The Wicked Mrs. Gastrell (English version)

The sound of the alarm clock brought me back to the present. I turned to the side table where a tune of my favorite classical piece was coming from. I stood up and turned it off before returning to the chair next to an open window.

It’s past two in the morning but I’m still awake. Like every night that has passed in my life, sleep is not for me. I can’t sleep because of yesterday’s nightmares that still haunt me. Another reason was that I was waiting for Cholo who never came back in the house after leaving me earlier.

So here I was beside the window gazing at the bright moon above me while patiently waiting for my erring husband. A gawking doting wife who is dead worried for her other half.

I drank from the goblet in my hand and enjoyed the cold air. It blew my loose hair and made the precious stones in my earrings dance. I didn’t mind the trembling of the body. Every day that God has made, I have learned to ignore the physical cold.

There is something colder than a gust of wind. There is something more painful than Cholo’s constant display of disgust towards me.

I looked around the large and quiet room. My eyes stopped at the king size bed covered with a blue mattress. The pillows and blankets didn’t have a single wrinkle, a sign that no one had ever slept on them. I can’t lie on this bed because of the thought that the two of them are also sleeping here. I still have respect for myself. In my mind I was already slowly punishing them.

I went back into observing the surroundings. The master’s bedroom is a picture of a luxurious lifestyle. Marble floors, expensive appliances, and complete with modern technology from giant television sets, noise canceling apparatus and soundproof rooms. The jacuzzi area of this room also has its own sauna room.

The library that serves as Cholo’s office is also connected to the room through an adjoining door. I checked it earlier out of boredom. The place is filled with books and paintings from top to bottom.

Another gust of wind passed before I carefully closed the window. With the glass of wine in my hand, I left the room and walked down the bifurcated staircase made of Brazilian mahogany.

The five-inch heels of my shoes sink into the carpet. I put a smile on my lips for my imaginary audience below the stairs and moved my waist elegantly while humming a lullaby. The whole living room was very quiet.

The aristocratic people in the painting smiled and said hi to me in order to at least fill the deafening silence. When I was halfway down the stairs, I looked up at the cathedral ceiling that was covered with ceiling lamp shades which brought a dark ambiance to the house. It’s a bit dark because the light is subdued. I looked around again. Most of the furniture is earth toned furnishing from the floor, walls, to the ceiling.

“This house is too old for a young couple like us,” I said as I fixed my eyes on the antique piano in the middle of the living room that also serves as an attraction because of its antiquity.

I went straight to the kitchen and washed the glass. Then I went to the bathroom for a while to apply lipstick and fix my face. I made sure I was in good shape so that Cholo would eat with me when he got home.

I looked at myself in the mirror. My make-up is perfect again. I was wearing a black silk dress that reached the bottom of the leg. My feet hurt when I wear high-heeled shoes, but I need to fo this to still look elegant and beautiful as a housewife who is eagerly waiting for her husband.

Smiling, I returned to the kitchen to prepare the dishes I will cook. I will no longer let my husband live on the maids’ cooking and drive through orders from restaurants. From now on, he will only eat the food I will serve him.

I opened the fridge and took out the vegetables and meat. I’m singing a song while cutting. I already boiled water for my special recipe today.

I was enjoying my mini concert when I heard the hum of the car and the mansion door swung open. I smiled to myself. It’s good that my husband is back home. Perfect for breakfast.

“What are you doing?” said a voice at the kitchen door.

I looked up at Cholo and stared at how good he really looks. He’s magnetic, oozing with the charm he used to seduce me back then. My husband is so freaking hot in his disheveled hair and rolled sleeves that showcased his hairy arms while leaning on the side of the frame at the entrance of the kitchen. His coat is comfortably lying on his shoulder.

Oh, now I remembered how hairy his body is and how hot it tingles against my naked body.

I stifled my own moan due to the rising temperature around me. It has always been like this with Cholo. Whenever he’s near, I can’t feel but get turned on. I mean, that’s justifiable! My husband is a walking testosterone!

I’m no saint. I’m a completely sinful creature for this man alone.

“Good morning, hubby. Got a long day and night? Ah, too busy with work? Yes, I deeply understand. Wait, do you have something particular dish you want to request? Just say it. I studied culinary with you in my mind. You know, I wanted to impress you with my cooking. Cliche as it may sound but I believe that a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. So, any request?”

I smiled at Cholo before going back into cutting the vegetables. I simply wiped the sweat on my neck.

“You’re cooking breakfast at two in the morning? Really? How many armies will you feed? Karina, my house is not a shelter for you to have a party. Now if you’re thinking of inviting guests over then forget about it. You’re already making too much of a mess with my life.”

