.

After The Provocations (1)

Introduction:

Five months ago, Tina had a miscarriage. She blames Bette because she insisted on meeting Melvin (Bette's dad) on that day when she wasn't emotionally stable. Their meeting didn't go well; Melvin disapproves of Tina's pregnancy and said he could never consider their child his grandchild. Tina felt bad. She cried and cried after their meeting, and on the following day, she lost her baby.

After the miscarriage, Tina started working as an Executive Producer at Shaolin Productions. She immerses herself in her new job in order to forget about the painful experience of losing their child. Bette as usual, is very dedicated to her job. But their relationship is suffering; it has gone a bit sour since then. Sex and intimacy are lacking; they're falling apart. Despite the situation, they're still living together in one house. Tina has changed since then; she's no longer the sweet and supportive partner. Bette on the other hand prioritizes her job most of the time, but she still tries very hard to understand Tina.

∞∞o0o∞∞

The Provocations.

On their way home after The Provocations, Tina is very quiet while Bette constantly glances at her. She knows something's wrong because Tina is not talking, and not even looking at her.

At home, while Bette undresses, she's not aware that Tina is watching her, sitting cheerlessly on the couch inside their bedroom. As she looks in the mirror, she's surprised when she sees Tina looking at her intensely. Slowly, she walks toward her, clueless.

Tina: I know. I saw it.

As Tina says those words, Bette immediately knows what she's talking about. She tries to hold and hug her, apologizing.

Bette: I'm sorry…

Furious, Tina pushes her.

Tina: Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck You!

Bette tries to stop her from throwing her hands on her, and tries to clasp her but Tina is uncontrollable. She pushes her hard and throws her to the bed. They fight intensely. But later on, their bout turns into an intense sex that involves feelings of guilt, anger, betrayal, outrage, resentment. Nevertheless, there's still love and passion as they make love.

After a long period of intense sex, they lie flat on the bed, very exhausted, not talking. Only their heavy breathing can be heard in the room.

Ten minutes later, without anyone talking, Tina gets up and walks to the bathroom to take a shower. Bette watches her as she walks away, sighs heavily then lies still on the bed. She stares at the ceiling while she ponders. She realizes and admits to herself that she has done something terribly wrong.

As soon as Tina finishes her shower, she gets dressed, still tight-lipped. Bette observes her, not saying any word either. When Tina is through getting dressed, Bette gets up, puts on her robe then sits on the bed. Guilt-ridden and worried, she asks.

Bette: Where are you going?

Tina doesn't respond, continues to do her thing and puts on her lipstick. Bette asks again but Tina ignores. She pleads emotively.

Bette: Tee...please talk to me. I'm really so sorry. Can we talk?

She gives Bette a sweeping look but she's still quiet. Immediately, she grabs her cell phone, her purse and car key, and then she walks briskly out of the bedroom. Bette follows her, begging.

Bette: Tee...please? Can you please say anything? Please?

Tina: I can't talk to you right now Bette. I'm leaving. Just give me some space and some time to think.

Tina's voice is calm but it's obvious she's hurting. Bette is apologetic and tearful while she looks at Tina.

Bette: What time are you coming back?

She frowns at Bette and speaks with force in her voice.

Tina: Don't wait for me Bette. I'll come home whenever I want to.

Bette: Well, can you at least tell me where you're going?

Tina: Don't ask Bette! You don't really care.

Bette: You know that's not true Tina. I care so much...

Before Bette could finish, Tina walks out of the house, not looking back, and immediately rushes to her car. Bette is tearful as she watches Tina leave; she can't do anything, she can't stop her. Tina takes off.

Bette: Tina…..

She sobs as Tina leaves. It's already eleven in the evening; the night is so quiet. For a while, she sits by the front door, just crying, full of regrets and doesn't know what to do next. Finally, after an hour of staring at nowhere, she's back in her senses. She changes her clothes, leaves the house and proceeds to Candace's apartment.

When she arrives, Candace is so happy to see her come into her apartment in the middle of the night. But Bette doesn't show her any enthusiasm. Her face is so serious.

