After I got out of the bathroom, I expected to see Hezekiah in my room but there was no trace of him entering here.
I went downstairs to check his car at the garage, but before I could, I already saw him in front of the mini-bar.
My heart starts pounding. I couldn’t take my eyes off his strong shoulders and those protruded veins in his bicep while I was facing his side.
I sighed before fixing my nighties and walked towards me.
“Drinking alone?” I faced him and pulled the glass of vodka and drank it.
I loudly placed it onto the table and fought his stares. The light was dim but I could clearly see the gleam and the heat in those orbs that was silently killing me. Oh, damn! I missed him so much.
Hezekiah pursed his lips, “Why aren’t you sleeping yet? You need to be early for work tomorrow.” He averted his eyes and poured vodka in the glass.
I bit my bottom lip then painted a small smile. “Nope, I think I won’t go to work tomorrow. I have to take care of something important tomorrow.”
His eyes went back to me and it lingered while he was drinking his glass of vodka.
I can’t helo but to gulp and stand straight with his hot stares that seemed to be burning all my energy.
“You met with the Echeverrii?”
I closed my eyes when he placed the glass in front of me. He poured me a drink before pushing it closer.
Damn! Why is my heart beating fast? That simple and effortless gesture, and you’re reacting like that?
“That was a mistake and a bad decision. I shouldn’t have gone there and—” I couldn’t finish my sentence because the scenes flashed back to me.
“Yes, you shouldn’t have,” he said in a low tone.
I licked my lower lip and took a deep breath. I accepted the drink he offered. Maybe I should prepare better tactics next time. I’ll make sure I prepared bullets and aces the next time I step onto Cervantes corp.
I sighed heavily after I dropped the rock glass. His eyes met mine again which has been actually staring at me since earlier.
“So, how was the baby? How’s– Alessandra?” I asked quietly.
He didn’t answer and just remained staring at me. The more I catch his glance the more I want to swim deeply to his hypnotizing dark eyes.
I cleared my throat and looked down for a second, “I hope your baby is fine,” I whispered.
“He’s fine, my son is okay…”
I smiled and dropped my head. It hurts I know, but I have to endure this pain… not this once but for a lifetime…
“Well, that’s good news,” I murmured, unable to hide the pain in my voice.
I only heard heavy breaths coming from him. The silence that surrounded us made me deaf.
“Come here…” He ordered in a soft tone.
He grabbed my hand and gently pulled me towards him. My feet automatically moved to his desire.
*****
I was staring blankly at the pristine ocean. The ocean breeze kissed my skin. The wind that was always gentle and soft soothed me. I hugged myself while looking up as the light and darkness fought for their place.
“It’s been a long day, Meredith,” I whispered to the wind.
I tamed my hair that exploded due to the wind to see the sunset better. Nothing changed, the view of sunset still looks amazing from here.
If there is one thing that changed? That’s the fact that I’m just alone here while trying to be strong to meet tomorrow.
I dropped my head and painted a bitter smile. I’ve been through hell and back just to be with the man I love. But all the love that I’ve gave away was not enough to make him stay…
I’m glad, I wouldn’t cry for the same reason I used to have. It seems that I’m slowly accepting my painful fate.
And then I realized that the man I loved so much is terribly not my happiness because he’s someone else’s happiness.
I heard my phone rang which I immediately answered.
“Zuay, what’s up?!” I sat properly and smiled while waiting for her to speak.
“How are you there? We’re worried about you. How many months do you want to have a leave to recover? Two? Three? Just tell me and I’ll call for a meeting so I could take over your position!” Her voice raised.
I shook my head and fixed my seat on the sand, “I need one more week vacation. Just leave my working table clean and proper okay?” I giggly said.
“Yes, bo–ssy!”
I can imagine Zuay rolling her eyes while I’m talking. It made me smile wider.
“Alright, I need to go back to my cottage and cook my delicious and sultry food for myself!” I cut off the conversation.
“Okay, fine just do whatever you think could suit you, bye!”
She dropped the call so I stood up and glanced at the ocean for the last time.
I’m sure I’ll go here again tomorrow so there’s no use of bidding goodbye.
They say goodbyes is one of the most painful decisions that we could ever make. I did I for a lot of times already.
They also said, choose what’s the best for you. So, I chose what I think is best for me, my bestfriend and my husband. But I ended up saying goodbyes to the both of them.
I went back ti the cottage I rented. I’ve been here in Galla via Island for almost a month or so. Here, everything is far from me, I’m far from all the problems.
I sighted Aling Sita from afar, the caretaker of the cottages here in Galla. Although there is a hotel near here, I still chose to stay here in a cottage so I’ll be closer to the ocean.
I smiled when I saw her carrying a basket.
“Good evening, Aling Sita.” I greeted.
“Good evening to you too, Mary, I came from our backyard and pickex some fresh vegetables for you,” she said and gave me the basket.
“Thank you, Aling Sita. You shouldn’t have bothered.”
“It’s fine, some of my vegetables get rotten because I didn’t harvest it earlier.”
I smiled and invited her to my cottage. “You should stay for dinner, I’ll cook you pinakbet.” I said politely.
“No, no, I don’t want to be a bother. I also need to go home because my Domeng is waiting for me.” I saw how Aling Sita’ s smile changed when she uttered her husband’s name.
I heaved a sigh before speaking, “Well then, I’ll just cook for you some other time. Bring Mang Domeng here sometimes,” I said.
“No problem, dear. Well, I better get going.”
I watched her walk away until she disappeared from my sight.
That night, I ended up opening some canned goods for dinner. I’ll cook the vegetables tomorrow instead.
Through the month that I stayed in Galla, my company was only this bottle of claret. It gave me comfort every night.
I chose to sit by the terrace where although dark, I could still sight the sparkly sea and the monlight beams.
I bitter smile appeared on my lips again as I slowly brought a glass of alcohol to my lips. This is how I ended my day for the past month.
Yeah, maybe I called this a torture, and maybe this is too much for self-pitying, but this is the only thing I know I could do right now. I’ve lost everything, nothing was left with me…
The bitterness of reality slapped me. Living in this roof all by yourself with a broken heart is suicidal. There’s nothing more painful that the fact that the family I’ve been wanting to make and fought for can’t happen anymore…