Rhezi and Jericho silently drove back to the Bailey mansion. The drive was smooth as the road was free of traffic. The man occasionally glanced at the lady, who was quietly looking outside the window.
Jericho wanted to explained what Rhezi saw but the latter stopped him from doing so. She didn’t want to hear a word from him not until they reached their own home. She didn’t want other people to see them argue, although she really couldn’t forget what happened.
Hasmet Montreal smirked and left after she asked the both of them, not even bothering to answer Rhezi’s question. He lightly tapped the woman’s shoulder before walking away with authority, clad in his expensive suit and tie.
Rhezi’s mind was clouded with a lot of thoughts. She knew that Jericho’s family is well-off. They actually came from a wealthy family in Germany, but his father established his business in Istanbul. He owned the most famous restaurant there.
She once saw Jericho’s parents when they visited them in Dubai. It was actually a special visit, and it only happened once. That was the time when she married him, a year after they got married in the office of Philippine Consulate General in Al Qusais.
“We’re here.”
Rhezi’s thoughts were cut off after hearing Jericho’s voice. She instantly looked at him at the side of the car’s door and saw his eyes staring at her. The sadness was evident in his eyes, and another emotion that the woman always saw but chose to ignore. He was holding the car door, waiting for her to go out.
Rhezi abruptly went out of the car. She looked at him and nodded, not even waiting for the man to speak. She walked straight to the wide entrance of the mansion.
“Momma!” Jericho called but Rhezi managed not to answer him. Her strides were continuous along the golden stairs. It was connected to the second floor of the mansion where Rhezi and the kids’ room were situated.
When she reached her room, Rhezi immediately slumped on her soft bed and threw her pouch bag somewhere across the room. She felt very tired after everything that has transpired and everything that she’s thinking about. She desperately wanted to breathe for a while to release some stress, but it seemed like a farfetched fantasy because of the knocks coming from outside the door.
“Momma, let’s talk–”
“Do you know him?” Rhezi asked, cutting off Jericho.
She closed her eyes and waited for him to answer but she didn’t hear anything from him. The lady opened her eyes and saw the man standing before her. He was just staring at her, as if trying to calculate what he’s about to say.
“N-No. We are just talking about business,” he answered.
Rhezi smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. She’s a lawyer, so she can discern a when a person lies or when a person is telling the truth. She could see frustration and desperation in Jericho’s eyes while the latter couldn’t even looked at her straight to the eyes. His aura and composure was weird, like he’s hiding something.
And she was dying to know, but the lady chose to stop herself. She already had enough for today. She’s tired to have any argument or discussion while worrying about her son’s state in the hospital. Aside from that, her heart was also exhausted and she just wanted to rest.
“I’m tired, Jericho. Close the door when you leave,” Rhezi mumbled, sounding burned-out.
“But–”
“Please. . .” she pleaded.
Jericho nodded with understanding, slowly walking out of the room with Rhezi’s eyes following him. The woman heard him sigh loudly but she ignored it. She let him be, until the man vanished from her sight.
Rhezi only heaved a sigh when he finally disappeared. She positioned herself on the bed and tried to fall asleep, but minutes had passed and she still couldn’t afford to let herself succumb into darkness. Her mind was running around, flashing back to when she told everything to Kraius and when she saw utter confusion on the man’s face.
After a while, she decided to take a bath. Her movements were fast as she took a towel from the closet and went inside the bathroom.
As she looked around the grand interiors, she slowly took off her tight denim shorts and ruffled sleeveless top. After doing so, she faced the wall and let herself be soaked from the shower.
She cleaned herself well. She scrubbed and bathed like it was the best thing she did the whole day, like it could remove everything she felt. Like it could remove the sadness, the pain, and the sorrow.
When Rhezi got sick of cleaning herself, she quickly covered herself with the towel. She walked out of the bathroom and headed to her personal wardrobe, choosing comfortable clothes.
She blew her hair dry and tied it into a bun. She put her red lipstick on her lips and wore her usual jeans and top. When she finally got contented with her reflection on the mirror, she went out of the room, carrying her favorite leather pouch bag.
Rhezi’s steps were slow and gentle, very careful in each step. Even after she successfully walked down the stairs, she still remained careful. She didn’t want to create a noise inside such a big mansion. She walked continuously towards the door and opened it, but before she could even step out of the place, she heard Jericho calling her name.
“Rhezi!”
Rhezi sighed and looked back. She saw him with a glass of liqour on his right hand. The woman’s eyebrow raised because she knew that it was a long time when the man drank hard liquors. What he was holding was not something easy, it was Bacardi Limited of Hamilton. The strongest liquor.
“I thought you stopped drinking alcohol,” Rhezi said. She waited for Jericho to answer but the latter just stared at her intently then hovered on her body after.
“Where are you going?” he asked. “You’re going to him.”
Rhezi’s became furious as stared at Jericho in disbelief. How dare him accuse her of something she didn’t even think off. And even if she was thinking of doing so, the man didn’t have the right to say although they’re married. It was all in the paper and nothing beyond that.
Even though the respect was there and friendship also existed between the two, Rhezi still set some boundaries in their relationship. Sometimes, Jericho acted beyond those boundaries. The woman let him sometimes, but not everytime.
“I’m afraid I couldn’t answer you, Jericho,” Rhezi said, looking at him straight to his eyes. The lady rarely call him in his name, only when she’s angry. And right now, she was disappointed at him. “I’m sorry.”
Rhezi didn’t wait for his reply. She turned her back at him and started walking. The woman closed her eyes shut when she heard something broke, probably the glass that he was holding. She walked fast until she finally went inside her car and manuevered it to the place she once called home.
It was a fine night in the Metro. The night just started so it’s not that busy, just some vehicles and people decorating the the street. The city lights were slowly coming to life.
When the woman arrived at the destination, she quickly parked her car and went out of it with poise. She walked along the pavement, seeing the restaurant’s interior from outside, however, that wasn’t where she’s planning to go.
As Rhezi walked closer and closer, her heart couldn’t stop beating so fast to the point that it deafened her. It has been a while since she last visited the place, and the last memory she had here wasn’t nice. The woman wanted to think peacefully and breathe. She wanted to forget everything just for a while. She knew she was being unfair and a masochist but the only place she believed could heal her broken heart was the same place that torn her apart.
Her hand were shaking as she reached for the key inside her pouch bag when she arrived at the door. Slowly and nervously, she twisted the knob and heard the lock click open. It was her choice and her will. It’s time to forget everything and start all over again.
The darkness greeted her sight as her heart beat faster. She carefully closed the door and sighed. She floundered to find the light switch, but before she could even find it, the room brightened.
Rhezi was startled and her heart ached even more when she saw Kraius’ eyes staring at her vulnerably. It was the kind of stare that made her heart uneasy and erratic just for him. From the past and until now.