An Empty Chair in Table for Four
Chichi was in the bathroom, getting ready for the big night that was coming ahead. She got rid of her classic Chinese styled clothing and replace it with a beautiful red strapless dress with a sweetheart cut, that hugged her still outstanding hidden curves. The length was just above the knee. Her shoes were golden, to match the rest of the accessories. The everyday bun was out of the picture, her hair was loose, and she added some waves to give it some more life to the straight hair. All she needed was to apply some mascara and she was ready to go.
She went all the way to look wonderful for her husband. When she told Goku about the dinner, he was prompt to accept the invitation. He even promise to her that it wouldn't miss it for anything. Chichi was so attached to the promise that ignored the whisper in the back or her head that told her to not hold on the promise.
A knock on the door distracted from her thought, screwing back the the cometic on her hand and placed on the drawer with the rest of her 'girly stuffs' as Goku called them. Then she walked to the door to opened and found her oldest son standing in front of it with an anxious face. "Mom, are you ready?" He ask.
She walked out of the bathroom, leaving a trace of perfume behind her. "Yes," the housewife simple said, "Just let me get my purse." Then proceeded to her room as she ignored the sighing teenager.
Gohan was going to drive her mother and brother to Bulma's house, from there he was going to take Trunks with him to finally go and get Videl. To finally hit the road towards the resort. They were supposed to leave an hour ago, meaning that he should be at Videl's house by know. Said girlfriend texted the teen more than fifty time already.
"Did you father got home?" Chichi asked when she walked back to the living room. Goku left a few hours ago, saying he had to do something important that he was going to meet her at Bulma's house.
"Nope." Goten answered as he jumped out of the couch he was seating ready to go.
Chichi made a disappointed face, which didn't went unnoticed by Gohan, "Hey, Don't worry, he did told you that he was not going there this early. He'll just teletransport there." The teen tried to give hope to his mother that the man was going to show up for the special dinner. But truly, Gohan was not so sure about it. He just hoped to be right. He would hate to get home and see her mother suffering.
With an unsure nod, Chichi followed her son and hoped to the passenger seat. She decided to go with then since transporting always upset her stomach. However, the actual invitation was appointed for eight at night, she was going to be about three hours early.
When the trio arrived at the Briefs' residence, Trunks was the one to open the door. Right behind him his mother, who kindly invited them in, to have some tea before the long trip. Of course flying was going to be faster than Gohan's environment friendly car, but the skies threaten them with a storm. Gohan declined the offer politely and the other two kids were already by the car, arguing who was going to ride in the front seat.
Chichi and Bulma chatted on the living room until the clock marked that it was seven. The hostess excused herself to get ready for the dinner. Chichi of course didn't mind, since she also took the opportunity to re-touch her make up and hair.
As the hour passed, and the hands of the clock was getting close to eight, Chichi started to feel uneasy about the promise her husband made her. For the full Saiyan didn't give any sign of showing up. She even felt a pinch of envy when Vegeta came from his sacred Gravity Room just fifteen minutes before eight to get ready himself, then came back a few minutes wearing dressing black pants. white dressing button up shirt, which was untucked, and dark dressing shoe.
The prince was in his typical bad mood, no liking the idea of have to spend the night with clown and the nagging woman. Chichi saw the discomfort in Vegeta, and her jealousy grew. One of the most vicious and evil beings she ever met/saw or knew about, was sitting in the living room waiting for his wife, fulfilling the promise he did to the blue haired woman. He was not happy about it, but he was there regardless.
Minutes later Bulma made her entrance wearing a black silk long dress, with the that wrapped her body, her shoes were silver color, and her accessories were made of platinum. When she arrived to the first floor, she looked around to see if Goku arrived, but she only saw Chichi smiling, but that smile was fake. She knew that her friend was devastated on the inside.
"Dinner is served, Mrs. Brief." one the maids said with a respectful bow, then guided them to the main dining room. There was a long table filled with the most extravagant platter. Between the meals were pastas and sushi as well. In the center of the table, right under the chandelier t here was a big roasted pig. It was the feast to feed an entire army, or two Saiyans.
