The Truth Berries

IX

       She was indeed a goddess. But her new job as a customer service representative in a big BPO company was starting to take that title away from her. Working eight to ten hours every night, she started to develop dark circles under her eyes and a slight migraine constantly bothered her now. She didn’t have to work but she opted to. She had to pay her friend Helen for the apartment rent where she was currently staying in secret, away from her husband Miguel. Her parents wanted her to come and stay with them in their province but she firmly said no. She said she’s not looking for annulment yet. She didn’t want to go without even telling him. It’s just that she wanted him to realize what he was missing for the last sixteen months of their married life – her worth as his wife.

She just finished her cold shower and started applying her mascara and lipstick in front of the bathroom mirror. She was twenty-nine, eight years younger than her husband, but no one would ever put her in the late twenties for she was beautiful and she made sure she watches her weight by eating healthy and low- carb foods only. She wouldn’t want to buy new clothes now that she’s trying to live alone for a while. She remembered the last time she saw Miguel. He was really tired when he got home he barely noticed the table full of his favorite foods. He slumped on the sofa and in no time, fell asleep. It was their anniversary and he didn’t even give a damn. That brought her to this decision of temporarily letting him go, hoping he would finally realize she needed him as well. It’s been two weeks already, but he seemed to be enjoying his new independent life. Unluckily for her, she could not do the same for she truly loved the man.

       She was just about to finish applying her lipstick when the doorbell rang and it surprised her, making her lipstick missed her lower lip. She took a tissue and wiped it clean. Who could it be when she told nobody about this place. She was the wife of a brave investigator. She was a strong woman but she was alone which made her vulnerable in moments like this. Still, he gathered his courage and went for the door. She grabbed a kitchen knife on her way out and hid it behind her back. She took a deep breath and opened her door at half. She was surprised but she was more delighted at what she saw. It was Miguel in his finest white long-sleeved polo and black pants, with a bunch of flowers in his hands. She thought she never saw a man as nervous as he was and that made her laughed lightly.

       “Hey.”

       “Hey”, she said with a smile.

       There was a long awkward moment where Miguel tried hard to avoid looking in her eyes and kept searching around. Nadia, however, was enjoying that moment for some unknown reason. He knew her husband was not the man to show his affection publicly yet he took the risk that day. She felt flattered but tried to hide it. When it became obvious to her that Miguel could not get over the hill, she took the responsibility.

       “Are those lovely flowers for me?”

       “Well. . . yeah.”

       “Why don’t you come inside, officer, so we can talk properly?”

       He took a step inside but was blocked casually by an arm.

       “How long have you known I’m here?”

       “Since the first day, honey.”

       “How?”

       “I’m an investigator, you forgot?”, he smiled for the first time.

       “Yeah, right. Come inside and I’ll make something for us to eat.”

       They enjoyed a simple meal of rice and her special chicken adobo. She was watching him all the time and noticed how thin he had become in just two weeks. She knew it was partly her fault and it made her feel guilty. How starved he must be without a decent meal for two weeks. Miguel literally devoured the whole meal and drank two glasses of water after. Then, he reclined in his chair.

       “I guess the Department doesn’t make adobo as good as mine. Or am I wrong?

       “Nobody does, honey”

       They looked at each other for a long time before he spoke again.

       “How are you doing?”

       “Good without you.”

        Miguel absorbed her words and bowed his head. She knew he wanted to say sorry but it was obviously hard for him. When he was about to cry, she laughed at him for he looked like a child. Then, she touched his cheek.

       “I missed you, honey. I’m sorry for leaving without a word. I guess I just wanted you for myself. Or at least a little time for you and me. I missed the times when we first met and the days after our marriage, when it was just the two of us. No calls at midnight and no sudden emergencies. I knew I’ve been selfish. I’m sorry.”, she sobbed

       “No, don’t say that, honey. It was me who’s selfish. All I did was work and work and forget the only thing that makes me happy and contented in my life. I swear that from hereon, I’ll spend more time with you. I’m sorry. And I’m really sorry, believe me. Please come home now. I can’t do this forever.”

        “Why don’t you come to my room and I’ll tell you something. If you know what I mean, officer”, she winked at him as tears roll down her pale cheeks.

       “Oh, I hear you loud and clear, Ma’am!”

       When they were done and she was lying naked on his arm, Miguel took something out of his back pocket and gave it to her.

        “What’s this?”

        “Something to make it up to you.”

        “Oh honey. You didn’t have to. It was just some petty misunderstanding and I think that’s normal. Well, a little normal. What is it?”

        He urged her to open it and she felt obliged. She ripped the giftwrap and found a small carton box containing something inside. She shook the box as to know what was inside but she didn’t get any clue for it was compact inside. So she peeled the adhesive tape around it and took a peek inside. She cried happily for she thought it was some kind of a jewelry box. She hugged him tightly for a while before returning to the box. Carefully, she took it out of the carton and admired its delicate design. At the back of it, there was a carving in gold depicting a deity bestowing the people a gift.

       “What’s inside, another wedding ring? Are we getting married again?”

       “No, honey. We are already married. Getting married again would mean we got separated. Did we?”

       “Nope. So what’s inside?”

       “I honestly don’t know. Why don’t you open it so we both can see what’s inside?”

        She looked at him expecting a laugh to erupt from him but he was serious about it.

       “What do you mean you don’t know too?”

       “That came today at my doorstep. Delivery man says a man from Egypt sent it. I suspected it as bomb, sent by one of the many men I sent to jail before.”

        She threw the chest on him and aimed to run for the door. Miguel grabbed her wrist and laughed.

        “Relax. Alex was pretty sure it’s not.”

       “Pretty sure?”

       “Well he was quite sure. And I believe him.”

       He grinned like an i***t. Nadia was not satisfied but he trusted him. So she took the chest again and looked at its lock. Yoel made a small improvisation when he fabricated a new chest. The new one had a gold lock with its golden key already inserted. All that was left to do was turn it open. And she did. Miguel sat up on the bed and watched in anticipation. Inside was an ancient piece of paper delicately wrapped around a small thing. She carefully took it between her two fingers and began unfolding it. When she was done unfolding it, they sat marveling for a while. The paper itself was a wonder. It was filled with the same kind of writings as the chest itself, though they could not confirm that. None of them ever saw something like that. But it was the thing at the heart of the ancient paper that puzzled them both.

        For sitting at the heart of the ancient paper, in all its glory, was a small red seed of unknown origin.