_____16_____
Mirror, Mirror
-•-
°one week later
Antrell arrives at his parents house and parks in the driveway. As he cuts the engine, the lights turn on and Yelena digs in her bag for her mirror and lipstick. She was applying her makeup when Antrell arrived at the house and honked the horn. He was already late and was in a rush. His meeting ran later than he thought it would. Yelena felt he was going to be late so she took her time to get ready. When he arrived and notified her of his arrival, she only had her lipstick to apply. In order to avoid an argument she got in the car and said nothing. It's been a week since the two separated. They only talked once to confirm that they were going to dinner together. However when it was over, they'd be going their separate ways. For the past week, Yelena had been at peace with herself. It felt good to have a whole house to herself where she could read, write and have a clear mind. Antrell however has been working and doing what he needs to. It was a process but he was definitely seeing the difference. As Yelena applies her lipstick, Antrell couldn't help but to stare. It's been a month since they've kissed and he was definitely missing her lips.
"You ready?" Yelena questions while tossing her things in her bag. After zipping it up, she looks towards her husband who cuts his eye at her lustfully. She knew why he was thinking but they were on two different pages.
"Yea. You remember what I said?" He questions while removing his seatbelt. Yelena rolls her eyes in annoyance towards him.
"Mhm. I wasn't going to tell them what's going on between us anyway." She mumbles, throwing the strap of her bag over her shoulder.
"I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about with my pop." He sighs.
"Why are you worrying about me? You should be- you know what Antrell. Let's just get this over with because I can't do this with you right now." She mutters, getting out the car and slamming the door shut. Antrell exhales and shakes his head while getting out the car. After closing the door, he locks it and follows behind. He just wanted to get through the night peacefully. As he stepped up behind his wife, the door opens revealing Mrs. Bryant who grins wide with open arms.
"Hey Mom." Antrell greets as Yelena smiles and enters the house. She hugs Antrell's mother and pulls back.
"Hey, you two finally made it. We already ate. There's food left in the fridge if you want to make plates." Mrs. Bryant says as she hugs Antrell next.
"Damn, already? It's just six o'clock I told you we were coming." Antrell chuckles while pulling back.
"I would of died waiting on you two. I'm a diabetic I have to eat and take my medicine at a certain time. And watch your mouth in my house." Antwan tells him while stepping into the foyer. Yelena rolls her eyes while removing her jacket.
"Antwan he's a grown man and you curse all the time." Arielle flags.
"There's a thing called respect. For example, I've been in this room for a minute and his wife hasn't even acknowledged my presence." Antwan mutters, crossing his arms across his chest. Yelena turns around with a wide fraudulent smile, tilting her head a bit.
"You were talking and I didn't want to interrupt. Happy Thanksgiving, How are you Mr. Bryant?" She questions.
"Mm." Antwan mumbles, rolling his eyes as he turns away. Yelena shakes her head in an amused scoff as Arielle sighs and turns towards her.
"Don't worry about him. Come on, so y'all can get your plates." Mrs. Bryant says, wrapping her arm around Yelena's shoulders. The two head to the kitchen as Antrell follows behind.
"Who's in the den?" He questions while leaning up against the far counter.
"Your cousins and uncles, they're watching the game. If you're going down there, give them these other batch of wings. Oh and the soda. It doesn't matter which kind." Mrs. Bryant orders. Antrell does as told, opening the door. When he enters, the guys howl at their team scoring the touchdown. Antrell hits the last step, and announces his presence.
"What up." He greets while sitting the wings and soda on the table.
"What up cuz. Thanks for the wings." His cousin Leo tells him.
"No problem. Who's winning?" Antrell questions while tucking his hands in his pockets.
"They aren't winning but they're in the lead, Seattle. It's just the second quarter." Antrell's Uncle Kevin concludes.
"Okay. Well I just wanted to drop by and say what's up. I'm heading back upstairs." He says.
"Come on man and have a seat. We ain't see you in a year and you just gone disappear on us like that? How have you and that beautiful wife of yours been?" Leo questions while smacking on the honey barbecue wings. All the men laugh as Antrell smacks his lips amused.
"I've been good but chill out on my wife." He warns while having a seat on the pool table that sits behind the couch.
"I mean I call it how I see it. Yelena is beautiful as hell. I'm surprised your ugly ass even got with her." Leo teases while standing to his feet. Antrell shakes his head while laughing. He and his cousin dap hands as Leo leans up against the pool table.
