I'm Curious

*Yelling*

Husband: “Why can’t you just listen? Why do you always think I’m wrong?”

Me: “I’m done. I can’t take any more of your nagging.”

Husband: “What did I do this time? Stop overreacting.”

Me: “I can’t take this anymore. Let’s get a divorce.”

Husband: “Are you out of your mind?”

I slammed the door open and stormed out to work.

I graduated from Crypto Cipher Academy with a degree in Audio Engineering and was placed at the top music production company, ‘Moon’s Studio.’ I was promoted from trainee to senior sound engineer in a short period.

I’ve recorded numerous songs and concerts, but there are days when my schedule is quite empty. People with psychiatric issues often drop by my studio to record their voices, letting out their feelings. Psychiatrists recommend that their patients record their emotions and then listen to them, as it helps them understand what they’re truly worried about. This has proven to be highly effective in their treatment.

For once, I felt the urge to do the same, to see if there were any reasons left to stay with him. So, as soon as I arrived at the studio, I went straight to the recording room and asked my assistant to record my voice.

*Recording*

It’s been a year since we got married. I was so in love with him that, despite my family’s objections, I married him. The first few months were great. I went to my office, came back home, and prepared dinner for both of us. He was always worried about his job since it wasn’t permanent.

He slowly started to grow distant. He lost interest in me and became restless and impatient whenever I was around. He began shouting at me over the smallest things and pointed out mistakes in almost everything I did. Even the things he once liked about me, he now claimed made him sick. He would come home late, and as soon as he saw me, he would yell without explaining what was going on with him.

I felt pointless. I didn’t know how to console him. He was so rude to me, even on the days when I was at my lowest. Even when I wanted to share my worries, he paid little attention, dismissing them by saying that everyone faces hardships at least once in life, instead of consoling me or taking me in his arms.

When I compared those situations with what I faced before marriage, I started to wonder where it all went wrong. What did I do? Was I not enough? What made him change so much? Why does he think I changed? My heart ached with these thoughts. Insomnia took hold of me, and sleeping pills became my only solution.

Before, he used to take care of every little thing for me and made sure I didn’t suffer. After we got married, he never once said ‘I love you.’ Whenever he missed me, he never told me directly...

*Silence*

After a moment,

Tears began to roll down my cheeks. I rushed out of the room, grabbed my bag, and ran toward home.

As I ran, the cool breeze hit my face, making me shiver. But I didn’t care about anything; I kept running toward my home, which was about a kilometer away. The breeze cleared my mind, washing away the chaos of my thoughts and helping me think clearly.

Whenever he missed me, instead of saying it directly, he would ask, ‘Where are you?’ ‘What did you wear today?’ ‘Do you want me to pick you up?’ When I asked him why he kept asking these things, he’d smile and say, ‘I’m curious.’ ‘Miss you,’ ‘Love you,’ ‘Like you’—words that expressed it all. His way of saying it

“I’m Curious”.

It was the last day of my graduation when he came to me with a ring and a bouquet. While everyone watched, he knelt, took my hand, and pulled out the ring, saying...

“I guess this must be why. These days, I feel very strong—because someone is by my side, someone I can rely on. That seems to be the reason. Will you be that reason forever, like you are now?”

I felt as if I were on top of the world and accepted him right away.

Maybe he grew distant because he didn’t want me to see him suffering in his career. I didn’t realize that he was trying so hard to shoulder the responsibilities of being a family man. He felt helpless every time he pushed me away.

Maybe he was waiting to find rest in my embrace. Maybe he was hoping I would understand the tender heart behind his rudeness. I felt dejected, realizing how careless I had been with his feelings.

Right now, I wanted to embrace him and tell him that no matter how hard things get, I’ll support him and have his back, always.

As soon as I reached home, I saw the dining table beautifully set with my favourite dishes and a candle at the centre. It was clear he had been expecting me to come home and have dinner with him. As I approached, he embraced me, which, in a way, silently said, ‘Even if you don’t share your worries from the start, I know you’ll come to me at the end of the day, seeking rest in my arms.’

I feel so bad for not trying to understand him and always blaming him for my suffering. I didn’t realize how much he was struggling, keeping me in the dark to ensure I didn’t have to worry.

He held me tight and told me he had been placed in a top MNC as a data analyst with the highest pay. I could see how happy he was—it had been so long since I’d seen him this joyful, on cloud nine. I couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear ever since I heard the news.

We sat down, enjoyed the delicious food he had made for me, and talked about everything we hadn’t been able to for a while. We cleared up all the misunderstandings that had kept us apart.

I now realize that I had always wished someone would care for me like this during my hard times. And that someone was none other than my husband.

They might not always express their love in words, but their eyes will always reveal it.