I don't owned all off the Hunger Games characters belongs to Suzanne Collins.
Based on Taiwan TTV and Korean MBC drama series, " Fated To Love You ". Very special thanks to JLaLa who introduced me to this wonderfull drama.
The Fate Entrapment.
" Love doesn't hard and difficult, but falling in hard does. ~~ Anonymous. "
Tenth Note. ~~ The consequences of love.
The temperature is not too cold that night, it approximately between two to five celsius. But in the frontyard of a townhouse at Merchant Valley, three people standing in silence as if they're freezing.
A black shopping bag lay forgotten in the floor as two grey eyes met under the dark sky. Katniss studied her long time crush shadowy eyes, down to his hand who holding an arm, then to a stiffened back of a pale - blue coat. She looked up to the sky above, searching if there's any thick red clouds which may be the source of the thunderous lightning strikes at her ears. But all she could found is stars that shining so bright.
Katniss suddenly giggling, sinking her face in her palms for a moment and finally said. " Oh, I get it. This is somekind of prank, right ? In case if you forget, it's December, Gale. "
" Katniss, I - "
" Please tell me that this is a joke. You always doing what I'm asking you, so please tell me that this is just a bad joke. ", Katniss voice starts to trembling and her laughter turned into faint crying.
" I'm sorry Kat."
" Don't you dare Katie me ! "
" Sorry. ", and that is all he could said. Gale wished he could ran into her, says a thing or two to soothed her feelings, or at least, make it less painfull to her but with Madge arm inside his palm, all he could do is standing there, hoping that his decision tonight is right.
Katniss wiping her fingers across her eyelids, gave him a shot in the eyes then walking away. Intentionally brushed her shoulder to his and gave a quick glance to a face that hidden behind the curtain of golden threads.
An hour later, Gale locking himself in his study, recalling some of the happiest moments he had with Katniss during the long ten years as his fingers flipping the photo album one page at a time while outside the study, Madge is standing stiff, her hand on the door handle and her ears catches a new sounds from the study.
She heard him half crying - half laughing from inside the study and sting suddenly hurting her eyes.
xxx
Gale didn't came home the following evening and she had a miserable day that day.
She made supper and waited, and waited, and waited. But he didn't come. She finally ate alone, staring at his empty stool beside her, the spaghetti taste like a rubber bands in her mouth. She ate very little.
She put one of his favourite song, just for some racket in the place, but that was worse. She felt more miserable than ever, for it only brought back the memory of him. She put one of her favorites, but naturally, it soon rolled around to the same old song, which always remind her of him and made her more miserable than ever.
So she choose to wait in silence. At eleven o'clock, she gave up and went to bed. She woke up at two A.M and crept down the dark hall and check the living room. In the blackness it was hard to see. She felt her way to the davenport with her feet, reached out a carefull hand only to find that there was no bedding there, no Gale.
Finally, at five she feel asleep only to be awakened an hour an a half later by the alarm. Madge knew before she went downstairs that he wouldn't be there.
School was an exercise in futility for the next days. Madge sat through her classes like a zombie, seeing little, hearing less. All she saw was Gale smilling when he sets off to work in the morning, his back hovering around the kitchen when he preparing dinner for them both. All she heard was his soft morning teasing and his sweet laughter. She remembered his eyes, those eyes she'd grown to know so well, with a brand new look, wide - gray, excited everytime he catches her smiles.
Her insides trembled at the the thought of his staying away all evening. Sick of the thought he might had a romantic dinner with another woman. Thinking back the days she had spent with him before, she realized the truth of the wise man sayings.
Regrets never came in at the first sign.
She stopped at New Dawn after classess for a visit with the girls. Only, she learned that Rue had gone into labor around ten o'clock that morning and they were all waiting for news frim the hospital. Without a second thought, Madge drove tthe hospital and obtained permission to wait in the fathers waiting room. By the time the news came, it was nine o'clock. She was not allowed to see Rue, for they had taken her to the recovery room, so Madge finally headed for home.
She stunned as the image of a black Mercedes parked at the garage, when she got into the house, the living room light was on. At the sight of it she felt her heartbeat go wild and racy. She opened the door to silence. Slowly she hung up her coat, and even more slowly ascended the stairs. Just inside the living room Gale was standing like an outraged samurai. His shirt hung open an wrinkled, his beard was a smudge across his cheeks, his hair was unkempt and his face bore the ravages of a sleepless night.
She wanted to call, please come back, Gale. Smile at me and wish me your sweet - tempered good - bye like always. I need you so badly , Gale. Coddle m, comfort me, touch me, touch me and touch me. Do whatever you wanted to do with me and make it all mean something, Gale.