Candace: Hey, I'm glad you came. Are you spending the night here with me?

Bette: Let's stop it. I love Tina. I can't go on hurting her. She is the love of my life.

Candace: But why? I thought we're doing okay?

Bette: Candace, we had an agreement that everything is just sex for us; nothing more. I needed you physically when I was so down and...because Tina and I were not doing it anymore. But you needed me for sex too. We both agreed no strings attached and it's purely sex. I want to end it now, right here. Tina already knows about us. She's hurt and I don't want to hurt her more. I can't afford to lose her. I love her so much. This is the last time I'll be seeing you. Please don't contact me ever again.

Candace is a bit disappointed but she completely understands their agreement; it's purely sex, no emotional attachment. She hasn't fallen for Bette yet but she admits that she likes her a lot because she's totally hot, and she enjoys fucking and pleasing her.

Candace: Well, I guess this is the end of us. But if it doesn't work out for you and Tina, you know that I'm always here.

Bette doesn't respond; immediately leaves and head back home. As she arrives, she looks at her empty house and feels her heavy heart. She dials Alice' number, thinking that maybe Tina came to her for comfort. But Alice is already sleeping.

Alice: Hello? Bette, it's already late. It's almost two in the morning. Something's wrong?

Bette: Alice, is Tina there?

Alice: No, she's not here. Why would she be here? Isn't she supposed to be in your house?

Bette: No. I'm sorry to disturb you Alice. Well... she and I had a big fight...then she left the house. She didn't tell me where she's going so I thought maybe she went to your apartment? Did she text you at least? I'm just worried Alice.

Alice: No Bette, I didn't get any calls or messages from her. Would you like to talk about it?

Bette: No Alice. I'd rather not. Maybe later. All I know is that I fucked up.

Alice: Uh-oh! That's trouble! Well, I hope you two can sort things out. I'll let you know when Tina comes by the house, okay?

Bette: Okay. Thanks Alice!

Alice has no idea how serious the trouble is. Bette calls all their common friends looking for Tina, but gets no luck in finding out where she is. She tries calling Tina's cell phone for several times but it only goes to her voicemail. Bette is so worried and feeling so guilty.

Two hours later, Alice hears a knock on her door. It's Tina, awfully drunk.

Alice: Hey Tina! What happened? Where'd you go? You're so drunk! Come here, get inside.

Tina could not walk straight. She's giggling and doesn't know what she's been blurting out; she is wasted. Alice seats her on the couch and starts asking her.

Tina: I just found out that Bette is cheating on me. hik! She's screwing the carpenter, Candace! hik! Oh, don't you dare tell Bette I'm here and don't you dare let her come here! hik!

She drops her head on the couch and falls asleep. Alice is shocked to hear about Tina's revelation. She then removes her shoes, unbuttons her blouse then covers her with a blanket. Despite what she just discovered, she wanted to give Bette peace of mind and tell her that Tina is in her house. She calls Bette, lets her know that Tina is very drunk. But she asks a favor not come to her house anymore to allow Tina to cool down. Bette agrees. She's relieved knowing that Tina is safe and sleeping at Alice's apartment. She tries to sleep but couldn't; every hour she wakes up on a bad dream. She totally regrets her bad behavior.

At seven in the morning, she gets up from bed and sits on the stairs by the front door, waiting for Tina. But even after a couple hours have passed, Tina hasn't come back; she's so worried.

Meanwhile, Tina and Alice talk about Bette's infidelity. Tina confides to Alice everything she discovered. Alice comforts her and gives her some friendly advice; telling her to go back home, talk to Bette, sort things out and decide on what both of them could agree upon.

It's already four in the afternoon when Tina comes back home. Bette already fell asleep on the couch but immediately wakes up when she hears Tina's clatter, then she looks at her guiltily.

Bette: Tee, I'm really sorry. Please hear me out. It's over between me and Candace. I ended it already. I was temporarily insane and out of my mind to have done such foolish thing.

Tina: Am I not enough for you Bette?

