11: A twinge of nervousness

Richard stirred in the kitchen, the aroma of freshly cooked pancakes and brewed coffee wafting through the air. It was a special morning for him, as he was preparing breakfast in bed for Khana, his fiancée. 

He meticulously arranged the tray with her favorite foods, hoping to bring a smile to her face and perhaps rekindle some memories of their happier times together. 

As he carefully carried the tray to their bedroom, he couldn't shake off the feeling of uncertainty gnawing at him. He set the tray down on the bedside table, the anticipation building within him. Would this gesture be enough to bridge the growing gap between them? He couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness. Would Khana like it? Would it bring back fond memories for her? 

He pushed the doubts aside, focusing instead on his love for her and his hope that today would be a turning point for their relationship.

Khana stirred from her slumber, her eyes fluttering open to see Richard standing by the bed with a hopeful expression. She offered a weak smile as he presented her with the breakfast, murmuring a soft "Thank you" in response to his efforts.

Gently setting the tray down on the bedside table, Richard leaned over to  Khana, planting a soft kiss on her cheek. "Good morning, my love," he whispered, his heart fluttering with anticipation.

She looked at Richard, her expression unreadable. "Good morning," she murmured, her voice lacking its usual warmth.

Undeterred, Richard pressed on, hoping to brighten her mood with breakfast in bed. "I made you breakfast," he said, a note of excitement in his voice. "I thought it would be a nice surprise."

Richard's heart sank slightly at her subdued reaction, but he brushed it off, hoping that maybe she just needed time to fully wake up and appreciate the gesture.

 He watched anxiously as she took a spoonful of pancake, his mind racing with thoughts of their relationship and what he could do to make things right again.

However, his hopes were dashed when Khana suddenly stopped eating, her expression turning distant. Concerned, Richard gently asked if there was anything wrong with the food, offering to fetch her something else if she preferred.

Richard watched anxiously as Khana took a hesitant bite of pancake. His heart sank as he saw her lackluster reaction. It was clear that something was weighing on her mind, overshadowing his efforts to make her happy.

Khana shook her head, eyes pleading for space. "I just need some time alone," she said softly, setting her fork down. 

She added, "I'm just not very hungry," still her gaze was distant.

Richard felt a pang of disappointment and worry, but he respected her wishes and reluctantly left the room, tray in hand. As he reached the door, he paused for a moment, casting a longing glance back at Khana. He reminded her that he would be in the living room if she needed anything before stepping out and closing the door behind him.

Just as he was about to walk away, Khana called out his name, her voice breaking the silence of the room. Richard's heart skipped a beat at the sound of her voice, a glimmer of hope flickering within him.

"Yes, honey?" he replied, his voice filled with warmth and anticipation.

"I want to go to church," Khana said suddenly, her eyes meeting his in a determined gaze.

Richard's heart sank at her unexpected request, a knot of apprehension forming in his stomach. He couldn't help but wonder if Khana's sudden desire to go to church was somehow connected to the sinister priest she had been seeing behind his back. It was his mind that told him that the lady was highly interested in the priest named Henry. His blood started to boil again as the image of the priest pooped in his mind.

Richard was taken aback when Khana suddenly expressed her desire to go to church. He couldn't hide his unease, but he masked it with a feigned ignorance, asking her to repeat what she had just said. "What did you just say?" 

Khana's determination didn't waver as she repeated her request, her eyes unwavering. Richard's mind raced with suspicions, he was convinced that it was indeed about that priest whose existence disrupted their love story.

At the back of his mind, there were thoughts he could not express such as: 'She just started loving me, which led to us getting engaged. We could have been in our honeymoon stage if it weren't for that tragedy on our wedding day. My bride didn't run away because she didn't want to get married, but due to the pressure. It's only a wedding jitter that made her back down.' 

Richard kept believing that he already occupied more than half of her heart, and only a little portion was owned by the priest. Yet, he knew that such a little space could ruin everything. A lot of long relationships had ended due to a fleet of strange feelings like infatuation.

Suppressing his rising anger and fear, Richard composed himself and probed further. "Which church? And why now?" he asked, his voice betraying his anxiety.

Khana's gaze flickered for a moment before she responded, her tone tinged with sadness. "The church where it all began," she said softly.

Richard's heart sank as he realized the significance of her words. Memories flooded his mind, both sweet and bitter, of their journey together. But overshadowing it all was the image of the sinister priest, Henry, whom he suspected Khana had grown too fond of. Despite his mounting fears, Richard forced himself to remain calm. He knew he had to confront his suspicions head-on, but the thought filled him with dread.

"I'm just telling you. I don't need your help. I want to go there on my own feet."

Richard was torn between forbidding her to go there or letting her go, but dragging himself to where she wanted to go. He sighed and replied, "I'll go with you. No more buts. I need to look after you."

'I need to look after both of you and tear you apart, slowly yet surely,' he mumbled to himself.