But all she could hear is nothing but the sounds of silence between them.
If she was cast as an antagonist during their earlier weeks of marriage, now the table had turned. She began to understands what Gale's feeli gs before that never crossed her mind, she still hear his knocking at the bedroom door at six, watched him flew in and rummaging the closet then stepped into the bathroom and shut the door behind him, leaving her in silence.
Madge understand his confusion and does not ask for more. She quietly start to cares for him in her own way. She prepared him a shirt, tie and socks every night and eventually found the closet and the drawers empty in one morning. She prepared his favourite menu for the dinner and waited like the night before untill she gave up again at eleven p.m, woke up at two a.m, felt some strange happiness when she found the kitchen was clean and neat and amazed at the pace of her happiness changed into a sting in her eyes when she found the food ended in the thrash bag. Forget the breakfast, she said to herself since she woke up at six and found no bedding at the davenport and his shadow around the house.
She was believing that staying in this house and facing Gale's inept attempt for the next years would eventually made her lose her mind. But now she doesn't know what to do if she had to leave.
But she choose to carry on, she carefully hand - washes his strawberry blanket. His study is full of Katniss's photos and she wipes the photo frames for him. Since they seldom have time to talk by now, she leaves messages on sticky notes for him everywhere. Like reminding him not to work too late at night in the study, eat supper if he's hungry and wear more clothes when it's cold.
She actually don't know what she's doing the right thing or not. She only know that Gale had already done his best as a husband and now he's suffering from his decision. She doesn't want to burdened him any further because now all she wants to care for him and wishes he will be well and happy.
xxx
Here, in the living room, Madge sat alone with a bowl Peeta gave to her in this afternoon. " It's Christmas gift. ", Peeta said when he handed the carton box to her. It's a big bowl with a very rounded shape. Despite the very thin outer layer, it gives out a very thick and solid feelings with dizzy light and warmth.
She stares at the bowl with awe. On the surface it just a piece of very ordinary artwork, but it just fills up her heart with a very strong sense of sour sweetness.
Her fingers trails along the very thin outer layer, afraid that it might breaks easily. Her eyes examined the enamel colour which gave her a sense of solidness and stability.
" Blissfull. ", she whispered. Isn't it that what being blissful is all about ? On one hand enabling us to feel warm and safe, but on the other hand also make us feel the fear of standing on thin ice.
" I hope this gift will bring you happiness and blissfulness. "
Blisfulness, she sighing. Will she able to achieve it ?
The sounds of the front door opened pulling her back from her reverie. She placed the bowl at the table and hurriedly ran towards it. She is surprised to see Gale came home drunk with his arms slung around Castor and Pollux shoulders. " What's happening ? ", she asked.
Castor take the initiative to explain that Gale asking them to escort him to a bar downtown and tell them to wait outside but an hour later they heard a fight from inside and found their boss in the middle of the mess and decided to drag him out.
" We head to the Estate but Ms. Wiress told us to bring him here. ", said Castor.
" It's okay. I can take it from here. ", she said with a weak smile when the twin bodyguards managed to laying Gale at the davenport.
" Well, excuse us then ma'am ", Castor replied, shot a sympathy looks to her then pushing his twin brother to leave the house.
Madge came back to the living room with a bowl of warm water and fresh towel. She carefully clearing the mess on him. Gale feels feminine touches at his lips, " Is that you Katniss ? "
Madge heart sinks. " It's me, Madge. ". She replies softly to his question.
" Oh, yeah. How can I forget ? ", Gale mocks himself. " There's a wife at home, waiting for me. ". Gale chuckled then rolled his head sideways.
There's a strong smell of liquor on his body, even in his breath. Any normal wives would probably packed her things and leaving the house as soon as possible, but not for Madge. No matter how pathetic or unlikeable he is right now, all she can thought of is how Gale treated her nicely and how cold she was in return.
" I'm sorry, I wronged you before. ", she murmurs while trying her best to placed Gale's feet into comfortable position and helped him to take off his shoes and socks. After unbuttoning his shirt, she sees his wide and muscled chest. Suddenly her chest beats rapidly and she immediately turns away from the sight.
" Katniss ... ", Gale still mistakes her with another woman.
" No, I'm - ", she stiffly swallows back her own name and decide to go along with the misunderstanding. Right now, he must be wishing for the woman he loves to be by his side and she's not that woman.
" I'm sorry Kat, I had to do this. Ma doesn't have much time ...and I - I just wanted Ma to be happy .. I'm sorry, Kat ... please forgive me ... ", He grabs her hands and keep apologizing.
