Chapter 19: Back

“You smell like strawberries,” I curse myself non-stop after my wife said that. Kakakain ko lang ng strawberries kanina when she’s washing the dishes. And literally forgot about it.

I take a deep breathe and look at the mirror. Ang dami kong kapalpakan nagawa ngayon. I almost exposed myself earlier when Gregg called me. Kasamahan ko dati sa kampo when I joined the army. I never thought na magkikita kami sa gorcery store kanina.

And I just realized lately na namali ako ng contact lens na suot. Kinuha ko ang cellphone sa drawer at nakitang may missed call si Lee.

Tumingin muna ako kay Lorelay saka lumabas. Lee is calling again. Kinuha ko ang sinigang na dinala niya sa kwarto at ibinaba. Agad na sinalubong ako ni Oprah. I gained weight everyday. I need to go to gym to exercise or else tataba ako. I ate twice a night.

I can’t say no to my wife. She cooked it for me so ayaw kong sayangin.

“Shein,”

“Yes?”

“Where are you?”

“Home. Why?”

“I saw your brother,”

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