Two Of Hearts

HUSBAND?

SYLVIA

It has been a few days since I dropped that little grey cat at Ivy's house. I have been bombarded with messages from her and many selfies that tug at my heart. It is actually frightening how similar both the cat and her owner look. I remember my own words, calling Ivy a feral cat, and feel the heat creeping up my neck. I have never been anything but confident in the words that I choose, but somehow she manages to make me overthink. She catches me off guard with the darkness and the self-righteousness of a deity within her.

I am at work, and there are a lot of contracts that need to be signed. I know that Elordia Market can be a great attraction to people from other places due to its history and the myths surrounding it. I want to expand on this idea.

My brain again switches to thoughts of Ivy. Her short, messy hair and her dark eyebrows. The way she plucks at her lashes out of nervousness, and all I want to do is make her frown go away.

When I am zoning out in my office, suddenly Tiffany rushes in with the click of heels.

"A man with blonde hair and the most dreamy blue eyes is looking for you," she says as she pushes the glasses up the bridge of her nose.

I grimace. I knew this was coming sooner or later. However, I didn't want to acknowledge it. I stand up and then suddenly turn to the window next to me.

"Wai-What are you doing?!"

"Tell him that I am not here," I say, with one leg over the other side.

There is a commotion, and the door bursts open. There he stands, with several people trying to hold a man I know too well.

"Ah, jumping off windows again?"

I glare back at him.

"No, I was just getting a whiff of cold air. Don't get ahead of yourself," I say, putting my leg back in.

"Darling, you hurt me every time you become so...suicidal after seeing me."

"Oh lord, spare me this headache," I mutter.

Tiffany is standing there with wide eyes, looking between the two of us.

"You guys-You are together?" Tiffany says with a pale face.

"No," I say, but at the same time Milo says, "Married, to be exact."

I can feel my blood pressure hike.

"I am sorry, I didn't know-I flirted-He flirted with me, to be exa-" Tiffany spluttered.

I strike where it hurts the most and say, "Milo Quillbottom is his full name."

Tiffany gasps.

Milo chokes, and the color drains from his face as he says, "I told you it hurts me when you use my full name! It has trauma attached to it!"

"And I told you clearly not to follow me or mention my marriage to you. Since you are not following my boundaries, I am not obliged to follow yours," I say, making my way out of the office.

He follows, "You are so cruel. So, so cruel."

Once we are in the parking lot, I turn to him and say, "Why are you here?"

"Your parents have suspended all my accounts."

I raise one eyebrow and say, "Why?"

"They believe I am cheating on you," he says as he scratches his neck.

I rub my temples. Every time I start to feel at peace, my family and this pest have to meddle.

"What made them believe that, Milo?"

"I-I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING," Milo starts stuttering.

I give him my most threatening glare, and he says, "Okay, okay. I had unprotected sex with a dude on a beach, and your parents' evil fucking private detective or investigator or whatever the fuck he is caught it on tape and sent it to them."

I stand there frozen for a few seconds, trying to visualize, and suddenly snicker.

"Is this funny to you, Sylvia?"

"Would it be rude to ask if you were the bottom?"

His face becomes beet red, and he shouts, "NO, I wasn't! I only top! Sylvia, you cunt."

"You did, didn't you? So much for the trauma with the name," I say with a shake of my head and a smirk.

"You are so evil, Oh my God. You are the spawn of the devil. No, you are the devil himself," he says while pointing his shaking fingers at me.

"Herself, do not misgender me."

---------------------------------

When I say I truly did not understand how efficient the town's gossiping network was, I truly mean it.

In a matter of a few hours, everyone knows my 'husband' is in town and wants to meet him. They want to invite me over to their homes and exchange pleasantries. My phone is continuously buzzing with notifications.

This was the worst-case scenario in every sense of the word.

I continue tapping my fingers impatiently on the side table next to the sofa and glance at the root of the problem, Milo.

He is wearing a flower-patterned green shirt and really tight beige shorts. A few buttons undone, he looks unworthy of being related to me, I think with distaste.

"What are you staring at?" he sighs as he looks up from his phone.

"What are you doing is the real question."

"I am playing dress to impress."

"......What does that mean?"

"Nothing that concerns you, you old hag."

My one eye twitches, and I touch the knife clasped to my arm under my maroon shirt.

"Need I remind you, we are the same age," I say, counting to five to calm myself down.

He looks down again at the phone and says, "But I am younger in heart and soul."

"OH FUCK THIS SHIT," he exclaims suddenly, "These eight-year-olds have no sense of style."

"I believe taking a quick walk would do me good," I stand up because staying in the same space as him is causing a massive headache to form.

I change my shoes to white joggers and make my way towards the door in complete resignation.

As if the day could not become more tumultuous, the moment I open it, I am face-to-face with... Ivy. A murderous-looking Ivy, to be more specific.

NOTES:

How did you guys like Sylvia's POV?