“You're asking me out?” Lea could hardly believe it when she heard Jack ask her to go out together.
“Lower your voice a little. Why do you have to yell like someone who got robbed?” Jack covered his ears. “If you don't want to, I don't mind. There's no need to make a scene like this either.”
Lea tugged on Jack's shirt just as he was about to walk away. “I haven't given my answer yet. But you seem to be running away like that.”
Jack looked at Lea closely. “You look like you're just going to give me an answer I don't want. Besides, I don't want to go out but to go to the restroom. So please take your hands off my shirt.”
“Oh... alright.” Lea awkwardly let Jack go to the toilet. She felt ashamed of her behavior just now.
***
“So do you want to go with me anyway? I'm not forcing you to agree to my request.” Jack wiped his hands with his favorite handkerchief.
Lea herself couldn't stop thinking. She saw Jack casually walk out of the restroom, then come back to her while wiping his hands with a handkerchief.
“Yes. I want to. But you don't get the wrong idea because I want to go out with you.”
Jack raised his hands like a fugitive surrendering to the police. “Of course. How could I also think of you having, sweet thoughts or something when going out with me. I took you out on purpose. Because I wanted to avoid my parents who wanted to come visit us. I wanted to make an excuse that the two of us were going out.”
“You asked me out just because you didn't want to see your parents?” Lea was surprised to hear Jack announce his intentions.
“Do you have a problem with that?”
“Tsk. I'll still go out with you. No need to discuss this matter further.” Lea then left Jack.
Jack, meanwhile, felt grateful that Lea was willing to cooperate this time. Because he really didn't want to meet his parents.
***
“On Sunday, aren't you home?” That was the voice of Jack's father when he was calling his son.
“Yes. I'm planning to go out with my wife. So there won't be anyone at home,” Jack replied in his calm voice.
“Are you guys going to be gone for so long? If it's possible, mom and dad can wait at your house until you come.”
“I can't. I don't want to give Mom and Dad a hard time when they have to wait for us. Next time if possible, then come to our house,” Jack said refusing his parents to come to his house.
There was a sigh from the other side of the phone. “Alright. I guess I can't force you nor do I want to trouble you. I'll let you know the next time I come to your house.”
“Thank you for understanding Dad.”
“...Jack is your marriage going well? You're not having any difficulties?”
Hearing that question asked made Jack feel a little disturbed. But he didn't want to continue this discussion any further. Because he didn't like it.
“Everything is going fine. You don't need to worry. Dad, please just take care of your health and mom.”
“Fine if you say so. I'm hanging up. Good night, Jack.”
“Good night too Dad.”
And so the conversation ended. Jack took a deep breath and then exhaled quickly. Dealing with his parents was not an easy thing for him. Especially if his father had started talking about his marriage. To be honest Jack always felt sensitive about this. But chose not to talk about it and keep it to himself.
The man then went to the backyard of the house to find some fresh air. For some reason his head felt so heavy and he needed some comfort.
Arriving at the backyard, Jack then lit a cigarette and took a deep drag and then exhaled the smoke from his mouth. Although the air outside was cold, he didn't feel cold at all plus the cigarette that accompanied him at that time, still made him feel warm.
Without Jack realizing it, that Lea continued to watch his every move from the second floor. She was watching him secretly. And felt quite curious about the movements of her husband who looked quite suspicious.
What is it about him that makes him look so upset? Lea thought. Because she was already curious. Lea then went downstairs and wanted to approach Jack.
***
CTIK
Jack wanted to light another cigarette. After the previous cigarette had been exhausted, he now lit a new cigarette. But before he could burn his cigarette suddenly, Lea appeared in front of him with mosquito repellent in her hand.
“You want to smoke? Well now use this to make your mind feel much calmer than before. I guarantee it.” Lea then took Jack's lighter. Burning the mosquito repellent, she gave it to Jack. “Smoke it. This smoke tastes better than the previous one. I guarantee your mind will feel empty after smoking it.”
“You want to kill me?” Jack looked at Lea with an astonished look. “Ah... if you're going to act weird like this. Does that mean you listened to my conversation with my father over the phone?”
“What? No, I didn't hear it. I was just wondering as well as curious, once I saw you coming out at night to the backyard while smoking a cigarette. I know that you're not a smoker. I'm just guessing but it looks like you're having a hard time.”
Jack was surprised to hear Lea talk to him like that. Jack honestly didn't want to exaggerate, but somehow he felt that his thought that Lea was worried about him wasn't his imagination.
“Did something happen to you? Don't you want to tell me?” Lea looked worried.
“No, I didn't. I'm fine. Maybe it's just your feelings. You should just go inside the house. It's too cold out here.” Not wanting to tell Lea and choosing to suppress his feelings, Jack subtly pushed Lea away.
Lea who saw Jack like this. Knew that he was hiding something from her. “You seem to be a stubborn and closed person. I won't force you to talk. But you should go inside the house immediately, don't stay out too long. Keep this.” Lea then handed the burnt mosquito repellent into Jack's hand before she went back inside the house.
Jack was silent. The mosquito coil in his hand was puffing out quite a lot of smoke. It made him cough like a novice smoker who just learned to smoke.
That night in the middle of the cold night air. Jack was nostalgic when he first learned to smoke, thanks to the mosquito repellent his wife gave him.