I was stunned when I heard our apartment door slam open. I am going to the hospital today that's why I'm getting ready to go out.
"Geoff!" I gasped when I saw my husband enter. "Why did you come home so early? Don't you still have classes?" I added.
Geoffrey walked in and threw his black backpack on our fading brown sofa. He looked up at me. I was s cked to see his furrowed brow and the anger in his eyes.
"Where are you going?" he asked seriously. His voice was so deep that I confirmed that he was really angry. But why is he angry?
"Err..." I hesitated to answer. I quickly put on my black jacket so I could face him completely. "At the department store," I lied.
I do have work at the department store today but I already filed for leave because of my plan to go to the hospital for a check up. I've been feeling the same headache and frequent dizziness for a few days now, that's why I really need to see a doctor now. I don't want to tell him because I know he will get worried.
"Department store?" he ask. But it didn't sound like a question to me, it's more of a statement just nodded at him. I don't want him to know the full details because I don't want to worry himinternship lie to me!" he suddenly shouted which caused me to stop. I immediately turned to him and I saw him frowning even mointernshipGeoff, what are you talking about?" Yes I lied about going to the department store, but why did he act like this? Didtooknd out about me going to the hospital? Did Rita tell him? But why is he so angry? I'm just going for a dowould consultation.
He threw something on our wooden center table and I saw the photos scattered on it. My eyes ed when I saw those in the photo. me talking to a guy and there are also pictures of me hugging him.
"Where did you get it?" I said in disbelief. It is obvious that we were actually photographed by someone, maybe a hired photographer who followed me and took these photos. But why?
"It doesn't matter where I got that from!" he said firmly. He took a photo where I and the guy I was with was hugging. "Now explain it to me Khiana! Who is this man?"
My heart started racing, but not because I'm discovered for my betrayal. Well, maybe I did something wrong but not in the way he's thinking. I'm not havaffair.
"He's an acquaintance of mine," I admitted. "We met when I was about to go to work. He was so surprised to see me that's why he hugged me. He's happy to see me."
I did not lie. What I told him was true. When I went to work yesterday, I didn't expect to see the man on my way to work. I was so shocked to see him that I tried to avoid him especially since I wasn't ready to see him yet. He is someone I am currently avoiding. He will freak out when he sees me like these. For four years since I last saw him, I knew he would be surprised to see me in my condition now, he might even take me away and I won't be able to go home to my husband.
"An acquaintance? Or your man!?" Geoffrey's words as he rolled his eyes.
"GEOFF!" I stuttered. How can he say that? How can he say that I'm having an affair? Is that how he knows me?
"I defended you from my mom Khiana because I love you. I endured this life to be with you. I did not even believe her when she said that you were just using me─that you were deceiving me. I love you so much that I chose to cover my ears."
I felt a sudden pain in my heart. These things Geoffrey is telling me gives me a strange feeling. I feel like he regrets that he chose me. Why?
"Geoffrey, what are you talking about? I'm not doing anything," I insistcomeven though he hadn't made it clear to me what he wanted to say. I'm not dumb so I know there's only one thing he's pointing out, he thinks I'm cheating on him.
"But these..." he said whiting to the scattered pictures on the center table. "It opened not only my ears, but also my eyes and brain you do this to me Khian? I loved you so much but why did you hurt me?"
Momheart was pounding. No! No! Geoff, what are you saying?
"y!" I called him and approached him but he backed away so I stopped. My heart ached even more. "What are you talking about? Idoing anything? We don't have that kind of relationship. He's just...he's just..." I couldn't tell him my real relationship with the guy I was with in the photos. I avoided him for four years and chose to hide it, so now I'm Moma situation like this, where Geoffrey is asking who he is.
"He's what!?" Geoffrey was furious. "F*ck Khiana! Don't fool me anymore. Those two years were already enough for me to be blinded by you and with what I thought was your love for me. I don't want to be a fool anymore."Mom"But Geoffrey, there's nothing really between us. How can you conclude thAuntym having an affair with this guy by just looking at these pictures?" I can't stop complaining. What kind of a woman does he think I am? How did he think I could do that to him? I'm so in love with him that I can't hurt him.
"Why not? Just look at how sweet you two are while hugging in that photo. You even cried while hugging him. It's not obvious that you missed him." He said the latter sarcastically and this was the reason for the tears that were about to fall from my eyes.
"We don't have a relationship GeWhy I continued to insist but he just shook d. He said that his ears are open but why can't he listen to me?
"I love you so much Khiana, but why did you do this to me?"
