Elaine’s face turned pale and rushed outside the room. She did not wait for Tan to say another word or he’d see her almost breaking to tears just because of his angry snap. She was still confused and stunned as she went inside her room, locked the doors and sat at the edge of his bed.
She thought Tan and Janine’s relationship was over. Mrs. Crisostomo even slapped her for ruining her daughter’s life. She could not even believed that Tan did not end his relationship with Janine. He was not the disloyal type of man. He believed in the sacredness of a wedding regardless the circumstances.
All the De Marco men were all one-woman kind. Yeah, right, she agreed. But those men were faithful because their wives were loyal and good people. How about her? All those months they were together, could she even tell how many days or weeks Tan had ever felt happy?
Why was she even surprised and hurt? Tan clearly said they owe no marital obligation to each
Tan did not wait for the man to react. He turned away, and carried Elaine, knowing that the man at the gate was following them with his eyes.Elaine moaned softly. And as if looking for warmth, she pressed her face on his hard chest. Tan took a deep breath, calming his senses. She reeked of liquor. The smell completely and surprisingly blended well with her natural scent – which was… God help him – was still very familiar to him.Tan shook his head to throw away the unwanted emotion. He carefully laid Elaine on her bed when they entered her room. A moan of protest escaped her throat. Then suddenly, as if awake, and stopping him from leaving, she grabbed his arm.Tan wanted to kick himself. Just a while ago she didn’t hesitate to take Elaine away from that man’s arms. But now that he was alone with her in this small room, her touch felt like a wildfire burning his skin.Tan withdraw his hands and gaze at the woman lying restl
Elaine tightly shut her eyes when she heard Tan trying to unlock the door to her room. She gripped her chest and bit her lower lip, waiting for the pain in her chest to subside.Eventually, her breathing returned to normal. Tearful and sweaty she released the tight hold of her chest.However, she has no plans of coming out. She won’t let him see her like that. She doesn’t need his pity, but his forgiveness and acceptance. She felt her tear-stained face.Guilt.It had been eating her up for the past three years.No matter how difficult, she deserves to bear it by herself. Until she is able to forgive herself.Outside the room, Tan raised his clenched knuckle to knock on the door. The door was locked. He was holding the house key Marco gave him a while ago.Why did he go back? To return the key to Elaine? He’d be lying if he’d say that’s the reason. He foolishly wanted to check on her. She drank a lot and c
“I’ll just share with Danielle and Jenna.” Elaine stood up from where she sat. Should she brought one for herself? Stupid of her, she did not know. She was about to walk towards Danielle and Jenna’s tent when Tan stopped her and held her hand – which he immediately let go.“Just look how small their tent is. Their bags alone would take up all the space in the tent,” he said, pointing to Danielle’s tent which was a few meters away from where they were.He’s right, Elaine agreed quietly. Danielle brought a lot. She hired three porters to carry their baggage up the mountain. These apart from what Jenna, brought along with her.Many different things occupied Elaine’s thoughts these past few days. Bringing a tent slipped her mind altogether and she just packed a few hours before the trip. What would she do now? Sleep outside than try to fit herself with Danielle and Jenna?Elaine shivere
“I-is she having a heart attack or something?” asked Richard. He’s almost stuttering getting his tongue tangled up when he saw Elaine having difficulty trying to catch her breath.If Tan had his way, he wanted to kill Richard right then and there. But he let him run away when he saw his burning glare.Tan knew better. Elaine wasn’t having a heart attack, she just felt like she was having one. Her eyes were out of focus, she looked like she was separated from her surroundings while extreme fear was clear from her enlarged eyes.With such a heavy heart Tan sat beside her. He took her cold and trembling hands from her chest. It was like he was repeatedly being punched in the chest as she held them.Using her thumb, he wiped the tears streaming from her eyes. He saw her blinked then stared at her though the gaze was still not yet focused.Tan gently squeezed her palm.“Look at me, Elaine. I’m here. It’s
It was four o’clock in the afternoon when they reached Ranger’s Station. Like before, Danielle and the group chose Vizcaya trail. After tipping the tour guide, Tan came up to her.“The police station is close by. I’ll go with you to file a complaint and blotter Richard before we go home.”“I-I don’t have plans to file a case against him,” she replied.“After what the guy did to you? You were almost…” Tan uttered in disbelief.Elaine raised her eyes at him, studied him nervously. Did he witness her panic attack last night? She can’t remember. She did not even know how long the episode lasted or how it really ended.“There were witnesses…” said Tan. As if he could read the questions on her mind. “That asshole assaulted and harassed you. He deserved to be in jail but you won’t put him in there?” he asked her with
Elaine forced herself to take her gaze away from Tan. Although she didn’t want to, but her eyes voluntarily landed on Janine who remained quietly seated in her chair. She gracefully took the water goblet on the table and slowly drank it.Elaine flinched when she felt Marco gentle squeeze on her shoulder. She raised her eyes at him. Marco looked away. His jaw flexed when he saw the tears in her eyes. Before the tears begin to fall, Marco hurriedly geared her towards the exit.One last time, Elaine turned to look at Tan. He was also looking at them. The emotion that’s evident in his eyes was unreadable to her, for her own eyes have been blurred with tears.She bit her lip hard, her chin quivered as she tried to rein her emotion. She wanted to cry but he was being held back by Marco’s tight hold.While walking out of the restaurant, Elaine wished Tan would run after her. Wished that he would take her hand and explain to her why he was with
Tito Ralph, sprang in front of Marco soon as he opened the front door. The old man had his arms crossed, glaring at him.“You’re frequently home late, Marco. I passed by the station, they said you left at five in the afternoon. It’s already twelve o’clock, and you just got here.”Marco took off his shoes and put them in the shoe rack near the door.“Did you meet up with her again?” he asked.He straightened up. “We just ate outside, Uncle.”“Marco…”He smiled. “I’ll just take a shower, uncle. I already stink.”Tito Ralph followed him with his worried gaze.Marco sat by the side of the bed when he entered his room. He took out his cell phone from the pocket of his leather jacket. He started scrolling his gallery photos, paused and stared at Elaine’s photos he took when he asked her to fit the clothes he bought for her self-made-fianc
Elaine’s head was spinning. Her eyes were begging him to spare her but the man didn’t even flinch a little.Then the elevator door opened. When the guy let go of her, Elaine automatically touched her neck, coughing hard, gasping for air. Her knees buckled and she fell to the floor sitting.The guy squatted beside her. “This is the price you need to pay for being alive, Elaine.”Elaine was slowly drifting off but she heard what he said. In a blink of an eye, she saw flashes of images and noises burst through.“This is the price you need to pay for turning your back on your father, Elaine!”“Die! Die! Just Die!”Elaine went literally still. Her whole body trembled in fear. She couldn’t tell where the fear was coming from or when it’ll end...August 18, 2017QuezonCity, Philippines