"I don't like your car" Zara said in a calm tone breaking the silence that has been hovering in the car since the journey began. Chris tightened his lips keeping his eyes straight on the road.
"it's old fashioned and cheap, when you went to purchase it didn't you see cars like Lamborghini diablo,Ford raptor, Ferrari testarossa ,Porsche 119 carrera,Benz and so have you?" she questioned but her questions was met with utmost silence which caused her to turn her head toward him. Though he could feel her eyes boring into his face he still kept his head straight going against the urge in his heart to look towards her direction.
"do you plan on being quiet for the rest of the journey or have you turned dump?" Zara asked feeling annoyed by his silence. At that he silently turned on the radio and the sound of melodious choir music filled the car.
"so annoying" she spat turning off the radio at the same time stamping a foot in frustration.
"it's drivable and right now it is bearing your weight and mine, is that the essence of a car?" Chris said his calm husky voice filling the car vicinity.
"hgggg" Zara huffed as she fold her hands.
"well it isn't classic and definitely not a trending car" She added.
"it is good enough and what matters is that it serve it purpose, it can do what other cars can do and people who buy only trending cars lack what to do with their money and am not such person" Chris defended. Zara huffed and whirled her gaze towards the window taking in the scenery in front of her.
"what is more important is getting your needs met,it's okay if you buy a car for the transport but for luxury and the reason of showing off to people,it's wrong" Chris added.
"that's what you think" she commented and for another minutes silence ensued.
"you're are silent are you okay?" Chris demanded.
"ooh so you are done playing dump and now want to talk" Zara said in a pissed of tone as she unbuckled her seat belt and placed a foot on her seat and wrapped her arms around her leg.
"Zara,for safety sake put back your seat belt, please" he pleaded.
"no" she shrug.
"why not?"
"mind your business you're not my mother" she yelled and once again transfer her eyes towards the window.
Chris sigh and minded his business by keeping his eyes on the road though the thought of her was still running in his mind.
He smiled and took few glances at her when he heard her soft snores.
They were an hour through the journey when Zara finally woke up with a jolt,feeling the urge to throw up she began banging on the door while struggling in her seat belt that surprisingly had been buckled over her. Chris on the other hand felt uneasy when he saw her that way. It took him time to move out of the busy road and park the car but before he could Zara had already threw up on the foot mat.
Chris quickly ran to her aid and pulled the door ajar. After unbuckling her belt he wrapped an arm around her waist and her limp body fell over him. Surprising to him she was heavier than he thought. Careful he help her out of the car and sat her down on the road side bushes before hurrying back to the car to get a plastic bag. He returned only to meet her holding tightly to her stomach with her head hanging low and a puddle of digested food between her legs.
He sigh and crouch next to her.
"You should take off that hoodie, that way your body will cool off easily" Chris said when he saw the beads of sweat on Zara's forehead.
Her head felt heavy like that of one who had been stung by a colony of bees and her head felt so blank, she could either think or say a word she just sat there unable to move for her body felt heavy and useless.
At Chris words she tried pulling off her hoodie but even the zipper seems to have become heavy and stuck as she tried to undo her zip with her lifeless fingers.
"arrghhh" she grunt in frustration.
"let me" Chris said and handed her the plastic bag and a bottle of water.
He carefully undid the zip and help her pull off the hoodie, his hand brushing her swollen chest in the process. Though he was alarmed when it did he still succeed in hiding it while Zara acted indifferent even though she was conscious of what happened.
Zara felt a life giving breeze hit her immediately she was freed of that hoodie, to her the breeze at that moment was God sent for it made her head lighter and refreshed her body.
"do you feel better?" Chris demanded with concern laced in his voice.
"hmmn" she nodded.
"have some water" He said bringing the bottle to lips after washing her mouth severely she emptied the bottle into her stomach.
"tell me when you feel better so we can leave" Chris said observing his wife to see if he can find any sign of ill health.
"am okay lets..." Zara was saying as she stood to her feet and dusted her pant but staggered and almost fell off before she could complete her words.
Her husband quickly reached for her and wrapped both arms around her waist while she on the other hand wrapped hers around his neck so tightly that her chest was pressing hard against his stomach. His eyes bulged out in shock leaving him in trance.
Zara held tightly to him for her dear life for she feared if she let go she will fall to the ground. With time she finally loosened her grip and stood few inches away from him.
"let's go" she said and began walking towards the car.
