

Chapter 9- When I Met Your Eyes, Time Stopped.

My phone has been blowing up from messages in my pocket. Expected, it's from William, James, and the others. But here am I, ignoring them and pretending as if nothing has happened. It's only been a few hours since I've left his house and the next thing I'm doing right now is having a peaceful date with my wife, shamelessly.

"Honey your order?"

Yea that's right, a date with my wife in middle of the chaos. I asked her out today morning... and it seems like she was looking forward to it a lot. It's been ages since we've went on a date as I've always got caught up with work. So.... I didn't have the heart to cancel it.

"Honey?"

Ugh I don't know... I just can't bring myself to focus on anything right now. I don't have an appetite. My head is blurry, I feel so closed up. My heart has been pounding in me ever since I left that house... My stomach feels sick. My breathing is heavy... I'm panicking. A lot. And I want it to stop... but it just won't.

" Cecil! "
" Huh!? "

Snapping out of it in a quick second, he realized that he had been zoning out the entire time. He looked at his wife, cluelessly for a moment before noticing the waitress who stood beside him, the expression of annoyance clear on her face. He sighed and rested his head against his palm upon.

" I'm sorry.. " He mumbled.

Carla looked at her husband with concern. He's out of it. With a deep exhale, she turned over to the waiter.

" I apologize, we'll have our order ready in a bit. " She said, keeping her eyes sternly on Huxley.
" That's no problem, We'll check in on you. " The waiter exclaimed, tryig her best to keep her tone polite with a forced smile before leaving.

Great, now I'm ruining our date too... Can things get any worse?

" Honey, what's going on? "
" No it's nothing. Just... work..? "
" I'm not that blind. You're clearly worrying a bit too much about something else. "
" ...Let's just enjoy our dinner, honey "
" I. Won't. " She narrowed his eyes at him " I won't enjoy it without you. "
" Carla... "

He finally looked up at her and his gaze lingered at the sight of his wife. Her dress, the way the frills lay over his shoulder. Her makeup, the soft blush spread across her cheeks, her jewelries, the thin chain pendent he had brought for her on their first anniversary. He only seemed to notice it now. That how beautiful and lovely she looked tonight.

" You look... beautiful today. "

A feeling of familiar peace rushed in him. His pace of his heart relaxed. The hurricane in his head settled down to a gentle wave. The tensed aura left his body... and only her, she remained in him. The restaurant, he finally took a note of it too. It wasn't the fancy type of restaurants with overprized dishes, but rather a quiet, cozy one. The place they spend their first date on. It's been so long since he had visited this restaurant with his wife. His smile displayed clearer on his face when the memories replayed back in his head.... He felt warm. The nostalgia was enough to distract him from everything that had happened to him in the last few days.

" Cecil... " she smiled, witnessing him calm down.
" The usual, lobster overload and Seabreeze pasta? "
" You still remember it, huh?"
" It'd be impossible to forget you eating that like a beast on our first date. "
" Order before I punch you. "
" Yes ma'am " He chuckled.

As selfish as I can be, and as I cowardly I could act, I decided to ignore everything that had happened the past few days. Not only did I pretend like nothing was wrong, I convinced myself that I didn't know anything. All because I could be lost in this moment with my wife, and smile innocently in the way she loves to see me.