THREE YEARS INTERVAL.
Dawson.
"Cheer up, Man." My cousin brother, Jake Anderson, uncorked the bottle of beer before handling it to me. "It's your parents wedding anniversary. Let's light this whole place up."
"Hey, get off the wheelchair, bro." My friend Luke approached us with one of our friends, Brad. "You and I…infact all four of us knows very well that you're faking this thing."
I roll my eyes at him and gulp my beer like nobody's business.
Of course he's right. I'm faking my illness on this god-damn wheelchair. And if I'm asked why? Well, it's so obvious.
Precisely speaking, I planned this with myself and my friends and cousin after I discovered Blanca's love for me perishing bit by bit. A year ago, I faked an accident. A manipulated one which seem so real.
I discussed with my personal doctor and we rubbed minds together. Though he told me it might be a little bit risky if Blanca and my family finds out but I don't care.
Immediately the whole plans worked, the doctor lied and pretended to be sorry when he told my family that I can never walk again because of the facial accident.
It seem like an opportunity for Blanca to flirt. Because, one day, I met her fucking another man on our matrimonial bed. When I reacted, she shun me, calling me useless and all sort of annoying names.
What could I do? I only smile within myself, knowing what I did and how much she never really loved me.
When I told my friends and cousin, they told me doing this in the first place was such a good plan. And secondly for my parents, especially my mom and my younger sister, Jenner.
They supported me when I wanted to marry Blanca after divorcing Laura in the first place. But now, I hope my handicap thing makes them to understand and feel a little bit guilty?
"Stop staring at yourself like that, Daws." Brad broke my daze. "Perhaps, your family are not here now. You can get off that thing."
He thinks?
Just wait until my mom shows up like a ghost.
Jake looked around the fields and added, "I believe this is a wedding anniversary and not a party for handicaps. Right guys?"
Luke burst into laughter. Spatting out his beer.
"Come on guys, it's not funny." I frowned.
"Then stop making it seem like it's a joke." Jake chuckled, taking another gulp from his beer. "Look," He place one hand on my shoulder. "You already got your main reason why you did it. So? Just let it go."
"After all," Brad shrugged, "You and Blanca just broke up."
"It's not totally over yet. She still had my papers with her." I reminded them. Last week, Blanca called the entire family including hers. She made it clear to me and everyone that she's tired of our relationship and wants a divorce.
"Just like that?" Luke is still surprised.
"I never thought or expected things with them to turn out this way." Jake added and shook his head helplessly.
I leaned my back on my wheelchair, stretching out my long legs with one elbow supporting my chin on the wheelchair's arm. If you ask me….I don't know what to say.
I catered for her more than I did for Laura. I gave her whatever she askes for. I never missed giving her a birthday present every year.
I send gifts, jewelries, supplies, large amount of money and accessories to her parents every month ending. Tell me where did I go wrong? I never deny her in bed. Infact, she has been the one avoiding me since I forged this attack thing.
"I somehow thought you were a puppet, but now, I see humanity in you." Jake patted my back. "Don't think about it too much."
"You think so?" I sighed. "Now I understood Laura's words. She was right about Blanca but I never listened. I'm now a victim of circumstances. That woman made me destroy my marriage with Laura and she made Laura do things she weren't supposed to. I hate myself for not listening to her. I can never show my face to her again."
Tears almost escaped my eyes. I just remembered the phrase.
Guilty conscience fears no accusation.
My pals sympathize with me as they as they cheers to hope and faith that Laura will forgive me.
I don't think she'll ever do. I wronged that woman in every way. If I was her, I don't think I'll ever forgive myself.
"I knew the court wedding was not an option, Dawson." Jake blamed me. "Taking her best friend— sorry. Ex-best friend to wife was a very bad idea to get revenge on her. But you never listened to me."
"Dude, Laura was also a bad guy to the Anderson family, okay?" Brad reminded.
"No she wasn't." I corrected before glancing up at him. "Blanca set her up. She made her do all of it. I overheard Blanca speaking with her mom on phone that the mission is accomplished. Now tell me, isn't that evident enough?"
My friends and cousin's eyes bugged in shock.
They made a Whoa gasp.
"Dude, she almost finished you."
