Chapter Nine

The next few days only made my heart heavier. It also didn’t help that I always saw Rod in the office because I was just not able to move properly.

My mommy and daddy, they were worried. Although I want to make the most of the time I spend with him, I can’t do it often.

My husband has another family. . . or did he really become my husband?

I no longer know what is true in the dream. But maybe if I found out, I would definitely not be able to accept either.

I lost my attention to what was being done when someone shouted from outside the office. I went to it immediately and was so shocked when I saw Rod just bent over while being shouted at by Dad’s employee.

“You’re just a dumb asshole! My command is simple, but you have not yet done it! You know, I don’t even know why our boss even hired you here. This company has no place for high school graduates like—”

“Mrs. De Castro, tell my Dad that he will fire you.”

The people there were silent. Even the employees stayed in their place but gossiped about what was happening.

Mrs. De Castro also looked at me in shock. I did not know her, but fortunately, I clearly saw her ID before speaking.

“What–”

“What? Did you not get what I said? Wait a minute! My command is simple, but you have not yet done it! You know, I don’t even know why our boss even hired you here. This company has no place for people who feel superior just because you graduated for whatever degree like you,” I said directly, imitating the few lines he threw at Rod earlier.

“And please, don’t tell me to show some respect. Even if you say you are older than me, don’t teach me to respect people like you. It’s not about age; this is a give and takes process. . . Learn to respect other people, and then I’ll tell you if you deserve some respect. “

When I had finished speaking, I turned to Rod, who had trembling hands as well as a few of those present.

“Go back to your place,” I said, then headed back to my own office.

I know it is wrong to use my power as the daughter of the owner of the company, but I also do not know what happened to me.

I just felt the urge to do that, especially since Rod was the victim of it. I felt that I need to defend him.

Does he get that a lot? Was he also often insulted and belittled because of work?

I don’t even know anything about that. I know what he went through was even harder because he was changing jobs because no one almost wanted to accept him.

When I felt my stomach crumble, I quickly grabbed my wallet and the cellphone and then went down. We didn’t talk to mommy today because they were too busy, so I had no choice but to eat alone outside.

But as soon as I was about to get out, the guard there immediately approached me and handed me a small paper bag.

“Someone wanted to give this to you, Ma’am.”

I slowly thanked and peeked inside then. I was exposed to a small piece of paper with a letter.

“I’m not sure if you like these foods but thank you, Ma’am. I don’t know where to pick me up when I get fired from its company.” I read what was written in the letter.

This is from Rod again.

He was always like this. He always thinks of me even though he can no longer remember me now.

I remember when I graduated from college and got into trouble at home. He welcomed and told daddy that he had no problem even if he was fired from the company. He said that would not stop him from fighting for me.

But now, he can’t even imagine himself when daddy completely removes him from here.

He loves me. I know he loves me, and that is not just a dream. Rod loves me. He loves me. . .

“Ma’am! What are you doing here?”

Next, I realized myself opposite the maintenance office. Unlike when I first went there, there are fewer people now.

Everyone is busy talking. On the side, I saw Rod as if unaware of what was going on around him. He just looked at the picture he was holding as if that was all that was important to him.

“C-Can I come in?” A few people inside heard what I said, so they quickly adjusted their seats. That doesn’t include Rod, who is really busy looking.

“Yes, Ma’am. There’s no problem. Just forgive us because it’s a bit messy.”

I just nodded and thanked them then he guided me inside.

“Hey, Rod. Sit down, and Ma’am Jewel is there!” I wanted to laugh at what I saw. Rod was shocked and struggled to fix himself.

I sat on a plastic chair and then rolled my eyes at the place. This is okay, just because there is little for almost twenty people I saw in the past.

“Have you eaten?”

Everyone was silent and looking at each other. I just noticed the plastic food containers that were still on the side and looked like they hadn’t been opened yet.

“Let’s eat together! Then, we’ll order some desserts after. It would be a pity for him to carry your bag if we order more for lunch,” I said while smiling.

They just blinked. I turned to Rod as if he couldn’t believe what I was saying. When he noticed my glance, he immediately got the signal.

“It’s true. Let’s eat together, and then you will demand when you want later,” he said, then smiled at me.

I bit my lip so hard to stop the crazy grin. Why is that one still smiling at me? I just laughed to myself.

The people there immediately shouted. He grabbed some new food, and we ate together.

In just a few minutes, the wall between the people there and me seemed to disappear. They have their own stories. Often they talked about their interaction with the Jewel that they knew as if it wasn’t me.

“I just can’t believe it, Ma’am! You were mad at me then because I was a little close to you. You told me, ‘don’t come near me because I stink,’” said a man there whom they called Billy.

I was a little surprised there. Is that really the case with my habit? I just smiled at him and signed peace, so those who were there laughed again. “You don’t stink. Maybe I only have two non, so it’s rude.” He explained.

“Do you always have “dalaw” back then, Ma’am?” I was suddenly taken aback by the few men there. At the same time, we turned to Rod, who did not seem to expect what he said either.

It only took a few seconds before everyone burst out laughing.

They are actually the best people. You will not find them arrogant and evil. You know they will do nothing because their intentions are clear to everyone.

After eating, I also ordered the halo-halo and ice cream I ordered earlier. The shout inside was filled with obviously happy fun. Imagine kids wanting to want to eat ice cream.

I stayed with them until lunch was over. It seems like any problem I can think of is gone. I momentarily forgot this was in the world I knew.

When a few needed to go back to work, I said goodbye as well.

“Ma’am!” Rod called me as I was walking out the door of the maintenance office.

I took a deep breath looking at him.

“Ma’am, thank you very much for all your help. It’s just that my job is important to me. . . for my family. “

I could not help but put the situation in what was happening to us then. Rod wants to give us a good life. And if he was tired or insecurities ate him, I should have taken him even more seriously. I should have thought more of all the hardships he was experiencing at work.

Now everything is clear to me. If I have any regrets. . . it is that I did not understand my husband back then.

He is the one who often asks me how I am and how my day is. But not once did I even ask him how he was. I did not even think of visiting him at work.

My eyes immediately blurred due to the tears, but I tried to cover them with a smile. I can’t cry in front of this man. I am to blame for what happened, so I have no right to do that.

From now on, I will just consider what happened during those four years in my mind as a good dream.

Even though my hands were shaking, I tried to put them on his shoulder. I tapped it lightly.

“‘D-Don't worry. I know how hard you work here. I’ll make you stay here for as long as you want. . . p-promise.”

I held back tears a few more times, but in the end, I did not. “Excuse me.”

When I ran, I immediately went to the parking lot and quickly searched for the car. There I quickly shed tears.

The pain. . . the pain. I can not accept that I am hurt by something I do not know if it really happened.

Are those four people real? Is it true that Rod became my husband, and is Jihan real? Is my child real?

Because if not, why does it hurt? Why am I hurting?

Why am I hurt by the fact that Rod has another family while I am stuck in a situation that only I know?

I leaned my full weight on the car seat. I want to get lost, I want to punch the steering wheel, but I can’t even move my hands in its extreme tremors.

Later I heard a faint knock from outside the car. When I turned around, I saw the anxious Rod's face outside and seemed to be waiting for me to open the car door.

“Rod. . . are you real?” I whispered in despair.