Hectic($)

I poke the vegetable stew in my ceramic plate that's been covered with red floral patterns with a piece of bread. I feel nauseated and suffocated, even though I can breathe through my lungs and intake oxygen quite adequately. 

"ADRIAN YOU WERE RIGHT; THIS ACTUALLY TASTES PRETTY DECENT! Oh, I'm sorry for badmouthing you earlier. I shouldn't have judged a book by its cover~!"

Anita says while licking her finger clean before dipping bread into the stew and blowing on it before gulping it down, making some go over her lips, with some stew dripping down to fall on her chin.

"The dinner's not going anywhere, Anita. You can eat slowly, it's okay."

"BUT IT'S SOO FUCKING TASTY!!"

She exclaims before munching on the stew like a crazy hungry hyena that hasn't had prey for the entire week.

I sigh and take my first bite into the bread that's covered with red stew. As the food globule makes its way through my throat and into my stomach, I already feel full enough. My mind races back against my will and makes me remember all the thrashings she's given me during our relationship in a split-second. I shake my head and start eating with a straight face, trying to forget about all the bad times I've faced with in this marriage.

"Something the matter, love? You don't seem to be enjoying dinner. I can see it on your face. Do you not like it or something? I mean you're the one who made it, and for what I think, it's actually pretty awesome~"

"N-no, it's just the tiredness getting to me. I had a bunch of classes today...and not to mention I had to take care of a bunch of chores once I came home in the evening, soo that made me pretty tired."

Anita puts down her half-eaten piece of bread down slowly as I see her grip the satin cloth that's covering the glassy dining table, before she shrieks out:

"YOU THINK YOU'RE TIRED YOU FUCKING BITCH?!?! OH, AFTER WHAT, ATTENDING A 2 HOUR CLASS AND THEN WASHING THE DISHES, WOW THAT IS SO SOO TIRING~ WANT ME TO PUT A PACIFIER IN YOUR MOUTH, TOO? WANT SOME BABY LOTION SO YOU DON'T SCRATCH YOUR SKIN, HUH?"

"C-Calm down, babe. I was just feeling low, that's really it."

"You should be in no position to feel low, you fucking cunt. I'm the ONE who does the heavy lifting in this relationship. I'm the ONE that has to go out and work my ASS off for 8-10 hours a fucking day, with HUGE cases, that I have to fight for, do research about, and show my firm that I'm actually competent. You, on the other hand, are just whining about like a little bitch, about attending university and cooking or cleaning."

"S-Shut the fuck up. You're sitting in a cushy air-conditioned office sitting on your ass probably watching tik-tok all day long and doing like, 3 hours of work, minimum. That definitely goes well with my theory of how you haven't gotten a raise in 6 months."

I look up at her with a smirk and it slowly dissipates, as I know I fucked up. I see her teeth clenching, bringing out her muscles on the sides of her face and jaws. I can see two bulging veins on the top of her forehead disappearing into her scalp and one vein that's to the left of her nose. God. I shouldn't have provoked her.

Anita slowly takes her hand off the satin cloth, leaving a visible nail mark that surely meant she chipped her nail just by grabbing onto the table with sheer force, as she starts pointing her devilish finger at me as she whispers in a low tone voice,

"You're an ungrateful little bitch. I let you live here, I pay for your food, I give you a roof, take care of your desires, and this is how you repay me, hm?"

"TELL ME, IS THIS HOW I SHOULD BE REPAID FOR BEING A HARD- WORKING WIFE?!?!"

Anita shakes the table as she yells, she clearly wants an answer from me.

"N-no, I..I'm sorry, honeybug."

Anita's rage diminishes as her violent looking veins disappear as her frown changes into a neutral expression on her face.

"Say it properly this time."

I take a deep breath and try to put on a loving and happy face.

"I-I apologize for making fun of you and insulting you like that, honeybug. That was truly awful of me as a househusband. I agree, y-yeah, you actually do most of the heavy lifting in this relationship, and I shouldn't take you for granted. I appreciate you for working so hard for us."

"Mhm. And?"

"A-And that I love you."

A smile spreads across her face as she goes back to devouring her dinner like a vicious animal.