PMS1: President's Forgotten Wife

CHATER 26 [II]

CHAPTER 26, part II: THE PAST FOR A PRESENT

But instead of paying attention to his mother's letter, Eisen focused even more on his cellphone and undoubtedly opened it as his life depends on a nonexistent hourglass.

Eisen turned on the phone as he deliberately grabbed the notebook where he had taken down the contact numbers and chose a number he wanted to talk to at the moment.

After a few rings, the receiver on the other line picked up the phone. But Eisen didn't wait for him to answer; instead, he instantly called out his name like he already remembered everything.

"Sceven,"  Eisen whispered before standing up from the bed to check his door and examine if the way he secured it last night is still unchanged. But as soon as his hand touched the doorknob, reality strikingly snapped him back to his senses like how lightning instantly followed after a thunder.

"Who the f**k are you? Who's this, and why are you speaking like you're hiding? How did you get my number? Answer me!" Eisen wasn't able to focus on what Sceven was talking about the other line as he slowly opened his door, making sure that no one was outside his room.

Eisen remembered locking the door of his room, and he even asked a maid before that the room has no spare keys other than the key that he and his wife had. But to see that his mother managed to get hold of such an object to unlock his room is something Eisen didn't expect.

"Who the f**k is this!" Sceven angrily shouted from the other line, making Eisen silently closed the door and locked it before forcefully yanked himself inside his bathroom before bringing his phone towards his ear,

"This is Eisen. I think you already know me, and I badly needed to talk to you. And I need your help right now."

__________

IT WAS SHOCKINGLY NOON when Jade woke up from her deep sleep. Of course, remembering what happened last night, she wasn't able to get a good rest because Eisen's words became too comforting and, at the same time, deflecting and constraining her from getting a rest.

Somehow Jade was happy to get out of bed because nobody woke her up and make her do the chores. It's not that Jade didn't want to help with the tasks but because she desperately needed a long rest after a tiring day yesterday. Besides, helping with the cleaning isn't an issue because she's always willing to help.

After sprucing up her room, Jade immediately tidied herself up before leaving her room to greet her family a good morning even though it was already late in the morning.

It was Saturday, and Jade expected to see her brothers running inside the house while their mother chased after them because they're not behaving accordingly. However, as soon as Jade got out of her room, she didn't expect to see NO ONE inside the house. Just her and her own shadow behind her.

If aunt Rosalie, her mom's friend and daily companion with gardening, cooking, and cleaning, Jade would've thought of two options: she's just having a nightmare, or her family ditched on her for good.

"Good morning, auntie!"  Jade greeted her aunt Rosalie, who instantly shifted her gaze toward Jade and greeted her with the warmest smile she's been giving Jade since she was a child.

"Oh, hija, how was your sleep? I bet you did rest just fine last night, knowing that you sleep the entire morning. Are you feeling fine or anything, or do you have a request that I could prepare for your breakfast? "  her aunt anxiously asked while she was preparing for breakfast, or brunch to be precise. Few more minutes, and brunch will be ready.

The fragrance of what her aunt was cooking smelled so evocative, so her paunch suddenly growled out of hunger.

"It's been two years since I got back home, and who wouldn't miss such an affluent vacant place after being away for too long, right? And aunt, you know this place is too dear to me, and I got so comfortable in it because it was well maintained, most especially that killer bedroom that keeps on rigging me back to bed!" Jade smiled while uttering those words, making her way towards the stool in front of the dining table. After that, Jade scooted herself towards her aunt while watching aunt Rosalie mix the ingredients resting on top of the table.

"Well, that's good to hear, Jade, because your mom was the one who cleaned your room."

"Really?" Jade glimmer with amusement as she rested her chin against her palm, shifting her gaze from her aunt's face and the dish she's cooking.

"If you were here, you'll judge her for being too focused on cleaning the room even we cleaned it daily. Imagine her reaction yesterday when you weren't around, and she can't stop bragging that you're finally home. So, it's good to hear that you're not having a problem with your room and you seemed happy, which is why I'm granting you a wish to tell me what dish you want to eat for breakfast. But, as you think of a dish you've been craving to taste, why don't I offer you a coffee? I already boiled water, and I bet your mom will be home soon." her aunt promised to get food prepared at the same time.

