Chapter Twelve: Lie

Chapter Twelve : Lie

Baguio City, Philippines

THERA woke up at seven the next morning. Her back was sore from lying on the couch all night but surprisingly she had a great sleep.

She flexed her muscles and stretched her body as she got up. The sun was already sneaking from the glass window of the room. She forgot to lower the blinds down before going to sleep last night.

She yawned as she walked into the spacious bathroom. She turned the shower on when she got inside the multi-water jet shower enclosure. Thera retreated in shock as the cold water flowed out and splashed her feet.

After a few minutes of staring at the flowing water from the shower, she closed it and went out. She could not muster enough courage to bathe under the open showerhead.

Thera tied her hair and went down to check and help Fely prepare breakfast.

Would Sean join her for breakfast? If yes, though feeling awkward, she could not do anything about it since he owned the place.

Thera pouted. It was her house, too, she was still his wife.

Thera was still in the living room, but she could already smell the sauteed garlic and onion. The housemaid must be cooking fried rice. It was best eaten when served hot. But Thera almost backed off when she saw the brute’s—er, Sean’s back as he stood in front of the electric stove.

It was not Fely or Aunt Ising who was cooking but the man with proud broad shoulders and tempting muscular arms.

“Good morning, Ma’am. Sir Sean made breakfast,” said the voice beside her.

Thera found Fely when she turned. She motioned her to keep quiet. If Sean would hear them, he might think she was trying to ogle at him. She was about to turn her back to return to her room when he spoke.

“The food is getting cold.”

She frowned. She turned to Sean once again, who was not looking in her direction. “I-I’ll just wash my hands.”

“The sink is here, not in the living room.”

Thera was forced to walk to the table and sat down, avoiding his gaze. Thera cleared her throat.

“Can you accompany me to Uncle Jaime’s house?”

“I have an important business to do today,” he said in a flat tone.

“D-did I not make them transfer to a new home or renovate their house, perhaps?”

Sean did not answer right away. He looked like he was thinking about what to reply first. “You bought them a townhouse in Antipolo two years after we got married. They're living there since then.”

Thera smiled, contented with Sean's reply. She knew she could not just simply abandon her two remaining relatives. She wanted to thank Sean, but she shut her mouth. Of course, she was grateful he let her buy Uncle Jaime a new house using his money.

“Will you accompany me to Antipolo, then? Can we visit them there when your schedule is free?”

“I will let Yumi or Laida do that for me.”

Thera fell silent. Why was she even asking a favor to a man who wanted a separation? Obviously, avoiding getting close to her was his top priority.

Thera’s mouth watered as Sean put a plate of fried rice in front of her. It was smoking hot, and she could smell the chinese parsley he used.

“Wow,” she uttered nonchalantly as she stared at the fried rice. She could see herbs and spices on top. Was that how fried rice for rich people supposed to look?

“Eat,” he said and left at once.

Thera pouted, her gaze followed Sean's exit. He prepared food for her but won’t join her. He was really avoiding her.

'Sure, keep doing that,' she murmured. She pulled the plate near her. It did really looked yummy. 'Is he a cook or something?'

“Isn’t Sir Sean sweet, Ma’am Thera?” Fely teased. She looked like she was just waiting for her boss to leave.

She lifted her gaze. Sweet... Could she think that he was trying to make it up to her after what he said last night? Did he grow conscience overnight?

"Perhaps he was craving fried rice and I was too early I..."

“It was still dawn when Sir Sean started cooking. It was a first. Who do you think was the fried rice for if he doesn't usually eat breakfast?” Fely said, grinning as she pouted at the plate in front of her.

He was making an effort. He even put a twist to the scrambled egg, there was rosemary on the side. Okay, Mr. Iceman is totally forgiven.

Thera shrugged and began her meal.

AFTER breakfast, Thera noticed that Sean’s car was not in the garage anymore. When she asked the gardener, he said her husband went to the coffee shop and most likely to return by afternoon.

