Glass House, Laguna
Bram ignored me the entire drive. So I decided to keep quiet. Chantal drove Ruby alone and I was in the Land Cruiser. Bram got out of the Land Cruiser without a word. I wanted to check if I left anything in Ruby so I walked towards my SUV.
“Where are you going?” Bram yelled at me.
I ignored him and opened the door of Ruby. I scanned where I was seated earlier and saw that I did not leave anything. I closed the door and left it to Chantal’s care. Bram was waiting for me at the entryway. The specialists still had not removed his walking boots.
Bram watched me as I got in the house. We ignored each other on the elevator. Jonas and Maria assisted Bram to change while I was looking for anything cotton in my cabinet. I found a cotton shirt and shorts then I put them on.
When I got out, Bram was already on our living room sofa. They placed the sofa and our big TV inside our bedroom to give way for Bram’s physical therapy area. I went straight to the bathroom to change my underwear and remove my light makeup. I brushed my teeth then I got out. Jonas and Maria were already gone and Bram was staring at me.
“So Connor comes here and you let him take you wherever he likes?” Bram said as he glared at me.
I crossed my arms to my chest, “He told us you are waiting for us in Manila.”
“And only Maria bothered to call me and confirm if it’s true or not?” Bram sat up and pointed at the door as if Maria was there, “I will fire Chantal because of this. Do you think that’s fair? Cause she failed to do her job?”
“What am I supposed to do? Connor is your friend? Even Maria let him in the house this morning!” I raised my voice at Bram.
“How about you? You’re a nurse! You did not think about your safety? You’re pregnant!” Bram yelled at me.
“I’m not stupid! I called my OB-GYN!” I yelled back at him. Now I realized, it was Connor who suggested that I call his aunt. We were obviously manipulated by Connor! I am stupid!
“Do you like Connor?” Bram said accusingly, “Is that it? You badly wanted to run away with him?”
I felt dizzy because of what Bram had said. I closed my eyes and placed my left hand to massage my forehead. I wanted to say a lot of nasty things to Bram but I stopped myself. I got my phone from my bag and walked out of the room. I ignored him when he called my name. I went down using the elevator and walked straight to the kitchen to find Maria.
“Maria, can you cook me something warm? I just want comfort food, like soup or something?” I asked Maria when I saw her. Then I went to the dining area and sat on one of the dining chairs.
“Do you want rice with it, Madam?” Maria asked me. I did not realize that she trailed behind me.
“Yes, please,” I answered Maria, then I put my feet up on the chair beside me.
“Are you all right sir?” I overheard Maria. I rolled my eyes because I knew it was Bram. I put my feet down and wore my slippers so I could leave immediately if he said something unpleasant again.
I heard his walking boot enter the dining room. I did not look in his direction and decided to read my mom’s messages instead. He sat on the head seat on my left. He did not say anything so I did not say anything either. Maria came to me again to provide me soup options. I told her I would come with her in the kitchen so I could see the ingredients.
We decided to boil beef with potatoes, corn, and some spices for flavor. I sat on the bar stool while I waited for the boiled beef to be cooked. Bram was just leaning at the doorway watching me. I watched Maria as she instructed the maids on how to cook this famous Filipino dish. I was saved when my phone rang.
I answered it quickly so I could avoid speaking with Bram. I walked out of the kitchen into the pool area. The sun was setting already so it was probably five in the afternoon.
“Hello?” I answered Roland.
“Emma, I need to talk to you about something,” Roland said from the other line, “Remember the jewelry that you were wearing at Bram’s induction?”
“Yes?” I responded to my brother.
“Where did you buy it?” Roland asked me again.
I frowned at his question. I was not sure what he was getting at, “I only borrowed it from Bram’s mom.” I lied. Mama Credence gave it to me but I would not tell him that as precaution.
“Oh I see,” Roland commented, “I was wondering because I was thinking of buying one for mom and Alicia.”
“I see,” I answered him. Anything that involved Alicia could not be good! Period. I did not say anything else so Roland ended the call.
“I’m sorry for what I said upstairs, Emma.” I heard Bram say at my back. I gasped because he startled me. I placed my right hand on my heart and tried to calm myself down.
I glared at him for sneaking up on me. I tried to walk past him so I could get back to the kitchen. But Bram grabbed me and hugged me from the back, “Forgive me baby, please? I didn’t mean any of it, I swear.”
I sighed and rested my arms on his arms, “I will only forgive you if you sleep on the couch tonight, deal?” I told Bram. Maybe we both needed space before we both lost our minds.
Bram gave out a heavy sigh, “Okay.”
After dinner Bram and I got ready for bed. I asked Maria to assist Bram prepare the couch where he would sleep. While I took a warm bath. I got out of the bathroom wearing old rose colored pajamas. I went to my dresser and did my night routine and dried my hair.
I glanced at Bram and smiled because I caught him watching me then he turned back to his iPad again. I hung my towel in the bathroom towel rack, left the light on, and left the bathroom door slightly opened. I turned off all the lights on the nightstand so our source of light was from the bathroom. I went to bed and covered myself with a blanket.
I hope Bram learned a lesson tonight. This was not the first time that we would not sleep beside each other. I tried to recall the times when we did not sleep together but I recalled my conversation with Roland instead. I found it really odd for my brother to be interested in jewelry. I knew it was not his thing. So why the sudden interest?
“Emma, are you asleep?” I heard Bram ask in the dark. I bit my lip so I would not be tempted to respond. I heard him put on his walking boots. Then he turned all the room lights on then I heard him walk towards me. He removed my blanket slowly and the light hurt my eyes.
“What?” I asked as I covered my eyes.
“I can’t sleep without you, can you think of something else to punish me?” Bram asked nervously. He could not look into my eyes. He was only wearing boxer shorts and a plain white shirt.
I shook my head, “But I don’t want to sleep with you tonight. I can’t forget the offensive and judgmental things that you said earlier.”
I was affected by it a little bit. But I would not let it ruin my night. I shook it off and I planned to think of other things instead. Bram scratched his head. He was switching glances at me and the couch, “I said I was sorry?” Bram tried to reason with me.
“I’m sleepy Bram, turn the lights off and sleep on the couch,” I told him then I pulled the blanket up to my chin.
“I thought nurses alleviate their patient’s pain?” Bram said, trying to pull a fast one on me, “I’m the patient here, you need to take away my pain.”
“When you insult your nurse, I think she is allowed to walk out on you,” I told Bram and narrowed my eyes, “Turn off the lights and sleep on the couch. I’ll see you in the morning!”