A bright and cold day welcomed me as I emerged from the house into Rima's car. She seems to be in a good mood too as her head nods to the music playing in the background.
"Heya!" I greeted and pecked her on the cheek. What's up? You look happy." I commented.
"Oh? I am always happy, you know that." She answered as she nodded and revved up the engine. She knows what I was talking about. She was extremely happy today.
"Okay then. What's the good news? Anything that happened last night that I should know?" I insisted. Don't get me wrong, I was happy to see her this way but my curiosity gets in the way.
"Nothing out of the ordinary. I made some good commission this week and it was nice to earn a little more extra. Would you want you to go out tonight after work just to celebrate?" She answered. It was lacking the ring of truth but I won't push my luck anymore.
"Or maybe I can cook something at home tonight if you want to?" I suggested, remembering the marinated meat in the fridge.
"That will be fine. I will bring some wine if you want to." Her head stopped nodding to the beat and she turned the volume to low.
I was watching her like a hawk. I don't usually have these gut feeling that something is wrong. It might not be bad wrong but something is definitely happening that I am not yet aware of. She glances at me and squeezes my hand when she saw the bothered look on my face. I smiled back at her and ignored the feeling for a while.
The whole day that I was at the office was far from normal too. Machines had been malfunctioning, there had been issues with the printing, and I? I was still bothered. Almost half of the paperwork on my desk was left untouched when I decided to call it a day.
Rima can't pick me up tonight so I caught a cab home. I must be baking and partly grilling the steak as soon as possible so that dinner would be ready when Rima comes.
I was checking on the steaks when my phone rang. Removing the pot holders from my hands, I reached for the phone where Rima's picture was flashing.
"Babe. I am almost finished. What time will you be coming?" I asked.
"Uhm. I might be coming much later tonight. I cannot guarantee the time when I will be there. There had been a problem in the office and I am on my way back there now." She said apologetically.
"Oh." I said as I wiped the beads of sweat forming on my forehead with the back of my hand. Baking and getting busy in the kitchen does wonder to my sweating. "Would you want me to bring you dinner in the office, instead?" I offered. She might be hungry already and I'm sure she would be eating a bit later than usual if she would be burrowing her face into paperwork.
"No need, Babe. I will try to grab a sandwich on my way." She countered.
"Oh." Had this thing happened before? Am I just imagining things? I don't want to listen to the strange skipping of my heart. Warning bells are ringing and they are deafening me. I calmed myself by taking a very deep breath and releasing it oh so slowly before Rima hears it over the phone. "Okay. Will you inform me if you are still coming?" I hesitated.
"Of course, I will. I'm really sorry that this came up at a bad time. I'll make it up to you, okay?" She said.
Calmed, I smiled over the phone and tried not to sound anxious. I am just paranoid and sick. I should give her the benefit of the doubt. I joked instead, "I hope Mandy is not bringing you dinner." Rima didn't answer. "Take care though." I hang up.
It was not my personality to drop non-sense because I am jealous, even jealousy hasn't found its way to me so I am aware that Rima felt off because of those last words. I have to apologize later. Let it all cool down. Or maybe I can surprise her, and bring her dinner...