Jade helped her aunt prepare her breakfast before her aunt hurried back to the cooked food.

"That's a good idea, aunt Rosalie. I'll take your offer while I watch you cook whatever you're cooking right now. But before that, where are my mom and brothers? I was half expecting to see them this early since it's Saturday." Aunt Rosalie slowly poured the boiled homemade coffee into Jade's coffee mug, letting the smoke of heat simmer around its area, allowing the coffee's ambrosia scent made a beeline towards her nostrils.

"Well, they went out early because your brothers seemed to be in a hurry as they made their way outside the house. They even forgot to tell me where they're going, so I am as clueless as you are now about what is happening. All I got was an instruction to prepare food, which is my expertise. I'm sorry, Jade, if I'm turning to someone who's getting old."

A part of Jade is happy because her aunt was oblivious as to where her family went early in the morning. Besides, if she gets to know where they went, she might end up getting jealous or sad on their early trip.

"Thank God they didn't bother to inform you, Auntie. Because if they do, I might get really jealous of where they went now. Given the fact that I haven't been home for a long time and in desperate need of an escape to hike around my favorite spots in here." Jade retorted, slightly bothered about her family going somewhere while leaving her behind. And now, many places occurred in her mind about where they could go without her needing in there.

"Well, that's good to hear that you're not mad first thing in the morning."

"Enough about me now. Going back to my mom and my brothers, how long has it been since they left the house?"  Jade asked as she slowly slid her hands on the pan, secretly swiping her pinky finger to taste if the adobo aunt Rosalie still has the same taste the last time she tasted her cooking.

"I think it has been twenty minutes since they left. And—" Aunt Rosalie trailed off as she smacks Jade's hand away from the pan before the young woman could even graze her fingers against it. Jade playfully smiled at her aunt after getting caught, trying to make her aunt not glare at her.

Jade raised a finger, indicating a 'peace' sign towards her aunt, who instantly raised the wooden long-handle spoon like her aunt was about to give her another smack. But this time in her head before focusing on cooking the dish.

"—your mother told me to inform you that you need to be presentable when they arrived. She specifically said that no shirt, pants, and rubber shoes are allowed unless you want her to kick you out of the house entirely. And you know that we both don't want that to happen. Your mom strictly commanded me to manage the household while you go and prepare yourself before their arrival. She said you have to wear the clothes she readied, which she hanged on her room's door. Well, both get in trouble if you failed to clean yourself! "

Jade's aunt looked at her behavior, which made her smile, causing her aunt to smile back at her.  "Which is  teasing you about not able to taste my dishes will definitely help you keep on moving instead of drooling around the kitchen like a two-year-old kid, am I right?"

But Jade remained silent as her eyes wandered at the food in the pan, glistening like a star, driving her closer and closer the longer Jade stared at it. However, her daydreaming suddenly washed away when her aunt suddenly grabbed her by the arm near her elbow and unquestionably shuffled Jade to the nearest bathroom.

"Aunt Rosalie—"

"No more buts, young lady. Take a bath before your mother arrives so we can both spare ourselves from trouble. I know that it will take you three hours to take a bath, so hurry now, child, before we have no time left at all!" her aunt came upon the door handle before slamming it shut, allowing Jade a moment for herself to collect her courage to take a bath early.

Jade locked the door and absentmindedly eyed the bathroom as if she has never seen a bathing room before. That room was more spacious than the one she had in her bedroom. There was a cabinet on one side filled with decent colorful towels that her mother loves to collect and arrange.  There are also bathrobes and exquisite designs that she bet her mother sewed herself, obviously because of daily cleaning.

Jade took a towel from inside and carried the bathrobe before hanging it on a coat-like hanger inside the bathroom. As she pushed aside the light-colored curtain covering the entrance to the bathtub, she silently filled the tub with water as the sizzling made noise around her.

He smiled because of the extra effort their mother made in the house, even though the place was there centuries ago. The house was old; however, it was still well-maintained and upgraded at the same time.

Who would expect that their home contained a bathtub now? Even she did not expect the bathroom to be imperial than her room. Even though it is old, the house was impeccably magnificent even though Jade had not visited for a long time.