Madge listens with sorrows inside her heart. He told her not to easily apologize, but right now he himself who repenting to another woman. " Gale, I don't blame you at all. ", she cinsoles him gently.
" Just sleep. Take a good sleep and stop thinking so much. "
" You ... really don't blame me ... ? "
" Yes, I don't blame you. ", she looks at him with kindness in her eyes, telling him the lie he want to hear.
Suddenly, he takes her by the neck and before she can react, his lips landed on hers. It was as light as feather. So full of compassion that it stummers her heart. But the next minute after, Gale words bring her back to reality. " Thank you, Kat. "
She sighs, she signed down her foolishnes and the imagination of Gale have came back to her. She carefully covers him with a blanket and places his favourite teddy bear under his arm, his strawberry blanket next to his head.
Sitting at the floor next to him, she looks at Gale's peaceful and innocent face. " Good night, Gale. "
xxx
Gale wake up the following morning with his head feels like a hovercraft had a crash landing on it.
Holding his head and half getting up from the davenport, Gale is angry with himself over the fact that he is unable to hold his image in the public after having a drop too much at the bar last night.
Taking a deep breath, he notices a lukewarm glass of honey lemon placed at the table. He took few gulp and his head slowly gets better. Gazed at the glass, Gale is curious about the considerate person who prepared such a glass of fruit juice for him. And at this time,he catches a sight of a women sleeping on the sofa across the table and slipped down for a closer look.
It's Madge, she's curled up on the confined space with a thin blanket and it seems to be cold as she is shivering lightly.
" You silly little snail. ", Gale frowns. He get his blanket and try to covers her with it but it wakes her up.
" Oh, you're up ? ", she lazily gets up and blinking her sleepy eyes. Revealed slight dark rings below her eyelids.
" Why are you sleeping here ? ", he asks with snappiness.
" Oh, I was worried that the juice gone cold. So I had to woke up at 5 to change another glass for you and it would be easier if I slept here. "
" You make the juice ? "
" Uhum, Have you drunk it ? Has it gone cold ? "
" Yes, I have drunk it and it still warm. ", Gale softly replied. He is astounded, wake up at 5 just to change the cold juice ?. He starts to wonder how many times she woke up through the night just to do this. But then Madge push herself up and walking to the kitchen, he watched her staggering on her way.
" Hey, what're you going to do ? "
" I'm making you another one. ", she yawn while she's answering him. " Just to play safe. You should take another glass of the juice in thirty minutes and you'll get better from the hangover. "
" You seem to be very experienced in handling a drunkard. "
" It's my mom. ", she giggled. " Everytime my dad got drunk from his social drinking. He'll have a serious hangover the next day. Tea or milk has no effect on him so my mom made this. "
Gale doesn't say anything but keep his sight on her. She notices it and doesn't dare to continue on. The morning atmosphere rather stiff.
But when Madge finally gathered her courage to say a thing, a sudden rush of nausea struck her and she immediately dashing to kitchen sink to vomit, though nothing comes out.
She heard Gale steps towards her and felt his fingers gave soft massage at her nape. " I'm ok. I'm just feeling a little weird. I'll be allright in a while. "
" Don't worry, I'm fine now. ", Madge looked up to him and smiled to assured him that she's okay and continuing her juice works.
Looking at her pale face and weak smile. Gale suddenly feels mad at himself, really really mad.
xxx
Gale's anger seemed doesn't stop there. It like a fire in the husk that is ready to escalate anytime the wind blows.
It starts when Hazelle threw a private family new year dinner and Madge sees a plate of grilled salmon fish in front of her. She feels the smell of the fish rather strong and asked the servant, " Can I have something sour, like a pomegranate juice or something ? ".
Once the servant gave an answer that they didn't have her request, everyone at the table shocked by the sound of a fist slamming at the tables.
" What the fuck did you say ? ", It's pretty clear for everybody in the room now that it's Gale's fist slammed to the table as he rise from his seat.
" When my wife said she want a pomegranate juice, that is mean a pomegranate juice had to served in this table ! Do you understand ?! ", Gale shout to the servant and made the servant shakily noddes, shrivering in fear and shock. " Now get out and get my wife her pomegranate juice or you're fired ! Do you hear me ?! "
The servant hurriedly retreated from the dining room and everybody in the table staring at him, forks and knives hanging in the air. Gale turned to Madge, he softly asking her what kind of food she like to have for tonight. " Well, I think the salmon just okay. ", she replied in disbelief.
" No, it's not okay. And it's your face who told me that. Come on, what do you like to eat ? ", he smiles and hold her hand. She carefully examined his sparkling grey eyes, his soft smile and wonder if Gale already back to the Gale she used to know.
