Gaius was restless after finding out that his husband disliked his lunch box. He made it with all his heart, yet Clarke didn’t even want to touch it.
It was inevitable that Gaius got sad and restless, thinking he was of no use anymore to his beloved husband.
...
"Mommy, why are you wiping the table for so long?" Artemis asked.
"A—Ah, am I?" Gaius was spacing out, he checked the clock, and it was already 4 P.M, so he had to start cooking for dinner.
Hermes arrived at five like an obedient kid. He had abandoned the idea that his father would join them for dinner and such.
"Mommy, I brought you a flower," Hermes said, gifting Gaius a red rose.
"Oh, really? Is this for me?" Gaius asked.
"Yes!" Hermes was so happy when he saw his Mom’s face brightened. Because Dad seldom gave a flower to his Mom, he needed to take the spot for Mom to be happy.
They ate dinner as three like usual, and then Hermes and Artemis went to their rooms.
Gaius was sitting on the couch dazedly, waiting for his husband. He tried to call Clarke a few times to no avail.
’He must’ve been busy....’ Gaius convinced himself.
10 P.M, Clarke finally arrived at home, he looked beat as always, and Gaius hurriedly helped his husband by taking the briefcase and coat. He didn’t want to burden his husband more with his worry, so he just asked, "How’s work, husband?"
"It’s tiring," Clarke replied curtly. He tried to avoid Gaius’ gaze because of his guilt of hiring a secretary with a very similar face. But he wouldn’t lie that Gaia was very efficient as a secretary, a work that should’ve been done in two days. They could finish all of it in one full day instead.
Gaius’ heart was throbbing in pain as he heard the nonchalant reply from his husband, but he still acted as if everything was normal.
"Do you want to have dinner first? Or you want to take a bath?"
"I had dinner in the office, so I’ll just take a bath," Clarke replied.
Thus, Clarke sat in the bathtub as usual while Gaius sat on a small stool, rubbing shampoo on Clarke’s blonde hair.
"Husband... do you like the lunch box I made for you today?" Gaius asked, testing Clarke.
Clarke was silent for a moment. He knew that it was his fault for giving the food to Reed. But he didn’t want to argue with his wife right now. He was too tired to argue.
So he just lied, "Yeah, it’s really good."
Gaius bit his lips. Why would Clarke lie over something so simple? Was it that difficult for him to just say that he gave it to Reed?
Or there might be something else...
"T—Then, I’ll cook for you daily. So you can get a good breakfast and lunch despite your busy schedule...."
"Hm..." Clarke was thinking otherwise, though. He knew that his wife woke up early morning to prepare that lunch box. He also felt guilty, and he didn’t want to burden his wife even more.
"You don’t need to cook for me starting from tomorrow," Clarke said.
Gaius’ hands stopped rubbing Clarke’s hair instantly. He was shocked because this was the first time Clarke to reject his offer.
"W—Why? You don’t like my lunch box? Do you want me to cook something else instead?"
"It’s not that...." Clarke sighed. He didn’t want his wife to misunderstand his intent. "I just think that you’re working hard enough. No need to wake up in the early morning just to make a lunch box or something. I can always buy food outside while I’m busy."
"But..." Gaius was about to cry. He didn’t want to be that whiny spouse that only ruined his husband’s mood. But he couldn’t handle the pain in his heart, "I did it for you... so you’ll feel at home whenever you eat my lunch box...."
"It might be a small gesture, but that’s what I want to do, husband...." Gaius uttered his feeling.
Clarke could feel that Gaius’ hands trembled. The guilt in his heart was also unbearable. So he took a deep breath, and he held Gaius’ wrists. He caressed Gaius’ fingers gently, "You’re being too harsh on yourself. I know you mean well, but you have a lot to do in the house, especially taking care of the kids. So you shouldn’t push yourself too far."
"I like your cooking as always, but I don’t want to burden you every day because of it," Clarke said. "Just focus on taking care of the kids, the house, and yourself, okay?"
[LIES! FUCKING LIES!]
[If you really like my cooking, then you shouldn’t give it to someone else! You’re lying so easily! You don’t even appreciate something that I worked hard for!]
[Pupa: Relax, you’re being erratic right now.]
[Ugh, I can’t, Pupa. Clarke is literally lying in front of my face without any guilt!]
[Pupa: Maybe he’s telling the truth...]
[He literally lies in the first one! He said he ate my lunch box! Why would he need to lie on the first one and tell the truth after? That doesn’t make sense!]
Gaius lowered his gaze. There must be something that made Clarke not eat his lunch box and even told him to stop cooking for him completely. Was it because Gaius couldn’t cook good food or because he found something else outside?
Or maybe... someone else outside?
Gaius shook his head, trying to dispel that crazy thought. Clarke was the most loyal man he ever knew in his life. The idea of Clarke cheating was definitely out of the picture.
Yet, that doubt inside his heart only grew bigger each time, and he didn’t know how to cast that doubt away.
"I... I love you, Husband...." Gaius said, full of woe.
Clarke gently caressed Gaius’ cheek and kissed his lips, "You’re such a worrywart. I love you too, Wife."
Honestly, Gaius didn’t know if Clarke truly loved him or it was just another lie of his. Yet, he wanted to cling to that declaration of love, hoping that Clarke was telling the truth.