Quest For Acceptance

Birthday party

Chapter Three

Salvador furrowed his brows, desperately trying to recall if he had made a mistake. Maybe he had kept the money in another hiding spot? But no matter how thoroughly he searched, it was nowhere to be found. His heart sank, and a disappointment washed over him. He had once again let his wife down, despite numerous attempts to make things right between them.

“I searched everywhere, it’s gone,” Salvador uttered, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and sorrow. He had failed yet again, unable to fulfill his promise to his wife. The weight of his failures seemed to bear down on him, amplifying his feelings of inadequacy.

“Didn’t I tell you? This man is good for nothing. Just get the hell out of here,”

Mr. Jackson’s voice boomed with a potent mix of anger and frustration, punctuating his harsh words with tears that streaked down his face. The room seemed to vibrate with the force of his emotion, adding an uncomfortable tension to the already fragile atmosphere. Salvador couldn’t deny the truth in his father-in-law’s accusation. He knew deep down that he had let his wife down yet again.

The realization that he had actually saved money for his wife’s birthday added a bitter layer to his disappointment. Yet, now it felt like a cruel joke, as he was unable to provide any evidence of its existence.

Feeling defeated and consumed by shame, Salvador quietly retreated from the room. The conflicting thoughts swirling in his mind formed a relentless whirlwind, intensifying the storm of emotions he was grappling with.

As he left, the heaviness in his heart created an evident silence, highlighting the shattered pieces of Salvador’s dreams and aspirations.

Sandra’s face burned with embarrassment as she regretted her choice of a husband. Perhaps her father had been right all along; he was simply beneath her. She had believed that he would amount to something, but now she saw him for the lowlife that he was.

“Are you not ashamed of yourself? Is this truly the man you call your husband?” Her mother’s disapproving voice cut through the air, fueling Sandra’s anger. With a sudden surge of rage, she stood up abruptly, determined to confront him for embarrassing her to such an extent.

Storming towards the room, Sandra’s thoughts consumed her, anticipating the confrontation that awaited. As she entered the room, her eyes fell upon Salvador, meticulously searching his wardrobe, seemingly desperate to find something, possibly the missing money.

“What the hell are you doing? Can you stop this already?” Sandra’s voice rang out, filled with frustration and disbelief, as he began to approach her.

“Sandra, you have to believe me,” he pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation. “I saved that money from my salary. It was meant for your birthday. I don’t know what happened to it.”

As Salvador tried to convince her, Sandra’s mind suddenly jolted with a quick recollection. A flash of memory revealed her taking some dollars from his wardrobe a few days ago when she had been searching for something. At that moment, she had mistakenly believed the money was hers and had already spent it.

A mix of guilt and shame flooded over Sandra, replacing her previous anger. The realization hit her hard, as the truth dawned upon her.

“Did you remember seeing the money?” Salvador asked, his voice filled with a mixture of hope and desperation, as he witnessed Sandra struggling to recollect something.

“Why would I bother taking your money? It’s not as if you have much anyway,” she retorted, her words laced with disdain. With that, Sandra abruptly left the room, leaving Salvador overcome with frustration. He longed for her to believe him, to understand the truth. But it seemed all hope had been lost.

Resigned to his situation, Salvador began organizing his belongings. As he sorted through his things, he followed the instructions given by his father-in-law and moved into the mini-quarters. The room greeted him with a disarrayed mess, but he was determined to make the best of it. Working diligently, he cleaned and rearranged, striving for a sense of order and comfort. It may not be perfect, but at least it was better than being thrown out onto the unforgiving streets.

A few days later, Salvador found himself passing the time in his mini room, engrossed in his phone, when the sound of the door being pushed open abruptly startled him. His face lit up with joy as he saw Sandra entering the room, clutching something in her hand. It was a surprise to see her there, and he couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope for their relationship.

“Sandra, you’re here,” he greeted her warmly, a smile spreading across his face. In response, she let out a wry chuckle, her demeanor bittersweet.

“Take this,” she commanded, tossing a sovereign at him. “Get dressed, you’re driving me to a vital party. Look hot and don’t you dare disappoint me.”