After a while Chris nodded still in his trance, he lifted her hoodie from the ground and picked the plastic bag and bottle and made for the car after getting his witt together.
The car persisted in it silent state for a while the only sound that could be heard was the sound of moving vehicles and their horning sound.
Zara had her face on the window enjoying the cool air taking it's journey down her lungs and out.
Christian though also had his window wind down was still having a hard time breathing his hands and feet felt sweaty, he couldn't get rid of the image of the hug off his mind neither the feeling of her chest pressed against his. He gulped as he searched for a way to ease the tension in his body while Zara seems to be perfect in her position.
Chris sigh hard as the silence grew odd and uncomfortable, his mouth felt dry though he wished to say something.
"you... y..you should have told me you had motion sickness I would have gotten you some pills" Chris said but his statement was met with silence.
He gulped.
"are fine now?" he asked feeling concerned for her but yet again silence followed.
"if you feel such in any way you should tell me" he added.
"you don't have to be unnecessary concerned about me, am perfect as it is" Zara said finally in a frustrated tone.
"am sorry if it bothers you" he apologised.
"I will appreciate it if you remained silent" she said not casting him a glance and he nodded silently even though he knew she wouldn't have seen him do it.
Zara kept her eyes outside the window, sucking in the amazing scenery as the drive by,her heart felt burdened but she couldn't decipher why and what the cause was but one thing she was confident about was that she wasn't happy.
She had all her attention outside the window that she didn't realised when Chris had parked the car and came our of it. She only realized that when he stood in front of her with a plastic bag in his hand.
"I figured out you must feel empty after throwing up so I got you so snacks" Christian said and handed her the plastic bag.
Zara took it with a nod and open it only to do find some hot pancakes and a bottle of coke.
She took no time in uncorking the bottle and taking a swig. Her stomach groan immediately the substance reached her stomach and Chris couldn't help but giggle which caused Zara to zeroed her eyes on his with a raised eyebrow.
"sorry" he muttered before rounding the car to take his seat.
"Zara do hesitate to tell me whenever you need something" Chris said as he turned on the ignition engine.
"hmmn" she nodded while munching the substance in her mouth childishly which caused Christian to smile.
Zara slept off after finishing her snack.
Chris couldn't help but steal glances at his wife from time to time as sh slept soundly with the wraps of her snack all over her body.
He quickly picked up the wraps when the had to stop on traffic then adjusted her seat backward to make her more comfortable not bothered about putting her seat belt in place in case of emergency,she turned and whimper as he did and he couldn't help but smile. He zoomed off once again when the light showed green.
The sun was high up in the sky and it heat and light at their peek. The he earth was hot due to the radiation of it rays upon it and every pedestrian will testify to it. Chris pulled the car into the driveway and after a few minutes drive he finally came to a halt in the garage of his humble abode. Immediately two house helps came towards him and stood by the door.
"welcome sir" they chorused.
"thank you,how have you both been?" he answered with a smile on his face.
"all good" the older of the two responded.
"sir were is she?" the younger demanded in a childish glee.
"she...?" he demanded with confusion written over his face.
"I mean your wife" she explained with a raised eyebrow which caused him smile with a hint of red In his cheeks.
"in the car" he said calmly pointing towards her direction as he walked towards Zara with the other two in tow.
He opened the door and gently pulled the door ajar.
"Zara" he called gently tapping on her arm.
She winced and turned her face away from him.
"Zara" he called again tugging on her arm but she jerked it away and began murmuring incoherent words.
which caused the three to giggle.
"she looks cute behaving like a child with a sweet name too" Ruth the older woman said.
"come on now, wake up we've arrived already" He said and and she sat up rubbing her eyes with her fingers.
She blink several times staring at the three peers of eyes that were staring back at her.
"Zara meet Ruth and Naomi" Chris introduced pointing from the older woman to the younger one.
Zara ran her eyes over both women. Ruth was a woman in her forties a short voluminous woman at that with a carotenoid skin similar to Zara's while Naomi on the other hand was a thin tall woman in her early twenties with a white skin.
"Ruth and Naomi what a coincidence" Zara thought before her eyes settled on the older woman again. She was so short that Zara couldn't help but wonder how the woman is able to reach the stove or cut vegetables on the counter well except she sits on a stool while doing so.
Their eyes met but Zara didn't cower, her black eyes pierced into the woman's hazel making her conscious of herself.
"Zara are you okay?" Chris intervened in an attempt to ease the tension between the two women even when he didn't know why Zara was behaving that way.
