Chapter 4

 

    Does she need to rub it on my face? What is her problem? 

    Fine, I get it. She's a genius. She's can do anything. She has a Midas touch, everything she touches bends into gold. She's a one-woman show I just happened to be the sidekick.

    I lose control over the company because of one stupid mistake. And now this thing happened I’ve always felt like Angela was taking on the world, while I was just struggling to live in it. I could say that life is a fucked up hard. But It wasn’t always like that I used to be on the top too. Before, now my face slammed at the bottom of a pit.

    When Angela and I meet ten years ago. I already said to myself, that I finally found the right woman for me. She's timid and loves to be alone. Maybe, because she came from a rich family that is why she can't easily trust anybody. And I manage to break her wall and entered her world. That's the reason why I fell in love with her. Angela's too good to be true she's perfect. She was not supposed to marry someone like me but she fights for me. And now we're married for ten years. And I can't add the word 'happily married' cause' I always found myself asking am I really happy?

    I let out a heavy sigh.

    If he could turn back time. He would never do the same mistake's over and over again. About the wrong ruling of the company that Angela's parents build for her. It was five freaking years ago but in my memory, it seems like it all happened yesterday. 

    I hold my wrist out, admiring my new watch. It’s beyond expensive. Despite the cost, it was still a thoughtful gift. That’s Angela for you. She is thoughtful, even if she’s never around.

    She was never around. Don't get me wrong, I love my wife. But, sometimes things got too much to handle.

    "Daddy..." Thomas yell.

    Instantly I'm snapped out of my reverie. And there he is Thomas my one and only son. Running barefoot, at the beautiful white sand, and the saltwater is dripping all over his small body. He's just wearing his boardshorts having the greatest time of his life.

    "I'll be right here. Don't go any further!" I shouted back at him. Waving and pointing where I am sitting at.

    I'm on the shore. Underneath the nipa cottage and just like that.  My thoughts were drowning over my perfect wife. How cool is that! I'm embarrassed that I'm the man. I should be on top of the food chain, but some things didn't go as we plan. I shoved the discouragement thought, and I started to acknowledge that I'm in a paradise. 

    I close my eyes and feel the gentle breeze of salty air. And all I could hear was the sound of the waves crashing the shore, children laughing, birds chirping, and the sound of the leaves dancing. Perfect ambiance to relax. After all the harsh world he was living in.

    "Daddy. . . daddy! Look who is with me," Thomas shouted gleefully. "Look who found me!"

    I open my eyes and darted it to the woman that Thomas was tugging with. Shocked was all written on my face. When they're close to where I'm sitting. I couldn't help to blink numerous times as if my eyes playing tricks on me.

    But it's not. She's real!

    "Maria? W-what are you doing here?" I almost stammer.

    "Don't be a silly daddy. We're at the beach, of course, Aunt Maria will be here," Thomas who's the one who answered my silly questions. "Right aunt?" And he looked up to the woman standing beside him.

    I felt embarrassed. Yeah, technically we're on a beach. So basically she's on a vacation also.

    Maria can't help to laugh at Thomas. Her eyes. Her beautiful brown eyes are lit up--filled with hope and joy. And it's making my heart skipped. And her laugh. Oh crap! All I could hear was an angel singing. Her brown wavy hair is messy right now but. Damn! How could simple hair makes this woman so damn sexy and effortlessly beautiful?

    "Oh, Thomas. I missed your little antics, I didn't imagine seeing you both here," she said to Thomas and then looked at me.

    Just like that their eyes do the talking.

    He felt it. There is a fire burning between the two of them. It was a bad feeling but... I am addicted to this kind of feeling.

    "I...ahm, No we..we are having our vacation here," I looked at her intently and felt a little embarrassed how the hell did he just stun. "You didn't answer my question." His mind can't pinpoint why Maria is here. She's not supposed to be here.

    "I was having my vacation too." She said and give me her warmest smile. A warm smile he badly needed right now.

    "You. Do?" I asked wondering.

    Cause' the last time I texted her, she was in Manila. Doing great with her little boutique a garden of Eden in the middle of the busy street.

    "Aunt Maria, come let's swim." Thomas was thugging, Maria. His action earned a musical laugh from Maria.

    "Sure, you go first and I'll be with you in a second," she said with so much gentleness in her voice.

    This is the reason why I love this woman. She was a breath of fresh air, for a man like me.

    "Kay' I'll go with my newly found friends over there,"  Thomas turned his back on us and hopping with glee. 

    Then, my eyes darted to the woman in front of me. I grabbed her wrist and gently settled her down. She's now sitting beside me I can't help to hold her hand tightly. I want to do more but I need so much self-control and secondly, we're in a public place right now, badly need to calm down. It sucks knowing that you are forbidden from doing sweet stuff in the public eye even if you love each other. Well, technically we're in a taboo relationship so I'm not allowed to fret.

    And lastly, I need to calm my gifted buddy down there. He goes wild every time Maria's with me.

    Calm down, buddy. We will get there trust me. I talked to my best friend hiding between my two legs.

    "I miss you," I said to Maria with so much longing.

    "I miss you more," she replied with the same intensity I was giving.

    Now my vacation would never be boring as hell!

    Or so I thought...