This Is Me Trying

Chapter 6: Breathless

HAYLAND woke up with a severe sore throat and throbbing temples. He found himself on the sofa since he hadn't slept in the master's bedroom last night. Clutching his head, he felt a soft blanket covered him up.

The fabric is warm on his skin. He smiled a little thinking that despite his wife's stern and blunt behavior, she still cared for him. A small and sweet gesture to give him a blanket while he's sleeping warms his heart and it makes up his day.

He sat up and fixed himself, folded the blanket that Solis gave, and even kissed it. He then smelled the delicious aroma of home-cooked meals and how he missed that so he slowly walked towards the kitchen. A small smile crippled into his chapped lips when he found his wife's beautiful and slender back working in the kitchen.

On a casual day, he would throw his arms around Solis, kiss her cheeks, and whisper sweet nothing to her. He loved to see how his wife turned pink whenever he would say how much he loved her. He always loved the way Solis pouted to ask for a peck on the lips so he gave her more than just a smack.

To say the least, he missed their domesticity.

A week without Solis in the house feels like a decade and he couldn't eat. He barely sleeps thinking about how he messed with life and how an idiot he has become. He regretted it all but it was too late. He ruined everything and even his marriage is now at risk.

"G-Good morning, love," he greeted when Solis finally recognized his presence, placing a chicken adobo on the table. He walked towards her and kissed her on the cheeks.

Solis just stared at him blankly before turning her gorgeous back to fetch the garlic rice, clearly ignoring him. He knew it was coming but it still pains him. He swallowed a lump in his throat as he weakly walked towards the dark brown-haired woman.

"Here, let me help," he offered.

Solis only nods and watches him place the utensils and plates. He smiled warmly and even grabbed a chair for her which she took quietly. "Thank you for the breakfast, love."

"You're 40, old enough to eat well. Also, way more capable of taking care of yourself," Solis said in her monotone voice and Hayland shuddered.

"I—I am eating well, love..." he lied.

"For once, stop lying." Solis eyed him full of intensity.

Biting his lips, he looks down on his own plate. "I never lied to you."

He heard her chuckles. "Really, Hayland?"

He holds back his tears. Now, Solis calls him Hayland, just Hayland. He's not used to it. Way back, when they fight over things, she still calls him using their endearment but this is not their normal argument after all.

"Love, I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. Please, forgive me. I love you so much." Even if Solis already made things clear to him, he still tried apologizing.

"I should've thrown away all the whiskey in this house." Solis stabbed a chicken leg through her fork that Hayland nearly jolted in surprise. "I'm afraid that if you're too drunk, you can't even remember me and bring home your woman and bring her in our bed."

"L-Love, I haven't drunk anything since the day you left. I swear, I just throw away some of the liquors here," he stutters.

She quirked her brows. "Because?"

"I—uh..." He swallowed nervously, not really knowing how to put the words together.

"That I will consume all of them? But why? Afraid that I might flirt with any men just like what you did? Because you know that whenever I am lost, I tend to drink?" Solis then smiled daggers after.