Leaning against the pane of the window, Antonia had her eyes out of the window as she watched Christian's car slide into the premises, sending dust particles into the air.
"What's up with his driving?"She muttered.
From the bedroom window, she could see that there were two occupants in the car. Trying to get the identity of the other person, she craned her neck but couldn't see the face of the person clearly.
Still staring, the driver's door was pushed open and an angry looking Christian stepped out. The next minute Laura climbed out too, in contrast to Christian angry demeanor, she was wearing a calm look.
The couples looked around for a while and then exchanged glances before they disappeared from her eyesight.
Now staring at the door, Antonia had her hands across her chest as she stared hard at the door waiting for Christian to walk in.
Immediately the knob was twisted, she pulled herself from the wall and with a heavy footstep, she stormed towards the door, sending her palm across his face.
Stunned, Christian grabbed his cheek as he stared back at her, his brow knotted as he gave her a questioning look.
Antonia on her part was acting as if she didn't know what she had done. She was now walking towards the windows, biting her lips as she blinked her eyes rapidly.
"Why did you hit me?"Christian asked, walking up to her.
"Why did I hit you? Are you really asking me that?"She yelled. Shaking her head sideways, she tried to speak but couldn't voice a word because of the lump that had risen in her throat.
"Say something."He urged.
The more she stared at him, the angrier she became and, worsening the issue, he was urging her to speak.
Before he could utter his next word, she pushed him away from herself and with a trembling lips and shaking voice, she said, "How could you?"
Surprised, Christian didn't say a word, he just stood there, staring at her with a blank expression on his face.
"Stop acting as if you are innocent. You know exactly what I'm talking about."She yelled this time around, trying hard not to send her palm across his face for the second time.
"You think I don't know what happened between you and Laura?"
Now realizing where her anger was coming from, Christian pursed his lips, his head bent to the ground.
"Answer me."She yelled, making him raise his head almost immediately.
"It's not what you think."His voice was low and convincing but Antonia wasn't buying it. She was too angry now.
"The more you keep denying not having any idea about all these, the angrier I become. What do you even take me for? A dumb kid?"
"Come on Antonia, stop sounding like that. I know I gave you every reason to think that way but listen to me, nothing of that sort happened."
"Stop lying to me you cheat."She yelled, pointing her fingers in his face.
In a bid to calm her down, Christian tried to hold her hands but she pushed him away with all the strength she could muster.
Still seething with anger, she went ahead to tell him how disappointed she was while on his part, he tried to convince that nothing had happened.
It took all what Christian had in him to fully convince her and fortunately, all his effort paid off.
"I'm sorry for misunderstanding the whole thing. I should have tried to listen to you."Antonia said, fiddling with her fingers and with her head buried.
"It's fine, I understand how you felt."Christian replied, pulling her to himself and to bury the little argument they had, they shared a kiss.
****
After parting ways with Christian, Laura had made her way to the other side of the apartment. Sliding in, she met Riley sitting on a chair and immediately she stepped in, she rose.
"You're back."Riley said and she nodded and almost immediately, she began to share her babysitting experience with her.
"Thank you for looking after the kids."She said with a little smile.
While she spoke, Laura was battling with her conscience. She didn't want to voice it out but at the same time she wanted to.
When Riley discovered her mood, she wanted to make enquiries about it but before he could even start asking, she said, "I have a secret."
"Secret?"she repeated as she stared back at her.
"Yeah."Pushing her hair behind her ears, she propped herself up and with her gaze fixed directly on her, she said, "Chris and I had sex."
For a moment, Riley was shocked as she stared back at her. Out of everything she had imagined, it was the least she expected her to say.
"Are you being serious here?"she asked, peering at her.
"I won't be joking about something as serious as this."She snapped back, her gaze on the wall.
"All I have to say is, just be careful."He said after a while and she nodded.
"I bet the kids must have given you a hard time."Laura said, crouching to gather their play things which were littered all over the place.
"You can say that again, but I was the tougher one."she bragged and before Laura could ask where they were, she said, "They are asleep now."
"Oh, thank you."
Done with gathering their toys, she set them aside and then made her way towards their room to peep on them.
Her intention was to peep but see how quiet the room was, she pushed the door wide open and then stepped in.
At first, she thought she was thinking things but on a closer look, she discovered it was real.
Numbed with the sight, it took awhile before she could return to her senses and immediately she did, she parted her lips and then let out a scream.
Riley who was close by heard her scream and so she was quick to arrive at the scene.
"What happened?"She asked, darting her eyes around.
"He is not there."Laura replied, pointing at the bed with trembling lips.