" Fruit salad and double cheese burger with fries maybe ? ", she shrug and smile awkwardly.
Gale snapped his finger as a sign for another servant to step forward and told the servant to prepared Madge's orders in exchange of the fish. The servants quickly removed Madge's dishes, a maid glide in and placed a bowl of sour cream soup. The thin smoke came from the bowl aroused her appetite to the point of no resist so she quickly grabbed a spoon and vacously shoved it to her mouth for few times 'till she realized that the dining room is too quiet for a family dinner.
She looked up to Gale's smilling face then moving clockwise to the other faces around. " Is there something in my face ? ", she innocently asked. Then laughter breaks in and suddenly the tensed air melted, Madge blinking to Gale who throw silent laughter at his plate and shaking his head. " What ? ", she asking him.
" Nothing. ", he waved his hand. " Just finish your soup. "
The meal resumed and it's another revelation to her that the young ladies of the Hawthorne are quite fun too. Jane sharing her excitement and nervousness when she found out that she's having twin baby girl, Posy bragging about how handsome her boy would be and Evey heaten up by purposedly teasing her husband that she don't mind to formed her own football team.
She catches his glance to her occasionally during the girly conversation and wonder if that the source of her appetite tonight.
She doesn't bother with the fact that she noticed something is missing on his ring finger or Gale doesn't said a word when they got home that night. He stood up for her and that's more than she could ask from him, she doesn't dare to think further.
xxx
The new year came and swept all over Panem with the joy of a new hope, new happiness and at District Twelve, it's the time for every couple to woke up early in the morning, set the first fire on the first of day of the year, toasting a bread, renew their vow to love each other then seal their vow with passionate kissing.
But in one house at the Merchant Valley, the fireplace long gone cold and forgotten, sounds from the lips had been replaced with the silence which echoes throughout the walls. Gale lazily opened his eyes, forcing himself to sat at the bed and roling his head to eased the tense at his neck.
Looking up the ceiling of the spare bedroom, his mind wander to any place it could find.
A shadow of tall, olive - skinned girl with her braid slung peacefully at her right shoulder, sat alone at the beach bar with her flirtacious green swimsuit appeared. He purposedly watching her from a far then moved to her when he catching her glanced at him for the third times. Suddenly the image switch with his arms dragging a blonde girl away from the sea, placing her in the soft sands, watching her figure curled while her lips begging for death to came for her.
Gale blinked for few times and he rushed to the bathroom.
Icy - cold sensation from the shower sprinkle bites his scalp, his back, slowly crawled and numbed his fingers. It's their first dating anniversary and he stood at the wide square, holding his phone and recording a girl wearing padded minx coat, her dark hair loosen and waved gracefully when the wind slip through, he watched her giggling and spreads her arm wide.
" We actually at the Vatican, Rome ! I couldn't believed it ! "
" You'd better be. "
" Hey ! Look, is that St. Peter Basilica ? "
" Yep. ", he confirmed and laugh.
" How about one day, you standing inside, waiting for me with my white gown and veil, walked slowly to the altar and then spoke our vows ? "
" Seriously ? "
" Uh - huh. ", she smiled slyly and purposedly winked.
" Why don't we do it right now ? "
Then he saw himself standing at the altar, a bride walked hesitantly to him, her golden hair styled in waving loosen style, highlighted by a tiara laid peacefully at the top. He stretched his palm and led her to his side, felt a hidden tremor under the velvet glove.
The look in her clear, saphhire - blue eye, they're still the same like he met few month ago. Spirited yet calm and warm and how all of the sipirit drained away few days ago.
At the kitchen, his eyes flew to a plate and a cup of coffee at the counter. Salty aroma from the bacon mixed with thin smoke from the cup only made his chest tightened. Why now ? he thought as the thick, black liquid filled his throat. His tongue tasted nothing but the sewage water.
Gale finished his toast and bacon with the savage appettite of a grizzly bear had awaken from its long hibernation. Swallowing his guilt on his way to the office this morning.
Gale stared blankly throughout meeting with the research and development division so he had to reminded by Cressida that the meeting was ended. He found that the view of Twelve suddenly so interesting today as he sat in his office and his lips sighing thick and spicy aroma.
His mind lost between the concrete, outside the window.
xxx
Being a person who had more money sometimes really means that you could do things that seemed ridiculous to the others who had to forced themselves to the limit just to get a dish of proper meal.
Like paying five hundred shals just to made sure you got a table reserved under your names and spent another one hundred shals for a cup of Americano which you could afford it at any coffee shop around with just ten shals.