He looked at me deeply, his face was red from the alcohol. He doesn’t look tired but I can tell that something is bothering him.

“What are you talking about? I wanted to serve you and be the best wife you can have, Cholo.”

I took the blender and put the fruits inside.

“You can be the best person in the world by leaving me and leaving the town for good.”

I purposely turned on the blender so I wouldn’t be able to answer him.

“What? What was that? Come again?”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

I poured the smoothie into a glass. He looked at me for a moment before staggering towards the refrigerator. I met him halfway with the glass and gave it to him. I can smell the alcohol emitting from his body.

“Here. It’s good for your body. Good for your gut. It also helps to cool your head. Just chill, Cholo. It’s too early in the morning to be that hot, baby.”

He ignored me and took the glass. My heart rejoiced. But the next thing he did left me heartbroken. He threw the contents of the glass in the sink and instead took bottled water from the refrigerator.

“Trash.” I heard him say this before he drank the water.

I was stunned for a moment but I didn’t react. I just went back in front of the chopping board and resumed cutting the meat like nothing happened.

“I thought I would find peace at home not until I saw you. Why are you still awake at this hour?”

I put down the knife and faced him.

“Where have you been? Why didn’t you come home last night? Is there any sane married person who spends the early hours outside without telling his wife ? I thought it’s only work but for heaven’s sake Cholo, you reek of too much alcohol.”

There was a hint of sharpness attached to my voice. Cholo chuckled mockingly.

“Acting like a real wife, are we? Cut the crap, Karina. It does not suit you. You don’t care what I do with my life and I won’t care about yours either. Just make sure to hide whatever scandals you wanted to engage in. I will endure it until the election. That’s only three months from now. After that, we will be annulled.”

“Would you prefer me to shut up? Because that will be very impossible, Cholo. We are not in the ancient times anymore where women always nod to the liking of their husbands. I won’t stay mum in the corner. That’s just not my style. It’s the 21st century, baby. Keep up with the times, my man. Now go to sleep. I’ll prepare food for you. That’s how kind I am.”

I turned my back on him and went back to what I was doing. He didn’t respond but the hair on my back stood up so I know he’s still looking at me.

“Meeting you the first time was magical. I was caught off guard but I managed to set it aside because of my anger. Imagine how devastated I was when I went back to the hotel and saw it empty. There was not any sign of you. I felt empty that time. You know how I thought that I must have loved you in all of those times but you prove it all wrong when you chose to leave me. I could have given everything to you, Karina. But you just wasted it all. And now that I’m starting to settle down with the woman I truly love, you’re coming back to make trouble. You know why I’m drinking? It’s because I can’t accept Ely being called a mistress when she’s all I ever wanted to be my wife all my life. How I wish you could have ended just as what you made all the town believe. Dead. Insignificant. Forever out of my sight.”

“I hope you don’t mean it, Cholo.”

I faced him again and smiled at him.

“It’s evil to wish someone dead.”

My lips are smiling but my eyes are blazing in fury as a memory sticks in the recesses of my head.

“Come on. Just sleep it off.”

I caressed his cheek and smiled sweetly. He grabbed my hand and pulled it away from his face.

“I mean every word I say, Karina,” he said in between his gritted teeth.

I still caught a whiff of his suave scent mixed with a strong liquor before he dragged himself out of the kitchen.

I concentrated on what I was doing. From time to time, I steal a glance at my husband who had fallen asleep on the cushion sofa in the living room. When I finished cooking, I sat next to Cholo to attend to his uncomfortable position. I removed his shoes and wiped his wet back with a towel. When I’m done, I sat on the edge of the sofa and caressed his smooth face.

“This face can launch a thousand women in tears,” I whispered as I ran my finger over his pointed nose.

I smiled sinisterly and played with his hair.

“I pity those women Cholo because I will never let you go, not in the hundred years to come. You are only mine and no one can steal you from me, not even the love of your life. I’ll do everything to keep you for myself. I will take back the love you gave her. You will fall hard for me just as it should be.”

I lowered my face to his slightly open mouth and was about to kiss him but I was stunned by the name he mentioned.

“Ely…” he said in a whisper.

I felt like I was slapped hard in my face by what I heard so I just turned my face away. I stood up and folded my arms, while staring at my sleeping husband. His forehead was wrinkled like he is having a bad dream.

“You can call me Ely all you want just as you wanted. If you wanted to call me Ely then Ely will be my name. It still won’t change that you are mine. Only mine, Cholo.”