This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner.
Author's Note:
Still working on the part 2 of Reminders of Him. And currently thinking if I should make a GraMar Fanfic na talaga. Help this author out. Happy reading ig??
Amana muna ang happy, soft at smut. Cheating muna lels.
Summary: Cheatingcore. Grace and Mar broke up years ago and are now both married to different people. One night Grace calls Mar. Karupukan na naman.
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Mar was a light sleeper, which not many people were aware of, so the instant his phone began to vibrate on the nightstand, he was immediately awakened by it. He yawned and glanced at the clock, which displayed that it was 2 am already. He sat on the bed, being sure not to disturb Korina, who had just fallen asleep. When the phone rang, he checked to see who it was.
Senator Poe calling...
As soon as he noticed the phone, he answered it without hesitation. When it comes to her, he never gives anything else a second thought. Nonetheless, it made him a little uneasy about why she was calling at this time and why she was calling at all.
"Hello, Grace?" He whispered softly, and the reply was a sob. He was now worried because she had called him late and was crying.
"Grace, bakit ka umiiyak?" He asked, still whispering, and glanced at Korina, peacefully sleeping. Pausing a beat longer, a voice he didn't think he would ever hear again drifted across the line.
"Mar..." Grace called softly when her sob subsided. The voice was sad but sweet. The way his name sounded just as angelic as the last time he heard it made his heart thump in his chest.
"Yes, Hon." He stopped. It slipped and it still felt natural for him. Honey. His callsign for her that she likes so much, aside from Tangi.
"I'm here." He slipped out of bed as quietly as he could. He tiptoed out of the room and pulled the door closed behind him. Sitting on the couch, he waited for her to answer.
"Talk to me at makikinig ako." His voice was filled with concern, and he was jumping to a conclusion. He uttered a silent prayer that it wasn't her nightmares. Those nightmares terrorized her when they were still together, and he was always there to give support and comfort when an episode occurred.
"Hindi ko alam, work had been rough lately, pero my nightmares came back. I just woke up from one of the episodes, and I just- I'm sorry, I don't know why I-" Her voice was shaky, and his heart ached for her. He hated it when the bright woman was filled with fear and sadness. Pain was in her voice because of the experience. Pain was in his heart for not being able to be the one to be there with her.
"Breathe, tangi." It was quiet as Grace breathed in deeply, holding it in for a few seconds just like Mar taught her when she was overwhelmed. Mar was relieved because she still remembers the breathing pattern he taught her as he counted in his head.
"Bakit ikaw lang?" Grace asks after a prolonged silence. It sounds rhetorical, said with a sigh, like it physically pains her. Mar fixed his glasses and sighed. "Lahat sila sinubukan. They all tried to help me, even Nei-" she cut herself off before finishing his name, asked, and answered, "No one can make me feel safe and okay, except you."
His heart broke when he heard the sadness in her voice. Even though politics and the entertainment industry are so connected, they have kept in touch regularly since they broke up.
"It's been years, Mar," Grace whispers, on the verge of tears, "and it's still only you."
"I would take those nightmares away. Ang sakit. Sana I could be there to provide the comfort you need, tangi." He confessed, and there was silence.
"Your voice is quiet," Grace eventually said. She already knew the reason. His wife was there.
"She's in the next room. Sometimes I wish she was you," he sighs. His heart is thudding so hard in his chest that it's all he can feel, "I guess we never really moved on."
"Mar," Grace breathes and prevents herself from saying she wishes it was her too. To be wrapped in his arms and feel safe, so the nightmares won't reach her anymore. To hear him whisper comforting words in her ear. And to be in bed together, waiting to fall asleep again. She wished it was her in the other room. God, hearing her voice say his name, it sounded so sweet. It used to warm his heart. Now, it still does, but there's a hint of pain that makes him weak.
"It's really good to hear your voice," is all Mar can say. He tips her head back, letting it rest against the couch. Closing his eyes, he allows his mind to drift back to their time together. Better times, happier times. When a simple smile from Mary Grace Poe could light up his whole world.
A few minutes passed in silence, each in their own heads. Without realizing it, they began talking, sharing random tidbits from their lives over the past few years.