Thera was glad and asked Fely to go with her to the city. She wanted to tour around Baguio, go to places that had something to do with her before everything disappeared from her memory.

The first thing that came to her mind was DM University. But before they could arrive at the university, they passed by Uncle Jaime’s house. She asked the cab driver to dropped them there.

Thera felt terrible seeing how run-down her uncle’s house looked. It looked completely neglected. The gate which she remembered painting every two years had fallen off.

The door that closed for her whenever Joshua’s visitors and girlfriends were around was starting to rot. It was infested with termites. Thera would find herself wandering on the street, nowhere to go.

She would spend time at a twenty-four-seven convenience stores, just buying an order of cup noodles or coffee. It was her passes to stay while pretending to study until the whole night is over.

“That cousin of yours is really evil! There are cheap motels in town, why can't he just bring his bitchy girlfriends there? Should he really be doing that in your house? What a scum!"

Thera remembered Kisses’ anger when she called her one night Joshua shut her out. Kisses was always like that. She was more affected and resentful toward her cousin than Thera herself.

“When are you going to become rich and successful? If that really happens through your so-called heaven’s will, don’t ever help that Joshua. He caused you nothing but give you hardships. If there was only space in our house, you do not have to sleep and endure slouching there in 7-Eleven.”

“I know, and I’m just fine,” she’d reply laughing.

Thera knew that Kisses wants to take her in, but she couldn't. They had a small house for a big family. Kisses was the youngest child. She had ten siblings, and all of them were still studying.

Thera smiled. The memory brought warmth to her heart. She could not understand why, at some point in her life, she became happy and lucky that Joshua threw her out of the house. That blessing in disguise kind of feeling. Did she win in a lottery the next morning or find a one thousand-peso bill on the street?

“Do you use to live here, Ma’am Thera?” Fely asked.

Thera was about to answer the question when the door opened, and a woman in her mid-thirties appeared. Her unruly hair was tied up using a garter. She was wearing a duster underneath an old jacket, and her cheeks were sunken.

“T-Thera..." she whispered, surprised.

Thera's eyes grew wider.

“Do I know you?”

“I am Rowela. I’m Joshua’s wife. He was out on transport service.”

Thera was stunned.

“You bought them a townhouse in Antipolo two years after we got married. They're living there since then.”

Why did Sean lie to her?

THERA’S eyes roam around inside the house. It was messy. Toys, magazines scattered about, and clothes were piled on top and below the sofa. It was not the same sofa she remembered she used to sleep on. There was a family picture hanging on the wall. It was a photo of Joshua and the woman who let her in with their child.

The little girl who was sleeping in that tiny room Joshua used to occupy was already four years old.

“Thank you,” she said when Rowela handed her a cup of coffee. She noticed that she was avoiding her gaze. “Have we met before?” she asked when Rowela sat on the sofa facing her.

“Twice, I supposed,” she answered as she gazed down. Rowela looked like she was confused with her question.

Thera nodded and smiled. She could sense that Rowela was awkward with her. Did she do something terrible to her, or was it the other way around? She did not know. She was even confused with herself after watching his viral video of her at a gasoline station.

She could not recall if Rowela was one of the women Joshua brought into their house when Uncle Jaime was not around. Joshua changed his girlfriends often that Thera has lost count already.

“Thank you for helping Joshua get released.”

Her forehead furrowed. Released? Did her cousin got hospitalized or something? She was about to ask when Rowela stood up.

“By the way, I saw some of your stuff when I was cleaning. They might be important, so I did not throw them away.”

Wasn’t this woman aware that she had amnesia? Did not Sean inform her uncle about the accident?

Rowela carried a dusty eco bag when she returned. Thera peeked inside. There were pieces of old notebooks, blackened stuffed animals, and other things.

“Thank you. Where’s Uncle Jaime, by the way?”

Rowela stared at her in confusion. “Papa Jaime is dead for almost five years now, Thera.”

Her jaw dropped.