[SerflySGR]

Originally Posted by SerflySGR

I slowly made my way to the bathroom, my heart pounding even faster. I reached for the door knob and gave it a twist, expecting it to be locked.

But it wasn't.

I felt a sick feeling in my stomach. Maybe they had given up hiding and was ready to confront me. Recalling how haughty that pot-bellied man was made me sick. I braced myself for another fight; this time I am in the right. He had trespassed my home. He was fucking my maid. Even if he wasn't, from my video recording, I could prove that he was alone with my maid in my toilet. Who, in the right mind would do such a thing?

Taking another deep breath, I twisted the door knob and give it a slight push.

"Oei!" was all I could muster as the door swung open. This was the moment of truth.

All that excitement build-up was for nothing.

The toilet ended up being empty. No naked bodies. No fucking. There wasn't even anybody taking a shit inside.

Then why the locked door? Could I have mistakenly locked the door in my haste to get out of the flat? I mentally retraced my steps, from the moment I woke up up till the part I saw the white car leaving Adek's school. But before I could solve this mystery, my phone started to scream 'bloody murder'.

It was my boss on the line. And he wasn't pleased.

"Serfly! Where are you? The whole office is waiting for you to start the meeting!" Damn it! I couldn't have chosen a better time to screw up.

I left my home as hurriedly as I came back. But I made sure I gave the place another check before I locked up and left. When I got to my car, I saw a piece of white paper lodged beneath my windscreen wiper. "Great! A parking ticket." I muttered under my breath as I snatched the paper, freeing it from captivity.

I went back to an office of angry faces; made some silly excuse that Adek had forgotten his books and I needed to double-back to his school. The day was basically spoiled so I had no intent to put in any extra hours that day; I shut off my terminal and made my way to my car and drove home the moment the work day was over.

I got home pretty early and this surprised Adek and Wanda.

"Sir balik." Wanda greeted me as I entered the flat. Adek craned his head from under his mobile phone and gave me a look before going back to his game. The morning's mystery was still weighing heavily on my head and I wondered how I should broach this subject to Wanda? Should I be very frank and straightforward and ask her directly or should I spend some time observing her first?

Dinner was a quiet affair as we silently ate our meal at the table. Adek was playing with his phone as he ate. This irritated me and I began glaring angrily at him. He continued playing, oblivious to my stares but Wanda was quick to notice this and gently nudged Adek.

"What?" Adek asked. Wanda quietly nodded at his phone before darting her eyes in my direction. Rebellious as he was getting, Adek didn't want to test my patience as he set his phone aside and finished his meal as quickly as he could. As he got up to leave, I cleared my throat, signalling to him that I had something to say.

Adek seemed oblivious; he left his plate of half-eaten food on the table, picked up his phone and proceeded to the living room.

"What do you take this home for?" I bellowed. Adek stopped in his tracks. He turned and looked at me; his eyes challenging my words.

"You are just a primary school boy. Don't give me that attitude." I shouted. Adek didn't back down. He continued to stare at me, clenching his fists in defiance.

"You not happy, is it?" I challenged him, "that stunt you pulled the other day at school; you think you very smart, is it?"

"I was late." Adek hissed.

"And that gave you the excuse to treat me, your father, the way you did? What do you take me for? Your servant?" I said as I stood up.

Adek started his defense - ranging from how he lost his mother and was now 'handicapped' because he comes from a 'single parent' family to how I made him 'lose face' by quarreling with Mr Neo, a prominent member of the Parents-Teachers Association so much so the other boys started making fun of him. He went on with this tirade but I knew I had to put my foot down. I felt disrespected and maybe the thought of Wanda leaving with 'Mr Neo' was the last straw.

"Enough!" I shouted. I went up towards Adek, snatched his phone and flung it across the room. The room fell into silence. Hot tears rolled down Adek's eyes as I felt a pang of guilt for treating him this way.

"You may have lost your mother but make no mistake - I have also lost my wife. So if you think you are the only one who has lost a loved one. Think again." I said as I found myself sobbing uncontrollably. It is true that sex between my wife and I was close to non-existent, but she was my lawfully wedded wife, nonetheless and I missed her dearly. It was my turn to let loose and I flew off my handle; whatever complaints Adek had, I was sure to counter it and add on to them. In my mind's eye, I was the true victim in this whole situation because I was now not only the father but also the mother and the sole breadwinner of this family. And I wanted Adek to see this. I wanted Adek to feel my pain. I wanted Adek to respect me.

Sensing that I now have the upper-hand, I took this chance to set down some rules. Firstly, I was going to get Adek a tutor. He protested but a glare from him silenced that. Secondly, I announced that with my wife gone, the household responsibilities fell upon Wanda's shoulders and he was to respect her as he would an elder sister. I wanted to tell him that Wanda would soon be his step-mother but I felt it was too soon; as if I didn't honor my wife's death. And also, after today's episode, I had reservations towards Wanda.