"am fine,it's nice meeting you two" Zara said coming out of the car.
"it's nice meeting you too" they both chorused in a less lively voice still feeling odd about the whole situation.
"sorry if I made you uncomfortable, you just have eyes similar to my late mother's and I couldn't take mine off them" she apologised.
"I understand" Naomi said with a nod.
"here have the keys" Chris said and tossed the keys to Naomi.
"come on" he said to Zara attempting to had her hand but she quickly moved an inch away from him.
Chris began walking to the front porch and pushed open the large wooden door that leads to the living room while Zara walked behind. The parlour wasn't something exotic it was just simple but pretty and though it was warm and smelt homely Zara still couldn't picture herself living or making memories in the house. And though everything including the seat that she was now seated upon was soft and comfy she still felt distant for her heart still yearn for the life she has left behind in Sacramento.
She sigh and rob her face with her palms. Then began scratching her cupid bow.
"do you need anything?" Chris demanded but his question was met with silence.
"if you feel sick you could tell me" he added but still she remained silent.
"Zara if you are..."
"I don't need you getting worried about me,I hate you concern towards me okay" she yelled shocking Chris and herself with her choice of words and tone.
"I...i..just feel tired...frustrated,I mean I need to sleep so do me a favour and show me my room" she added in a calm tone while rubbing her forehead in a frustrating manner.
Chris nodded and began walking towards the stairs while Zara followed silently without a word.
He showed her to a room with a massive bed in the middle and she quickly went pass him and plunge herself on the bed without a second thought. Chris for a while stood by the door staring silently at her but after a while shut the door and went away leaving her to have a sound rest.
****
It was late in the evening when Zara finally woke up.
Briskly she walked towards the glass window and parted the curtain only to be confronted by the orange light of the beautiful setting sun. The intensity of the lightening caused her to cringe and shy away with her eyes closed. For a while she left them that way but after a minute she began to open them gradually so as to adjust to the lightening.
She lifted her head to the sky impressed at how far away the sun seems from her location but still capable of stretching it rays with intensity to her environment.
"wow" she exclaimed pleased by the golden hues that form behind the sky scrapper that was moles away from her but seems so close.
"it's really pretty" she said in marvel of the beautiful scenery in front her.
For about half an hour she kept her eyes fixed on the image until the sun had finally set and the moon could be seen peeping behind the clouds.
She finally turned away and now focused her eyes in her surrounding. The room wasn't too large but just the appropriate size of a room where everything could fit in.
It contained a big closet running from one end of the wall to the other,a TV with and two cushions with a centre table and the bed which she had laid on.
On the left was a four and on the right was another door.
Caught up by curiosity Zara walked towards the door on the left only for her to turn the knob to find it locked. She proceed to the one on right and on opening the door she found out it was a bathroom with a toilet and a shower. she puff out air feeling dishearten and stride away. Her eyes caught the closet and her curiosity was spiked up once again. She proceeded towards it and pushed the doors towards both side of the closet. Arrays and arrays of clothes was what she came in contact with. shirts and pants were arrange in cabinets in based on their colours from one cabinet to the other. Zara ran her fingers of the linen until she came to the last cabinet which contained his undies perfectly folded and laid out. Her curiosity drove towards one of the boxers and she lifted up the pink polka dot with the tip of her index finger She froze and gag when the image of her husband standing in all his handsomeness only in that boxers ran through her mind.
"ppsssh,I feel irked and disgusted" she spat.
"about?" a voice from behind her said and she froze her body becoming rigid.
"what could possibly have caused you so much disgust" the voice said from behind her said once again it's owners breathe casing her hairs to stand on end and her own breathe to hitch up.
Slowly like a zombie she turned around towards the direction of the voice low and behold stood her husband in all his mightiness standing tall and high above.
The mere thoughts of the great difference in their physical features caused to take a step back unconsciously.
"what the hell, don't just badge in on me like that again" she yelled.
"am sorry" he muttered feeling apologetic for his action.
"am sorry, am sorry all the time such a sorry excuse for a soldier" Zara said under her breathe gritting her teeth.
"what did you say?" Chris asked in confusion for all age had heard of her sentence was just murmurs.
"nothing" she said in a pissed if tone.
"am sorry if I annoyed you" he apologized again and his action only spiked up her anger.
With a wrinkled fore head she glared at him doing nothing to hide the evident of anger in her features.
