"You've been staring at your food for quite a while now, what is it? You do not like the food?" Oscar inquired from Jane, suspending the bottle of champagne halfway to his mouth.
Jane took several deep breaths but words failed her. All she could do was flash a few fake smiles and pretend to be in on the food by taking just one bite off the protein.
It is supposed to be a perfect evening of reconciliation but it seemed Jane was fed up. It is fast becoming a routine for Oscar to misbehave with other women and compensate Jane with a fancy dinner or luxury gifts. After several minutes of silence and Oscar rounding up on his meal, Jane finally spoke.
"Pttf... You know it's quite disrespectful to bring me out for dinner and not be concerned if I like it here or not".
"Did I not just ask you now if you like the food?" Oscar retorted.
"Not the food Oscar and definitely not the restaurant. I'm talking about us. What is this? You cheat, then you bring me out to some fancy dinner? I mean, What has come over you Oscar? You were not like this before." Jane fired with an undertone of anger laced with sadness.
"Shit happens Jane, I'm no.... I'm not proud of what I have done ok, or have been doing, but I try to be a good husband."
"A good husband? You Oscar? And good in the same sentence? Well, you need to get over yourself because good husbands do not cheat on their wives."
Looking both ways to be sure no one is around eavesdropping on their argument, Oscar responded drifting closer to Jane and grabbing her by the arm.
"You are still on about this cheating thing? I basically brought you out to dinner so we can let bygone be bygone but you are hell bent on not moving on right?"
Pushing back and forcefully freeing herself from Oscar's grip, Jane clapped back at Oscar, "moving on how Oscar? I'll check your phone again and see you repeating the same foolishness with another woman."
"Then don't check my phone. Do not test me Jane, I'm this close to no longer caring about your feelings."
Oscar paused for a second, stood up from the table, with one hand covering his sealed lips, he paced to and fro for a while, as if to cool off some emotions before coming back to Jane.
"We are in public for Christ sakes, this is supposed to be a private dinner but look how we are yelling and bickering, airing our dirty linen in public. If you have no reputation to protect Jane, I do. Now, if you won't eat this food, let me ask for it to be packaged as takeout".
By now, Jane's eyes were soaked in tears, she could not believe the man that Oscar has become. Her once loving and charming husband is a total stranger standing before her. At that point so many things flashed through her mind, she wondered if to quit the marriage but immediately shook her head in disagreement with her mind as she loves Oscar too much. Not to mention that she has invested and put in a decade of her life into the marriage just to walk away.
Still unable to come to a conclusion as to the next line of action, Jane stood up and exited the restaurant without uttering a word to Oscar.
Oscar followed suit leaving behind the meal that Jane barely took a bite out of.
The ride home was slow, it was raining heavily and Oscar could not go faster than 40mph. Having driven some distance in total silence, Oscar decided to turn on some music to at least liven up the moment as they drove home.
The music was a playlist of all Jane's favourite songs which was a gift from Oscar a decade ago. At the time, it was all Oscar could afford as he had no penny to his name. The couple drove quietly listening to the tunes that brought back so many memories of the good times.
At one point, Jane couldn't hold back her tears, she just sat and let it flow freely. Seeing Jane tear up while mute, Oscar knew he had really fucked up. For the rest of the ride home, he too had a lot to reflect on, he got scared at the thought of Jane deciding to leave him.
He thought of how best to clean up his act and if possible keep his affairs discreet leaving no traces.
Despite his conscience pricking him and advocating for him to change his ways before it's too late, Oscar paid no attention as he schemed on being a better cheat.
The couple finally got home to see that the rain stopped at their end. They both removed their seat belts after the car ignition went off but was too glued to the car seats to come out. Then Jane finally spoke, "you know something Oscar, everything was fine until I got you that job with my brother. I am starting to think that we were better off broke because then you got eyes for just me."
Oscar couldn't utter any word, he just listened with wrapped attention as he was eager to know where Jane was headed.
Like she knew what Oscar had in mind, Jane continued, raising two fingers in the air. "Two options Oscar, it's either we get a divorce and split the properties in half or we declare our marriage open." Oscar could not believe his ears, he knew he had to act fast before things spiral out of control.
Both options from Jane were not feasible to him, he could not bear to lose Jane and at the same time, he cannot share her with another. Oscar knew that if he tried to be aggressive or Narcissistic with Jane's request, he would add petrol to fire as he saw the cold look in Jane's eyes. He also saw that the soft hearted Jane that he knew was no longer there.
It became a battle of self with Oscar and Jane got out of the car, leaving him to his conscience.
