Wrong Vengeance

by The Blakk Dahlia

  “I love you too baby.” Brandy responded, holding him tighter. “I’m just scared.”

  “Scared?” Charles scoffed. “What are you afraid of?”

  “Being hurt. Look, my last relationship didn’t go well. It started off nice. Well I thought things were nice, but I overlooked a lot in the beginning. I found myself in a situation where I was taking care of him, being disrespected, unhappy, then he hurt me bad.” She said starting to cry.

  Brandy explained everything that happened with Jay. Going into deep details of the disastrous event helped Charles understand more about Brandy’s attitude from earlier in the day. The need for him to love her past that pain grew and he made it a mission to heal her.

  “That night left a big burden on me and I can’t seem to get past...”

  “Shhhh. Its ok baby.” He said, kissing her forehead. “I’m not here to hurt you. I just want to love you, okay? Can you trust that?”

  She nodded. “Yes. I trust that.”

  “Then stop worrying about what happened back then. It’s done. That’s over. I’m sorry you went through that. But you survived it and that’ll never happen again. I’m here now. And I LOVE YOU.” Charles said getting on top of her to start another round.

  “Thank you for loving me.” She said before allowing him to take care of her.

  Brandy smiled at her understanding man, then kissed him intensely. The patience he showed, melted her heart allowing the trust to override the insecurities that tried to tell her his love wasn’t real.

  In Charles eyes, he saw a strong and beautiful person. A woman who was independent but deserved to be taken care of by man in the right way. Brandy was someone who would be a good woman to stand by his side. A partner. He knew she was the one. At first glance, he was done with the dating break and allowed the heart to lead instead of holding back like he did in the past.

  The next morning, Brandy woke up before Charles. Watching him sleep peacefully in bed before getting the idea to do something special.

  She arranged the anniversary roses in a nice vase then placed then on the dining room table. Standing back at her minimal décor smiling, Charles woke up searching for his love. Walking into the dining room, he didn’t say a word as he admired her standing in front of the table. It was as if he was mentally painting the picture of his woman being appreciative of the gift. Brandy felt his eyes, breaking her concentration.

  “Good morning babe. Did you sleep well?” She asked looking at her half naked boyfriend.

  “Oh Yea. You want to go get some breakfast? Or are you cooking?” He hinted.

  Charles made his way to Brandy and held her. Before she could think of an answer, nostalgia set in while he showered her with kisses.

  “I’m going to cook you breakfast.” She replied through the love-trance. “I think I still have some making up to do.”

  “I guess that means I can get back in bed.” He whispered in between kisses.

  “You sure can. I’ll let you know when it’s time to eat.”

  “I could eat now.” He said turning her around.

  “Charles! I need to cook you breakfast.” She flirted.

  “I said...” Charles demanded lifting the oversized sports t-shirt exposing her naked body. “I can eat NOW.”

  He picked Brandy up and walked over to the sofa. Placing her down softly. Getting on his knees, he ate “breakfast”. Her body froze, shook, then froze again. Charles wanted to make sure his lady felt passion both emotionally and physically. He took pride in serving his lady this way. Taking control of what was his and pleasing at the same time. She let out a big moan, expressing how well of a job he was doing. After she couldn’t take anymore, Brandy moved his head out of the way and stood up.

  “Get back here baby.” Charles said. “I’m not done.”

  “I need to feed my man.” She said walking into the kitchen.

  “You were!”

  “Charles, we’ll have plenty of time for that. Get back in bed.”

  Instead, Charles stayed on the couch so Brandy could be in his viewpoint. The sight of his woman cooking for him, was sexy.

  As long as I remember he loves me, everything will be okay. She thought to herself, preparing the table.

  The TV was on his favorite travel series, but Charles barely paid attention to it. There was a show in the kitchen and dining room, with his favorite leading lady. Two unwatched episodes later, Brandy was ready to feed her man. Again.

  “It’s ready babe.” She said placing a full plate on the table. “Come and eat.”

