The opportunity @ the wedding reception
There was too much noise, too much joy, too many people around me. I felt tired after a sleepless night and an exhausting morning. I needed a moment alone, without having to force myself to smile and look happy. One of the corners of the hall was dimly lit, empty of people, the perfect place for me to hide in the open. A small table and a few chairs had been piled there in case they would be needed. I helped myself to a chair and sat there with a drink in my hand.
I looked for Julia, my wife. I couldn't leave her out of my sight. This was the first consequence of last evening's folly. I had to know where she was and with whom, as if she could be taken at any moment. Julia was talking with other women, laughing, and celebrating. No one could guess, just by looking at her, what had happened the night before. How could she be so relaxed and happy? Julia looked as innocent as she was beautiful, the perfect wife. For the first time, after the damage was done, I felt in proper condition to think rationally about recent events. I had thrown my wife into the arms of another man. Guilt was eating me alive for letting it happen and somehow even enjoying it. Julia and I needed to talk, but that hadn't happened this morning. There had been too much to be done before the wedding. Still, she insisted on telling me about a past occurrence, the reason behind her sudden escape last evening. It was a silly incident, harmless and surely embarrassing for her. It was nothing compared with all the outrageous scenarios my mind had been producing until then. We ended our short conversation with promises of love and assurance that all was well between us. But... was it?
I needed this moment alone. What I didn't need was Mark's company. I should have spoken frankly with him, made a stand and prevent him from getting the wrong idea about his relation with Julia from then on. But in order to do that, one way or another, I would have to acknowledge before him the reason for my recent passivity. That was more than I could handle... Instead I avoided him the entire day and, so far, I had been successful, but now he was coming my way.
"Having some time off?" Mark said, with an annoyingly casual tone.
I was expecting something different... In fact, I didn't know what to expect. That was one of the reasons I needed to avoid him in the first place.
"Yes," I replied, trying to match his tone with a short, dry answer, hoping he would go away but that didn't happen.
Mark took a chair and sat by my side.
"Look... I want to tell you something... something that happened years ago between Julia and me."
As I said before, my wife had already told me that story this morning. Still, I wanted to hear his version. It's not that I don't trust her but I was curious. Also, after all that had happened, the least I deserved was an apology.
Mark began:
"It happened when we were roommates. One Friday evening, I was on a date with this girl... I can't remember who she was anymore. Anyway, it was still early but I knew I was going to be lucky..."
He had to show off, always the same arrogance, the same unending confidence. He couldn't help it, even in a situation like this.
"Then we bumped into her... boyfriend. He was accompanied by a couple of his friends. I ended up with a bloody nose and more than a few bruises. Do you remember? I'm sure I told you this back then...?"
No, I didn't remember. Every word out of his mouth annoyed me deeply. Still I tried to contain a stormy reaction and just shook my head.
"The evening was ruined so I headed home. When I got there, I noticed someone was taking a shower, surely Edgar or you. I needed some stuff from the bathroom to take care of my nose, so I went in. It would only take a few seconds..."
I lowered my defenses slightly. Apparently, there wasn't any wrongdoing on Mark's part either. His version made sense and matched Julia's. Despite my resentment due to the recent events, I nodded in understanding.
He continued, "Then I noticed a strange, smaller shape through the glass... a woman's body, I was certain of it. Suddenly, the water stopped, the booth's door opened and I saw a feminine hand searching for a towel nearby. I knew exactly who she was... I had time to sneak out..."
But he chose not to. There was no hint of regret on his voice. Everything about Mark displayed self-confidence and composure: every gesture, every word, even the pauses or unfinished sentences... His account was taking an odd direction and he seemed to be taking pleasure on reliving this event.
"A few seconds later Julia got out of the shower, naked, trying to wrap that tiny towel around her body. She didn't know I was there. When she noticed my presence, she jumped backwards, startled and surprised, trying to conceal her nakedness. Then her expression changed and I knew I had to get out of there."
I was furious and speechless, couldn't believe his nerve. This wasn't an apology attempt. Mark behaved as if he was bragging about one of his lovers. He thinks that last evening's events granted him the privilege to speak freely about my wife, as if she were just another woman out there.
"I didn't plan it, of course, if that's what you're thinking," he said, trying to read my mind. "The opportunity presented on its own... and I took it."
Mark spoke his last words with a different tone, still casual and self-assured as he had been during the entire conversation, but different, as if they had a second meaning. Then I got it. I was so stupid! Last evening was on his mind. I presented him with an opportunity... and he took it. He only had to fuel the mood and take the spoils: my wife. This conversation was as much about the distant past as it was about the present.
"When I was leaving the bathroom, I couldn't resist taking one last peek at her. Then something beautiful happened!"
Mark stared at the void, amazed, as if he was witnessing it again.