__________

WHEN Jade saw the exact four-door jeep wrangler with a juniper shade of color, she immediately arranged herself and put the food in the sink. It was almost an hour since she finished preparing and streaming herself as to why her mother wanted her to wear such fancy dress. Lucky enough, she just finished breakfast and readied herself to whatever reason her mother was putting on her.

And thinking about it, Jade hasn't had the time to grill her brothers with questions yesterday about the jeep owner because she's all caught up on her recreations and how she managed her time to do the things she wanted to do. However, Jade is about to find out today, now or never. She will interrogate Janus and Janni later or even talk to her mother.

Jade hurriedly went outside the house and stood by the door, inclined to welcome her family with a warm smile on her face.

First to get out of the car were his brothers, who undoubtedly helped carry a few bags and entered the house. However, as she smiled at Janni, her brother started bouncing her eyebrows up and down like something irritating just snuck on his forehead. Jade was about to ask if something was wrong, but as Janus slightly stopped in front of her, a wide grin plastered on his lips as he winked afterward, leaving her clueless about what is happening.

And a woman wearing a white fedora hat paired with a yellow floral dress and comfortable flat sandals that are perfect to use during summer, Jade can't stop herself from wondering who was the fine woman.

And when the woman slowly approaches her, Jade almost gasp in shock, realizing only now who was the woman who stopped in front of where she stood and happily smiled at her. "If I hadn't scooted closer to you, child, I might've not recognized you at all, Jade! It has been too long since I saw you, and you are—you're damn gorgeous!"

"Wait. You're aunt Jena?" she absentmindedly asked as Jade tried to collect her emotions, her thoughts, and every little courage she had left in her.

"You're telling me that you doubt me if I'm THE aunt Jena that you know? Of course, it's me, you silly! And don't just stand there and give this old lady a big warm hug!" Still not sure of what to do, aunt Jena was the one who gave Jade a warm hug and squeezed her against her strong arms. "I can't believe that after all these years, you're still my cutest niece, you little grown-up woman."

"And you're still my adorable aunt. Well, other than aunt Rosalie." Jade replied with a broad smile on her face, hugging her aunt back with the same intensity. After a few hugging and whispering, Jade let go of her aunt and once again smiled at her.

"It's been so long since the last time I saw you, hija. I expected that you'll grow more mature but seeing you now? My expectations preceded me. You're so beautiful."

"Blame it to the genes of my mother for sparing me some of it." Jade jokingly answered. Jade is not used to being praised, but making a joke out of it will make her less embarrassed and shy. Besides, Jade should get used to her aunt's praises because it is part of aunt Jena's nature to praise whoever she wanted to compliment.

"I'm not lying because you are wonderful, hija. You do possess not only beauty but also a kind heart and a pure soul. I can't blame my son for inclining toward a woman like you." Her aunt responded, clipping a strand of hair into the back of her ears.

"Mom, come on." A deep yet solemn voice followed aunt Jena's voice, making Jade shift her gaze behind her aunt's back. And there revealed a tall white man wearing a fitted pink shirt and a knee-length short that showed off his well-toned body with handsome features. Jade can't help but notice as she shockingly raked her eyes to the totality of him.

And there Jade knew, by just looking at him in the eye as a small smile crept on his lips, that the man standing in front of her is no other than the man whom she wished to see for so long—long enough for Jade to realize that everything has changed.

"Oh, by the way, Jade, I bet you still remember my son," Jade could hear aunt Jena's voice in a haze but was slowly fading against her ears as her eyes focused on the man walking towards her and stopped when they were just a few feet away. For so long, Jade did not think her aunt's son will turn out into someone she's bound not to recognize. She did not expect that his transformation would be so great.

The two of them stared at each other as if looking for answers, for emotions, for a hint that they both could hold, unable to say a single word. It's been a long time since they last met, and now? It felt like a dream that finally, what she wished to happen is happening.

"Well, I'll leave you two first, so excuse me... It seems like you both have a lot of catching to do, so I'll be upstairs, and who knows,"

But as Jade assessed herself, she knew that this dream she's been wanting for so long had been the only thing that lifted an emotion in her soul.