  “Smells good baby.”

  “You know. We could have plenty mornings like this. If you want.”

  “Is that your way of proposing to me?” He teased.

  “No silly! Just saying.” She smiled. “I wouldn’t mind getting used to doing this for you.”

  Their breakfast convo consisted of making plans for the rest of the day and jokes about their loving making sessions the night before. And more “I love you” exchanges.

  The next few weeks were smooth sailing for them. Brandy calmed down with the overthinking, while Charles remained consistent. He loved her...that’s all he wanted to do.

  The mini anger episode on their anniversary was the first time she showed him what she was capable of, and not in a good way. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the last. The “I love you” was supposed to be reassuring. Not meant to serve as a temporary fix.

  Things quickly changed one night sitting down for a late dinner at Charles’ place. Enjoying their meal, his phone kept blowing up. Brandy grew concerned, wondering who would be calling her man at 10 pm.

  “I’m sorry babe.” Charles groaned. “Lemme answer this real quick.”

  “Yea. Go ahead.” She reluctantly replied, in between chewing salad.

  He left the room to take the call, and Brandy listened closely.

  “Hello. Hey what’s wrong? Is it Chase?” He said hastily.

  She became worried that Charles’ son was hurt. They only met once but they instantly clicked, making a lasting impression on each other. The thought of something being wrong broke her heart. Pretending to put away plates, she moved closer where she could clearly hear the conversation.

  “Well why are you calling me if nothing is wrong with Chase?” He asked harshly. “He did what? Why? I didn’t know you guys were having problems.”

  Brandy’s concern for Chase immediately turned into anger, thinking her man was being summoned by his ex. She stood in the kitchen feeling the rage build.

  “He needs to hang up the damn phone.” She whispered.

  The fact that he stayed on the line made prompted her to end dinner early. Charles’ plate was full of salad and steak bits, but she didn’t care. To the trash it went.

  Catching a glimpse of her stuffing food in Tupperware, he attempted to end the conversation.

  “Um look. Monica. Can we talk about this tomorrow? I’m sorry this happened but I’m in the middle of something. Is Chase asleep?” He peeked around the corner. “Good. I’ll stop by there tomorrow to check on y’all. Ok... Bye.”

  Brandy didn’t notice Charles reappearing with his arms opened.

  “Baby what’s wrong. We weren’t done.”

  She turned towards him with a scowl.

  “Oh yea! We’re done. You’re too busy to finish dinner. The rest is in the fridge. I’m going home.” Brandy replied rushing by him to put up that last container.

  Charles followed her. “Please baby...I’m so...”

  “Look!” She interrupted. “I understand that you two need to communicate about your son. I TRULY get that. But when it’s not about him, the phone needs to hang up ASAP!”

  “Were you listening to my conversa...”

  “Yes!” Brandy screamed. “I couldn’t help but hear it! So, what now she comes to you with relationship advice. Did you bother to tell her that you’re in one of your own? Of course not! Because the world stops for Monica. Look, she has your son. I can’t compete with that and I’m
not trying to.”

  “Baby please...You don’t have to compete.” He begged.

  “I’m in the middle of something.” She mocked. “I’m just a something now!?!?”

  “Monica is having trouble with her husband and I needed to know what was going on to make sure my son wasn’t in danger. And Yes! Monica knows about you. I told her that you met Chase. It wasn’t a problem.”

  “Like I’d give a damn if it were.” Brandy scoffed.

  “Don’t leave. Let’s finish dinner or just have some wine in bed or something. I don’t want to end our night like this.”

  “Well you should have thought about that before you took the call.”

  “How was I supposed to know that it wasn’t about Chase!?!? Hell, I ignored it the first few times because of you!” Charles raised his voice.

  “Oh! So, I should be grateful that you considered me?!?! That should come naturally, and I don’t have to show appreciation for something that you’re SUPPOSED to do!” Brandy yelled back.

  “Why are you doing this? It’s really not what you think!”

