Chapter Eleven: Elaine Martinez-De Marco

"WHERE are we heading next? Are you going to pick me up tonight or we'll just meet at your condo, whatever it is just let me know?" Drew asked her as soon as pulled up in front of the Baclaran Church.

"You have to go to work tonight, don't you ever— And I have to go on a date, so please, spare me,"

"Yeah right! There were neither wedding vows nor kisses. So if there's no honeymoon, screw him," Drew clicked the tip of her tongue. "Tell me how long did it take or how many rounds did you guys do when we meet tomorrow, alright?" Drew chortled.

Elaine burst out laughing. "Jesus, stop,"

Shaking her head, she pulled the plastic bag with take-out food she bought for Macon and Mr. Chito and handed it over to Drew.

"I'll visit some other time, okay?"

"Sure. Phone me when there's a problem,"

At any rate, right after Drew had left, the smile on her lips also faded. Her eyes landed on her right hand that was gripping on the steering wheel.

She just realized while talking with Drew earlier, aside from there aren't any exchanged wedding vows and kisses, Tan didn't give her a wedding ring as well. She was trying to hide it under the table just so her friend wouldn't notice.

When she drove past Baclaran, Elaine decided to head to The Palace Mall. Before the clock reached six, she had already reached her destination and went directly to Ainsdale. She then placed the take-out food on the counter. The staff seemed busy rearranging the displays on the rack.

There were two customers in the boutique. Anne was currently busy assisting the other customer. She pinned her name tag on and approached the second customer with a broad smile.

"How may I help you, Sir?" she greeted.

From the display, the man's eye flew towards her. Their eyes met. Then a smile curved onto his lips. Elaine's jaw almost dropped in utter disbelief. It was the police with a red sports car. Marco Figueroa  as she had recalled.

Elaine's face turned sour. What was he even doing in her shop? Annoyed, she shuffled the hanging clothes on the rack violently.

"You need something for your wife, Sir?" she asked with a forceful accommodating voice she could ever pull out.

"No one is going to be interested with your items if that's how you market,"

Elaine rolled her eyes irritatedly. For such an unknown reason, she perceived him as a pain in the neck. Probably because he was giving her a hard time back in the police station. Their discussion about violations ended for way too long and she hated it.

"What are you even doing here?"

She had gotten suspicious. He didn't look as surprised as she thought he would when he saw her in the boutique.

"Christ. I was the victim yet you treated me like it was my fault,"

She glowered at him. "Are you here to purchase something or what?"

Was he following her? If he was planning to squeeze some money off of her then he had nothing to gain from her anyway.

"I'm here to purchase,"

"For your wife? What size do you want?"

"Do I look like I'm married?"

Quickly, she stared at him from head to foot. Then she smirked mischievously.

"It looks like you already had two,"

Amused, the guy burst out laughing. She shot him a violent glare. Good-looking and seemed pleasant. But her vote was on Tan still. She could even cast a double vote for him if odds permit.

"Give me this, and this, and this one, too. Give me anything according to your size," he said in between chuckles.

She gave him a suspicious look. "Are you trying to hit on me? I'm sorry to disappoint you, I'm—"

"Who's the owner?" an aged aristocratic woman's voice echoed in the boutique. The tip of her high-heeled sandals clicked on the floor as she walked in. She carried an intimidating look on her face.

Elaine rushed towards the new customer to personally assist her.

"Hey!" the officer protested when she left him abruptly.

She glanced over her shoulder and mouthed, "Owner!"

Pissed, she rolled her eyes at him before heading forward to accommodate the new customer.

Right away, she noticed the LV handbag and Oscar De la Renta outfit that the lady was wearing before she could even come closer.

"You are Elaine Martinez?"

"Elaine Martinez - De Marco speaking, Ma'am," she responded as sweetly as she could.

The woman scuffed before lifting her hand and slapped her hard on the face. She was slightly taken aback by the force. She wanted to touch her face to somehow ease the pain but just like before, she was glued to her feet.

"You shameless, thick-faced, scheming bitch! If you think you will be happy for what you did to my daughter, then you are absolutely wrong. I'll make sure you'll have to pay for the price! Mind you!" she gritted her teeth, it was as though she was trying to keep her voice modulated. Her finger was pointing at her.

Elaine tried to keep her balance intact by gripping tightly onto the nearest rack. Her knees started to shake and her heart started to pound violently.

