“Are you OK? Do you need to go to the restroom?” Alex asks with concern, trying to wipe off the wine that just poured on her cloth and left a big stain on it.
“No, it’s fine. It’s nothing,” Ariel replies to him with a light chuckle, trying to clean the stain by herself.
He slowly tightens his fingers around the fork in his hand as he glares hard at them, and grits his teeth angrily. Seeing the two together, for some reason, hurts his heart so much.
As much as he wants to ignore the two, and respect the fact that he’s with his wife, a part of him doesn’t want to agree to this. He’s freaking out, and can’t even take this shit anymore. She’s carrying his child for fuck’s sake, so why the hell would he be touching her like that?
A drop of tears slid down Alicia’s cheek as she watches the jealousy written all over Max. It hurts to know that he cares about another woman so much, forgetting how she would feel, it hurts that he suddenly sees another woman more than how he sees her.
“Is she so important more than me?” A drop of tears slid down her cheek as she stares at him with pain written all over her, getting his attention.
“Babe…”
“What? Look at the way you’re staring at them. Is it worth it?” She scoffs as she drops her fork, and tilts her head sideways, biting her bottom lip. She so much wants to scream out her lungs and tell the whole world the pain she’s feeling right now, she wants to scream to his face and tell him how disgusted she feels so much toward him, but she can’t bring herself to do it. It’s better to be calm, right?
“Ba… by…”
“If it were to be me, would you feel this enraged? Because I don’t have a child for you, I guess,” The pain in her voice as she spills those words out is priceless as more tears find their way down her cheeks.
“It’s not what you think, babe. Look at me…”
“It’s not what I think? Then tell me what it is like. Fucking tell me why you’re treating me like a piece of trash?” She suddenly slams her hands on the table, as she springs up to her feet, getting the attention of everyone.
She smiles painfully, staring at Alex and Ariel, who are now looking back at her blankly.
“It’s always her, right? She’s the fucking reason you’re treating me like this, isn’t it? Why? Fucking tell me why? What the hell does she have that I don’t?” She runs her fingers through her hair and shuts her eyes tightly. She gulps down nothing.
“Babe…” He stands up to his feet and tries to touch her, but she steps away from him.
“You’re attracting attention…” He whispers, trying to call her to order, and she scoffs.
“Why? You’re ashamed of this crazy woman? You are scared that people will think that you got married to a crazy bitch? Fine, Max. I just want my husband back, and that is why I’m fucking losing it. I can’t take this pain anymore,” She hits his chest continuously with tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Why? I love you, Max. Why are you doing this to me?” She cries hard, as she finally collapses on his chest.
“Alicia… Alicia… Alicia… Are you OK?” He shakes her worriedly. He finally picks her up in a bridal style and scurries out of the restaurant.
“What the hell just happened between Max and his wife?” Alex asks confusingly, staring at the closed door.
“Uhm… I think I need to go now,” Ariel suddenly says, standing up to her feet and reaching out for her handbag.
“Come on, Ariel. We just got here, OK? What happened between your boss and his wife has nothing to do with you. So let’s eat,” Alex says calmly, earning a glance from her. If only he knows the true picture of what is happening, he wouldn’t be like this.
“I need to go,” She yanks his hand off, and with that, she walks briskly toward the exit door, and walks out of the restaurant…
***
Thirty minutes later, Max paces restlessly in the lobby of the hospital, looking so worried.
“Shit!” He curses under his breath in regret, recalling what happened back at the restaurant. He regrets his actions now, but sadly, they can’t be reverted.
Hearing the footsteps drawing close behind him, he turns to see the doctor walking toward him.
“How’s she, doc? Is she ok now?” He bombards the doctor with questions.
“She’s out of danger now. She was just too stressed out,” he heaves a sigh of relief when the doctor says this to him, and he nods his head abruptly.
“You can go see her now. Meanwhile, a series of tests need to be done on her. Her blood sample has been taken to the laboratory for the test, and the result should be ready in an hour or two. I’ll let you know when it’s ready,” The doctor pats his shoulder before he walks away.
Taking a deep breath, he walks over to the ward, and pushes the door open, walking in afterward.
He gulps down nothing nervously when he sees her laying on the bed with her face looking pale.
He walks over to the chair beside the bed, and sits on it, taking her hand afterward.
“Uhm… I’m sorry about what happened. I wasn’t just thinking straight,” He whispers, and kisses the back of her palm. It hurts him more that he’s suddenly like this, seeing his legal wife going through so much pain is not something he can take, but what hurts more is the fact that this pain is coming from him.
“Max…” Her weak voice pierces through his ears, and he slowly raises his eyelids to see her eyes half open.
A drop of tears slid down the corner of her cheek as she stares at him.
“You’re awake? I’ll go get the doctor to come check up on you,” He stands up to leave, but she holds his hand, bringing him back to his seat.
“Baby… Do you love her now? What about me?” She asks weakly, and he bites his bottom lip as he stares down at her, contemplating her question. It’s obvious that he has developed feelings for Shirley now. It’s not something he can deny anymore, but what about his wife? What about the woman he has been with for two years? What about the woman that was there for him? The one that won his heart and made him feel like there was no other woman on earth aside from her? The one that took away his pain, and replaced it with smiles? How can he let go of everything they shared? How can he possibly have forgotten the love she has for him?
“Do you love her, baby?” She asks for the second time while staring keenly into his eyes like she wants to see through his soul.
“No way. You are the one I love…”
“The way you stared at her… The way you looked so angry… It said it all. Why do you still have to lie to me?” She smiles at him painfully, while burying the excruciating pain deep in her heart. You can imagine the pain of seeing the one you love so much, loving another, right? That is the pain she’s feeling right now.
“Babe…” The door suddenly opens, and the doctor walks in.
“I’m sorry for disturbing you two. The test result came in earlier than the usual time…” The doctor pauses and smiles widely.
“Good news, man. Your wife is two weeks pregnant,” The doctor releases the news, and their mouths drop open in shock…