14: Instinct

Jacob and I never spoke again before I left the house. We are now in Cebu. Awi and I work during the day and at night we continue to work out at the gym here in the condo where we checked in. I also didn't get to say goodbye to Cora because I couldn't reach her for a few days, so now the call is constant and the woman is sulking.

"Follow this if you want, we're really busy..." I also spent the night reading some important documents.

"Don't stop. By the way, did you talk to your wife before you left?"

"Not anymore. I'll just come back. I'll talk to him again." I really don't want to think about my problem because it will only make me sadder.

"Alright, Cora. ​​I'm going to do something."

"Okay. Be careful with that."

I took my duffle and followed Awi. I collapsed on the floor when we got back to our room with Awi. My secretary goes home after work to her parents' house. Because he is from Cebu.

I lay down on my bed after Awi and I arrived. I am very tired today. My body aches.

"Shall we have salad? And beer?"

I looked at Awi. We try hard to diet and work out and then drink more beer.

"The guard said earlier that there is a new restaurant opening across the street. There is a band now. Do you want to go?"

"My body hurts, Awi..."

"That's okay. You won't be able to sleep because you're so tired. Let's just eat, then we'll go home."

I don't like things like that, but so that Awi wouldn't sulk, I got up and got dressed. He even chose my clothes. She chose a puff blouse and skort for me to wear.

"Don't I look fat?"

"No, ah. You're cute, eh. You're tall and you're also big, that's why you've been reduced."

That's exactly what I waited to hear so that I wouldn't be ashamed to go out.

The restaurant we went to was good. The band also started playing.

We ordered steak and salad only. I was jealous of the other table because it looked delicious

dessert they ordered.

Awi and I looked at each other. "You can't," he reminded me.

"I don't even want you to order," I said. I can't fall, I have to stand up. This is for my own good.

We ate slowly while listening to good music. The band's voice is beautiful and cool and the songs are also powerful to feel.

Until a waiter approached us and brought ladies drinks.

"We didn't order that..."

"The customer is giving it to table number eight, Ma'am." He pointed to the table at the end but no one was sitting there.

"Ah, where is that?" The waiter scratched his head.

"It's paid, Ma'am."

"N-No-"

Awi cut me off. "Thank you."

The waiter bowed politely and left.

I turned around and looked for the one who gave it even though I didn't know who it was and what he looked like. And wait, the waiter didn't even say if it was a man or a woman.

"Who could that be, right?" And Awi drank first.

"It's delicious, try yours. Maybe it's not bad if we drink alcohol, it just has a low alcohol content."

It seemed inviting to drink so I drank it too. So that I can sleep well. I was really tired and my body was super sick, especially my back.

"Maybe your secret admirer." I almost threw up what I was drinking.

"What? Maybe you!" It is very impossible for anyone to like me. How i wish. And how I wish my husband would like me.

"Maybe it's beautiful for us," he still hissed. I shook my head and showed my rings.

He smiled and shook his head. I know what's that for.

He feels and knows what my wife and I's status is but he doesn't say anything, probably because he respects me.

It was also a bit late so we went back to our unit. When we finished what we had to do here in Cebu, we went back to Manila for some papers we needed.

"Let's eat first before we go to the airport..." Where the restaurant was not full, that's what Awi and I entered. Only to be terrified by what I saw inside.

Jacob, he is here and he has a beautiful woman with him.

"This way, Ma'am."

I really want to leave and find somewhere else to eat because Awi and I are really hungry, we've already passed our fasting.

Our attending waiter seated us on the other side of the restaurant.

"Are they ready, the waiting time won't take ten minutes?" Only Awi ordered from us. I'm already weak and dizzy, and because of what I saw I feel like I'm going to lose consciousness.

When he was in college, he had relationships with various beautiful women. I used to be hurt even though I had no rights when I saw him with him at the parties that our families went to. What else can we do now that we are married? We are married but I still feel that I have no right to him. There is a right, but that right is not granted to me, because he only married me for a reason that I didn't know.

It was gone when we left the restaurant.

"Are you alright, Precious?"

"Huh? It's fine, Awi."

"We can only take the flight tonight... Do you want to talk to your wife?"

I smiled. "I don't know where he is, Awi. And I don't think he'll want to see me." Even if I text him, he might not have read it yet.

"Okay."

When I arrived at the airport, I texted Jacob.

"I'm going to Singapore. Maybe you and Daddy will meet and he'll ask me. I just said so you know what to say just in case."

I didn't expect him to reply but I waited anyway.

Until I couldn't stand it anymore.

"Nakita kita sa restaurant kanina. All I'm asking you is respect our marriage. If you can't respect me, respect my father atleast."

"I'm on a business meeting earlier. She's a client."

He texted this when we got to the hotel in Singapore. Awi also read the text because we were next to each other in bed. Being so tired, we went to bed together. We share a bed now because those with two beds are fully booked. She suggested that we just get one room to save money. There's no need to save, it's better to have someone in the room so I don't go crazy, especially now that I'm thinking about something else.

Awi took out his phone.

"They say the woman is familiar, huh."

"Who's the girl?" I asked before looking at his screen. That's right, she's the same girl Jacob was with earlier at the restaurant. She is beautiful.

"It was two months ago, oh. Before you and Jacob got married."

He stalked the girl's post. This picture is from before our wedding. He was with Jacob and some of their friends. They are in a bar. He was smiling while beside him was Jacob who was serious and looking at him in a different way.

"Is it really a client? I don't want you to overthink, huh, especially since we're here for business. But sometimes you have to trust your instinct."

Yes, and even if my instinct is right, what can I do? There are a lot of things, but my option right now is not to divorce him. Even if it hurts to be his wife.