CHAPTER FORTY-THREE — BROKEN SOULS

But the broken smile started to change into a mischievous grin. Along with the intentional hardness in expression on her face, Elaine slouched a little to level their gaze.

“Why not? If you’d come and visit me every day again?” she said in a soft voice but enough for her to hear.

Mrs. Crisostomo gasped. She went literally still as if her neck would screech if it turned towards her.

Elaine straightened up. Guilt crept into her heart when she saw her slightly shaken. But Mrs. Crisostomo needed to taste a dose of her own medicine.

Mental health problem was not a character failure just like what she wanted to imply. Sandra kept telling her that and she tried to put that in mind many times. She was glad she was able to voice it out now, unlike before she was scared to admit it even to herself.

Perhaps she was a little different, but she was still worthy of respect and of dignity. Her painful family background and her past experiences, no matter how dirty it was, would not determine her future. She will make sure the path she is taking now will be different from Bettina’s.

Elaine wouldn’t allow anyone to use her past and her illness to belittle her and make her lose confidence in herself. She took her bag from the vacant seat while the woman before her remained quiet. Before she left, she saw Janine storm inside the restaurant.

She was momentarily stunned. The expression on her face softened— opposite of Janine’s furious expression.

She didn’t move even slightly though she knew Janine’s palm would soon touch her cheek. She almost shook with the impact. She hadn’t recovered, yet she was pushed, and Janine pointed at her. She had to stay strong.

Janine was cussing and swearing like mad, but Elaine kept her lips tightly closed. She didn’t have intentions to retaliate, though she knew she could if she wanted to.

The girl in front of her isn’t the girl who can make heads turn because of her beauty and elegance. This was the real Janine Crisostomo—she was not just the daughter of AMM Hospital director, not just a genius doctor who exceled on almost everything. She was just some woman who looked perfect on the outside but suffering and bleeding from the inside.

Just like her.

Before.

Elaine clenched her teeth and fists. She allowed the woman to pour out her emotions and use harsh words. If those were the only things she could do to make herself feel good, then so be it.

Drew tried to get in between them. Even Mrs. Crisostomo tried to restrain her daughter. But Janine totally lost it. She felt the sting under her eyes when she attacked her again. She was not sure if it was her fingernail or the ring she was wearing that hit her.

Three years. That seemed like eternity. She was in the same shoes Janine was wearing now.

Elaine knew the feeling, although they went through different things and experienced different pain. She knew how dreadful it felt to be alone, stuck in the middle of a long and dark tunnel carrying loads of self-blame, worthlessness, and guilt.

Many times, she wanted to give up. She attempted to harm herself a couple of times believing her pain would end if she would end her life, but she failed each time. Until slowly, she had the courage to take steps to set herself free.

She didn’t want to get stuck in that lonely and scary tunnel anymore. She wanted to free herself from all the heartaches that blocked her happiness.

Yet Janine, who refused to get help, was still in there. She didn’t need judgment but compassion and understanding.

“Janine, hija. That’s enough.” said Mrs. Crisostomo in tears.

“Fight back, you stupid bitch!” Janine angrily said as if hearing nothing. She was about to pull her again when, out of nowhere, a man stepped between them. Janine’s hand hit the back of the newcomer.

Elaine’s mouth opened in surprise when she recognized Tan. He clenched his teeth when he saw her reddened cheek and the scratch under her eye. Before she could say anything, Tan held her tightly by the wrist while Janine was standing still.

Tan guided her towards the restaurant exit followed by a rattled Drew. Before they reached the door, Janine went after them. She was able to get a hold of Tan by the hand. He stopped walking, he swung around and met Janine’s angry gaze.

The girl was stunned when she saw Tan’s furious expression. While Elaine didn’t know what to do. Perhaps Tan felt it, he tightened his hold on her hand.

She looked up to her husband. His face was red, slightly clenching his jaws, restraining his anger, and trying to remain calm in front of her.

“I’m taking my wife with me,” he said, stressing the word wife. “Rest and go home.”

She swallowed and stared at Janine whose expression remained hardened.

“I’ll kill myself if you leave me. If I die, it’s going to be your fault,” said the girl who made Tan draw a deep breath and made her blink. She bit her tongue. She had a feeling her husband had an idea about Janine’s illness.

“You will never be happy with that woman, Tan. You should choose me and not her! Why? What is so good about her? She extorted money from you, lied to you.”

“Janine, hija. Let’s go. Let’s go home.” said Mrs. Crisostomo about to take her daughter but she refused.

“I will only go if Tan would take me home!” she hissed. “Tan, choose me. This time, choose me for real.”

Elaine removed Tan’s hand that held hers. With forehead creased, he stared at her. “Bring her home first, I’d ride with Drew. Let’s meet at home.”

“You are my wife. I’m going with you.”

“At home,” she said and forced a smile.

“Elaine…”

She crossed her hands behind her back when Tan attempted to take it again. She raised her eyes at him, pleading.

He left out a sigh of frustration, he read what she wanted to say through her eyes. He removed his gaze. He didn’t look at Janine because he knew the expression on her face. She probably was smiling devilishly thinking she won against her.

Elaine walked towards the exit of the restaurant, followed by Drew who kept throwing sullen glances at the mother and daughter.

Tan parked the car in front of the Crisostomo mansion. He looked at Janine who was seated beside him with arms crossed.

He took a deep breath. Pushed open the car door and went around to open the door for her.

Janine moved lazily. Removed the seat belt and went out. “Stay for tea,” she said. In a commanding tone instead of inviting.

“I’m leaving. My wife’s waiting for me.”