"Like it wasn't successful?" I scoffed and took a long gulp from my bottle. She passed the test she carried out on me. "She rake me down." I count my fingers, "My company papers are with her and she's now the new CEO ruling over my position and companies. She also plot an accusation against me which will definitely lead to court soon. Remember we had a registry marriage?" When my friends nodded, I continued. "Good. And now, we're both on trial. The court says I'll have to divide my wealth and properties in two. Giving one part to Blanca while I go with the rest."
"Preposterous!" Luke exclaimed annoyingly.
"Oh boy, you're drained." Brad gasped. Jake stood speechless.
I can't even help myself. I only shook my head for my foolish desires towards her in the first place. I regretted ever knowing Blanca. I was only a fool for her. I loved her but she never.
All these while, she was in collision with her Family, just to take me down and take my all away.
It's such a pity for the monkey to be a prime minister.
My beer seem like poison to me but I didn't mind. I took the highest gulp out of it like it's my last day on earth.
Let me drink myself to death. Jake was right. Let's light this whole place up.
"So…., What are you going to do now?" Brad asked me after finding his voice.
I shrugged, "Do what? She already has an upper hand. My realization came too late."
"Fuck that crap, bro." Jake snapped, frowning at me. "You can't let that low life woman from a middle class take every shit you've worked for since age fifteen. Will you?"
"Easier said than done." I laughed, helplessly. Knowing there's no way out.
After a while of long silence like an angel just passed, Jake Suggested. "We need a lawyer."
Luke shook his head. "Sure. That's one not a problem."
Jake dropped his almost empty bottle aside and disagreed with him. "No, idiot. I never meant a 'Lawyer" He quotes with his fingers. "I mean a judge. In cases like this, we need someone who has the power of conclusion not the one to defend and get defeated at the end of the lawsuit."
When the rest of us stare at him like a fool without uttering a single statement, he rolled his eyes and exhaled softly. "Okay, fine. I know getting a judge to help us out will definitely cost…." He rubbed two fingers. "Dinero. (Cash) but it's worth it and I know who to help us out." He smiled, keeping his hands on his waisted. "Don't be scared, it won't involve cool money."
My brows furrowed slightly as I cork my head to one side, "Who"
He kept quiet for a while then smiled, "Guess." When I mumbled something, he added, "Come on, just guess. Any thing."
"I'll better keep you quiet. You know am bad in guesses."
"Okay, I'll tell you." He clasped his arms over his broad chest. "Your Ex-wife."
That's when Brad awkwardly whispered, "Blanca?"
He frowned and shook his head vigorously. "Not Blanca, man. She's our enemy here and we're finding a way to defeat her. How can she be—"
"Laura?" I asked, still not sure even when he mentioned ex-wife.
He agreed. Nodding his head.
I gently stood up from the wheelchair with a mixture of amaze and confused expression. "When did she became a judge?"
Jake let out an awkward chuckle, "Ah, so sad you don't even know what she studied back in college." He pointed at himself, "I never dated her one day but yet, I knew her course of study."
I know she studied LAW, But…..she never got the chance to further because we got married on instant.
"How did you meet her?" I've been searching for her these three years.
Jake turned towards Luke and his brows rose. "Oh yeah, actually, it was in a….." He faced Jake. "What's that place again?"
Jake tuck his hands into his front pockets and exhaled. "Four days ago, we both met Laura in a pharmacy store. We talked for….ten minutes? Infact you need to see her. She's not that tiny but still petite and dainty. She's hot like usual.." He stated, so careful I don't break his head. He shrugged, curling his lips downwards a bit. "She came to get drugs for her three year old twins because they were a little bit sick—"
"Dude, is it compulsory for double babies to fall ill at a time? I thought–"
I quickly interrupted Luke, looking so worried. "They're my kids." I gasped.
Jake rose his brow, "Yours?"
"Yes," I nod. Damnit! I rake my fingers through my hair and walk few inches away from them. I kicked the empty bottle on my way. "Fuck it, Dawson!"
"How?" Brad is confused. When I turned around to face them…., Their heart melted in dismay as soon as they saw tears rolling down my chins.
"Don't do that, man." Luke tries to soothe me. I stopped him from coming any where close to me.
Leave me. Let me weep myself out first. It's all my fault.
It's my fault.
"Tomorrow, we can all go to the pharmacy store to get some of Laura's bio from the pharmacist. If that's not enough...we can search the internet for her profile. Maybe from there, we'd know her place of work and whatever." Jake Suggested.