"Don't you think we should go and get the electrician?" I asked gently.
"There's no need. I got this," Frank snapped back.
"Okay, go ahead, MAN OF THE HOUSE," I said mockingly.
There's this thing about Frank, my husband. I don't know if I should call it ego or a sense of responsibility, but he never knows when he's crossing the line. How does a degree in Agriculture equal to a PhD in Electrical Engineering? Beats me.
We have this issue every time something gets spoiled and he APPARENTLY has no budget for that for the month. Instead of asking me, he feels he's the Head and claims finances are his and his alone to shoulder.
Should I be grateful for such a responsible and traditional man? Perhaps. But I feel there's a limit to everything in life, some you shouldn't dare to cross at all.
Our fuse box has been shaking and unstable for quite a while now, and I've complained time without number that he gets the electrician to come fix it, but it's always been one excuse after the other. Now it's gotten worse and almost completely off the wall. Our neighbors' pigeons have been trying to nest there for a while, so I guess their frequent movements caused it to fail sooner than expected.
Now, my dearest internet-certified husband felt it was upon him to fix it, since of course he definitely didn't budget a complete change of the board, which wouldn't have been worse had he heeded my advice all along.
"You can't seriously mean that! This is not as simple as fixing a shaky bob."
"Dr. Lizz, I'm sorry I didn't book a session," he fired back.
"Funny, hahaha." (I laughed wryly)
"But on a serious note, Franky, you know the board is barricaded with iron. A little slip and it could be very deadly."
"I'm the man of the house. It'll be a shame if I can't risk something this basic, don't you think?"
"Just say you don't have the money to get an electrician and miss me with that bullshit. I can pay if that's the case."
Of course, that was the case.
He looked at me angrily and proceeded to do whatever he wanted.
"Hold it tight, or do you intend to electrocute me?" he yelled at me, already sweating from trying to hold the ladder firmly.
He was stretching, relentlessly trying to reach for the fuse. Let's just say he's not usually the tallest man in the room.
"Your weight is uneven. Did you really expect the ladder to be balanced? I'm trying my best here, don't yell at me!"
He continued struggling to reach, and his hands just brushed the fuse when it pulled out and landed directly on the covering barricade.
Boom!! A moment of sudden shock... he got shook (I thought) by the electrified barricade, his foot slipped, and he came rolling on the floor.
For that split second, I think my soul left my body and returned.
I don't know what I was thinking for the first 3 seconds after the fall. I immediately rushed to get milk from the fridge (I always knew from wherever that it's the first aid for electrocuted patients), called 911, and he was rushed to the hospital.
Luckily, it wasn't serious. Seems he took off his hands almost immediately when the fuse pulled out. I guess he didn't know himself whether or not he was electrocuted.
He only got some bruises here and there, and that was all. He got treated and was discharged immediately.
On our way home, it was radio silence. He was probably regretting his actions, and I wasn't really gonna snap at someone who just escaped death.
We finally got home. Never thought 2 km could feel so long.
"Honey, I—"
"Don't you even dare!!" I interrupted. A storm was already building in my eyes. He quickly pulled me closer into a tight hug.
"Please don't say anymore. I don't wanna hear you cry."
I unplugged myself from the hug gently, wiping off River Mississippi falling off my face.
"Your Honor, defense pleads guilty on grounds of stubborn, reckless, irresponsible, and unreasonable. We beg for the death penalty."
We both burst into laughter.
For someone who majored in Agriculture, he had his way with words.
"I just hope you—" I started when he pulled me into another hug.
"Moving forward, I promise to always heed your advice and abide by your instructions. I know you only nag because you love and care for me."
I didn't say anything, well not yet. I wasn't fully recovered from thoughts of how bad it would have gone. I also know very much this isn't the last time he's gonna prove stubborn. However, deep down, I was glad he learnt a lesson. (I don't plan to ever say that out loud thou.)
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