“Good morning.” Lileth greeted me when I got out of the bathroom after taking a shower.
“Good morning, why are you awake?”
“I took care of your belongings,” she answered then avoided so I could pass.
“I told you you don’t need to do that. You should just rest.” It’s been a week since we became ok. I sleep here but we are still not together in bed. I bought a single bed and replaced the sofa.
“I’m fine, Dustine.”
“Yes?”
“Erika wants to meet me later.” I stopped to pick up the dress and waited for what she would say next. Whether I admit it or not but I can’t explain how I felt when I heard her name. “Is it okay if we will talk here?” I straightened up and then sighed and then looked at her.
“Is it okay for you?” She nodded in response. “It’s ok with me too.”
“Dustine.”
“Hmph.”
“Do you still love her?” I couldn’t answer or in other words, I didn’t want to answer. “Do you still love her? I won’t be angry if you tell the truth.” I sighed before answering.
“I would be lying if I said no. I loved her before we were and my love returned when we were confused. But you are my wife and I love you too and most of all I need to get you back.”
“When I let you choose then, I was the one you chose. If I let choose you now, who will you choose?”
“Lileth, what are you saying?”
“I just want to know.”
“You, I will still choose you because you are my wife. You are the one I chose and married so you are still the one I will choose today, tomorrow until we grow old. Forgive me if I hurt you and cheated on you. But believe me, I will choose you, again and again, Lileth.”
“But if I’m gone, you’ll choose her, won’t you?”
“Why, you’re leaving me? Are you leaving because you haven’t forgiven me yet?”
“No, but what if I don’t get better? What if I stay like this. Will you persevere with me that you cannot touch and approach?”
“Yes, even if I can’t get close to you for the rest of my life. As long as I see you near my side, I am satisfied.”
“Dustine, you are always in my heart no matter what happens. Always remember that I love you and I want you to be happy. I want you to always be happy.”
“I will be happy when our dream of having a family comes true. So get well so I can be happy. You promise to get well.” She smiled at me with tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Yes.” I want to hug her and kiss her. I wanted to make her feel the warmth of my love but I couldn’t because I couldn’t get close to her.
But I knew it would come too. I hope that comes. She will recover and I will hug her too, and promise, I will never waste that day again.
I had just returned from the office and was in front of the gate when I saw Erika’s car inside the parking lot. My heart throbs in excitement. I know I shouldn’t feel this, especially since my wife is ok and I’m just waiting for him to recover. But I can’t deny that I am excited to meet her. To see her. Even just seeing her is ok with me.
I did not enter my car. I went down immediately and hurried inside. They were not in the living room so I asked the maid and said they were in the garden. Here Lileth often hangs out when she wants to freshen up.
I go to them but I don’t show up. I also couldn’t get close to Lileth so I just stayed here behind the big wooden arch as the entrance inside the garden.
“You promise to wait for me?” Lileth said which makes my eyebrow frown. What are they talking about? What does she mean when she says that?
“I will try, I will try my very best,” Erika replied.
“It’s necessary. That’s all I can leave you.” I don’t know what they’re talking about. What Lileth is referring to. I’m clueless but I don’t have a good feeling about their conversation. They seem to have a secret that will hurt us all.
“Lileth, you’re my only sister now that my older brother is gone.”
“Lileth, Erika,” I cut them off and walked over to them. Both of their eyes widened but at the same time calming down. I didn’t approach Lileth and I just stood not far away. “What are you talking about?”
“You are already there. Erika wants to tell you something.” Then she looked at her sister. “I’m just inside.”
“Lileth,” I called to her.
“It’s okay, just talk.” She smiles at me. I dodged to let her pass. When Lileth left I immediately approached Erika. I hugged her and she did not refuse. I can’t help myself. I missed her so much and I was happy to see her.
“I miss you,” I said.
“I miss you, too. But I am here to say goodbye to you.”
“What?”
“I’m leaving, Dave.”
“Where are you going?”
“From from you. That’s right, isn’t it? I’m fixing everything.”
“But, Erika, how am I?”
“You don’t need me. You and Lileth are ok. Focus your attention on her.”
“Erika.” I grabbed her hand.
“Please take care of my sister. She needs you, she really needs you.”
Am I that shit if I ask her to stay? But I want me and Lileth to be ok also. I want what’s best for us and with Erika —– I want her also. But it’s also not right for me to tie her to me just because I need her. NO — I love her too but I’m married.
“Are you really leaving me?” I ask.
“We will meet again. Please stay with her and make her happy. Please don’t waste the opportunity to be together now. You wasted a lot then so please don’t make the same mistake with my sister.”
“Erika.”
“Please, promise me, you will love her.” I did not answer. But she cupped my face and give me her sweetest smile. A smile that I will never see again when she leaves. “Love her, ok?”
“I will miss you,” I said and cupped her face as well.
“I will miss you too, Dave” She comes closer to me and hugs me. I hug her back tightly and feel our hugs. I want to have her but I can’t. I don’t want her to be tied to me that I know is impossible for us to be. Even though I love her and she loves me and Lileth still agrees with us there is still no denying that she will turn out to be a mistress.
“Take care always.”
“I will, Dave.” She held my face and kissed me on my cheek and left. When she left, I just sat down. Asking myself why this happened to me. I love two women at the same time. Both of them love me and both of them are deserving to be loved. But only one can stay with me —- Lileth, because she is my wife.
I love Lileth and I want to be with her for life. But I love Erika too and I want to be with her too. Is it a good thing that she left so that I would not fall into sin? Or a bad thing because just now I am longing for her.
“You don’t want to lose her, do you?”
“Lileth.” I stood up and was about to approach her but I immediately backed away when I saw her back away.
“Some people really meet but destiny separates them for a meanwhile. So when they will meet again they will appreciate each other more because they already know the feeling of longing.”
“Lileth, no.”
“It’s like we’ve separated over and over again but still coming back to each other.”
“Lileth, sorry, but it’s not what —”
“If we separate, Dustine, because I will never recover from my illness. I prefer you to go to her.”
“I will not break up with you even if you are not healed. Sorry for what you saw. I’m also sorry if I made you feel that I love her but as I told you —- I will still choose you. Not because I have an obligation or I am forced but because I love you. I admit that I love her too and if I could just choose the two of you I would. But I love you more than her so I will choose to be with you.”
I saw her tears and I could hear her weak sobs.
“I’m sorry, Dustine.”
“Lileth.”
“I hope you can forgive me if you’ve always been hurt because of me.”
“Lileth, it’s not your fault.”
“You don’t deserve to be hurt over and over again because of me, Dustine. I have sinned so much against you.”
“Lileth, please don’t cry anymore.”
“Promise, the day will come that you will be happy. Please just wait and don’t get tired because I will give you the pleasure you deserve when the day comes.” She looked up as she continued to cry. “Just don’t give up, don’t give up on me and no matter what happens, be strong. Promise, you will be happy one day.”