Mar uncousiously laughed, "Bakit ka tumatawa?" She asked, and that angelic voice never fails to make him weak.
"Nakakapanibago lang na hindi ka nakikipagtalo sakin ngayon." He said, and he heard her chuckle as well. They would always debate because they were both fighting for what they believed was best for the people.
Mar remembered his life before Grace—cold, dull, long days, lonely nights, living off scotch. Then Grace came along, bringing happiness and life into his world. Evenings were filled with wine, food, and joy, and they would curl up together in bed, whispering words of affirmation to one another.
His smile began to fade, and he hadn't even realized he was no longer living again. He had Korina, but she was just a workaholic. Their relationship consisted of missed dates, rushed phone calls, and petty arguments.
He wasn't happy.
Of course, it took talking to Grace intimately for him to realize this. He was only ever happy with Grace because Grace is love.
"This is weird pero nasa panaginip pa rin kita." Grace's voice brought him back to the present.
Instead, she murmured, "Kadalasang laman ng panaginip ko kung hindi ito bangungot"
"Does he know you're talking to me, will it start a fight if he finds out?" Mar couldn't help but worry for her, not wanting to cause any issues between them, even though Grace was the one to call.
"No," Grace sighed, "Nasa business trip siya, he won't be home for three months."
Mar felt irritation build inside him, Grace had a horrible day, and he's not even present? He guessed that it had always been like this. He was always away. He never did like him, but now it's even less.
"I've been dreaming of you too." He randomly said.
"Does she know-" She didn't finish her sentence.
"I don't think she has any clue. Malalim matulog' yon." Mar replied, unsure why he had to mention Korina's sleeping pattern.
"Hindi ko matitiis na mag-isa ka na walang kasama d'yan. Baka makagawa ako ng ikakapanatag ko pero ikasisisi natin pareho. Baka puntahan kita ngayon dyan." Mar was serious. The moment she says it, he will go to her as soon as he can.
"Don't," She said, and he looked down.
"I'm at your mercy, Grace. Iba pa rin ang epekto sa akin ng boses mong mala-anghel." He said, and she bit her lower lip. Guilt was building up inside her.
"I love you." He whispered, and it only caused Grace's heart to go wild.
"Mar-"
"Hearing my name from your lips makes me weak. I know that I shouldn't say those three words to you because I'm a married man, but that's what my heart says. " He closes his eyes and inhales.
"Sana you're the one I married and not her. Sana ikaw yung nandito katabi ko. Sana ikaw at ako nalang. " He added, and she smiled sadly.
"This is wrong. I don't want to ruin your marriage. Maybe calling you tonight was a bad idea."
"Kahit naman hindi mo ako tawagan ay walang magbabago. I'm still in love with you. I guess I never really moved on. Ikaw ba? "
She called him "Mar."
"You know that we can't be together." Grace's voice cracked. She struggled to speak those words because she never wanted to admit that in this lifetime, they were never meant to be with each other. A part of her still secretly hopes that there's a plot twist that will lead them both back into each other's arms.
"I'm contented with loving you from afar." He said, sadness in his voice. He was not. He was never content because he would always want to love her in any and every way.
"I can't leave Neil. Marami syang tiniis, itinaya at isinakripisyo para sa akin." She said.
"And I'm not saying you should, I won't leave Korina dahil habang busy akong mahalin ka, minahal nya ako." He replied.
"Hanggang ngayon minamahal parin kita at ganon din sya. Alam n'ya na ikaw pa rin pero ayaw nya akong bitawan." Mar sighs, "You make it hard to be faithful."
"I'm sorry."
Every word from Grace's lips is sweet, soft, warm. Lips of an angel, he thinks.
"Mar" Now, that was not a call from Grace.
"Nasaan ka ka?" Korina called to him, and Grace could hereher through the phone.
"I'm here. I'll be right there." He answered with a deep sigh, "I never ever want to say goodbye to you, Grace." A sharp pain tugged at his chest.
"I don't either, Mar," she whispers, and something in their chests settles.
Coming from the lips of an angel, it sounded so sweet, and it was enough for him to keep going.
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Guys mention niyo ako sa mga GraMar content. Sabihan niyo na rin ang mga authors na may mar para kay grace lels. Comment your thoughts about this chapter... Thank you