Nat and His Beautiful Wife

Nat* and I have known each other since we were young. He is a ‘not-so-good-looking’ guy but very smart and talented. He graduated first in class and though heavily intoxicated on the night before the Licensure Examination for Teachers, still, managed to pass the exam with a surprisingly high score, something that didn’t surprised me at all.

What surprised me, though, was when he married a very beautiful girl about thirteen years his junior. I know it wasn’t surprising at all, but it seems very uncharacteristic of him to marry someone so.. vain and superficial. But of course, I could be wrong in my assessment of his bride.

During the first year of their marriage, I heard  good things about them. The girl was nice. Nat was overworked but happy. Well, I could only be happy for them, couldn’t I? This is one of the rare occasions when I feel happy for being wrong.

After a few more years, however, I started to hear something different. The girl was nasty. Nat was overworked and miserable but still obviously blindly in love. Well, if that’s the way he wants it, who am I to comment.

Then, last year, I had a chance to go over their place. The girl was nice enough to receive me. If she felt revolted with my presence, I guess I had been too happy to be insensitive. I talked with Nat about my plans and that I wanted him to be a part of it. I asked him to make original clip arts for me that I can use for the children’s book that I wanted to make. He seems thrilled by the idea. So, I invited him to come over where I was staying so I could show him some samples of my work. But he said he had something to do and that he would be happy to drop by ‘tomorrow.’

So, the following day, I waited for him. He didn’t show up that day nor any other day while I was there. I heard from my cousins that his wife never let him go out without her and that he only goes where his wife lets him go. They said I was lucky to be treated nicely by his wife. Well, if being almost ignored was nice enough then I really was lucky.

I haven’t heard from Nat until now, but he would surely hear from me when I get back :)

*not real name