She felt like her surroundings started to spin around. Then a surge of voices began to swirl around her ears. Like waves crashing back and forth on the rock. She heard raging voices, followed by threatening, swearing, and hysterical laughs around her.

No! Stop! Stop! She was panicking. She held her breath. She wanted to reach for her medicine inside her coat but fear seemed to overpower. She felt nothing but fear. Perhaps, people would hurt her more if she made a single move.

Thankfully, Marco rushed to her side. She felt his hand gripping her arms tightly, holding her carefully. At last, Elaine was able to heave out a heavy breath she was trying to hold for who knows how long.

Marco mentioned something about assault and legal actions she hardly understood. The woman scowled at her before spinning on her heels and walked away as if nothing happened. Concern didn't even cross her face as she left.

The woman had gone and Elaine was left behind, at a loss for words. She wasn't even sure what was the slap for. She was completely knocked out from her senses to even ask why.

"Elaine..." Anne's worried voice registered in her ears. She had no idea how long she was there on her side.

THE liquid gushed out to the countertop as soon as Elaine snapped the canned beer open. The lid popped almost quickly. She then brought the tip to her mouth. It was her second can already. After the incident back in the shop, Anne sent her home so that she could take a breather.

She wanted to stay as long as her employees do. Assist the customers, smile, and share laughter or whatnot and pretend as if no harm was done. But she couldn't bear to face Marco anymore after what happened. The unexpected scandal caused her to lose face. Why does he even have to witness all that?

The clock reached six when Elaine arrived in her condo unit. She dropped by the famous bakeshop in town to buy a cake. She was hoping that Tan would at least appear that night.

She tried calling him but the latter kept canceling all her calls. Sadness swept into her furthermore.

She let herself collapse on the carpeted floor, exhaling. The scene back in the shop crashed back into her. The way the woman pointed her finger at her. The insults and the slap. The fit of terror. Marco's voice as he rushed to her side. She needed time to process everything. She just found out later on who the woman was.

Corazon Crisostomo.

Janine's mother. She was in her mid-fifties. The woman still carried her nonchalant aura after humiliating her in front of the customers. Nevertheless, Elaine could not spot any anger from her heart. She urged herself to understand the woman's wrath towards her. Truth is, she envied Janine for that matter. She had her mother on her side, willing to do everything to protect her daughter. Disregarding the possible consequences ahead. She was old and she just attacked a twenty-five-year-old lady.

She smiled bitterly. They have such a perfect life served right before them. While she could not stop thinking about how the world forsook her all the time. Ignoring the threatening tears, she snatched the can of beer in front of her and gulped the remaining all at once.

She brought her hand to her cheek. It seemed like it was becoming more red and sore. She felt like the woman's palm left a mark on her cheek. She then placed the cold can onto her cheek, hoping it could somehow ease the redness and pain before consuming it fully.

Her doorbell buzzed, startling her a little bit. She glanced at the wall clock. Quarter to nine. It could not be Tan. He usually arrived home before the crack of dawn from the hospital. Sometimes, it would take her days before she could see him come home after work.

Feeling lethargic, she sprung to her squatting position before dragging herself towards the door. She yanked it open, revealing Tan. Her heart began to race like crazy, unsure whether to rush to him and hug him as tightly as she could.

"I need you to sign some papers," he told her right away, carrying his business-like tone.

"O-okay..." she obliged.

It does not matter. As long as he came that night was what all that matters to her. His mere presence is enough to calm her every nerve.

"Come in," she was about to turn around when he caught her by the arm.

Just like that, she just turned submissive. Her eyes locked on him. His forehead was creasing. She held her breath, trying so much for him not to notice how loud the beating of her heart was. It was as though a spark of electricity cascaded through her heart feeling the warmth of his palm against her skin.

"What happened to your face?" he asked.

She blinked. She was knocked back to her senses. She lifted her hand to hide it from him but Tan was fast to catch her hand.

She froze to the ground when he brushed a few strands of her hair to check her face. He was staring intently at her.

Nostalgia hit back to her. The feeling was so familiar. Elaine felt sentimental. Her eyes started to water. Just like a few years ago, she wanted to vent out to him. But afterward, he let out a sigh and disappointedly released her from his grip.

"Aren't you too old for a thug, Elaine?"