"And I love you so much that I will never do that to you. Come on Geoff, listen to me. Listen to what I'm saying," I begged. "I'm not having an affair. Those pictures are nothing, okay? T-That guy is just my friend." I even stammered when I mentioned the word friend. Can I call him a friend? Well, he is one even though we are more than thMom
I really want to tell Geoff who the guy is but I'm not ready yet. I don't know if Geoffrey will accept my lies to him in our two years relationship. Maybe he'll hate me Momever when he finds out that I've been lying to him all this time.
"Let's end this Khiana," he suddenly said so I looked up at him.
"Momhat?" I asked confused. What end?
"I'm too tired of this life with you. I've sacrificed a lot because of you. I don't want to scallske this─we'll both continue to be hurt." My jaws were left open with what he said.
"Too tired? Sacrificed? Can you hear yourself Geoff!?" I couldn't control my own feelings. I'm trying to calm myself to save our marriage but now that he opened this topic, I couldn't hold back my feelings. "Of the two of us, who sacrificed more Geoff?" I couldn't help but complain. "After I married you, I stopped studying because I lost my scholarship and my internship for some unknown reasons. It hurts me like hell to let go of the course I want to take because I no longer have the money. I even ended up working two part time jobs togiveport our expenses. I did all of that because I love being w. I could have spent my salary on my studies but I decided not to because I want you to finish your studies."
Since we got married, Geoff's parents stopped supporting him, so I chose to allocate my salary to cover our expenses, including some of his school fees. It's good that his cousin helped him with the tuition, so it was a bit easier for us.
"Don't talk sacrifices with me Geoff. I know the meaning of that better than you." My heart is so hurt by what he said that I can't stop getting a ry. I love him so much that I put up with everything, but now...he's testing my temper.
He laughed so I looked at him again.
"So it's my fault now?" he asked sarcastically. My heart ached at his words. I loy head.
Of course it is not! I never blamed him for what happened. If I had considered that he was the cause of everything, surprisingly, maybe I would have left him a long time ago, but I didn't. I tried to fverything for us. I tried to keep quiet and be blind because I wanted to prove that we can be together. Thworkedomeone like me who has nothing to brag about can love and be loved by someondesignoff who has everythi,ng. I chose to fight for him instead of giving up.
"If that's how you feel, you should have told me so we wouldn't get to this. You're angry because you feel like I tortured you and now you're taking your revenge by making me a fool."
I closed my eyes because of what he said. He's making assumptions that are too far from what's really happening. Maybe he doesn't really know me to well to tell me all of this.
"Let's end this now Khiana. Let's not make things much harder, we're both hurting." I noticed that he put something on the center table again so I looked at it. There was a bond paper with something encoded on it, like a contract. I read its heading and my eyes widened. "Mommy is right. I will really regret the decisions I made," he continued.
"Are you going to break up with me?" I asked him crying. Tears raced to my eyes as I looked at the annulment papers he placed on the table. My heart is pounding so hard, not because of nervousness but because of pain. Why is he doing this to me? Why is he hurting me like this?
"Please sign the annulment papers Khiana."
"You liaat I said angrily. "You promised a lot of things to me when you asked me to marry you. You said you would protect me and love me forever. Why now... YOU LIAR!" I saw the hurt in his eyes. His eyes were also red. I feel that he is also hurt by our fight but why is this? Why would he immediately give up on our relationship if he was hurting?
"Daddy," he said sadly. I want to curse him for being sad. He has no right to be sad because he hurts me. But I can't do get angry with him either because I love him, I don't want to hurt him either. "I protected you as much as I can.Daddyve you so much that's why I disobeyed my parents' wishes, but it's hard to do it if you're the one doing things yourself so that I can't protect you and for me to Unclemy love for you. "
"I said no!" I approached him and tried to hold his hands. "Your assumptions are wrong. I'm not fooling you Geoff! Why is it easy for you to give up with those pictures as your only basis?"
"Because it's not the only reason." I was stunned by what he said. "I want this to end because I've been hurt. If I'm hurt, then there's a big chance that I will hurt you too. I can't handle you being hurt because of me. I want this to work out but I don't know if I can still handle it. I'm insecure Khian, I'm thinking... why is there someone else? Am I not enough for you to find someone else?" He pulled his hand from my grip causing my shoulders to slump. "If I let this go, I know my insecurities will only continue to grow. We'll only end up in a bigger mess, we'll both be hurt more. While it's still early, let's stop it."
I fake a laugh and look him straight in the eye again. "You don't want to hurt me? Why, aren't you hurting me now because of what you want to happen? You didn't even listen to what I'm trying to say. I thought we should have listen to every side of the story? Why do I only hear a side from you." I started crying because I really couldn't handle the pain I was feeling.