Gale and Katniss decided to meet at the Hob Country Club, a place where they'd been coming for as long as they could remember, to play golf or eat Sunday brunch. The dining room was half empty, left now to those members who stayed to had private meeting or merely entertain their guests.
They were seated at a table situated in the lee of corner windows overlooking the golf course, which was lit by single lights from the heaven. Where they seeing warm color of spectrum across the expanse below.
For some minutes after they were seated, Gale continued staring out the view below while Katniss sipped her mint tea then looked at the opposite direction. When Gale plunged another cube of sugar to his coffee, Katniss decided to forced the issue.
" Who is she ? ". Even a question such as this reflected Katniss's breeding, for her voice neither accusing nor harpyish. It flowed instead like the amber liguid around the sides of her cup. After a moment's consideration Gale answered. " Plutarch's ex - worker. "
Raising the cup to her lips, Katniss press forward. " How ? "
But Gale seemed far removed again, pensive.
" What's so interesting out there ? "
He turned to her with a sigh, rested his elbows on the linen table top and kneaded his eyes with the heels of his hands. Then leaving his eyes covered, he grunted dejectedly, so she could scarcely hear, " Accident. "
" You might as well talk about it Gale. I think I deserve to know the whole story behind this - this cruel little secrets, don't I ? "
His troubled eyes appeared once again, gazing at her, but instead of answering her question, he asked one of his own. " Do you love me, Kat ? "
" It's not the subject of this discussion. "
" Answer me anyway. "
" And why I must do that ? "
" Because I've been wondering lately ... a lot. Do you ? "
" Could be. We're dating for years. "
" I've been asking myself the same question about you too. I don't know for sure if I love you either, but it's a very good possibility. "
" That's a little too clinical to be romantic for now, Isn't it Gale ? ", she softly smirked, sending the lights shimmering off her sparkling lips.
" Yeah, I've been in a clinical mood this week - you know, dissecting things ? ", he gave her a brief rueful smile.
" Dissecting what ? - Our relationship ? Or yours ? "
He didn't answered, instead he studied the weave of the tablecloth, then swung back to the green of manicured grass and sipped his coffee.
" How ? ", Katniss following his gestures and looking at the tree lines a far.
" It supposed to be another business trip to secure Odair's signature but somehow it ended with lonely guy and broken hearted girl sharing few bottles of wine and - ", Gale stopped for a sip of his coffee. " Yeah, you know the rest. "
" You - ", Katniss bite her tongue, trying hard to swallowed the word bastard back. " When ? "
" Before L.A. "
Then the light dawned in Katniss head, she remembered they had fight over Skype back then and Gale briefly mentioned about other woman embrace's. " And you sure it's yours ? "
" It's her first time. "
Katniss poise was commendable. She drew in a deep, swift breath, her perfect nostrils flaring into slight imperfection during the lenght of it. The cords in her neck became momentarily taut before relaxing once more as her eyes and Gale's locked, searching. Then she gracefully braced and elbow on the tabletop and lowered her forehead into the back of her hand.
Into the silence, a waiter intruded. " Miss Everdeen, Mr. Hawthorne, can I get you anything else ? "
Gale swung his sight, distracted. " No, thank you, Karl. We're fine. "
When Karl had drifted discreetly away, Katniss raised her head and said, with a hint of asperity creeping into her tone. " I'll forgo the obvious question. Realizing you wouldn't have told me unless the situation were settle down. "
This time it was Gale's turn to draw a ragged breath. He sat with ankle crossed over knee, one elbow slung on the edge of the table. To look at him, at the careless pose, at the classic cut of his tailored suit, one would nit have guessed the slightest thing to be amiss. But inside he was knot of guilt.
" Ma doesn't have much time left, a year if she's lucky, and I thought - yeah, I just thought that maybe - ", Slowly Gale drew his eyes back to hers, suffering now nearly as much as he could see she was.
" Wh - why don't you tell me ... "
" I - ", Gale searched for the correct word. " I thought it wouldn't be fair on my side. "
" Oh, Gale, you - ... "
Each of their eyes dropped down to their cup; each of them experienced a touching sense of loss at her words.
" I'm getting a lot pressure, you know. "
" From who ? Your conscience ? "
He only laughed ruefuly. " Oh, Kat, that's so incredibly funny. Too bad you'll never know how incredibly funny that is. "
" Sure ", Katniss retorded caustically, " Ha - ha - ha ... aren't I funny, though. "
He reached for her hand on the tabletop. " Kat, it was a thing that happened. The place kept remind me about the days we spent. I saw her slapped by her cheating boyfriend ... Hell, I don't know. "
" Oh, I know. You got her pregnant because you wanted to set up housekeeping with me and I refused to leave my screen. How chivalrous ! ", she yanked her hand free.
