Shouldn't Have Kissed You
Chapter 7

Maya walked out of the bathroom all dressed up. She wore a pink dress with a black sweater to hide her bruises. She was going to admit that they hurt mostly when the cold shower hit them. But she wasn't about to let her mother in law have a guess what was going on.

Before Chris walked in the kitchen earlier, she had forgotten her problems with the help of Alma and Bernice. She had even forgotten about the threat that was on the note that she received.

Bernice had made sure to lighten up her mood and she had succeed in a way. With awesome stories of her dear husband like that, who wouldn't anyway? She laughed for the whole two hours she was there. But everything changed.

It changed when he walked in. He said hello to everyone apart from her. He didn't even dare acknowledge her in any way. Of course, she was hurt. She wasn't that invisible for her husband to not see her. But he did. He didn't bother look her way not even when she followed him behind.

Then what was her mistake to get the bruises? What did she do for her to be pushed like that? For her to be called all the name he thought she deserved? She was as much of a victim as he was. She never wished for this.

She moved her eyes to him, whom he stood at the vanity mirror. He wore a sweatpants and a white T-shirt that fit him perfectly. She hated herself for still seeing him as handsome even after what he did to her. Or maybe it was her fault. It was her fault to think. It was hers to act before asking. Hers to think that by doing what she thought was a way of saving time. Hers for staring at him as if he was a piece of chicken. And her biggest fault was letting herself be a pushover by everyone.2

She opened her mouth to say that she was ready but he was already at the door. Maya pushed her hair on one side and walked after him. She had to catch up with him or else, only God knew the rest. "It's finally the time," Bernice said when she saw the two walk in the dinning room, "I thought you two decided to have another type of meal."

Maya felt her face blush at that comment. She pulled her seat next to Bernice.

"Don't get wrong ideas, Momma," Chris said pulling his seat, "and your making my wife go scarlet."

At the mention of that, Maya's hands went to her face. Of course, he had to see her blush at his mother's statement. She pulled a bowl full of rice and served herself. That night, she had learned his favourite dish and in a way she was happy. Why? She had no idea.10

Everyone ate quietly and that didn't help Maya. Maybe she thought that when she got married something would change but she was wrong. It was just like her old life. A life everyone that thought knows her would describe her as a happy girl.

A girl who had no problems of any sort. The princess who got everything that life could offer. The spoilt brat who had a dad that loved her with all his heart. The one parented girl who went to the best school because of her father's connection. The best Doctor Who became doctor because her dad was once upon a time a doctor.

That's what everyone knew. That's what they wanted to know when in real life was all a lie. She wasn't spoilt. She wasn't a princess either. Her life was hell and much worse in her father's. So to say she was hurting more, it would be under statement.

Chris knew nothing about her. He had no idea what she had gone through. He had no idea in a way, she looked forward to this marriage. Not for love but to escape her life. But here she was, going the same think her dad made her to.

To him it was just the beginning and she already had bruises. What she wanted to know was if he more damaged than her dad was. He is a psycho and she will never forgive him. For what he did to her, for hating her with no reason. She will never do that.

"You've stopped eating," Maya heard Bernice say to her, "you're out of space all over sudden," she held her forehead, "are you coming down with fever?"

Maya looked at her concerned mother in law. To her, she was lucky to have additional people who cared. First her two best friends with whom one she hadn't heard anything from him since college. If you asked her, she still had hopes that one day she will see him despite everyone who knew him giving up on hope.

Then now, she had Alma whom she had met a few hours ago and learned to love and trust within a few seconds. Then her mother in law whom she loved from the first meeting. It was so ironic, that even after what she has gone through with the person whom she loved, she could still love and trust.

"Sorry," she apologized taking her fork and spoon back to her hands, "I just remembered something that I should have done before coming back home."

Bernice swallowed the food she was chewing before she looked at her daughter. Yes daughter. She had loved her at first sight and in a way she felt her pain. Why? She herself had no idea. But what she knew was that, Maya was special.

"Don't worry, I'm sure it can wait till tomorrow."

"You're probably right," she took a glass juice and took a sip.

After dinner, desert was served by Alma which was red velvet cake, Chris favourite too. It was the sweetest velvet Maya had ever tasted and she understood why it was Chris' favourite.7

They moved to the living room with their desert and sat at a respective couches. All this time Chris spoke no word to anyone. Not even his own mother.

"So," Bernice began placing her desert on the coffee table, "my reason for my surprise visit was..."

"I knew it," Chris cut her short.

Bernice turned to her son, "knew what,son?"

Chris placed his tablet that he had been staring at for only god knows when since they moved to the living room.

"That your surprise was up to no good at all, Momma."

"Ooh!!! c'mon," She exclaimed, "I just came to give you guys my wedding gift."

How could she have forgotten all of this? Bernice had said yesterday that she would bring her gift the following day and today was the following day. She wondered what it was. "And what would that be?" Chris asked biting his own cake.

"Two tickets to Kenya," she said exacted, "for your two weeks honeymoon."23

Maya almost choked when she heard Bernice say that. Honeymoon? They weren't in love for them to go on a honeymoon. What was she going to do right then.

Maybe faking sickness will be much better. She heard her inner voice tell her.

But Kenya had always been her dream destination. She was so much in love with that country that she would kill to go there. But when she thought of it, she had only one person in mind.3

The one who promised to take her there one day. The one she still hoped that he would show up one day. The one who promised to be around in her thoughts even if he was miles away. The only first person who stood by her side from the beginning till the earth swallowed him.

He was the one she wanted to fulfill his promise. Not the man who hated her. Not the one who promised to deliver nothing to her but pain. Not the one who swore to hurt her in every possible way instead of protection her.2

She didn't want that. But how was she going to say that? How was she going to make her mother in law understand.

"Momma, I've a line that I've to show case this next week," Chris explained.

At least they had mutual feeling.

"And I've a patient to operate on following week," Maya explained.

"Congrats Chris," Bernice said, "but the trip is next month and I already checked your schedule."5

Maya looked at her mother in law, "I can't leave my patient, Mrs Rollins."

Bernice laughed at her statement, "even doctors go for a honeymoon dear, so please, try harder," she turned to her son, "what's the name of the new line, son?"

Chris smiled at his mum, "I thought you'll never ask, "he sat up, "it's Maya Rollins."

Maya looked up shocked. If there was one think she knew about her husband, it was that he did everything with a reason. And as much as his mother smiled all she wanted. Maya knew that that was no good and she was in to pay another price. And heart felt like giving up so that whatever he was planning would all come to an end.2

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