Calm In The Chaos

Hinata's POV

"Why are you not yet ready?!" he asked in an irritated voice.

I shrugged. I was lying lazily on the couch, reading a book, while still wearing the same clothes I had on when I woke up this morning. I wasn't really up for going anywhere, as I had already conditioned myself earlier to be a hermit today. 

"Yna!" he called out. 

"What? Can't you see? I am not in the mood to go out. If you want, you can just go by yourself since that's your idea. Or you can have someone else accompany you. Someone willing enough to give up their precious time so they can spend it with you." 

He was quiet for a moment, and I thought he was already giving up. Well, he should be. Or he should try harder. I am his wife, but it didn't mean that he could boss me around. He lost that hold on me when he decided to treat me like a burden more than his life partner. Or so I thought. Because the moment he sat down at the edge of the sofa and put my feet on his thigh, I lost the battle again. 

He was caressing my feet until he was tickling both soles. I tried to snatch them back, but he was holding them tightly. I kicked him hard on his gut, but to no avail. I was trying so hard to stifle my giggles because I was ticklish. 

"Zekkkkkkeeeeee! Hahaha, stop! Stopppppp it! Hahahahahahaha."

"I won't stop unless you come with me," he retaliated. 

"You're not fighting fair! Hahahaha. Get off meee. Hahaha."

When I realized that he wouldn't stop, I let go of the book I was holding and put my two hands in the air, a gesture of surrender. 

"Okay, okay. Fine. You can stop now, haha. I'll go with you."

He finally stopped after hearing me utter those words. I rolled my eyes at him when I saw the triumphant smile on his lips. Pshh! He knew my weakness, and he's using it to his advantage. The clever man he was!

I composed myself and gave him a once-over. I noticed that he had freshly showered since his hair was still damp. He was wearing a casual white shirt that was complemented by blue jeans and white shoes. It was a very simple get-up, but he looked like a model who had come out straight from a magazine. Very handsome. 

I cleared my throat as my thoughts were wandering to some restricted places. I couldn't believe I was fantasizing about my husband. I tilted my head to clear the imaginary cobwebs in my mind. 

"Haha. You look flushed. Are you done checking me out?" he inquired. 

"You wish! You're so full of yourself, don't you know that?"

"I am just handsome, but I am not full of myself, Hinata. Haha. You're accusing me of something I am not guilty of."

"Cheh! Stay there while I fix myself. Just don't blame me if you end up waiting forever. You brought this on yourself!"

"Don't be long. You are already beautiful, so there's no need for you to put lots of makeup on," he added as an afterthought. 

I didn't answer him, but I was pretty sure that I was smiling from ear to ear. Did he just tell me I am beautiful? It definitely lightened up my mood. I quickly went to my room to shower and to change clothes. 

After forty minutes, I was looking at my reflection in the mirror. I wore a simple crop top shirt with the printed word Happiness on it. I matched it with high-waisted jeans and flip-flops. I also applied light makeup to complement the simplicity of my outfit. I felt a little bit nervous about what Zeke might think of how I looked. So, I was taking some time. 

"Yna... Are you not done yet?"

A knock on my door followed by Zeke's voice startled me. When I didn't answer right away, he pushed open the door and got inside my room. 

"What's taking you so long?" he asked in an irritated voice. 

"I was just about to come out when you barged in here. I told you earlier that you shouldn't complain if I took long, since it was all unplanned," I answered, masking my nervousness by giving him an attitude. 

He looked at me from head to toe. I swallowed, feeling the beat of my heart stop for a moment. 

I should have worn a different outfit 'cause this might look very simple. Maybe a dress would be better, or I should have worn shoes instead of flip-flops. Is my makeup okay, or is it too light? I should have added some mascara on. Or I should have used a different shade of lipstick. 

Those thoughts were running through my mind like wildfire. That familiar rhythm of my body peeked in the open, and I started to panic. My hands were sweating, my breathing ragged, and the world was spinning. I closed my eyes to calm the chaos inside. I wanted to cry. I was losing control of my body, and that frustrated me more than anything. 

After a while, warm hands were cradling my face, touching my cheeks gently. 

"Yna, look at me."

I opened my eyes, and there he was. He was looking at me with such gentleness in his eyes, trying to reach me. I was mesmerized by the depths of his eyes and was amazed by how they magically still the turmoil I was feeling. 

"You are beautiful. Damn! You are very, very beautiful right now, you hear me?"

I nodded. A smile slowly formed on my lips. Ah! This man was the calm in my chaos, a balm in my broken soul. How could I ever unlove him?