" I expected you to be bitter. I deserve it. The whole thing is a - whatever it is, believe me, neither the girl nor I want anything to do with each other. "
" Oh, don't humor me Gale; not at a time like this. "
" Look, Katniss - "
" You could just told me, you know ? ", she sobbed. " You could just told me about your mom and I won't give a damn about that stupid trophies. "
" Listen Kat, we had a deal. "
" You what ? ".
" We had a deal and the deal is we're not more than a paper couple for the next three years just to keep prying eyes away. That's why I need to know your feelings about me. I want to know if, at some time in the future, when things straightened out, would you ever consider marrying me ? "
Her composure slipped a notch and she cast her eyes aside as they grew too glisteny. But they were drawn back to his familiar, lovable face, of which she knew every feature so intimately. In a choked voice she answered, " Damn you Gale. I should slap your Adonis's face. "
But the softness of her words told him how very hurt she was.
" You know me, Kat. You know what I'd planned for us if this and Ma's health hadn't interfered. I'd never asked you this way, at a time like this, If I'd had the choice. "
" Damn you Gale, after my my heart scattered everywhere. You - what do you expect me to say ? ".
" Say whatever you wanted to say, Kat. "
He rubbed a thumb lightly across the back of her hand while she covered his face, hair and body with her eyes, letting her hand remain passively in his.
" You're somebody husband, Gale. "
Pained moments spun by while the piano sound tinkled some old tune. He picked up Katniss's hand, turned it over and kissed it palm. Returning his gaze to her face he whispered, " God, you're beautifull. "
She swallowed, " You're too. I guessed that's our trouble. We're too beautifull. People see only the facade, not the pain, the faults, the human failings that don't show. "
" I'm sorry I hurt you Kat. I do love you, you know. "
" Save it for another day, there's any. "
" Do you forgive me for asking ? "
" No, and don't ask me to do that. "
" It mattered to me, Kat. Your answer mattered a lot. "
She slowly pulled her hand free of his and picked up her purse.
" Kat, I'll let you know what comes of it. "
" Yeah, you do that. And I'll let you know when I found someone to compliment my new coat and hat. "
xxx
The sounds of a woman clearing her throat landed him back to reality. Over his shoulder, Cressida held a stack of lunch boxes, " Are you okay sir ? You seemed lost this few days. ". He turned his chair, glanced at the lunch boxes then pushed himself forward, purposedly pushed envelopes to the side and smile, " I'm fine, Cress. Just some legal things. "
He pressed the cigar bud to the metallic body ashtray and buttoning his suit, felt Cressida's eyes scrutinizing him, the ashtray then the whiskey bottle and take turn to snapped her back from her preoccupied mind when he says, " And what's that for ? "
" Oh. ", realizing that she took too much time to figured what's happening with her superior so the whiskey bottle had already sat there in the middle of the daylight, Cressida step forward and placed the colored box at the wide, mahogany desk. " Some woman named Madge came by and left this at the receptionist. The note said it's for you. "
" Madge ? ", his eyebrows knitted.
" Uh - hum. "
" Where is she ? ", he said while his arm stretched and pulled the lunch box to his side.
" She left in no time. "
Gale tear the sticky note at the top box and his eyes trailed the girlish note. It simply says, " Don't forget to have lunch, hope you'll like it. ". A smiling smiley icon added above a simple signature M.
Gale told Cressida to cancelled the rest of his agenda today and dismissed his faithfull secretary with his eyes stayed at the lunch boxes. He leaned back and felt his chest grew tighter as he saw the lunch boxes again and again.
Looking at the bright - yellow sticky note, Gale start to think that he's trully needed someone to break his face now.
xxx
Madge decided not to trouble Gale anymore. She knew that there's a long way ahead in this marriage and she doesn't want to bring any disturbance to him. So she go to the hospital for checkups on her own.
" You came alone again ? ", the gynaecologist asks her.
" Uh - hum. ", she smiles a little awkwardly. The doctor tells her immediately that he wishes her husband accompany her, " My husband is too busy at work. "
" Then you should told him to find a way to take time off. This is his baby too. ", the doctor is alittle disapproving. " The pregnant mother has many particulars and I want him to take a note. "
" It's allright, you can tell them to me and I'll passed it to him. "
" Very well. ", the doctor looks at her for a while. Then asking about her condition and gave her a list of vitamin.
