Chapter Fourteen: Bag

CHAPTER FOURTEEN : BAG

October 23, 2019

Baguio City, Philippines

THERA blinked when she heard a groan. It was enough to pull her back to the present from the memory of five years ago. She swallowed when she saw Sean’s creased forehead. He was staring at her intently as if studying her face.

“Are you not feeling well?” he asked. Thera wondered if she actually sensed a little tenderness and concern from his voice.

She flinched, thinking Sean would reach out to touch her neck to check her temperature. But he remained still. His fists clenched as if suppressing the urge to reach her.

Or was she just imagining things? Perhaps it might be because of the intimacy from the tiny piece of memory a while ago? Thera never pictured herself taking bold steps toward any man. She’d rather be swallowed alive by earth than even think of doing it.

But she did. She begged her own husband to love her and make love to her that night. It was degrading but maybe, that was just how much she loved Sean.

Though confused, Thera was curious about what happened that night. Did Sean give in? She shook her head. Maybe nothing happened. Sean would not dare touch her because he was no longer in love with her.

She'd rather believe nothing happened between them that night. If Sean touched her, he just had only proven to her that his feelings will never change no matter what she gives up for him.

It would have been painful and heartbreaking. Was she that hopeless and pitiful? She could not blame her. Neither Sean. Being honest was always way better than lying to her.

Thera wondered what film or TV series inspired her to stick to a man who has fallen out of love with her. Was it from Meteor Garden season two? The part where San Cai was hopelessly trying to win Dao Ming Si back despite the fact that he was already in love with Ye Sha?

Why did she believe in ‘hold on even if both of you were hurting’ too much?

“You can’t answer my question if you’re just going to keep staring at me like that,” Sean said.

Thera straightened her back. She was not aware she was doing that.

“So, why are you here?” he asked once again.

Thera pondered her intentions. Ah, she wanted to ask him about Uncle Jaime. But she had decided to just forget about it. She was more inclined to convince herself that Sean had reasons why he kept it from her. Just like how he did not want to shock her when she found out about her uncle's death. It was lame unless Sean believed that she really had amnesia.

“If you are not going to talk, then leave. By now, the dinner must be ready downstairs.”

Thera panicked when Sean walked to the guest room. Was he trying to avoid her? Before she could even stop herself, she caught his arm.

Sean stopped from turning the doorknob and turned to face her. His dark eyes reverted to her hand on his arm. Thera let go right away. What had gone into her? It was as if he did not want Sean to disappear from her sight all of a sudden.

She reluctantly opened her mouth when she realized he was waiting for her to talk.

“Can you join me for dinner downstairs?” She cursed herself under her breath. What nonsense was she talking about?

“I’ll come down right away,” Sean said and went inside the room.

Thera’s face lit up. He did not act rude or formal toward her! And he said he would join her for dinner!

But wait. What if her husband thinks that she was doing it to be close to him? The smile from her lips disappeared. That was far from her true intentions. It was indeed sad eating alone. Since they were married, maybe they could act civilly toward each other. A meal together once in a while won't do harm.

But Thera was distracted. She had been staring at the door for quite some time before she decided to push it and went inside.

“Sean, I just want to say...”

Thera stopped when she found no one in the spacious guest room. It was designed for a man’s taste, from the carpeted floor to the almost bare wall. The vintage furnishings reflected the decor throughout the room. There were a computer and a mini-library. An elegant leather couch was facing the wide flat-screen TV.

She thought Sean’s room was the biggest and the most beautiful room in the villa, but the guestroom looked different to her. Her legs mindlessly stood in the middle and let her eyes roamed around its four corners.

Thera’s jaw dropped when her eyes stopped on the life-size portrait hanging above the overbed. It was her photo taken perhaps fifteen or fourteen years. Why was there a photo of her in Sean’s room?

She was smiling at the portrait. She was carrying an old backpack on her shoulders. She recognized the uniform she wore. It was from a public school in the town where she graduated high school.

Basing on the diary she wrote, it was her second day in college when she met Sean. Did that mean that he already knew her before she met him back in the DM University canteen?