Tina's voice is firm, but her face looks so disappointed. Bette is tearful, sad and regretful. If only she could've been more self-controlling, understanding, and patient, this could've not happened. But she can't reverse time.

Bette: I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.

Tina: Is that all you can say?! You're sorry?! Come on, tell me now how you fucked that carpenter!

Bette: What's between me and Candace is purely sex. I was so down, I needed someone physically and I was longing for you but I couldn't get anything from you. It's not that I'm blaming you...in fact I am taking responsibility for what I did. I know it's wrong. What I did is terrible. But you know what Tina, you also disappeared on me. You kept shutting me off. We haven't even been having sex for more than five months now. I have needs too, Tee. As my partner, I was hoping I could get it from you but you just shut me off. You didn't want to have sex with me. You didn't even want me to touch you or even cuddle you in bed.

Tina: What?! It was just twice when you asked and I declined. I had my period then and I wasn't feeling comfortable.

Bette is resentful.

Bette: You know exactly that you declined not just twice, Tee. You always had excuses whenever I started touching you. Can you even remember the last time we made love before yesterday? You know that I am a very sexual person. And I...having you as my partner, can't have sex with even for once a month... What do you expect?

Tina is irritated and raises her voice.

Tina: What, so you're a sex addict now?!

Bette: No Tina. I'm not a sex addict. You're not getting my point. I was longing for physical intimacy, physical bond, and the sense of togetherness. But I could not get it from you. Every time we're in bed and I start to caress you, you always push me away. You always tell me with your...god knows what excuses!

Tina: So you looked for someone to fuck, like Candace?! How nice of you!

Bette becomes quiet, her eyes are still tearful. Then she tries to explain again as she begs for forgiveness.

Bette: I know it's wrong. And I'm not justifying my bad behavior. Please forgive me Tee. Believe me, I love you and it will never happen again. Candace and I are done. It's over. Give me another chance. Please...

Tina: You betrayed me Bette. You betrayed me! I don't know. I don't know if I can even forgive you. I don't know if I can still sleep beside you. You're disgusting! I'm so mad at you!

Tina walks away and enters the bedroom. Bette observes her carefully. After a while, Tina comes out, frantic.

Tina: Did you fuck her more than once?

Bette is surprised by Tina's question. She hesitates to answer and cowardly looks at her.

Bette: Tee, please don't...

Tina: Answer me!

Bette: Yes!

Tina gets hysterical.

Tina: How many times?!

Bette bows her head, just looking down, tight-lipped, unwilling to answer. But Tina screams.

Tina: How many times did you fuck her?! Answer me!

Bette: I don't know! I didn't keep track, okay?!

Tina: Was it more than 5 times, 10 times?! 20 times?!

Bette pleads again.

Bette: Tee, it's over. It shouldn't matter anymore.

Tina: Well it does to me Bette! Again, I ask, how many times did you fuck her?!

Bette gets irritated by Tina's questions.

Bette: NO! Not more than 5 times!

Tina breaks down and sits on the floor, weeping. Bette moves toward her and attempts to comfort her.

Tina: Don't you dare fucking touch me! You are disgusting!

She sits on the floor as she watches Tina weeping. Tears are also flowing on her eyes. She knows that Tina is in so much pain. But she can't even touch her nor hug her because Tina is pushing her away.

After several minutes of just sitting on the floor, both are not trying to talk. Tina is no longer hysterical but she's still mad. She gets up and looks at Bette who's still sitting down on the floor.

Tina: I'm not sleeping with you in the master's bedroom. I'll use the guest room starting tonight. I need space. Give me some more time to think and figure out what's best for me. If in time I realize I don't love you anymore, I'll leave your house. We can have our own separate lives. But in the meantime, I'm staying here. Just remember, we're just housemates, we're not partners. Don't ask my whereabouts. Don't ask me where I'm going or where I went, or what I do. Don't ever call or text me. Don't expect me to cook for you, clean the house for you and prepare anything for you like I used to! I don't care what you do, and I don't care where you go!

Bette doesn't agree to Tina's house rules but she can't complain because she's the one at fault.

...

Continuation: After The Provocations (2)