I sat down on the kitchen counter and stared at my mom’s plants. I hugged myself because it was raining and it was getting cold. My mom placed a hot mug of coffee in front of me and sat beside me.
“So what really happened last night?” She asked while I picked up the mug.
I blew the smoke of the coffee before I took a sip, “Nothing, Bram just called me a gold digger.”
My mom’s jaw dropped, “When did this happen?”
“Chill mom, not directly. He told Alicia and Alicia told me,” I started to explain.
“Did she talk to you at the induction party?” mom asked again.
“Yes,” I answered, “At least now I know what Bram thought of me at the beginning.”
My mom nodded, “I’m sorry that you have to do this, Emma,” my mom said apologetically.
I took another sip of coffee because I was about to burst if another person apologized to me. I put the mug down, “So how was the restaurant?” I asked, I wanted to change the topic.
“We might expect more tourists to come in March towards the lenten season,” mom answered me.
“Excuse me ma’am,” one of the crew of the restaurant came near us, “Brunch for ma’am Emma is ready.”
“Change your clothes, dear,” mom told me, “We have customers.”
I took my coffee with me and walked towards my room. I changed into pink sweatpants, white hoody, and wore my floral sneakers. I was glad that the rain stopped because I did not want to go out when it was pouring. I finished my coffee, left the mug on the sink and walked towards mom’s restaurant. It was just five minutes away from my parent’s house.
They prepared my meal in my favorite spot, away from the crowds and surrounded with plants. I finished my meal and put up my feet. I stared at the plants and enjoyed the smell of the earth. I was trying to recall the term that they call this kind of smell when I heard a familiar accent.
“Beautiful spot you have here,” I heard Bram say.
I turned just to make sure it was him. He was wearing a grey suit. I looked back at the plants again, “Yeah,” I commented, “it does not suit a gold digger, right?”
“It’s also not hard to find,” Bram said, as he ignored my comment.
I did not say anything. I was reminding myself that I signed a 3-year contract. That I needed to get pregnant twice and that emotions could never get in the way for me to breach that contract.
“Emma,” I heard Bram say, “Let’s go home.”
I sighed and stood up, “I’ll just get my bag from mom’s house,” then I walked past him.
Glass House, Laguna
When I got home I went straight to our walk-in closet. Bram went back to Manila to attend a meeting. I took a bath and then went to our living room. What am I supposed to do now? If Bram would not allow me to work as a nurse then there should be something productive that I could do.
I was looking at the gray sky outside. Then I recalled the on-line program that I was supposed to recommend to Bram. I picked up my phone on the sofa and was about to check the website of the on-line program when Aunt Calla called me. I tapped the green button.
“Hello, darling,” she said as a greeting, “Are you still in Manila? I need to buy my clothes for our South Korea trip and I would really love it if you come with me?”
“I’m in the Glass House Aunt Calla,” I told her, “Thank you for inviting me but I just got home and I wanted to explore the house for a bit.”
“Nice to hear that you’re at home,” Aunt Calla commented, “Take care and enjoy your day!”
“I will,” I told her, “You too!”
I hung up the phone and decided to do what I just told Aunt Calla. I had not seen the rest of the house yet. I asked Maria for a tour. I requested the outdoors first and we started with the pool. Maria said that the measurement of our rectangular pool was 10 by 20 feet. It looked inviting, especially that I really felt stressed. I looked up to the sky.
“Do you think it will rain, Maria?” I asked her. She was standing to my left. She looked up to the sky too.
“Do you want to swim, Madam?” Maria asked instead of answering my question.
“Yeah, maybe a few laps will do,” I answered her.
“The weather had been unpredictable these past few days, Madam,” Maria commented, her eyes looking around the greenery surrounding the pool.
“I’ll go get changed,” I told Maria then I went upstairs.
I changed into a royal blue one piece bathing suit. It had a zipper at the front so I could adjust on the bust area. I went down using the elevator in a robe and my house slippers. Maria was waiting for me at the elevator door. She walked with me while she carried a pair of swimming goggles and a cap.
“This is Master Bram’s, Madam,” she handed them to me when we reached the pool, “Sorry that I did not buy swimming accessories for you. I will order right away.”
“It’s fine, Maria,” I told her. I kicked my slippers and removed my robe, “It’s adjustable, don’t worry.”
I opened the case, got the goggles and cap, and showered. The water from the shower was freezing. I took a deep breath and dived into the pool. I glided as far as I could reach before I went up for air. I smiled as I stayed afloat. That was exhilarating!
Maria was out of sight so I started with freestyle back and forth. Then I was not able to finish my back stroke because the rain poured down. I got off the pool quickly and ran for my robe. I was still dripping so I did not enter the house yet. I stood up near the entrance and stared as the rain fell down on the pool.
“How was the water?” I heard Bram say.
I turned to the house and looked at him. His hands in his front pockets. Maria was standing beside him. I wore my robe and ignored him. I stomped a little to remove the excess water on my slippers then went inside. I took a shower, got sweatpants and a sweater from the walk-in closet. Then I brushed my hair in our living room. I was watching the downpour.
“Are you hungry?” Bram asked me. I did not answer him. I checked the time on my phone, it was thirty minutes past six.
“How long are you going to stay this way?” Bram asked me.
“In what way do you mean?” I turned to him.
He did not answer me, we just stared at each other for a moment. He bit his lower lip and nodded, “I’m going downstairs to get something to eat.”
“Go ahead,” I told him.
I stood up and went back to our bedroom. I sat on my dresser and opened the drawers. I was trying to find a lotion. I was startled when I heard Bram speak.
“I’m sorry, Emma,” he said. I saw his reflection in the mirror, “I have no excuse for calling you names.”
“Sorry is not enough though,” I told him, “You need to buy me an F1 car for me to forgive you.” Then I smirked at him.
Bram licked his lower lip to stop himself from smiling, “Well, I could not afford it now. And I probably never will but I will try my best to get you a sponsor.”
I narrowed my eyes at him and tried to suppress my laughter. But we both laughed out loud because of the silliness of our conversation.
“Does this mean I’m forgiven?” Bram asked.
I rolled my eyes at him and closed the opened drawer, “What do you think?”
I yelped because Bram carried me from the back and kissed my neck, “I missed you.”
“Put me down!” I yelled at him with a smile on my face.
“Let’s find Maria,” Bram said, “I’m starving.”
“I can walk,” I told him, my arms wrapped on his neck.
“You smell so good, Lara,” I was surprised that he remembered my second name.
When we entered the elevator, I felt him kiss my hair. I pressed the number 1 button and the door closed, “Are you teasing me, Josef?” I grinned as I said his second name.
“No,” he answered, “I’m just happy.”