“I prefer the room next to this room, but you threw me in the room on the first floor,” she remembered Sean telling her when she had his stuff transferred to another room. Why did he choose to sleep inside the room with the photo of the woman he wanted to get rid of hanging? She was confused. She felt like Sean’s words were different from his actions.

Thera’s eyes reverted to the ajar sliding door near the bathroom. She went inside it cautiously.

“Wow,” she uttered as the walk-in closet welcomed her. The forty-square meter room featured grey tones and textures designed with tailored masculinity.

It had a mirrored chest and cabinets and a linen-upholstered chair. There were also custom shelves designed for ties, watches, and bags. From surveying the bags for men, her attention was caught by a red handbag. It was the only bag for women on the shelf, she noticed. Why was it in Sean’s closet?

SEAN watched Thera as she got inside the walk-in closet. He was on his way out from the bathroom when he caught Thera glancing at her own portrait on the wall. Instead of stepping out of the shower, he retreated a little.

More than a decade ago, he had Thera’s photo resized, given by Mr. Hernandez along with the contract. It was originally located in the master’s bedroom, but he transferred it when he decided to bring Thera to the villa.

When Thera finally disappeared into the walk-in closet, he finally went out of the bathroom. Without making any noise, he followed her there. He saw her stroke the glass shelves where a dozen of his neckties were placed.

He saw Thera lifting her gaze to the row of bags.

Sean took a deep breath as her gaze fixated on the red handbag. She was staring in disbelief as if wondering why a woman’s bag was mixed with his belongings.

June 13, 2016

The Palace Mall and Hotel

“YOU JUST arrived, Sean, and now you’re flying back to the States already? What’s with the Philippines that you can’t bear to stay that long?” Hulyo Santibanez said.

The shareholder joined Sean as he strolled around the mall after the meeting he called. It had been his habit to pay a quick visit to the stall inside the mall whenever he came home to the Philippines.

He did not want to answer Mr. Santibanez’s question. He knew the intrigue in the forty-six-year-old man’s playful tone. Sean came home a few days ago for his parent's wedding anniversary. They decided to celebrate it at The Palace and invited their close friends. Of course, it was Thera’s idea which his mother deeply approved.

If there’s one thing Sean appreciated for his wife, it was her love and respect for her parents that remained. Thera turned over a new leaf; there was no question about it. He could not see any trace of a jolly Thera from the Thera that was in the news lately.

Before, her round eyes would sparkle every time she laughed. She would always gaze at him and looked away when he caught her. Now, her glares could hurt and wound him if it could. If Thera was fierce and cold in front of Sean, it was the other way around when she's meeting with his parents. She could hide her sharp nails with her wide smile and laughter.

But Sean knew better. Those smiles weren’t as real as her smile way back in 2007. The happiness did not reach Thera’s eyes anymore. It was like she was only smiling because it was necessary.

Nonetheless, she remained a loving and caring daughter-in-law to his parents. It was one of the many reasons why his mother could not accept his decision to annul the marriage. Ever since he told Charry about his plan and refused her offer to try marriage counseling, she turned cold to him.

Charry fully sided with his wife. It was understandable. Thera was the daughter she never had. Because of his decision, the name attached to her favorite daughter-in-law would be gone.

Mr. Santibanez was about to say something, but it was cut off when they noticed a woman walking toward the mall’s entrance. The red lacey dress barely reached the middle of her thighs, white stiletto heels, and feathery white leather handbag.

She was wearing matte red lipstick that emphasized her full lips. Despite her thin makeup, the woman was still oozing with incomparable beauty and authority. Too much reason to intimidate people she passed by.

There were more than two or three pairs of eyes from men that followed her beauty. And more than two or three women were looking at her with jealousy and intimidation.

Her long and wavy hair moved along with her long, confident strides toward a well-known boutique. Behind her was her newly-hired personal assistant who was struggling to catch up with her boss.

“Oh, the Vice President,” said Mr. Santibanez, his gaze on him.

Sean surveyed the boutique where she was heading in. He saw the woman shopping for bags alone. She looked familiar, and Thera who looked like she was going to war was after her...