Chapter 5: Bumped
2046 Words
“I’LL HELP YOU, Daph so you can leave sooner. I’ll just use my connections.”
She glanced at her husband. He was busy washing the dishes they had used a while ago.
“Really? I only have my passport.” She only managed to get that because she had no money.
“I’ll take care of the other things that need to be fixed.” He sat on the counter, watching her.
Daphne gave him a quick smile and went back to washing. She didn’t feel like talking to him much. She was still a bit upset.
He still wouldn’t let her get a job. Her friend had offered her a part-time spot at a supermarket near her old place. Since she couldn’t leave the country yet, she thought she could work to have money for her daily needs. She felt shy spending BK’s money.
She was also going crazy staying in their big house all day. She was always alone because her husband went to work.
In the morning, she watered plants, cleaned the house, and did whatever she could think of. She felt like a caretaker of that house. She really took over all the housework.
At night, she ate alone because BK sometimes came home very late — almost in the morning. Maybe after work, he went straight to a woman or went hunting for one at a bar.
They had been like this for more than a month. She felt weaker each day staying in that house. She had no one to talk to. She felt like she was getting fat.
“Can’t I really get a job?”
“You really can’t. If Mama sees you, I’m dead, Daph!”
“But it’s far from here! So what are you worried about? And it’s close to my old place. Your mom doesn’t even go there. I’ll just go home every other day. Please?”
He stared at her. She was serious.
She was drying the plates now. After wiping them, she put them straight into the dish rack.
“Fine. I’ll just pick you up when you want to go home. Just make sure my Mama and Papa don’t see you!”
“Of course. Besides, that way I won’t bother you when you bring your girls here.”
He stared at her suddenly. His tongue seemed tied. He didn’t expect her to say that.
They stared at each other for a second. She looked away first.
“Okay,” he said quietly.
“Anyway, I’ll just visit Amelie at her apartment. Thanks for saying yes.” She smiled at him and walked away. He just watched her.
She leaned against her bedroom door when she realized what she told BK. But it was true. She still felt awkward being around, especially when they woke up late. She felt embarrassed by what they were doing. It would be better if she stayed somewhere else. She hadn’t forgotten her deal with BK — she didn’t meddle in his life. In short, she had no right. She was only married to BK on paper.
She had just finished showering when she heard knocking.
“I’ll take you there.”
She said “Oh” when she saw it was BK.
“You might be busy. I can go by myself—”
“I’ll wait for you downstairs,” he said, then walked away
She had no choice. But it was okay. He offered anyway.
He drove her to her old place. It’s Sunday anyway, so it’s okay to go out.
She thought he would leave after dropping her off, but he followed her inside. Amelie was giddy with excitement again.
“Oh my gosh, girl! Your husband is so handsome! So, have you scored yet?” Amelie teased her, covering her mouth quickly when BK looked at them because of her loud voice. She hoped he didn’t hear.
“Of course not! I’m nothing compared to his other women. He just needs me for the show,” she said softly.
“What a waste. I thought you finally found your forever.” Amelie went quiet for a bit. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. Auntie Daisy dropped by yesterday. She was looking for you. She said you have to call her because she couldn’t reach you.”
“Did you tell Mama that I don’t live here anymore?”
“She didn’t ask. She just looked for you. I just said you were at work.”
Her friend was really good at covering for her.
“Thanks. I haven’t told her yet. I’ll call her later.”
“I knew it. Good thing I held back.”
She turned to BK as he came closer to them. He had just finished looking at their pictures together. After a while, he said goodbye. They walked him to his car, worried some of the neighbors might mess with him. Some of the guys hanging around were troublemakers.
So, it was confirmed — she could start tomorrow. She’d submit her requirements later since she left them at BK’s house—she’d just bring them next time.
She can’t go back to their house tonight because they need to leave early tomorrow for work—Amelie is going to introduce her to her boss.
That night, she called her mother. It took her a while to admit everything because she was nervous. Her mother screamed when she told her she was married—especially to a wealthy man.
She didn’t share the full story—she only said she was looking for her real father. Her mother guessed that it was about money. She sounded a little sad. She didn’t seem happy about her decision. Her mom never said much when it came to her father, so now she would find out for herself. Her mother didn’t even ask who her husband was after she said they would eventually separate. It was better that way so she wouldn’t have false hopes. Nothing could be done anyway — she was already married.
She called BK last to tell him she would start work tomorrow and that she wouldn’t come home tonight. He would pick her up on Wednesday because she told him that would be her day to come home.
It turned out Amelie was the supervisor at the supermarket near their place. She was happy because it had been a while since they worked together.