  She ignored him and started washing pots. Prolonging the argument because she didn’t really want to leave.

  “Hey, baby I’m sorry if me leaving the room to answer the phone looked suspicious.” Charles continued. “You know I love you. I’m not choosing Monica over you. I will never do that. Saying I was in the middle of something was not my way of hiding you. I just wanted to get off the damn phone.”

  “Whatever Charles.” She dismissed. “Why is she calling you? Doesn’t she have friends of her own?”

  “Monica knows that I’m not putting her before you. If I need to set certain boundaries, then I’ll do that ASAP. But please just stay.” He pleaded.

  “My mood is shot. Can’t even have dinner with my man. How am I supposed to know Monica knows or even cares that we’re together? And I don’t think you even told her I met Chase. No woman would be comfortable with that.”

  “Monica’s married! It’s like you want to have a problem with us or something.” Charles said annoyed.

  Brandy was stunned by his statement. She couldn’t believe that he was trying to flip things on her. But in actuality that’s how he felt. It didn’t dawn on her that it was important for him to know about any dispute occurring around his son.

  “I don’t know Brandy. I don’t know what to tell you. My son comes first. I thought you understood that.” He said lowering his voice.

  “So now this is on me?” She said folding her wet arms. “Ok yea it’s my fault. Fine.”

  Brandy slammed the last dirty pot on to the counter, storming to the bedroom to grab her things. Charles stood in the kitchen for a minute to figure out if he wanted to follow her or just let her go. He genuinely felt bad about the argument over a phone call. As much as his male ego told him to let her leave, he didn’t give in. To him, his relationship was more important than pride.

  “So you’re just going to leave it like that?” He asked entering the bedroom.

  “Yes! I’m leaving. Call your baby mama back and you guys can have a heart to heart til the sun comes up. Matter of fact, call her over and YOU TWO can finish OUR dinner. I have no time for this tonight. Your attention is surely not over here with me.”

  Charles grew impatient. All he wanted her to do was stay, so they could talk things out, rationally. Acknowledge her feelings and make things right. He needed Brandy to meet him halfway by calming down.

  “Tell me what I need to do to fix this.” He said trying to hold her hand.

  Brandy snatched away, ignoring his request.

  “Brandy!” He yelled. “Cut this mess out. You’re being stubborn. Let’s talk.”

  “Talk to your baby mama. I’m done here. Good night.” She smirked on her way out of the bedroom.

  Making her way to the front door, Charles followed.

  “Baby please stop it. Stop doing this.”

  “No! Bye!” She said before slamming the front door.

  The impact was so hard, two pictures of Chase fell from the wall breaking on the hardwood floor.

  “I can’t believe this shit.” He said looking at the broken picture frames.

  This time, Charles listened to his ego. He tried everything he could to stop her from leaving. Instead of chasing Brandy, he got a broom and dustpan to clean up the mess, disillusioned in how the night ended.

  Sweeping slowly trying to figure out where things went wrong, Charles finished up and returned to the dining room. He took in the evening that started off romantic, ending in fury. The date was shot to hell.

  I need to call her. He thought. Nah. She’s only going to argue.

  Charles turned off the lights in the house and went to bed. Wishing his woman was beside him, he rubbed the spot where his lady was supposed to lay. Taking a few deep breaths, he closed his eyes to drift off to sleep.

  Meanwhile. Brandy was expecting Charles to follow her. She sat in the car until she realized that he wasn’t coming. Cranking the ignition in anger, a replay of the argument popped in her head.

  “I can’t believe he pulled this bullshit. Fuck Monica’s problems. I can’t help they didn’t work out. He’s MY man now”

  She turned off the cell so that if he called, it would go straight to voicemail. That was a little vindication for him speaking with Monica during dinner.

  “And for him to get his silly ass up and leave the room to talk to her. Please! That’s sign number 1 that you’re trying to hide something.”

  Racing down the highway not worrying about the speed limit. Brandy was standing her ground by not allowing to be second to his baby mama.