The three of them sat at a smaller table, which was covered with a white tablecloth. It was set with fine china, silver utensils and crystal cups. In the middle a candlelier, that held three red flaming candles.
The maids entered to the dining room and started to serve the salad, and pour red wine in their cups, including the plate in front of the empty chair next to Chichi. Goku was late by ten minutes, but it was totally normal for Goku to be a few minutes late. Right?
Bulma was making a small conversation about how the school system was getting worse by the years went by. Chichi was ranting along with Bulma. The blue haired woman did this to distract her friend while they waited for the Saiyan. It worked pretty good, since Chichi let out a genuine smile when Bulma suggested that she would be great teacher. She hoped for Goku to be on his way.
Vegeta was in a really bad mood, he was hungry and he had food in front of him that couldn't eat. Why? Because the Woman made very clear that they would wait until the idiot showed up. Having enough of the ridicules request made by the woman, Vegeta grabbed the salad fork and started to stab the poor lettuce in front of him.
"Vegeta!" Bulma shout, "We agreed that we're going to wait for Goku."
"No, you said we should wait, I never agreed to anything." The price said while chewing the his salad away.
"It's impolite to eat when the guests haven't arrived yet."
"Well, being late it's impolite as well." With that said Vegeta stood up from his seat, and with empty plate in his hand walked towards the food.
"VEGETA!" Bulma yelled, but fell in empty ear, "Sorry about that."
"Don't worry about that,I should the one apologizing for Goku's delay. Vegeta is right." With a frown Chichi picked up her fork and eat her salad.
Bulma didn't know what to say and opted to sip her wine.
It was nine and the three of them ate awkwardly, since there was still no sign of Goku and Bulma ran out of topics. Chichi was beyond furious at him for stood her up, at her for even believed that this time was going to be different.
Having enough of the humiliation she was feeling, she said, "I think i should leave. Thank you so much for everything."
"Wait, Why? We didn't have dessert yet." Bulma said.
"Bulma, please, don't make me say it." Chichi said as she swallow her cry. It was already humiliating that was most than obvious that Goku was not going to arrive. Saying the cruel reality would be like putting salt to a wound.
Understanding the unsaid words, Bulma walked Chichi to the main gate. Chichi took out her capsules case and grabbed the one a contained their family car, the one Goku was going to drive on their way back. Bulma and Chichi shared a goodbye hug, in which the blue haired woman took the opportunity to apologize to her friend for this idea. Of course Chichi told her that it wasn't her fault. The fire princess climbed to the driver's seat, and make her way home in a stormy night.
After a long drive, Chichi arrived to an empty and dark home. After turning on the light, she took of her shoes at the entrance, no really caring where they landed. She then, proceeded to go into to the house. The clutch she was carrying ended up tossed in the nearest sofa.
While getting out of the car, she got wet from the rain and cold didn't took long to crawl to her skin. She decided that she needed a nice warm shower, but before that, the housewife walked toward the fireplace, since the house was cold as well.
After lighting up the wood, she looked and the shelf that was just above the fireplace. That was her spot to put her favorite picture. There was one of Gohan when he was just a few days old, next to that one, a similar one but with her youngest son. There was one from Gohan's high school graduation, also one with both children together between other. She had pictures of her parents as well, one from the wedding was next to the one of her own wedding.
And at that precise moment the woman couldn't hold her tear anymore. She let them fall as an infinity cascade. But that was not enough to stop the pain in her chest. She grabbed the picture of her and Goku on the day that she thought she would be the happiest woman alive. How wrong and naive her younger self was. How could he ever thought such idiocy, when she married a boy that didn't know that marriage was. A boy who made a promise thinking it was going to be about food. That he just married her to just fulfill a promise.
Did he really loved her? Was their marriage just a responsibility to the Saiyan? (not the he was that good at it). Did he declined being revived those years ago to just get away from her?
The more she gave mind to the issue, the more negatively she was thinking about her marriage, until she couldn't control it any more. She screamed like she never did before. Her howling echoed in the empty house, she never felt so lonely like she did at that moment as she hugged the picture closed to her chest. Her knees gave up to her body and force her down to the ground a few feet away from the fire place. In that same spot she cried herself until she fall asleep.
TBC
