CHAP 12
1124 Words
It was already twelve o'clock midnight, but Valjerome hadn't returned home yet. He left after the commotion earlier in the living room. He always got angry, but this was the first time he had acted like this, so I couldn't help but worry about him.
No matter how many times I shifted on the bed, I couldn't get comfortable. I sighed as I stared at the ceiling, not knowing whether I couldn't sleep because I was worried or because I had gotten too used to sleeping beside him.
For more than a month, the two of us had been close, and he had been sleeping in my room. Even though I wanted to ask him why, I chose to ignore it and simply be happy with what he was doing.
Maybe he's trying to fix our marriage, but he doesn't have the courage to tell me.
When I realized I couldn't fall asleep, I decided to get up and go to the kitchen for a drink.
"Hmmm... what do we have here?" I whispered as I looked inside the refrigerator.
The three staff members stationed around the kitchen didn't escape my notice. I couldn't help but roll my eyes because they were acting as though a bullet might suddenly come out of nowhere and hit me.
Do they even sleep?
As I searched for something to eat in the refrigerator, I ended up biting on an ice cube. I don't know why, but I like eating something cold.
"Hija!" Manang exclaimed in surprise as she came out of the maids' quarters. Their room was just beside the kitchen.
I smiled hesitantly and nodded. I couldn't speak because my mouth was full of ice.
"Why are you still awake? Are you hungry? Why didn't you call us so we could cook for you?" she asked continuously as she hurried over to me.
I finished chewing the remaining ice in my mouth before smiling at Manang.
"No, it's okay. I'm not hungry. I'm just thirsty, so I came downstairs. You can go back to sleep now."
"Are you sure?" Manang asked curiously as she looked at the ice cube tray I was holding. "Won't those give you a toothache?" the old woman asked with a wince.
I chuckled and took another ice cube. I tried to say, "No, I'm fine," but my words came out muffled.
Manang lightly smacked my shoulder.
"You really are something, kid. If you're feeling hot, just take a bath. You might get tonsillitis from eating all that ice."
I automatically winced. The thought of water running over my body somehow filled me with discomfort.
I don't want to take a bath.
"All right. I'll leave you for now. I'll just use the bathroom first. Go back to your room afterward," she instructed.
I replied with a small nod and a smile before she turned her back on me.
I was about to grab another ice cube when I heard Valjerome's car pull up outside. My mood instantly lifted, so I quickly put the ice tray back into the refrigerator and hurried to greet him.
I was walking toward the living room when the front door opened.
I stopped in my tracks when I saw Valjerome with another woman.
"V-Val," I stammered as soon as our eyes met.
He looked at me coldly.
"What?" he asked indifferently.
"W-Why are you with someone?" I asked bravely while forcing myself to smile, hoping what I was thinking wasn't true.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you asking?" Valjerome asked again.
"Because... I'm your wife," I answered quietly.
Valjerome laughed out loud before wrapping his arm around the woman's waist.
"I'm only your husband on paper, Jazzie. That's all. Nothing more," he said.
I couldn't contain my anger, so I quickly walked over to him and slapped him hard across the face. His head turned to the side from the force.
"How dare you? What about everything you've shown me lately? What were all those gestures and feelings you made me believe were real, Val?" I asked boldly.
He smirked and slowly looked back at me.
"It was all just an act. I just wanted to get you into bed, but that wasn't happening, so I got tired," he said.
I couldn't move.
His words felt like daggers repeatedly stabbing my chest.
"Let's go," he said to the woman before they walked upstairs together.
The woman glanced at me for a moment and smirked. She even rested her face against my husband's neck as they walked upstairs.
Instead of focusing on her actions, I kept my eyes on Valjerome—hoping he would look back at me, hoping he would come back to me, hoping he would comfort me.
But none of that happened until they completely disappeared from my sight.
What happened?
I let out a hoarse laugh as I wiped my face. I felt tears slowly welling up in my eyes as I remembered the lifeless way Valjerome had looked at me, along with the hurtful words he had spoken.
"Did I just wake up from a dream?" I murmured as tears streamed down my cheeks.
"Hija?" Manang called from behind me.
I couldn't bring myself to look at her until she finally stood in front of me.
"What happened? Has your husband already come home?" she asked calmly as she gently fixed my hair.
I tried to smile despite my tears.
"May I hug you?"
Manang looked at me gently before pulling me into her embrace.
"Did your husband bring another woman home again?" she whispered.
I simply nodded and silently cried on her shoulder.
"Sshh... Don't cry, dear. Come on. Let's go to sleep," the old lady said as she carefully guided me toward their quarters.
The other maids were already asleep when we entered the room. She helped me onto her bed before gently laying me down.
"Everything will be all right, dear," she comforted me again.
I was about to smile, but before I could, my tears flowed once more.
"I hope so," I muttered.
Manang sighed and gently stroked my hair.
"Go to sleep," she said.
I didn't answer. I simply closed my eyes and tried to ignore all the pain I was feeling, focusing only on the comforting sensation of Manang stroking my hair.
I hope... I hope I wake up from a dream again.
But all my hopes died because that never happened.
Just like before, Valjerome brought women back to our house and slept with them. He never slept in my room again. He no longer spoke to me unless it was necessary. He was no longer the Valjerome I had lived with for that one month.
Once again, the ruthless mafia boss had returned.
- Writer
