"Do you feel any better now?" I ask.
"I do. I will be completely fine if you are okay. If we are okay. Are we? You are not angry with me? You don't feel like strangling me?" He implores, reaching for my hands across the table and hugging them tight in his warm ones.
I won't deny it since it's not even a secret. I missed his touch. I don't know how long it had been but it feels like we were at odds for eternity. I missed this closure.
"Drinking is and never will be an exception for me, Jerol. No matter your reasons, it will still be wrong for me. I grew up with a drunkard, I can't handle another one." I sincerely explain.
"I am sorry. I just felt like I had messed up in the worst way. I was so ashamed of facing you and my desperation led me to a bar and I thought of drowning all the combo of sentiments I was feeling in alcohol. Again, I am sorry. I failed you. Sorry, love. I won't try that shit again." He says.
"You didn't fail me, Jerol. You know I would have listened to you even after that, right? Next time please don't assume something like that again." I say, and he squeezes my hands.
"I won't, because I don't plan on being a jerk again. And I know that my beautiful wife is always here for me. For anything." He says.
"Then we are good! All forgiven and buried. So, what next?" I giggle, resuming to bubbly lovey-dovey mood.
"What's next? What does my wife want?" He implores.
"Anything my husband wants." I giggle back.
"A three-day getaway from this steam as we think things through? Just you and I." He mumbles.
Huh? A what?
That was nowhere on my list of his wants right now. He wants a getaway in the middle of all this chaos?
"I know it sounds crazy but, we need this. You shouldn't be dealing with so much in your condition. So aside from ourselves, let's do it for the baby." He insists.
I get his point but, three days! Wait...if that Grego will come to his senses and take my advice, it has to be in two days. I am in love with this idea but I would love for us to be around in case of anything.
"Won't your parents take this the wrong way? I mean, we are leaving them in the middle of the chaos that actually involves us." I state.
"I spoke to them and they actually loved the idea. They will take care of Ellie also. So, we have nothing to worry about." He says.
Well, it seems like the family ganged up on me on my back! What other grounds do I have to contend this? Nothing!
But, how about setting things straight before we go?
"Did they tell you anything else?" I ask, walking to his side and settling beside him.
"No. Is...there something else I need to know?" He queries.
God, please give me the wisdom to convey this to him in the best way possible so that it will not hurt.
"Love? What is wrong? Is there another problem?" He asks again.
I take his hand, hugging tight in mine while he shifts in his seat curiously.
"Ellie, confessed!" That alone summoned all his senses to this.
"She did? What did she say?" He asks.
"She is backing out of the plan. The threat of her baby's life made her come to her senses, but she refused to reveal anything to protect Grego." I explain.
He thinks for a second before speaking. "If that is true, then there is nothing much that Grego can do alone. He is crippled without any allies." He says, relaxing.
"You are forgetting there is also Gracia." I say.
"I was to tell you. I am taking care of that woman. She won't bother you again."
Huh? What's that?
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"Me and that woman got you into this whole mess. I will make sure she doesn't bother you ever again. That is what you want, right?" He asks in a soothing voice.
"Yes." I say, pondering on what he is doing.
"And you trust me, don't you?" He adds.
"With my whole heart." I respond.
"Then rest assured that in a few days, she will be out of your life. Only you can ever look for her if you so wish, but not the other way around. I will not stop you." He affirms.
Now that makes me at ease. Whatever he is doing, I trust him. I hope I will no longer have to worry about that witch anyone.
"So, shall we?" He asks, but I remember a very crucial detail. The highlight of it all.
"Wait. There is more." I say.
"More? What is it?" He asks, impatient surging in him.
"Ellie...she... The baby is...she..." Since when did I start sputtering? It's because I know this will hurt him like hell.
"Tessa? Spit whatever it is!" He pleads.
I compose myself, and ask for wisdom and strength from above as I speak. "You... You are not the father of her baby, Jerol. It's..."
"Grego's?" He finishes for me in a tone and expression that I didn't expect at all.
Flat. His tone is dead flat, and so is his expression.
"Ye...s. That's what she told us." I say, glueing my gaze on him to accentuate that I am indeed reading his reaction to this news pretty well.
This composure?! It's confusing! I speculated he would be looking like a ticking bomb right now. But no. He is worryingly so cool. And as if to top up my confusion, he speaks.
"Then that is perfect. This couldn't have turned out better any other way?" And he had to look at me, giving me the honor of affirming his sincerity in what he said.
He is not hurt? Not bothered at all? No sentiments for that betrayal?
"Are..you...okay?" I implore in awe.
"Okay?" He queries, standing up, and I follow him up. I stand before him as he speaks. "Why would I not be okay? I will no longer have to be tied to two women. And what's more thrilling, nothing ties me to that bitch now. I can now concentrate on taking care of my one and only wife and my child. I wished for this."
Hello, heaven?!
I am speechless! Totally speechless! This, how could I have anticipated this? Who would have? I am certain that that is why his mother didn't tell him. She reckoned he would take the news so badly, that he would be torn apart by this. How wrong were we! I am so freaking overwhelmed by his reaction that I don't know what to say.
"Shall we, wifey? I am now more than ever itching for this getaway!" He speaks after noticing my dry mouth, pulling me with him, and like a zombie, I follow suit, still in utter amazement. I want to ask why we are not even packing, but my voice and words were blown away by his affirmations. I am dry.