"Maybe I'm not listening, but can you blame me Khian. Damn, I'm f*cking hurt Khiana. It broke my heart so much when I saw those photos. I tried to tell myself that maybe it's nothing but...damn! My heart really doesn't want to listen!" I cried again. I don't want to believe everything. Now I just wish that I did meet that guy yesterday so Geoff and I wouldn't have ended up like this.
"Please Geoff. I don't want to lose you. I don't know what I'll do if you leave me," I surrendered. Okay, I'll just admit that I'm guilty, just don't let him leave me.
"We are young Khiana. You're only 21 and I'm 22. We will meet many people who will make our hearts beat and there are lots of things you can do. Maybe we just followed our feelings too much and we rushed things that's why it turned out like this. I'm sorry for hurting you, and thank you for everything. I cherished every moment we had. Remember, you will never be lost in my heart."
"G-Geoff, don't do this please," I begged but he just ignored it.
He started to turn away from me but stopped. I was suddenly relieved thinking that he would not continue this but I was wrong. He looked at the annulment papers that were still on the table.
"If you have already signed that, just call Atty. Juaton. She will take care of that," he said without even looking at me.
"G-Geoff..." was all I said and he left me completely. I couldn't hold back my emotions anymore. I knelt on the floor and poured out all my resentments there.
• • •
When I got up, I immediately went straight to the small bathroom of this apartment. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and saw the swelling in my eyes. It's been two days but I'm still like this, crying all the time so my eyes are really swollen. I didn't do anything else other than curl up in the apartment and just cry. I didn't go to work anymore and I didn't even think about eating because I didn't feel like it.
"Khiana!" Stephanie called who suddenly came in the house. I got out of the bathroom and went to see her who was with Rita. Like yesterday, he brought food again even though I told her not to bother because I didn't feel like eating.
"You don't have to come here every day," I quickly told them. They just smiled and immediately attended to the food they brought. Rita took cutlery and brought it to the table where Stephanie had already served the food they had brought.
"You have to eat. Yesterday you didn't have breakfast and lunch, it's really good that we were able to forced you to have dinner. Don't punish yourself Khian, you didn't do anything wrong," said Stephanie who looked directly at me.
I held my breath. "Do you believe me that I have done nothing wrong?" I ask. I don't know what side they believe. Geoffrey and I are both their friends, so maybe the two believe his words than mine.
"Of course we believe you," said Rita.
"But you're his friends too." I bowed down. I don't know why I said that.
"Yes, he's our friend. But Khiana, we met you first. We know you and we know you can't do that." Steph took my hand and stroked it gently. I couldn't help but cry again.
"What am I going to do now? He wants us to separate. He wants to annul our marriage."
"Don't sign it! Okay?" I looked up at Stephanie. "Don't salvage this marriage yet. Let Geoff calm down first, maybe he's just confused."
"Yes Khian. Maybe you two just need a break, a breather. Let him think first, I'm sure that he will come home soon," said Rita.
I smiled. It's nice to have someone like these two to talk to, especially when you have a problem. They encourage you so that you don't rush your decision and so that you don't get hurt more. Maybe they are right. I will not immediately give up on Geoff, if he wants to pursue the annulment then I'll fight against it. I will not allow him to break up like this. I want this marriage to work out again like when we started.
"Thanks girls," I said smiling.
"That's better," said Rita and they also smiled.
"Alright, eat now. You will need all the strength you can have to fix this mess. You don't want to lose, do you?" I nodded at what Stephanie said. I took the spoon he gave me and started eating.
After I ate, the two said goodbye to me especially since they still had classes. I've also taken care of myself because I'm already haggard, I look like a ghost because of my eyebags and to add to that, my hair is a mess.
I was drying my hair when suddenly there was a knock on the door. I immediately came to it and opened it. I was even stunned to see a familiar lady wearing an eyeglasses.
"Mrs. Melendez, I am Atty. Antoinette Juaton," she introduced herself and extended her hand. Before I could receive it, I was stopped when someone suddenly appeared behind her and scolded the Attorney.
"Stop calling her Mrs. Melendez!" Geoffrey's mom yelled making my eyes widen. I didn't expect to see here now here at our house.
"Ma..." I stammered but she just rolled her eyes.
"Soon enough their marriage will be annulled so you don't have to call her by that name anymore." My jaw dropped at what she said. Since the very start, she already doesn't like me. For her, I don't deserve her son.
She quickly entered our small apartment. It's a studio type apartment that's really small, we are even struggling to fit our things inside.