After the examination has ended, she leaves the room, holding an ultrasonic scan in her hand and felt a strange happyness crept inside her chest. She smiles at it foolishly, " The baby is really growing little by little. Wait is it ... oh, boy. No, wait, I don't see any ... is it a girl ? " she thought.
Then she remember that the doctor says that it still to early to determined the gender but she secretly hopes that it will be a cute and handsome boy like ...
Gale ...
When she thinking about the name, reality hit her hard where she silently stands. No matter what she wanted. When the time comes, she has to leave the town house, leave the Hawthorne family and leave the name which kept bouncing inside her skull.
" Well, well, well. What do you know ? Isn't this my ex co - worker friend, Madge Undersee ? ". A sarcastic voice calls out for her.
She looks back and stunned at the sight of her ex co - worker, Mary, looking at her maliciously.
Mary laughed sinisterly and looking at her from head to toe. " What is this ? Coming to the gynaecologist by yourself ? Oh, Lord. Don't tell me that your husband is too busy to accompany you ? "
She stares at her. " What about you then ? What you're doing here ? "
" Oh, ", Mary waved her hand to the hallway and Madge rolled her head so she could see a man and a pregnant lady waving back at her direction. " That's my sister and that handsome guy is my brother - in - law, we're planning for having a family dinner after this. "
She frowns and tries to ignore her, but her voice continued to taunt her.
" Oh, geez. I'm sorry I forgot that you're alone. ", Mary saw Madge just freezing at hrr spot with her eyes wide opened and her lips tighly shut, so she continued.
" I knew it. I admitted that you're done quite a show when you gave me those wedding invitation, but then I think, who are you ? What's so special about you so that such a fine gentleman landed on your lap ? But the more I think about it the more I believed that you tricked him to get you pregnant then you forcing him to take responsibility for you, right ? You're so wretched, you know ? "
" Yes you are. "
Mary laughed sarcastically but then cold crept her spine when she realized that the words she heard is said in bariton tune, not soprano. Mary slowly turned and stunned at the prensence of Gale behind her, looking his phone then smile viciously to her.
" It seemed that not everyone ever learned a lesson. ", Gale sharp voice rings out. Using large strides, Gale walks over coldly. He takes Madge in his arm and say protectively.
" I, Gale Hawthorne have married Madge Undersee and I swore that no one could fucked with my family then leave in one piece. ", Gale lips formed a snale smile, leaned a bit forward tben hissing and showing a video of a woman hurling out her hatred. " See you in the courtroom, young lady. ", then he dragging Madge along.
Gale releasing his grip once they reached the parking lot. He saw Madge rub her wrist to ease the pain at the spot where he roughly grip and felt bad about it. " You - why are you here ? ", Madge still can't believe her eyes.
" You dare to ask ! ", Gale looked at her in disapproval. " Why did you go alone ? What happen with telling me ? "
" I - I thought you were busy. "
" Still, I'm your husband. I already let the words out. Remember ? ", Gale rebukes her and pulled her again to the car. Inside her car, she finally braved herself to ask him. " Aren't you busy in your company. Quickly go back "
" And what about you ? "
" I - I want to buy some maternity clothes and baby products. I think it would be easier for me if I setting up the nursery now. "
" To the baby shop then. ", he start the engine and throw the gear to reverse.
" What ? Are you going with me ? "
" Sshhh. "
" Bu - but. "
" No but. "
" Then, what about your car ? "
" The hell with that stupid car ! Just shut up and sit tight. ".
With one press on the pedal, the car make a slight jump forward and Madge felt her body pulled backward. She felt that at this point there's no more words she could use to reasoned with him so she let her sight dropped to her fingers in her lap and occasionaly glanced at his straight face during their trip to the baby shop.
xxx
Although Gale driving sensibly tonight, deep inside he know that he is not happy. He didn't expected Madge to go for a check up alone and get mocked by people. Eventhough the majority of the reason he setting up the entire contract marriage scheme only to fulfilled his mother wish on him, Gale admitting that there's a strange feeling in the corner of his heart that wanted to saved Madge from disapproval of the others and suffers.
But now, he saw Madge suffering and struggling and it's his fault for neglecting her because he had mixed feelings since Katniss unexpected visit, it's his fault for feels guarded, blow hot and cold and maintain a distance from her. He clearly knew it since the beginning that sooner or later he had to faced Katniss, only he never suspected that he had to facing her this soon.
The stage had been set up, the show had already begun and the audiences already watching them. From today onwards, he will be her husband for the next three years and no matter what, he will bear the responsibility of a husband, he decided gloomily.