She missed working as a cashier. She was really thankful to her friend. Now she could keep herself busy.
The days passed quickly. She was already on her third day. She was supposed to go home yesterday, but one co-worker was absent, so she offered to stay longer. She worked 10 hours and kept smiling the whole time. She didn’t even feel very tired—except for yesterday. Normally, she only worked 5 hours.
She was content because now she had something to keep her busy. She also had her own money for her personal needs. It wasn’t a huge salary, but she was happy. The tiredness also faded whenever they laughed together during breaks.
Most of the part-timers she worked with were college students. They were lucky because the owner was kind. They only had five-hour shifts. That’s why many of them continued studying. Some had morning classes, and others had night classes.
She left work along with some coworkers. It had just stopped raining. Good thing it did, because she didn’t bring an umbrella.
She stopped laughing when she noticed a fancy car pull over. She suddenly felt nervous. She didn’t recognize the car. She hoped it wasn’t BK. What would her coworkers say?
Her mouth fell open when she saw BK stepping out of the car. She heard some of the girls gasp. They probably thought her husband was handsome. At that moment, she was holding on to Allen’s T-shirt, one of their baggers.
She saw BK frown when he looked at her hand clinging to Allen’s shirt. There was a puddle they were about to cross, so she held on for a moment. It was just bad timing that BK arrived right then.
BK took off his sunglasses. She couldn’t read his expression. There wasn’t even any sun, but he wore shades like it was a hot summer day. He started walking toward her, eyes glued to her and Allen.
Her coworkers exchanged looks. They didn’t know who BK was picking up.
She faced her coworkers and said goodbye. She hadn’t even taken a step when BK placed a hand around her waist. She looked down at his hand, feeling awkward.
“Let’s go,” BK said.
She could hear her coworkers whispering.
“Uh, okay,” she replied to BK. Then she turned to her coworkers. “We’ll go ahead,” she said.
“Hey, Daph! Aren’t you going to introduce us to—” Leslie didn’t finish her question because BK cut her off.
“I’m her husband,” BK said shortly, giving Allen a glance. Everyone else also turned to look at Allen.
“Oh,” they all said in chorus, except for Allen, who was left speechless. The girls looked thrilled as they stared at BK.
She cleared her throat, making BK glance at her.
“Let’s go,” she said to him. BK nodded and guided her into his car.
BK quickly got into the driver’s seat. He seemed rushed, and she raised an eyebrow.
She hadn’t even buckled her seatbelt properly when BK suddenly sped off.
“Ah!” Her forehead hit the dashboard, and she immediately held her head. She let out a soft cry, making BK glance at her, and suddenly he hit the brakes. She almost bumped her head again.
She turned to him, annoyed, still rubbing her forehead. “What’s your problem?” she snapped.
“Does it hurt?” he asked after a pause, sounding concerned.
“Oh, no, not at all!” she said sarcastically, buckling her seatbelt properly this time. She remembered how he suddenly stepped on the gas earlier when she hadn’t secured it yet.
She gasped when he suddenly leaned in to check the bump on her forehead.
“F*ck, I’m sorry,” he muttered, gently rubbing it. He even blew on it, and his breath made her shiver.
He fixed her seatbelt, then started driving again—but slower this time, unlike earlier when it felt like a race.
When they got home, Daphne went straight to her room. She told him she wasn’t cooking tonight. But she didn’t say she was annoyed.
What if the bump didn’t go away? Her coworkers might think she was a battered wife!
“You’re so annoying, BK!” she muttered as she looked at her bump in the mirror.
She froze when her door opened and BK came in carrying a basin of ice. She saw it from the corner of her eye. He had a towel on his arm. She instantly guessed what he planned to do. Maybe he didn’t have a cold compress.
She turned to him as he spoke. He placed the basin on her side table and spoke again, asking her to sit down.
Wow. What’s this— him trying to be a gentleman?
“Are you just going to stare at me all night? If you want that bump to get bigger and turn purple, go ahead,” he teased.
She got annoyed. Was he trying to scare her now?
She sat down on the bed. He pulled a chair from her vanity and sat in front of her.
“I already ordered food,” he said as he gently pressed the ice wrapped in the towel on her forehead.
“Okay,” she said shortly.
She didn’t look at him. She was still angry about what happened earlier.
She thought everything was fine after the way he acted around her coworkers. But then he went crazy behind the wheel. If something was wrong, he shouldn’t have taken it out on her.
She sighed deeply. BK looked at her.
“I can do it myself,” Daphne said. She grabbed the towel and moved away from him.
BK stood there for a moment, then left the room.
- Writer
