A LOVE THAT STARTED IN MY BOSS' OFFICE

CHAPTER 25

Fere's POV

Days pass so fast. Ilang linggo na din ang lumipas mula ng maconfine ako. I can say I'm fine, but I am not good. I'm just fine but I'm not okay. I'm just fine. Nakaleave na naman ako. Yuseff wants me to rest or maybe he wants some time free from my shadow. I keep on thinking negative but how am I not going? Yuseff stayed the same except his warmth is gone. He's here beside me, who am I to demand for more?

My sisters are staying at Lola Pau's mansion, nalulungkot daw kasi si Lola magisa and having the girls with her makes her younger daw. Pumayag naman ako, isa pa, mukhang hindi na din ako mentally stable.

It's been days and all I feel is I'm alone. Ayoko na mandamay pa ng problema ko. Patch went away, because she wanted space. Ishie is struggling with her problem. Tamie's having trouble with her 2nd pregnancy. Aira's entering a complicated relationship. Now, it's my battle to own, my battle to fight alone.

Dahil sa maghapon akong walang ginagawa, madalas akong matulog. Epekto na rin siguro ng vitamins. Hindi na rin ako nagtuloy sa culinary school. Nawalan na kasi ako ng motivation.I am preparing an afternoon tea nung may bumisita.

"Hello Mrs. Hernandez"

"Anong ginagawa mo dito???!!"

"Oh, chill ka lang. Kukumustahin lang kita."

"Hindi tayo friends. Wag mo ako kamustahin."

"Haii naku Mrs. Hernandez."

Ang walanghiya aba't umupo pa sa sofa.

"Can you please leave? I am not very pleased to see you."

"Siguro nga. Pero andito lang naman ako para makatulong sa'yo."

"I don't need your help! Out!"

"Listen Mrs. Hernandez if you want to stay it that way you'll listen to me. I have here 2 envelopes. One, is for the help. Let your husband sign this papers and with all my will, I'll make Kristina and her son far away from your lives. This is a deed of absoulte sale and some papers for transfer of property. Isang restaurant lang naman ang mawawala sa kanya."

I kept my silence. I can't do that to my husband.

"This other envelope is to help you in your decision."

Hindi ko tinanggap ang folder pero iniwan nya sa ibabaw ng coffee table.

"Good Bye for now Mrs. Hernandez. Hopefully, you remain his Misis."

Matagal bago ko napagpasyahang tingnan ang nasa loob ng envelope. At pinagsisisihan kong binuksan ko pa ito. I can't help but cry.

I saw pictures, may dates na nakalagay. I figured out that it's taken every afternoon. Nagkikita sila Kristina at Yuseff. Kasama ang anak nila. They look like a happy family. They look like they own the world. While here I am, waiting for my husband to come.

Kaya pala wala syang gana kumain, he eats dinner twice. Anong klase akong asawa? Hindi ko napapansin na ayaw kumain ng asawa ko. Hindi ko napapansin na ayaw naman nya ng niluluto ko. Ha. Ano ba namang panapat ng luto ko sa isang chef? Ano ba namang laban ko sa taong minamahal. Technically, I am nothing but a rebound.

I did nothing the whole afternoon but cry and cry and cry. Mula ng makilala ko si Kristina, iyak na lang ang ginagawa ko. Wala ng mawawala pa sa akin, the only thing I have is my marriage with him. I will fight until I can.

It's past 10:00 pm nung makarating sya. Bakit nga hindi ko napansin na late na sya umuuwi? Am I that numb already?

"Wife." He said as he kissed me

"I didn't cook." Sabi ko

"It's okay, I've had dinner meeting."

Is he not going to ask me if I've eaten? Fere, get a grip. You know why.

"I'll be back in the office tomorrow."

"You take a rest, you can come back next week, or better yet, you stay here at home."

"I'll work."

"Wife, I can provide for us. You--"

"I'll work tomorrow. Kung ayaw mo ako isabay, I can drive or commute."

"Okay you win. You'll work tomorrow."

Yes, tomorrow I'll find out how you love them. That night, I can't sleep. My mind is busy planning things how to keep my husband. Ngayon ko naintindihan si Mama, why she chose to leave her sanity. Hindi pala talaga madali.

It's 4:00 am, wala akong tulog but I chose to get up and prepare myself. Today, I will be stepping on my battle field. Today, I will be fighting the battle.

"Wife, you're too early."

Puna sa akin ni Yuseff nung makita nya akong nasa Lanai at umiinom ng tsaa. I choose to drink to to make me calm.

"Maybe I'm too excited."

"Wife? Do we have a problem?"

"None as of what I know."

"I thought we're good?"

"I thought so too."

He just sighed in resign.

"You didn't cook breakfast?" tanong nya

"I didn't think you'd want to."

"Wife, why don't you just take a leave atleast until you finish culinary, don't you want to continue culinary?"

"I don't think it's still needed."

He kept his silence. Hindi na din ako nagsalita.

"Are you going with me?"

"If you're going straight home after work, I can go with you. But if not, I opt to go to office alone."

"I think---"

"Maybe, I'll go by myself. Please take care. See you in the office."

I ride the other car and drove myself to the office. Ofcourse he'll be going to see his should be family.

Pagkaupong pagkaupo ko sa desk ko, I started checking his schedules, may mga nakalagay na meeting pero walang nakalagay kung kanino. Now, I felt scared specially my husband started hiding phone calls from me.

Because now, while my husband is on the fire exit talking to the love of his life, I am here, shattering my heart standing just behind him.

Yuseff's POV

On the phone.

Yuseff: Kristina, please. My wife's here.

Kristina: But your son wants to see you.

Yuseff: Kristina please. I don't know what to do anymore.

Kristina: Just tell me if you don't want your son!!

Yuseff: Kristina, that's not what I mean. I need to calm my wife first. I'll go to you kung okay na kami ng asawa ko.

Kristina: Yeah, because we're just your second priority.

Yuseff: Of course not!

Kristina hanged up.

I'm guilty. It's actually eating me up. I saw my wife on her desk. Did she cry?

"Wife."

"I am busy, let's talk later."

"You wanna eat"

"I'm not hungry."

"Wife, please trust me."

"I trust you, please don't break it."

Tumayo na sya. "Excuse me, I think I need to check this with the Marketing Department. By the way, you have a lunch meeting with someone I don't know at Aristocrat."

My wife is slowly slipping away from me, I don't know what to do anymore.