Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Irreversible
(Orville POV)
I finished dressing up after getting busy with Ariana for a while. I tried to smell the sleeves of my suit to check if it was tainted by her rose and lavender perfume. I need to be more mindful and cautious to keep this clandestine affair from my wife.
"Orville, why can't you just leave her?" Ariana said, still lying on the bed with her naked body half covered by the silky blanket.
"I love my kids, Ari. For the sake of making them happy, I'm willing to sacrifice." I answered.
"There are still ways, you know. We can just take them from her, and run away together."
"Ari, we have been through this for the nth time. The kids love their mom and I'm not running away anytime soon."
"But do you love her?" She said as she sat up and studied my face carefully.
"Yes?"
"Yeah, I believe you, alright." She said with the most sarcastic tone.
"I don't know. I mean, I'm still mad at her for cheating on me and…"
"…And now, you're cheating on her. Face it, Orville. It's just a one big circle of hate. You don't love her anymore and I know it." The malice is very evident in her voice.
"What's your point?"
"My point is to leave her and be with me, you and the kids."
What I can't tell Ari is that I am not, even a tiny bit, in love with her. I never had that feeling of warmth towards her. The first time I slept with her, it was good but not satisfying. We tried again and again but it's still the same boring flavorless sex. I was deeply hurt when I found out about my wife's fling so I tried doing it with different women.
A friend of a friend, an acquaintance, a hooker, but still nothing, the sex I have had with those are not worthy of being remembered. It is subpar at its best. Ari's was tolerable and believe it or not, hers was the most adequate out of every single one. I was so ashamed that I couldn't find someone who can make me feel desirable.
"Orville?"
"What?"
"Do you love me?"
I just told myself to shut her up so I won't have to hear her "nails on a chalkboard" voice.
"Yes, I do. Happy now?"
She just scoffed before hopping off the bed to get dressed. She pulled on every piece of clothing she has in a snap of a finger. That's how quick she is. I must have totally pissed her off.
"Whatever Orville, call me when you made up your mind already." She said before storming off the motel room.
I sat on the edge of the bed and began contemplating whether to end it with my wife, Eloise or not. We have completely drifted apart already. Our distrust towards one another keeps growing day by day. It's been five to six months since our last sex. We sleep on the same bed with our backs turned on each other. We barely even speak during dinner time. Hopefully, our indifference towards each other won't have to affect our children in any way. This is far from being fixed. Our situation right now is already irreversible.
--
"Hansel and Gretel are now reunited with their parents who have been worried sick about them but what they didn't know is that they both have nothing to be scared of anymore since Hansel and Gretel have successfully defeated the mean old nasty witch. Everything is back to normal and they all lived happily ever after. The End."
Sofia looked so overjoyed to hear the happy ending of the story while Wayne looks annoyed and Harry looks dissatisfied. Sofia clapped her little hands and cheered.
"That was a pretty story." Little Sofia giggled which made me pinch her cheek. I know I shouldn't have favorites but Sofia is probably the easiest to get along with. I don't know if it's because of the fact that she's the youngest or she's the only girl but she exudes sweetness and charm. She would always make me an apology card every time her and her two siblings do something to upset me. She would always be the one to sit on my lap and cuddle with me while I'm watching the sports channel. She is certainly a daddy's girl.
"That stinks. Those kids are dumb!" Wayne said.
"Why is that, bud?" I asked.
"Didn't their parents ever tell them to not talk to strangers?" He said as he crossed his arms with an exaggerated pout.
"Hmm, good point, Wayne!" I ruffled his head.
Wayne is the complete opposite of Sofia. If Sofia is sugar and spice, Wayne is the sour grape. He gets easily jealous whenever his mom and I spoil Sofia sometimes. I did explain to him that we also spoiled him once but now, it is Sofia's turn and as her older brother, he should understand. Eventually, he did understand and grew very protective of her. He is more of a pessimist. He would rather see the negatives than the positives because as he said, "you'll never know when the monster will strike", whatever that means. He is very clever and he applies every moral lesson of the stories he read into his own handiwork.
"What about you, Harry?" I turned my eyes on him and he is already catching z's. That means, he didn't enjoy the story. Oh well, I guess I have to do better next time in selecting for them. My goal is to keep the three of them entertained throughout, which is becoming increasingly difficult, I have to say.
Out of everyone, Harry is the hardest to impress. He finds it hard to pick something he likes because of his finicky behavior. One time, we went to look for a children's book in Barnes & Noble and he refused to buy the storybook on the shelf because of the minutest detail like a tiny rip, a slight crumple, a few folds on the cover of the book and more. He is a nitpicker. However, there are also some advantages. For instance, every dinner time, he would always commit to finishing up his meal because he hates seeing a speck of leftover on his plate. This kid is truly fascinating.
"Look at that, guys! Harry fell asleep. Maybe you both should as well, you still have classes tomorrow. Gotta wake up early, right?"
I tucked them properly before turning on their night light and switching off the light bulb.
"Good night, little buddies. Sleep tight." I said.
"Good night, don't let the bedbugs bite." Wayne and Sofia both said. I smiled before shutting the door softly.
I have the most amazing children and they are all unique, distinctive and special in their own ways. I can't say the same for their mother.
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