Salvador couldn’t help but feel a sense of shame wash over him. He had let his own inflated expectations lead him to believe that Sandra would someday come to him, that they could rebuild what had been lost. But instead, he now realized that this was merely an opportunity for him to serve her, a reminder of the stark differences in their positions.

“It’s an all-girls party, so don’t mess this up for me, or you’ll have nobody to blame but yourself,” she stated matter-of-factly, her words slicing through the air. Salvador swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her expectations pressing down on him.

“Are we going now?” he managed to ask, his voice tense and crackling with nerves.

Sandra glared at him, a skeptical chuckle escaping her lips in response to his question. “Do I really need to answer that? Get ready and prepare the car,” she commanded with a hint of anger, then stormed out of the room, leaving Salvador to grapple with his feelings of responsibility and regret. He knew deep down that he had caused all of this, and he couldn’t help but wonder if things would have been different if he had shown her his true potential.

Dragging his feet to the bathroom, Salvador turned on the shower, finding solace in the sound of the water droplets hitting the ground. As he stood there, he wished he could be a better husband, yearning for some stroke of luck or opportunity to turn his history around. But he couldn’t escape the realization that wishing for a miracle wasn’t going to change his reality. There was no fantasy world where his wishes would come true with a mere flicker; the saying “no gain without travailing” echoed in his mind, reminding him that he would have to work hard and endure if he wanted to change his circumstances.

As Salvador stood under the cascading water, his mind momentarily found relief from the burdens of his unbearable life. The warmth and comfort of the shower allowed him a brief respite from the façade he maintained. Once he finished, he wrapped himself in a towel, feeling the fabric against his skin. Stepping out of the bathroom, he made his way to the shelf, where he diligently applied lotion to his body.

Moving towards the mirror, he carefully examined his reflection, ensuring he looked the part for their party. Despite the challenges in their marriage, he found solace in the fact that Sandra understood his taste and provided him with the best outfits. The undying love he felt for her remained inexplicable, even in the face of her mistreatment. Yet, in moments like these, he couldn’t help but appreciate her more than her parents, who treated him with disdain.

Satisfied with his appearance, Salvador headed outside to ensure the car was ready, determined to avoid any delays for Sandra. He meticulously checked the engine and all other necessary components, finding solace in the fact that the car was in good condition. This gave him hope that the journey would be smooth, a small comfort amidst the challenges he faced.

Deciding it was time to inform Sandra that he was ready, Salvador walked into the living room. However, his eyes soon locked with those of Mr. Jackson, and he felt a sense of unease wash over him. He braced himself, knowing all too well that nothing positive would come from their encounter. In anticipation, he expected Mr. Jackson to pass judgment on his appearance, criticizing him for his perceived misfortune and reinforcing his sense of inadequacy.

“Do you know how much that outfit cost?” Mr. Jackson’s unexpected question momentarily caught Salvador off guard, leaving him searching for an answer as to why he was being confronted about the cost of his attire.

“I am sorry, sir. I don’t know,” Salvador replied, his voice tinged with genuine uncertainty. Mr. Jackson responded with a sarcastic laugh, his words dripping with disdain.

“You can never know,” he sneered. “How are you supposed to, when you can’t even afford it? I wonder why she keeps flaunting her money on you.” His tone oozed with criticism, further provoking Salvador’s anger. He clenched his fist, feeling the frustration stir within him, but resigned himself to letting it slide, unable to act upon his seething emotions.

Sandra spoke up, her voice filled with determination as she descended the stairs. “I don’t have a choice. I can’t let him ruin the party for me,” she stated firmly. Salvador couldn’t help but be captivated by her stunning appearance, momentarily forgetting the hurtful insult he had endured. Though those words were difficult to forget, he knew deep down he couldn’t let them hinder him. Perhaps all he wanted was to compliment her on her look, but the fear of embarrassment held him back.

Mrs. Jackson rose from her seat, making her way towards her daughter with a genuine smile. “Oh, my beautiful daughter,” she gushed, “you are absolutely gorgeous and deserve so much more than someone who drains your wealth. If you’re ready, I can help you find a better man, one who truly appreciates you.” Mrs. Jackson directed a pointed eye roll towards Salvador, clearly expressing her disapproval.