  “The hell is wrong with him. He’s NOT going to play me. I won’t be played again. I know the tricks. Jay used to...”

  The rant ceased and thoughts of their relationship ending replaced the replay. Her worry kicked in but the anger was still here. Thinking that she was in another situation as Jay, but with a different type of man.

  “I can’t waste another three years being hurt. I just can’t” She continued in a softer voice.

  Pulling into the parking garage, Brandy didn’t wait to get out of the car to turn on her phone. Hoping to find voicemails and text messages from Charles, she found nothing. Her anger rose higher and that imagination of hers did as well. Thinking of how he must have called Monica over or even waiting until she was out of sight to leave and be by her side.

  “Charles needs to know HOW to respect me. It’s time for a lesson.” She said to herself, getting out of the car.

  Storming through the condo pulling off her clothes, tears came to her eyes. Turning her phone off again, she placed it in her top drawer to keep it out of sight. Trying to find something to do to stop thinking about the possibilities of Charles consoling Monica, Brandy decided to go out. If he wasn’t going to give her any attention, someone else would.

  Thirty minutes later, she found herself at a bar down the street, searching for attention. The guys that approached her were spitting images of Jay. She flirted, made small talk, exchanged numbers, and accepted drink offers from the no-good bachelors who only wanted to take her home. Although she didn’t go home with any, the way she gave her attention to them and not her man was disrespectful. As Charles laid in bed desiring to hold her, she was out engaging with other men who wouldn’t give her half as much as Charles gave.

  The continuous fear of her man leaving, led her to the idea of getting a few “just in case” men.

  For two days, the lovers didn’t speak. Charles tried reaching out with sweet text messages and phone calls but her thoughts of him not chasing behind her, resulted in stubbornness, ignoring the olive branches.

  On the third morning of Charles’, Good morning baby text going unanswered, he couldn’t take it anymore. He needed to see and speak with his woman. Giving her enough time to get home from work, he came over and pounded on the door. Brandy was sitting in the living room texting one of her “friends” from the bar. The pounding on the d
oor made her jump, dropping the phone. Afraid to answer, she ignored the deep fistful knocks until hearing a familiar voice.

  “Brandy! Open the door! It’s me!” Charles yelled.

  Relieved that it wasn’t a murderer, she walked slowly to the door smiling. Brandy was happy that her man finally showed up for her but didn’t want him to know. She took a few seconds to wipe off the smile, then answered.

  “What is your problem?” She asked flinging the door open.

  A staring match commenced until Charles responded.

  “Damn can I come in?” He asked losing patience.

  “Not with that attitude.” She replied, blocking the doorway. “What’s up?”

  “Brandy let me in. We haven’t talked in two days and we need to. Why can’t we just work this out?”

  Inside, Brandy was happy to be chased. Giving in, she moved aside, motioning him to come in.

  “So...talk.” She said with a stone face.

  It took a lot for him to hold back and regain his patience to take the high road.

  “Look...” Charles sighed before continuing. “Brandy. I know it may have appeared that I was choosing Monica over you. But it wasn’t that. I was concerned about my son. Her husband came home in a drunken rage and started throwing stuff. They’d been arguing for the past month about finances and things escalated. I’m sorry for how it looked but all I wanted to do that night was be with you. Can you understand that?”

  Brandy’s response was interrupted with the phone buzzing with messages from her new friend. She glanced over at the phone then back at Charles, hoping he didn’t get suspicious.

  “Ok.” She replied. “I understand and I’m sorry for blowing up on you.”

  “So just like that, it’s ok?” Charles asked waiting for her to argue. “Seriously?”

  The phone went off again. She knew who it was and no longer yearned for the attention of another man. The man she loved was in front of her, doing just what she wanted him to do. Feeling bad about her actions, Brandy dropped the games.

  “Uh Ye-yea. It’s fine. Hey I don’t wanna fight anymore either baby. It’s just...I dunno I...”