"I was never ugly." Antrell chuckles.
"Maybe not on the outside but on the inside, I think we both can agree on that." Leo shrugs. Antrell sighs and nods.
"I get it." He says ashamed. Leo nods while licking the sauce off his lips.
"Are you treating her right?" Leo questions in a low tone, just to keep things between them. Antrell stares into space while taking in his cousin's words. Leo was always mature for his age. He isn't that much older than Antrell, but at thirty-eight he's been through enough.
"I'm getting the help that I need cous." Antrell assures. Leo nods while kissing some meat out his teeth.
"That's good to hear. Yelena whoop your ass yet?" He teases. Both men chuckle as Antrell shakes his head.
"Nah, I wouldn't blame her if she did though." He shrugs.
"Mmm. I'm surprised she's still with your ass if you're talking like that." Leo scoffs.
"You and me both." He mumbles.
"What are y'all back here whispering about like a couple of females?" Their grandfather questions as he steps down the stairs.
"Nothing PopPop, just receiving some wise advice from my old head." Antrell says, patting Leo's shoulder while grinning.
"Oh okay, how've you been?" Their grandfather questions.
"Good, working hard. How about yourself?" Antrell questions.
"I can't complain, I woke up this morning in good health and I thank God for it." His grandfather says.
"Amen to that. I'm going to go get something to eat. I'll be back." Antrell assures as he hops off the table. Meanwhile in the kitchen, Yelena's heating up Antrell's plate. As she watches the plate spin, she taps her nails against the counter. Since she's gotten here, she's kept her distance. She doesn't get along with everyone in Antrell's family. That everyone would be Antrell's father. For some reason, he hated her more than he hated his own son. He always believed that Yelena was after Antrell's money and nothing more. However, that was never true. Yelena loved him for him. Not for what he could do for her. As Yelena continued to watch the food heat, she feels arms slowly wrap around her waist. She removes Antrell's arms and opens the microwave that beeps.
"Here." She mumbles, extending the plate towards him. He frowns while taking the plate.
"What's wrong with you?" He questions.
"Nothing. You want something to drink?" She questions while traveling to the cooler. He sighs while sitting down the plate and shrugs.
"Let me get a water." He orders. Yelena nods and hands it to him.
"Thanks." He mumbles.
"You're welcome." She says while checking her phone. The kitchen stays silent as Antrell eats. He didn't like that they weren't talking so he decided to speak.
"You aren't eating anything?" He questions her.
"I'm not hungry." She informs while keeping her attention on her phone.
"What's the matter, our food too good for you? There's a Checkers across the tracks. Although, I'm pretty sure you knew that." Antwan smirks as he steps into the kitchen. Yelena rolls her eyes in amusement and shakes her head. Antwan was in the hall watching and listening to the two. He simply came to kitchen to get something to drink but he had gotten distracted. He could tell that something was going on because Yelena and Antrell weren't acting like themselves. Usually they'd be all over one another and talking with the family. This time around, they're to themselves and distant.
"I'm not hungry. I don't eat this early and I'm leaving it at that. Excuse me." Yelena says, leaving out the kitchen. It was best for her to leave the room before things escalated. She heads to the dining room where she was before and talks with a few of Antrell's female cousins. They were having a really deep discussion and she didn't want to miss any of it. As Yelena disappeared, Antwan scoffed while shaking his head.
"Nasty ass." He mutters.
"What is your problem?" Antrell questions annoyed. Antwan frowns while jolting his head back.
"You need be asking your wife that. Coming in here and disrespecting my house. She's lucky I didn't kick her ass out." He says.
"Man go on with all that." Antrell dismisses while waving his hand. He grabs his water and walks off with his plate still in his grasp.
"No, you go on with all that. You don't want to be here any damn way. In fact, why don't you just leave. And take your nappy headed bitch with you." Antwan tells him.
"Are you serious right now?" Antrell questions while stopping in his tracks.
"Yes I'm serious! You come in here and let your so called wife disrespect me in my home. Then you don't put her in her place like I raised you to do as a man!" Antwan argues. Everyone especially Arielle hears the commotion going on. The family crowds around the foyer spotting Antwan and Antrell in the middle of the floor. Yelena looked on to see if Antrell would take up for her. In the six years of their relationship, Antwan has said some pretty nasty things about her. Yelena would always have to speak up for herself because Antrell wouldn't say anything. His excuse was always, that's just how he is or just ignore him.
