CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE — SPECIAL CHAPTER: HANDCUFFED

Tan didn’t remove his eyes from Marco since the time he approached the bar counter to order a drink and even when he went to the two-seater table he occupied. He sighed when the police started pouring alcohol into two glasses served by the waiter a while ago. 

He wanted to refuse the guy’s offer to ride in his car, but since Tan had left his car in the Crisostomo mansion, and because he wanted to hear directly from the policeman’s mouth what is his real intention was for getting close to his wife.

They were in The Hub. Marco chose the place, which made Tan wonder. The table they occupied when they came in was for two and in the corner. It was Tuesday and the bar was almost empty.

“I’m treating you to a bottle of whiskey. But you don’t even know how to drink,” he said, He pushed the glass of whiskey in front of him before he took the other glass for himself and leaned back his chair.

He avoided drinking, not just because it was bitter or bad for your health. Elaine was a heavy drinker and would get drunk and wasted. Nobody could look after his wife if they were both wasted.

If he will be the one drunk, it would be a disaster. The first time he got himself drunk, he kissed Elaine for the first time. She wanted to kill him the next day when he admitted he can’t remember anything. But that made her his wife, so, no harm done.

Tan smiled at the memory, but he turned formal again when the one before him cleared his throat upon seeing him smile. Marco leaned forward, held his gaze with a serious expression on his face.

Marco was the first to look away. Checked out the surrounding. “Do you know why I chose this place?”

He didn’t reply but waited for what he has to say next.

“This was where I saw Elaine again after she was gone a long time before.”

Like moments ago, Tan did not reply. He knew Elaine from way back, but he didn’t know for sure when he first entered his wife’s life. Nonetheless, he knew he owed him a debt of gratitude. The guy was there when he was nowhere beside Elaine.

“Elaine was sitting there all alone…” Marco pointed to the bar counter. He followed with his eyes. “In the same spot you occupy whenever you’d come here-alone or with your twin.”

Tan forehead slightly creased.

“I’ve been looking for your wife but not once, I’ve never been interested even a little bit with your life.” Marco’s mouth twisted in a wry smile. He must be a mind reader or something. “Elaine had been through a lot for protecting you and your family’s name. I keep thinking, if Elaine only had an ordinary person for a husband, she might not need to go through all that hardship and pain alone. Her pain wouldn’t be as agonizing as it was if she had someone she could talk to and that person listened, protected her, and didn’t leave her alone. After all, that really is the primary responsibility of a husband to his wife, right?”

Right. Tan’s taste turned bitter. He admits, he failed miserably in his promise to stay by her side and protect her.

“Her husband was a good for nothing bastard who could not obviously do it. So, must I?” he said. His now intense gaze fixed on his face. Like him, Marco stared back even when his jaw slightly clenched while holding his gaze. “I told myself I’m going to take good care of this woman. I’m going to love her twice as much as she deserves the love. I’d delete even the first letter of her husband’s name from her memory. That and more.”

Marco gulped the whiskey in his glass. Tan did the same. It surprised him; he didn’t taste the bitterness of it. He rather tasted the bitterness of the truth multiplied by a hundred-then double that.

Every word this jerk said hit home. If only it could cut, he would’ve died of blood loss. He should’ve punched him a long time ago. Maybe if he hit him, he’d shut up. But surprisingly, he felt those words served him right. He deserved to hear more insulting truth. Maybe he’d somehow feel better.

“But then no matter how hard I tried, in the end, Elaine still wouldn’t choose me. Not in this lifetime, probably not even in the next,” he said, his smile bittersweet. He left out a deep sigh.

Very slightly, Tan’s facial expression softened.

“I’m not giving her up because I know I can’t hold a candle to the person she truly loves. I’m letting her go because I know she will be happier with you. But let me warn you, if I see her crying because of you, I wouldn’t think twice. Snatcher, usurper, whatever you people call it, I’ll steal her away from you. Next time, I’m not letting destiny get its way with me.”

A wry smile briefly touched the corners of Tan’s mouth. He picked up the bottle of whiskey. He personally poured some whiskey into Marco’s glass before pouring some on his own.

“Don’t you have anything to say? Aren’t you going to punch me on the face?” Marco said. “I’m ready for it.”

He smirked. He raised his glass in front of the guy before putting it down in front of him. Never had he met someone as bold as this one. 

Marco’s eyebrows lifted when he widely grinned.

“What for? If I destroy your face, wife wouldn’t like you all the more. Drink up.”

Just a few minutes passed, Tan was down on the table.

Marco drank his remaining whiskey while shaking his head. He stood and got his wallet from his jean back pocket. He left money on the table and tried to wake Tan up. But he just moaned. He breathed deeply. Assisted Tan to stand and walked until they were out of the bar.

Marco sighed when Tan was finally put inside his car. Tan was still sleeping soundly. He put his hands on his waist. He wanted to berate himself. Why did he invite this guy for a drink? He already passed out and they have only been inside less than an hour!

After putting on the seatbelt on Tan, Marco went around to the driver’s seat.

Before ten that night, Marco was already parking his car in front of the rented house of Tan and Elaine. He deeply breathed again.

He felt for his keys in Tan’s coat. But aside from the key, he also felt a small box. He took another deep breath. He knew what it was even if he didn’t open it.

Marco gazed at the old house that remained dark and without light. It seems he had to let go of Elaine sooner.

He opened the car door on his side and got off. He opened Tan’s door. He groaned and then took a deep sigh. The bastard was still sleeping and that would mean he was twice heavier. But he was the only man he knew who could fix the fragmented heart of the woman he ever loved. Even if you triple his weight if that meant Elaine’s happiness, he was more than willing to carry him and tuck him in bed.