“Are you still angry?” she asked in a flat tone. As usual, no regret registered on her face’s expression. “Because of that woman you’re angry with me.”

Tan sighed. “Get inside.” He was about to turn his back when she spoke again.

“See? This is all her fault. If she didn’t return, we would’ve been fine—”

“It’s her I love. Understand that,” he cut her off.

Her look became sharp. “And what about me?”

“I made it clear right from the start. I have nothing to offer you. You know the reason why.”

“No. I’m the one you need, Tan. Not Elaine! That woman is a two-faced whore. She just wanted your money, have you forgotten? Me, I wouldn’t do that to you. I love you.”

He took a deep breath. He wanted to wish that Janine could understand even just the fact that he loved Elaine. But it was impossible to put sense into her brain. She won’t listen to anyone but herself.

He almost couldn’t breathe when he saw Janine’s palm hit Elaine’s face twice a while back. Elaine’s face was all red he wanted to wring Janine’s neck.

“I’ll take my leave. Get inside.” And he started walking towards his car.

“What I did to that girl, she deserved it! I’ll do it again until she gives us peace!”

Tan turned back with what she said. He shut her up with his angry gaze. “I’ll make sure that what you did to my wife will be the last time you ever do something like that! Don’t ever come near my wife or try to hurt her again. God help me, but I’m going to make you pay.” The hostility in his voice and the expression of his face was unnerving.

Janine wasn’t able to reply.

He continued to walk back to the driver’s seat. Mrs. Crisostomo’s car stopped beside his car.

“Tan, let’s talk.”

“I’ve done everything I can, Mrs. Crisostomo. Time to do your part. Your daughter needs psychological help. I’m not who she needs, you.”

“Ma’am, where do you really want to go? If we go round and round, we’ll be wasting my gas.”

The taxi driver asked her several times before he got Elaine’s attention. She grimaced. She didn’t notice they’d been going around because she was deeply thinking.

“Just let me out here, Manong. I’m sorry.”

The driver was already frowning so it’s better to get out than piss him off more. Anyway, it was just a few meters to their rented house, and she could walk.

She hurriedly went down, apologized to the driver again and gave him the payment. She started walking when her cell phone rang. It was Marco.

“Where are you?” he asked. “Don’t go home yet—”

“Too bad, I’m almost here. Why do you—”

“If you’re still in the car, turn back. Wait for me in the park. No, go to a crowded place.”

Elaine’s forehead creased. She could sense the worry and frustration in his voice. She felt nervous. “Why? I don’t have my car. I’m near the house. I’m walking—”

She dropped her cell phone. Out of nowhere, a hand roughly pulled her arm. Her back was on the cement wall when she was pushed by a guy. She lost her chance to scream when the man pulled out a knife and held it against her throat.

“Shout and I’ll kill you.”

Her eyes widened. She gasped. She recognized the guy. It was the painter who attempted to rape her more than a month ago!

Was this the reason Marco called? To warn her about Jack? Then it was true what Gigi said. Her cousin wouldn’t stop until the guy was put in jail.

Jack is wearing a black cap and jacket. She could feel the edge of the knife sinking into her neck. She could feel a sting on that part.

Elaine was expecting herself to freeze in panic and fright as usual. But aside from her increased heart rate and adrenaline, she was surprised to have found herself calculating and planning how to escape. Was she tired of playing dead every time she is in such situation?

It didn’t matter.

She held tightly to the handle of her bag. She was certain, two of the 3 Fs were her only choice tonight. It was either she would fight or flee. Freeze would never be an option again.

“Fuck!” Marco muttered in frustration. He quickly got out of his car. He ran down the somewhat dark road searching for Elaine. He wouldn’t be able to use the car on the narrow road if she was walking. According to Gigi, Elaine usually took the shortcut when walking.

Marco felt extreme heat from his gut. He was terribly worried when he confirmed and heard the guy’s voice on the other end of the line.

He needed to keep Elaine safe. Was he late? He wanted to curse at himself for the thought. He ran faster. He run through the first two streets and made sure she wasn’t there before proceeding to the third.

His heart was beating so fast as if it was hammering its own way out. He was worried and scared something bad might happen to Elaine.

But then, he saw her. In the middle of a narrow street. Looking down at an unconscious guy lying on the pavement.

Relief flooded his handsome face. His chest went up and down. He was like running a marathon a while ago. He slowed down until he was just walking slowly now.

He saw when Elaine picked up her cell phone from the ground. She was not trembling or panicking like the last time.

It was a relief.

Marco saw her typed something in her phone before putting it near her ear. He stopped walking. His eyes fixed on her.

She hasn’t seen him yet, maybe because it was dark where he stood. He wasn’t certain. All he knows now, despite his fast-beating heart from the adrenaline and fear, his heart flooded with relief now that he confirmed Jack didn’t succeed with his evil plan.

His cell phone rang. His heart started to race again. Elaine turned to where he was. She probably heard his ringtone.

She smiled a little when he saw him. They walked towards each other at the same time, and they also stopped when there was just a meter in between them.

“You had me worried,” he said. His eyes roaming her face, wanting to make sure she didn’t sustain even a scratch.

Elaine’s smile was faint as they held each other’s gazes. Marco could fathom why there were unshed tears of gratitude and loneliness in her eyes. She kept staring back at him as if she wanted to say…

“Stop liking me. Just look how unfair my heart is. You gave me a hundred reasons why I should run into your arms. But they lost to my only reason why I cannot do that. Because I know no matter how I force it, my heart cannot love you.”

There, she said it.

He managed to smile. He wasn’t surprised because even before, that’s what he expected to hear from. He was just hardheaded. He wouldn’t listen. Still wanted to hope for nothing.