"Ma, what are..."
"I will not make this any longer," my mother-in-law started so I was stunned. "Attorney..." she called the lawyer and the latter nodded. She took out an envelope from her bag and she handed it to me.
"I've been waiting for two days for you to sign the annulment paper that Geoffrey gave you but you are not doing anything so I came here," said my mother-in-law as I opened the envelope that they had prepared. When she said that, I stopped opening it.
"Ma, I'm not breaking up with Geoff!" I strongly said. I saw my mother-in-law frown.
"Why? Do you think my son will come back to you. Don't indulge yourself with such fantasies hija, because that will never happen to you and my son." She frowned and slowly approached me. "I will never let you have my son!" she said causing my eyes to widen.
"M-Ma?"
"Sign the papers!" she ordered. "Even if you insist on not signing that, remember...my son will never come back to you. Even if I have to defame you so that he won't come back to you, then I will do it. Do you prefer him to beg you to annul your marriage instead of me? I can do it if you want to." What she said froze me. I don't want to believe what I hear from her. How can she say it to me?
I bowed and slowly processed what she said.
"You are the one who took those pictures?" I said thinking about those pictures where you can see me hugging a man.
Now I understand everything. When I saw that, I couldn't figure out who the pictures were from. Who would waste their time to follow me and take such pictures? There is only one answer to that question. It is someone who wants me and Geoffrey separated and broken.
I started crying again. "Isn't it enough that you canceled my scholarship and internship? Now, you're defaming me in front of your own son?"
You've read it right. Mama is the one behind why I lost my scholarship and also my intership at Miss Clarissa's fashion house. I found out all this when I went to the fashion house to ask why they took away my intership and scholarship without even letting me know the reason.
When I first came they didn't entertain me but Miss Clarissa gained pity on me and explained to me what happened. Mrs. Melendez, Geoff's mom scared Miss Clarissa that she will close her fashion house if she did not fire me. The young lady is booming and has no problem in business but with Mrs. Melendez giving treats really scared her especially because the influence and connections of the Melendez family are strong. Even making a false humor or issue that would destroy Miss Clarissa will be easy for Geoffrey's mom..
I was hurt by what I found out, but I didn't say anything to my mother-in-law, especially to Geoffrey. He loves his mom and I don't want them to fight especially because of this. There was a rift in their relationship when Geoff married me even though his parents didn't want it and I don't want to add on that.
My mother-in-law smiled, still clapping a little. "You really are something. I didn't expect you to know that." He turned to Atty. Juaton but she immediately looked at me. "Now that you know what I can do, aren't you going to sign the annulment papers?" She walked around our apartment and looked at it. "Today you have somewhere to live in, but maybe tomorrow there won't be any." I was stunned by what she said. Does she have a plan to get me out of here?
"MAMA!" I couldn't stop raising my voice. My mother-in-law gave me a look that made me stop.
"Don't ever call me "mama" because you are not my child and never will be." He looked directly at me and it was like he was stabbing me with every gaze. I couldn't answer because of fear. I never saw her this way, she's scary.
My mother-in-law was about to speak but I stopped her. "I will not sign the papers," I said boldly.
I was serious when I told Stephanie that I would not give up on Geoffrey, even if his mom couldn't do anything about it. I'm not afraid of being evicted from this apartment, I can find another place to stay. He will not be the reason for me to leave his son. I love Geoff and I will do everything to fix our marriage.
I saw my mother-in-law raise her eyebrows. I also noticed her raising her hand. I prepared myself to feel his palm on my cheek but it didn't not came after we heard her phone ring.
She smiled when she saw whoever was calling. She pressed something on her phone and the next thing I knew...I'm already hearing the voice of the man I'm really missing right now.
("Mom!") My heart beat faster when I heard Geoffrey's voice. My mother-in-law actually put her call on loudspeaker so I could hear it.
"Oh hijo," said mom who was not ashamed to show her smile.
My heart was beating really fast. I haven't heard Geoffrey's voice for two days and hearing his voice right now is making my heart beat so fast. I really miss him so much. I want to see and talk to him.
"How's your day?" asked my mother-in-law looking directly at me. "Did you enjoy your time with Farrah?" I was stunned by what I heard. Who's Farrah?
("Err...yes mom,") replied Geoff. ("Actually, she's beside me. She wants to talk to you.") I can't help but wonder why he seems to be okay, isn't he struggling with what's happening to us? I can't even sleep and eat because I miss him.
"Oh! Give her the phone so I can talk to her."
("Okay mom,") said Geoff and the next thing I heard was a woman's voice.