At the baby store, Madge delighted at everything she sees, she seemed to forget the previous arguing she had with him when she holds up a pair of tiny shoes and asks excitedly. " Which color is nice ? Red or blue ? "
" Anyhting will be fine. "
" I like the blue but if the baby is a girl then won't be the red be better ? ", she hesitates.
" I got a good idea. ", Gale called the store assistant and ordered her to wrapped both of the shoes.
" But Gale - ", Madge couldn't finished her sentences as Gale strike her wrist and pulling her away to the other section where he ordered the shop clerk to shoved dozens of baby clothes and socks of Madge's choices off course.
Gale's eyes brighten as he sees a set of StarWars limited edition baby bathing equipment and pretend he doesn't hear anything came from Madge's lips. The spark in his eyes grew to the brightest when he sees a large thing displayed at the cribs section.
" Well, helloooo beauty. ", he said to a car - like cribs.
" Lamborghini crib ? ", Madge stares at him in huge amount of disbelief.
" Uh - huh. ", he said to the miniature Lambo, his fingers slide along it.
" But Gale - "
" Oh no, lady ! You got your turn and it's mine now. ", he smirked viciously then turned to the store clerk. " Do you have the unassembled one ? ". The clerk nod and said they have then Gale told the clerk to get one.
" Why don't you just buy the assembled one ? ", Madge ask him.
" Because I want Angel to remember that everytime she's sleeping on it, her Pa made it with his own hands. "
" Angel ? Pa ? ", she looked at him in amaze.
" Uh - huh, why ? ", Gale said nonchalantly. He busied himself with the pile of dolls in front of him.
" Are you seriously want to named the baby with Angel ? ", Gale swung to her for a moment the back to the dolls mountain.
" But the doctor said he couldn't determined the gender yet. What if it's a boy then ? "
" Oh, that would be simple. If it's a boy, we named him Gabriel Angelo Hawthorne but if it's a girl, we named her Mikaela Angelie Hawthorne. Angel is just a nickname for the baby. What's about that ? Sounds cool huh ? ", He turned to her with a smile, his words flew as light as a feather into her ears. Madge just stares, she lost her words for a few moment.
" But - "
" Allright, that's enough. ", Gale throw his hands to the air. " No matter what, your child would be bear the Hawthorne name for the rest of her life and I'm sorry if that's matters with you a lot but we already had a deal. ", Gale ended his speech with one side of his lips twitched.
" No. I mean, how could you suddenly came up with such names ?
" Oh, that would be - ", Gale face suddenly relaxed, he gamely went his eyes into a direction which followed by Madge where she found a promotional banner writed with cute font style that said ' Every baby is an angel. '.
" Yeah, off course. ", She chuckles. " I should knew it well. "
The cold atmosphere between them began to melted as she let Gale guide her fingers into his palm and take her to the maternity clothes department, passing through numerous display of discounted items and head straight to the premium products.
" Well, well, well ... look'it here. ", Gale crooned when Madge emerged from the changing room.
She pinkened, got suddenly very busy with the front of her garment.
" Turn around so I can see the whole package. "
" It just a maternity top. ", she said to the ribbon knot in her chest, glancing at his shadow at the mirror to her left.
" Then why so shy ? "
" I'm not shy. Just - ", she looked up, her eyes swinging back and forth from the mirror, to the hanging clothes across her right then to her shoes. " I just feel conspicouos, that's all. "
" Why ? You look cute in it. "
" Cute. ", she muttered disparagingly, " Like Dumbo the elephant. "
" Well, I bet that it's more comfortable than going around with your zippers open and your snaps flapping. ", Again, she colored.
" Well, there's few more other to try. ", she groggily smiles and hurriedly back to the changing room, leaving Gale giggling outside. Like she guessed before, Gale emptied half of the display case.
" I can't wear so many ! ", she protest. " I only wear it for the next six months ! What a waste ! "
" Then wear a different one each day ! ", he exclaimed. " Trust me, you won't tired of them like this. "
Madge looks at the nonchalant Gale and feels touched. No matter what, Gale is still, and having his own way to care for her.
" Thank you. ", She thanks him.
" Nah ... ", he waved to her. " This is nothing. This is only the duty of a husband. "
" Regardless, I still want to thank you. ", Madge smiles gratefully.
Glancing at his strong shoulders when he prop his elbows at the counter, the way he rubbed his chin as he wait for the cashier clerk processed his card, Madge start to thinking the way they arguing about why they needed another HD tv on her bedroom, how they made WalMart supermarket as their playground.
She unconciously wished that Katniss never came back into their life.
xxxx
To be continued ...
Like it or hate it, feel free to write it down. Feedback would be lovely and appreciated.
Regards, Heinz