GENESIS
Dante’s best friend came in quite early that morning. As early as nine o'clock, he was already in their house. She was aware that he occasionally came by to help Dante with some work but never had he come in so early.
That was not what even bothered her, it was the way he looked at her that morning that she did not like. They did not speak often; but whenever they crossed paths, he was usually warm and playful with her. Then why was today different? Why did he look at her like he suspected her of something? She felt weird under his scrutiny so she left that space and went to the kitchen.
She also had bigger issues to worry about so she did not let it bother her. If he could not speak up about any problem he had with her, he might as well just keep it to himself.
Since she was already in the kitchen, she thought it wise to just get on with making lunch and just store them in a pot that would keep the food warm. It took her close to two hours to cook everything she had planned for lunch, but it did not even seem that long since she loved doing it.
She was distracted from the fact that her life was falling apart until Luke walked in with his hands deep in his pockets. He was still looking at her that weird way so she could not help the harshness that came with her voice.
“What do you want?”
He stopped in his tracks and raised a brow at her, looking surprised in an amused way. He let out a short laugh and straightened his spine before he looked at her properly.
“Is everything alright?” He asked. “What's that tone you're speaking to me with?”
“I only asked a simple question.”
“Well, I have a simple question for you too.” Luke licked his lips. “Are you not going to ask me what it is?”
She stood there and stared at him in silence. She was going to remain like that until he was ready to speak.
Again, he laughed before he spoke. “Okay, I'll just ask you.” He paused for a second. “Are you cheating on my friend?”
Her face morphed into a frown immediately at the absurdity of his question. What warranted such questions? And why was he so bold in the way he asked her? She felt offended and she could not believe such a question was coming from him.
“Why would you ask me that?” She voiced out. “What kind of question is that?”
“It's a question that requires a yes or no answer.” Luke shrugged. “Are you cheating on Dante?”
“No, I'm not.” She was surprised at his guts to even repeat the question. “Where is this coming from? Why are you questioning me like this?”
“So, would you like to explain what you were doing with that man at that cafe yesterday?”
“What?” She frowned even more.
“I have a photo of him holding your hand if you're really about to deny it.”
“I’m not going to deny anything.” Genesis countered. “Yes, I met a man yesterday at a cafe, but that was just my childhood friend. We ran into each other some days back so we decided to meet and catch up. There's really nothing more to it.”
“Mhmm.” The tone of his hum sounded like he did not believe one thing she said. “That definitely sounds believable.”
“Look, Luke,” she started. “I would not cheat on Dante for any reason. Aaron is also married and has a family of his own.”
“Yeah, right.”
“I'm not lying!” She was beyond frustrated. “I am not cheating on Dante!”
“What's going on here?” Dante walked into the kitchen all of a sudden, looking confused as hell. “Why are you explaining to my friend that you're not cheating on me?” He looked between her and Luke. “What even brought about this conversation?”
“Maybe your wife should explain to you why a man was holding her hand in a cafe yesterday.” Luke did not look at Dante as he spoke, his eyes were still in her.
“Excuse me?” Dante was visibly taken back. “What is he saying, Jenny?”
Luke chuckled and started walking backwards. “I'll leave you two. You'll find me in your office when you're done.”
With that, Luke left them alone in the kitchen. And she was there alone with a very confused Dante that was looking down at her and waiting for her to clarify things for him.
“Genesis, say something.” He sounded desperate. “Say anything. Just don't be quiet.”
She sighed and gathered courage to speak. “Yes, I met a man at a cafe yesterday.” The look in his eyes broke her. “But it was not what Luke was thinking. I bumped into him the last time I went grocery shopping so we decided to meet yesterday and catch up. We were childhood friends, Dante. And we just wanted to sit and talk.”
“Just sit and talk?” Dante squinted at her. “Sit and talk and hold hands?”
“Dante, I had just received bad news about—” She recalled that she had told him that it was a patient that died. “About that patient and he was only trying to comfort me.”
“I see.” Dante nodded. He looked like he was holding back a lot of things that he wanted to say. And a part of her was happy that he did that. She was not sure that she could stomach an outburst from Dante at the moment.
“Look,” she began. “There are a lot of things that you don't know about me, a lot of things that I don't know how to tell you. I swear, one day, I'll tell you everything you need to know. But, I promise, cheating on you is something I'll never do.”
He did not say anything, he just stood before her and looked at her in a way that made her throat feel tighter.
“I don't like the way you're looking at me, Dante.” She whispered. “Please, don't look at me like that.”
“I can't help it, Genesis.” He told her. “I don't know what to think at this moment. I promise that I want to trust you. But, right now, it's hard.”
“I know.” She nodded slowly as tears brimmed her eyes. “I know.”
“Then why are you doing this?” His voice was low. “Why are you acting this way? What is it that you cannot tell me, Genesis?”
“Dante, I…” She sniffed as she shook her head. “I don't know how to tell you.”
She immediately saw fear in his eyes, and she knew it took a lot for him to admit what he said next. “You're scaring me.”
“I'm sorry…” She whispered. “I really am. It's just… it's just a lot.”
“Is it that you don't trust me enough to tell me about these things?” Dante searched her eyes. “Is that it?”
“No, not at all.” She cupped his face in her hands. “I trust you with my life, Dante. I just don't think it's the right time to say the things I have to say. I'm scared that you'll see me differently when you find out those things. But I'll still tell you at some point, and whatever decision you make then, I'll try my best to live with it.”
“Genesis…”
“Please…” She was sobbing now. “Don't make me say those things now.”
He nodded slowly, and she could see that he was holding back tears now. Around his eyes and his ears were red and it broke her heart to see him like that. It was even worse knowing that he was in that state because of her.
“I'll wait for you.” He said to her, “I'll wait till whenever you're ready to open up.”
“Thank you.” She breathed.
“And I'll try to keep my faith in you.” He continued. “Please, don't break it.”
“I won't.” She shook her head and then hugged him, burying her face in his chest and crying into it.
Even in his own pain, he rubbed her back to soothe her. And they were like that for a while: her crying, and him trying to comfort her silently.
It was then that she made a decision that this had to end once and for all. She could not let her brother keep tormenting her life like this. Somehow, she was going to stop him, or she would die trying.