("Hello aunty,") she happily greeted my mother-in-law who smiled even more at this.
"Farrah dear, how's your date with Geoffrey?" I was stunned by what I heard.
D-Date? Geoffrey is dating?
I slumped my shoulders. I looked straight at my mother-in-law who happily talked to the woman. She was still laughing when she told her about the course of her date with Geoffrey.
Background Music playing: Traitor by Olivia Rodrigo
Why did he do it? It was only two days ago that we had a fight and he decided to leave the house. W-Why is he now dating another girl? Is he really giving up our marriage? Will he give up on me?
I couldn't stop my tears from falling. It continued to flow from my eyes to my cheeks. I tried not to sob so that the people on the other line wouldn't hear me. I clutched my chest as I felt it tighten. I am hurt by what I found out.
Geoffrey, how can you do this to me?
("Mom, where are you?") Geoffrey suddenly asked as the woman handed him the phone.
"I'm just taking care of something, son," answered mom, still peeking at me. I just kept crying and I didn't care that she and his lawyer were here.
("Err...did you talk to Atty. Juaton? Did Khiana call her?") I looked up at mom when I heard Geoff asking her about me. I was suddenly relieved at the thought that he was worried about me.
"Why son?"
("Nothing mom, I just want her to update me about the annulment papers I want Khiana to sign. Tell Atty. Juaton to contact me as soon as Khiana called her. I just want this to get over as soon as possible .")
I fell to the floor when I heard all that. My knees fell weak and I started sobbing. I don't care if Geoffrey can hear me. My heart is hurting from what he said and I just want to release all the pain. This pain is killing me and I can't contain it anymore.
He's really serious about the annulment and I can't believe that he just gave up on everything so quickly. We should be fixing it and not letting go immediately. We swore in front of the people who were there at our wedding and especially to the Lord God. Marriage should not end like this. Why did he gave up so easily? Is everything just a game to him? Does he really not love me?
I don't know what happened next. The only thing in my mind is "I don't want this anymore". He's hurting me so much and I can't take it. This is our biggest fight and this is the most painful.
I didn't wait for my mother-in-law to force me to sign the annulment papers because I signed them willingly. My mother-in-law said something to me but I was not able to comprehend it. I'm not in the right mind right now to entertain anything they are saying.
My mother-in-law didn't stay long in the apartment either and left with the lawyer. When they left, I poured everything and cried myself out. I poured out all the pain that I had accumulated in my heart.
This marriage is really the happiest thing that happened in my life and I didn't expect it to be the worst.
We were happy when we started so it's surprising that everything turned out like this for us. Maybe loving Geoffrey is really a mistake. I wish I didn't love him so I wouldn't be hurt like this.
I gave up everything that I work hard for when I left home just for him. I disobeyed my dad to study fashion designing but for Geoffrey I gave it all up. How stupid of me to be like this? If I hadn't disobeyed my dad, I wouldn't have come to this place and met him. If I hadn't met him, I wouldn't have loved him. Loving him brought sorrow to me. I love him so much and I hate him!
I quickly took out my phone and dialed a number. I don't know if this is still his number. It's been four years since I last contacted him. He may have changed his number but I'm still hoping I can call him.
("Hello.") My heart beat faster when I heard his voice. Four years have passed but I still remember his voice. He speaks like this, calm but you know that he's respected.
I cried. I am really happy to hear his voice. I miss him so much.
"Daddy," I called him crying. For a moment I heard silence on the other line so I cried even more. "Daddy, I'm so sorry."
("Khiana, baby...is this you?") he asked.
"Daddy," I only stammered.
("Khiana, where are you? Are you okay? Why did you just call now?") I didn't know how to answer his questions so I just cried and cried. ("Khiana, why are you crying? Please calm down...I'm not mad with you.")
"Daddy, take me home," I said without answering his question. All I want now is to leave this place. I want to go home and forget everything. I want to move forward, to move on with all the nightmares that I had.
("Okay, we'll go there. Just tell me where you are.") I nodded and told him where I was.
While I was waiting for daddy, I sat quietly outside our building. I couldn't stay inside our unit so I decided to wait outside. It wasn't long before three cars stopped in front of our building one after the other. A black Audi A8 stopped first. Mommy and daddy came down here and immediately hugged me. Following them was the white Jaguar XJ carrying my brother, and the last vehicle, a BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo carrying uncle Daniel.
"Khiana!" mommy called me in tears and immediately hugged me very tightly. Daddy also hugged me so I buried my face in mommy's chest.
"Take me home," was all I could say and I cried while hugging them.