MARU’S POV
Today is Mara’s discharge in the hospital. But our daughter Tanya will need to stay in the hospital for now. As per her doctor our baby can’t still breathe on her on so she is still dependent on the incubator.
Before we go home, Mara and I decided to visit baby Tanya first.
“Baby Tanya, mommy’s here. As per the doctor I can go home now. But we can’t bring you yet with us. You still need go stay here to be treated.” Mara said while weeping.
I wanted to go near her, to hold and comfort her but I don’t know what stopping me from doing that.
After heated argument with James, she starts to ignore me again.
She always act cold and emotionless. She’s more cold now compare when we were in college.
The most painful part is, she’s only like that to me. She treated everyone the same, especially James.
And I must admit that every time I see her smile whenever he’s with James, it breaks my heart into pieces.
But I can’t blame her from acting like that.
It’s all my fault. What happen to our child is all my fault.
“Don’t worry baby, mommy will visit everyday until I can finally bring you home with me.”
“Be strong baby okay? Mommy loves you so so much.”
After she talks to our daughter, she wipe her tears and start fixing herself.
She look at me. “Let’s go.” She only told me.
She’s back with her cold treatment.
We were silent the whole trip.
“You and your wife are here.” Manang biding welcome us.
I can see confusion on Mara’s face.
“Manag Biding will stay here with us. Now that the baby is here, we will be needing some help especially in house chores.” I explained to her.
“Good afternoon Manang Biding!” She greeted her respectfully.
“Good afternoon too Mara. Its nice to finally meet you. I heard so much about you. Your husband keeps on telling me things about you.”
Her brows creased and she looks at me.
“Manang Biding is one of our house helpers. You were not able to meet her because she arrived when the time that James and Manang Lucy left the house. You also stop coming in our house at that time.” I told her.
“But still, why did I met her just now?” She ask with confusion.
“Manang Biding ask for an indefinite leave because of family matters. She came up just last week in the mansion. She came back almost the same day with Manang Lucy and James.”
She nodded and smile at Manang.
“Its nice to meet you Manang.”
I smile at myself when it looks like they are getting along well.
I treated Manang Biding like my mother.
She’s the person whom I used to open up about Mara. What I really felt about her. If there is someone who can testify how much I love Mara, it will be Manang Biding.
“Okay you guys go back to your room and I will start to prepare your dinner.”
I smile at her and nodded. I assist Mara as we went to our room.
When we came back to our room, she return to her cold treatment again.
I heave a heavy sighed.
“Are you feeling okay? Do you need anything?”
“Nothing. I want to rest now.” She said coldly.
Then she went to our bed and lay down.
I sorted our things first before I leaving her in our room.
When I went out of the room, I decided to visit the room we prepared for Baby Tanya.
I smile when I am looking at this room. Mara and I fix this for our child.
“Baby you don’t know how excited I am to bring you here. Sorry if we can’t bring you with us today. Sorry if you need to stay in the hospital for now. Daddy loves you so so much. I wanted to hold you and carry you. I just hope that when the time has come, and we can bring you here, your mom will be back to has she used to be.”
“I don’t want you to think like your mother, to perceive our family like how she perceive her family. I want you to see our family as normal and loving one. Because if you will just ask me, I love you and your mom so so much.”
I wipe my tears and decided to go down.
I went straight to the kitchen when I smell the dish that Manang Biding is cooking.
When I saw Manang I immediately hug her.
“I miss you Manang.” I said sweetly.
“My young master is being sweet now. It looks like you have a problem.” She tease me.
I pouted my lips as a response.
“I can see that you are cooking Bulalo Manang. I’m sure Mara will love that. That is her favorite dish.” I said trying to change the topic.
“Why are you telling that? Is it you who told me to cook this dish because this is your wife’s favorite?!” She said teasing me again.
I just scratch my head.
“If I were you, I will just sit there because the dish is almost done. We’ll talk about our problem after I’m done with my cooking.”
I smiled at her and waited for her to be done.
One thing I like about Manang. She’s so cool. She’s not like our other housekeeper who are strict and serious. She jokes a lot but she is always there when I needed her.
After Manang is done with the dish, she went to me.
“I’m done with the dish. And its still early to have dinner, we still have time to talk about your problem.”
I just gave her a smile. I don’t know how to start.
“What is it Andre?”
“James came back and I’m getting scared Manang.” I confess to her.
Her brow creased. “What are you scared of?”
I felt my tears was about to come out.
Tss this is so gay.
“I’m scared that Mara might leave me because she realized that she’s still in love with James and not with me.”
Manang did not say anything. She just let me to go on with my sentiments.
“You know their story right Manang? I told you about their story. Since we were a little, it is James that she like. She didn’t even notice me.” My tears started to fall.
“Even when we were in college and she knew that I am the one arrange for her, she did nothing. She don’t have any reaction at all. She ignored me even more.”
“She did not object but she keeps on ignoring me. Before I thought that it was my chance to be close to her, but still it has no effect.”
“She became even more closer to other guys than me. I even thought that she is in a relationship with his so called friend Alex.” I hissed.
“What about you? You courted and even got a girlfriend right?” Manang said while she raised her right brow.
“Manang you know the reason why me and Jana did that before. And we did not even last for a month.” I tried to defend myself.
“Yes. You did not last for a month, but did the people knew that? In other people’s eye you’ve been in a long and serious relationship. That you guys just broke up because you needed to marry Mara.” Manang said trying to make me understand.
“Mara seems not to mind that before because she feel nothing about me.” I reasoned out.
“What about now? If I’m not mistaken. She already told you that she loves you right?”
I nodded in response.
“So what are you afraid of?”
“When she said that, James is still not in the picture.”
“So you are doubting your wife’s love for you is that is Andre?”
My eyes widen from that realization.
“Its not like that.” I said defensively.
She heaved a heavy sighs. “You don’t need to feel scared with your brother. Again I’ll emphasize this you listen okay? HE IS YOUR BROTHER AND HE LOVES YOU. And if ever you are right that she is in love with your wife, I’m pretty sure that she will respect Mara’s choice and decision. Instead of your brother, you should think more of your situation with Jana.”
I furrowed. “What does she have to do with our relationship?”
Manang Biding rolled her eyes. “You know what Andrew even if I treat you as my own child, I want to punch you sometimes because you think so slow.”
I still looks confused.
Manang Biding just laugh at me that made me feel pissed.
“Just like what I said, its only you, Jana and me who knew that your relationship with her did not last for a month. In the people’s understanding especially with your wife’s perception that you and Jana IS IN A LONG AND SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP. If its not because you are bound to marry Mara, you will not breakup with her.”
I just kept quiet and let manang to continue what she wants to say.
“In your wife’s mind the person you really love is Jana and not her!”
“That’s not true! I already told her I love her!”
“Yes you did. But in your wife’s mind that you just learn to love her because you don’t have any choice but to love her because you married her.”
“But that’s a lie! I love her even before I married her! I love her since we were young and I keep on falling deeper with her everyday.” I said defensively.
“Yes. But did she know that?” She said and smirked.