It had been a couple of weeks since Tamika had lost her baby, and although she tried to put on a brave face, she was struggling to come to terms with her loss. Despite her pain and heartbreak, Tamika didn't want to be seen as a burden to her friends and colleagues, so she made a conscious effort to smile and laugh whenever she was around them.
She didn't want anyone to worry about her or to feel sorry for her. She wanted to appear strong and resilient, even though inside she was hurting. Tamika tried her best not to keep to herself, but she found it difficult to open up to others and share her feelings. Nevertheless, she was determined to put on a brave face and to show the world that she was okay, even though she was struggling to cope.
Deep inside, she yearned to break down and cry, but she believed that she had already shed enough tears. So instead, she pretended like nothing had happened. Whenever someone inquired about her well-being, she would put up a facade and lie, saying that she was doing okay, and then quickly divert the conversation to something else. Rubin had tried his best to get her to open up and express her feelings, but to no avail. She had retreated into a shell, hiding her emotions behind a carefully crafted mask.
Rubin inserted the key into the lock and turned it, hearing the familiar sound of the bolt sliding back. As he pushed the door open, the scent of Tamika's perfume mixed with the aroma of the food he was carrying, wafting towards him. In his left hand, he held a brown paper bag filled with delicious food, and in his right, a drink holder with two cups neatly tucked into it. Tamika was sprawled out on the couch, her eyes glued to the TV screen as he made his way towards her. As he approached, she sat up, her eyes slowly traveling up and down his form, taking in every detail. It was a look she found herself giving him more and more often lately.
Tamika couldn't help but admire him as he walked towards her. Even in his casual attire of a black T-shirt and matching sweatpants, he looked incredibly attractive. The durag he wore on his head only added to his charm, and his well-groomed tapered beard completed the look. Tamika couldn't take her eyes off him, and she made it clear through her actions that he was a sight to behold.
Rubin made a conscious effort to ignore the longing looks that Tamika was giving him. Although he couldn't deny that her gaze made his heart skip a beat, his focus was on her well-being. Tamika had been working non-stop since her release from the hospital, and Rubin was concerned about her relentless work schedule. Despite his concerns, he refrained from speaking out as he knew that Tamika was using work as a coping mechanism to avoid discussing her emotions. He didn't want to pressure her into talking, but instead, he hoped that she would confide in him voluntarily. Rubin wanted to be there for Tamika and provide her with the support she needed during this difficult time.
Rubin places the food on the table, his tone expressing disappointment. "You were supposed to wait on me," he says.
"I know, I'm sorry." She gave an apologetic look. "I love me some Bernie, I couldn't resist myself."
He coolly responded by reaching for the remote that was resting on the table and restarting the episode from the beginning. After that, he proceeded to open the bag that was sitting beside him and handed Tamika her food with a warm smile.
As soon as Rubin handed her the bag, Tamika's stomach grumbled with hunger. "Yes, I'm so hungry," she exclaimed eagerly. Without wasting a single moment, she tore open the bag and grabbed her wrapped burger. She wasted no time as she took a mouthful of the food. Rubin had decided to get them some fast food from Sonic, and Tamika was more than happy with his choice. The aroma of the freshly cooked burger and mozzarella sticks wafted in the air, making her mouth water. She savored each bite, enjoying the juicy patty, and melted cheese. The hunger pangs slowly subsided, and she felt content. Rubin watched her with a smile, pleased to have satisfied her appetite.