"You not no fucking man! After all the shit you put my mother through, no man fucking does! Verbally abusing my mother making her feel low of herself." Antrell argues.
Antwan steps to him and says, "at least I keep my bitch in line." Without a second thought, Antrell drops his plate and swings causing everyone to gasp. His fist lands right into Antwan's mouth, knocking him to the floor. Arielle pushes Antrell back as Antwan holds his jaw. His nephew tries to help him up but he snatches away.
"And you wonder why I never wanted to be like you! You a sorry ass nigga who deserves to live and die on his own. Fuck you!" Antrell swears.
"Antrell calm down, please. He doesn't mean it he's-" Antrell cuts his mother off.
"Stop taking up for him! You've been taking up for him for years and all he does is dog you." Antrell argues. He then looks back at Yelena who was already looking at him. He had an epiphany and he could tell Yelena did as well. It was two different views but the conclusion was the same. Shaking her head, Yelena grabs her jacket looking down at her phone. Her ride was here and staying any longer would only further complicate things. She leaves out as everyone watches, including Antrell who's heart sunk. Arielle left him standing there to attend to her husband's aid. He wraps his arm around her shoulders as they head up the stairs. The rest of the family shakes their heads while heading back to their original places. They knew it wouldn't be long for something like this to happen. Antrell has had anger boiling up for years and they knew he would crack sooner or later. Coming two from his thoughts, Antrell grabs his coat and puts it on. When he gets outside, and sees the car pull off and sighs. Maybe they should of had dinner at Yelena's family house. They'd be more cordial then the mess that happened here.
______✍🏾
°the next morning
Antrell finishes up his last set on the bench press, bringing it back down to the holders. He had lifted two hundred fifty pounds and felt a little relieved. This morning when he woke up, he wanted to let off some steam. He was upset that he let his father take him to such a low point. Although, it was something that Antwan has been asking for. Antrell had a lot of bottled up energy to release. He just wish he did it with his words instead of his fist. Sitting up, Antrell exhales while leaning in his lap. He didn't feel satisfied yet so he thought he'd do one more thing before leaving. Getting up, he travels to the locker room and opens his rented locker.
Digging through the bag, he grabs the black ace bandages and boxing gloves. He returns back to the gym area and sits on a bench. After wrapping his hands up, he puts on the gloves and finds a punching bag. He knocked the gloves together twice and begins to punch the bag. Antrell began with a pattern of low blows taking them to the high middle. From afar, one of the trainers could see his frustration. They were new to the gym but Antrell is a well known client. Antrell sends a power punch to the bag causing it to swing roughly. The trainer thought to intervene before someone gotten hurt.
"Hey hey, you got some steam you want to release, take it to the ring." The person says while grabbing the punching bag to stop the swinging. Antrell scoffs and shakes his head.
"I'm good." He assures.
"No you aren't. Come on I'll suit up." They say. Antrell frowns while jolting his head back.
"Nah, I'm not down with hitting females." He says. The woman laughs while holding up her hands that are dressed in training pads. Antrell nods and smiles while shaking head.
"Pad up." She says, hitting them together.
"You got to be more specific. Around here suit up are fighting words." He informs her and she laughs.
"Noted. This is my first day and no one told me that. My name is Brea." She introduces as they step into the ring.
"Antrell." He informs. Brea gets into her stance and Antrell does the same. He begins to punch but not too hard because he didn't want to knock her down.
"Well Antrell, you want to tell me what's bothering you?" She questions, taking a swing and Antrell ducks. He then punched her protected hand and scoffs.
"Nah. I'm not really cool with telling my business." He says continuing to punch.
"Mm. Well if you won't talk to me you gotta talk to someone right?" Brea questions, swinging again and Antrell dodges it swinging as she does the same.
"I guess you're right." He mumbles, as she continues to train him. The two didn't say anything as they continued to walk around the mat. Antrell definitely took in her words and thought she was right. He did need someone to talk to, who to talk to was the question. After the training session with Brea, Antrell thanks her as they leave the ring. He removes his gloves and packs his bag. He felt the session with Brea really helped. They talked a little but basically to get to know one another on a friend level. He learned that she was from California and is building a career for herself. She's striving to be a nutritionist and fitness trainer. Antrell didn't tell her too much about himself. Just about his job and that he's married. It was the first time he actually acknowledged it to another woman he found attractive. Usually he'd skip around it, but he felt this was the first step to getting his marriage on track. He felt really good.