The Rules

"What's up?", he asked again as he entered the kitchen. And again, Mara ignored the question. She just stood akimbo in the middle of the kitchen staring straight at him as if he was a curiosity.

Mel was not one to be patient for long and she knew it; that was why she wanted to keep him hanging for as long as possible, so that whatever she said to him would stick in his mind.

"Come on, babe. What is it?", Mel asked, beginning to feel restless and impatient.

Still, Mara said nothing. She just stood there staring at him. 10, 20, 30 seconds, and Mel couldn't take it anymore. Half-angry, he pulled a chair to himself and sat down heavily on it. Then he turned to her. But Mara was still not ready to say a word. He waited as quietly and calmly as he could, but soon, he was tapping out a rhythm with his feet on the floor. He went on tapping and tapping until he got tired and exhaled deeply. Then he ran his hand through his hair and muttered a curse beneath his breath.

"Come on, babe, say somet