"if you're that sorry then you should quit doing things that will warrant an apology and don't tell me you're sorry, do you understand?" She yelled and he had to swallow while nodding.
He just feels stupid whenever he's around this woman and any time he's in front of her all he could think of is ways to please her but one thing he was sure of was that he will never let any man take his calm nature for granted and push him back and forth like this woman does, the thought of that alone left him wandering why,why does he feel stupid in front of Zara and no other woman?.
"what so you think you're staring at?" Zara screamed, startling her husband.
For a while he fixed his eyes on her unable to say a word for awhile.
"I....am...i...am so...sorry, sorry I just" He sigh and paused when he remembered her comment on his constant apology.
"hey what are you doing with that?" Chris questioned noticing his boxers on Zara's finger tip for the first time. He quickly grabbed his boxers from her hand and squeezed it between his fingers.
"ooh that" she pointed at the undue in hid fist.
I was only imagining how you look in that" she pushed her face towards his.
"bare chested, all only in that boxers,yes that one between your fingers" she said drawling on each word to prove her point and he quickly hid the hand behind him.
"but yet you still look bad, yes even in my imagination" she added making emphasis on it word.
Chris froze and his temple creased even the blush and lightness in his eyes that were there few minutes ago had left. He pressed his lips together and stride towards his closet place back the boxers in it place and pushed the door to the closet close making sure to take time at it so as to rid himself of the feeling of heaviness and bitterness.
"well dinner is ready you can come eat" he said when he finally turned around.
"am not hungry" she said going off to take a seat at the end of the bed.
"but you are about three hours ago" Chris said.
"so?" she demanded in a disinterested tone.
"so you must be hungry I guess" he said his voice full of uncertainty.
"but I just said am not" she pat.
"I could have it brought to the room for you us you wish" he said trying to probe her into eating something.
"what exactly are you, the worm in my stomach to tell me that I need food?" she said in pissed off tone.
He took that as an initiative to leave and quietly walked out If the room while Zara feeling grateful just sigh and fell backward to the mattress.
She tried closing her eyes and falling asleep but couldn't, her body felt relaxed and fully rested so any attempt she made and no matter the position she takes sleep still recuses to encroach her and all she was left to do was sigh, hiss,groan and churn in frustration.
She folded her legs and wrapped her arms around them, feeling deserted and sour at that moment she craved for nothing less than to be back tome in Sacramento either enjoying the cold evening out with friends or laying like a log of wood on her bed. The thought of her friends and all that now she will be missing out caused a drop of tear to roll down her cheeks.
She sniffed and wiped it a away before hugging her knees more tightly.
For a long time she was in that position and only moved when she heard her phone ringing in her pocket. She pulled it out and not checking the callers ID which was her usual habit answered the phone.
"hello" she said.
"oh my Zara why does your voice sound sour?" the caller demanded immediately she heard Zara's voice.
"oh my, have you been crying?"
"no never, am strong with the heart of a rock, how can cry" she said and sniff.
"your voice sound do low, is anything the matter?"
"no Anna there's nothing wrong with me am good" Zara responded.
"well if you say so,I just wanted to ask you if you could drop by tomorrow morning?" Anna said.
"I can't" Zara answered.
"what about in the afternoon?"
"I can't"
"evening then"
"still no Anna" Zara responded in a frustrated tone. She knew Anna could be this way at times though it was rear but on such occasion she won't let go until she finally gets what she wants and Zara right now couldn't give her that and the only thing was wearing her off.
"Fine if not tomorrow, see a day after tomorrow then" Anna probe but Zara didn't respond she knew if she told Anna that she wouldn't be able to see her for a long period of time the girl will make a issue of the whole situation.
"I guess it's a yes then" Anna said when Zara said nothing.
"Anna I won't be able to make it,not tomorrow or next nor the day afterwards" Zara responded and sigh.
"but why?...., then I will come see you" Anna said.
"are you ready to take a one and half hour ride at the moment?" Zara demanded.
"what do you mean?" Anna asked in confusion.
"we've moved out of Sacramento to San Francisco?" Zara finally let out.
"oh my, when....,how..., why..., what happened?" Anna said screamed through the phone in one breathe and Zara had to hold the phone away from her ear for a while.
"like your while family moved out of Sacramento?" Anna added.
"no only myself and Chris, you know he works here"
"and you didn't tell me you were moving out, how could you be so wicked?" Anna said.
"Anna..., technically there's nothing wicked in moving out" Zara defended.
"not if you leave without informing your right hand" Anna said in a more calm tone.
"at least you should have thrown us a get away party"
"I wasn't even giving enough time to even think" Zara said.
"you should have insisted on staying behind"
"like I did not, no one listened" Zara said with a sigh.
"an coming to meet you tomorrow" Anna said.
"no you can't, just stay back I will find a way to return soon" Zara said and for a while they were both quiet.
"but how can Chris be so inconsiderate,I even thought he was a good man, how could he take you away with even giving you a chance to say goodbye or make a choice" Anna literally screamed.
"calm down Anna, this is not you" Zara chuckled.
"I will find a way out ok, am the master planner remember" Zara said.
"fine, but I don't you feel it be good for me to come over and give him the lecture of his life?"
"I thought you were gonna say spanking of his life?" Zara joked.
"that too" Anna said.
"Anna I will call you tomorrow"
"ok bye" with that Anna offed the call.
Zara laid back on the bed her eyes looking towards the ceiling.
Chris had been behind the door eaves dropping on Zara's conversation on the phone. To some extent he felt a pang of guilt in his heart for being the reason behind her unhappiness and it made him wonder why they both couldn't live wherever they wanted to even while married.
With a heavy heart he finally pushed the door open after moment of debating.
Zara who had been laying on her back with her legs and arms pointing towards the four corners of bed quickly scramble to feet in fright when she saw her husband emerge. But in an attempt to do so she mistakenly set one foot on the order and tumbled falling straight to the ground.
She sat up quickly holding tight to her hurt crown, she pressed her fingers lightly against the bump and wince in pain.
Christian quickly ran to her and crouch before her to observe the bump but she turned away showing him her back and wouldn't let him touch it.
"Zara you're hurt let me see" Chris said in a attempt to get her to show the bump to him while pulling her by the arm towards him but she resisted and looked away.
"it might get worse, let me just have a look" he insisted.
"what are you, a doctor?, go away I don't need your fake sympathy" she said in a croak voice tears evident in her eyes.
Chris couldn't help but feel guilty for his wife's present situation and it really hurt his heart to see her that way.
Swiftly Zara swung to her feet and her husband followed suite.
"what do you think, walking into the room without knocking?" Zara demanded in fury.
"uuuh, do I have to knock before entering my own room?" Chris fired back.
"yeah, if you're sharing it with another" Zara said panting like someone who had just ran an hundred metres race.
"well I didn't" he said daring her with his eyes which was surprising to he himself.
"uhhh" Zara gasp.
"you seem to have become confident now that you have me in your house" Zara said.
"that's not the case Zara,you're misunderstanding me" Chris defended.
"uhuh,uh uh,that's what anyone will say" she said nodding her head.
"am sorry for offending you okay" Chris apologized but his wife still remained untouched.
"sorry my ass" she spat dramatically.
"it's quite late and am tired I think it's time we go to bed" Chris said making an approach towards the bed but Zara quickly climbed on it and settle on his side of the bed.
"halt" she commanded with an arm stretched towards him and he froze.
"one" she said the pinky finger of the other arm raised in the air.
"am not sharing a bed with you and two" she added she lifted the ring finger next.
"neither will I be sharing the room with you, so you're left with two options give me room or get the hell out of my sight" she said literally yelling the last sentence.
For a while Christian remained still his feet rooted to the ground, he didn't flinch neither did he say a word and his action made her wonder if he had heard a statement.
"if you wish" he said calmly nodding firmly before existing the room.
She fell back on the bed and gave put a wicked laugh of victory but after a while stood up when she heard the grumbling of her stomach.
slowly she tip toed to the door and and peep through the key hole but everything looked dim on the other side. She finally opened the door but slightly after a moment of thought only to come face to face with a tray by the entrance.
She picked it up and weighed it with her hands to feel the weight of it content, before quickly moving back into the room an setting the food on the bed then ran back to lock the door.
She rubbed her hands together before finally uncovering the content of the bowl. Her eyes widened and her stomach crude in yearning when the sweet smelling scent of fried rices and barbecued Chicken hit her nose. She ran her tongue over her lips uncovering the salad.
"my precious" she exclaimed grabbing her cutlery.
"ooh it taste as good as it looks" She said her first bite.
After having her filled she toppled it with a glass of juice and belched out in an unladylike manner. Feeling sleepy once again she placed the empty plate on the foot of the bed and laid back to take her rest.