Chapter 02

"Would you mind if I sit here?"

I gave Morgan a simple smile and gently shook my head. I didn't try to answer him because I felt like I had no intention of talking right now.

While I was watching Morgan sit next to me, I was constantly sipping my coffee. When I saw that he was fine where he was sitting, I returned my sight to the rough sea and let my eyes watch and enjoy the beautiful morning grace of the sky for me today. Add to that the strong breeze that gives the perfect composition to this morning.

I hope this is how I always wake up. This part of nature is what calms my troubled mood and troubled mind.

We are in a restaurant---open restaurant near the sea, so the view is very beautiful. It's also quiet, even though more and more people are coming, which I think will be taking their food in the morning.

"Just a cup ofcoffee?"

"Yes," I answered and looked at his order.

He has a lot of food. Different types of French bread and two types of coffee were laid out on his tray, a baraco and a caramel that he now laid out one by one on the table. Noticing that I was looking at what he was doing, he smiled at me with a wink. I gave him a light glimpse of smile and rolled my eyes. 

"You're not hungry, are you?" I asked jokingly, which was accompanied by his laughter.

"I didn't get to spend the night. I got some business to do so I'll be back at breakfast."

"You should have a heavy breakfast." I suggest. 

"If I do so, I won't be able to join our lunch later because I'll be full."

"You're really something, Morgan." I laughed and shook his head as he just shrugged.

Morgan and I didn't try to talk anymore. He eats quietly and doesn't seem like he's with anyone, especially because he looks like he doesn't care about his surroundings after he asked me to join him a few times. I smiled and again distracted myself from drinking my coffee.

When I finished that, I took out my phone and sent a message to Mateo. I waited a moment for his answer but it seems he hasn't seen what I sent. Until the second I had to wait turned into half an hour.

I wonder where he is right now. 

This morning he was not in our bed. Even last night I did not notice that man enter our room.

I put the phone in my pocket and was about to stand up when Morgan spoke again, belched and quickly gave me the peace sign.

"How is being Mrs. Mateo Vejar, Fayra? Is Mateo treating you well?" He asked seriously. Far from the tone of his voice earlier.

I grinned when I heard the question from him. "What kind of question is that, Morgan? He probably treats me well. I'm his wife, right?" I answered him, but immediately ask him too. 

I tried not to make any sloppiness in my litany or even any tone. It's already in my system to pretend that we're fine, I can't go wrong with Morgan now.

Morgan was silent for a moment, then leaned forward and gently tapped the table, his eyes fixed on me. I wanted to look away but I know this man. Morgan catches real feelings too quickly and you lose if you don't know how to hide your feelings, in the time we've known each other, I've known his wild guts too.

"You're lying, aren't you?" The question's eyes narrowed.

Yes. I'm just lying, I wish I could tell you, we're the same in this situation, Morgan. I wanted to tell him that but I chose to keep it to myself.

I sighed and was exhausted. "Stop your conclusion, Morgan. Your brother was not evil to not treat me good." I'm still defending my husband. 

His eyes narrowed again and his shoulders moved as if he would worry about my answer.

"Well, I'm relieved now if he really treats you better like your answer. You can't blame me if I ask you something like this, because we both know your past before you got married."

I was silent at what he said. My peaceful morning seems to have turned upside down because of my husband's brother. If only I hadn't let him stand by me, I might never have heard a bad word from his mouth.

Along with Lyden, Morgan is also one of the witnesses of how our world turned back then. But if Lyden was annoyed by our marriage, Morgan was the opposite.

Just what Mateo said. All of them, Vejars' are drooling for her. While Mateo was flirting with Rose, Morgan was already making a way for my then friend to notice him. Even some of their cousins.

I won't be surprised anymore. If I were one of them, I would also like Rose. She's kind, humble, smart and gorgeous. He has almost everything, so I can't blame them either. 

"How about you guys, how's the progress?"

Morgan looked away. I just nodded and smiled at him. I didn't speak. I just felt whether he would answer my question or not.

I don't know anything about them. The relationship between the two of them is quieter compared to Mateo and I, which extends to other people. If Morgan and Rose are cautious, Mateo seems to want to shout to the world that we are not okay. 

"We're fine. Actually, we don't have an argument at all. We talk well, we'll both try to be comfortable with each other until she can learn to love me back." That was followed by his uncontrollable grin.

"She agreed?" I ask, not holding my ponder. 

Morgan nodded. "She said, I'm not that hard to love back."

I blinked several times. She's just spinning Morgan around. If she really said that, why do my husband and her still see each other often? Mateo and her even calling each other nonstop. They don't just tease him. What they do is outright and utter lies and hope.

I just bit my bottom lip so I wouldn't say anything I regret. I don't have a plan yet, it's not the right time to tell him that the two are still in a relationship. I need more time. Right time for both of us. And I still can't put Mateo in trouble. He is still my husband. My conscience can't handle it if I myself put him in a situation that he will feel completely in danger. 

After a short conversation with Morgan. We said goodbye to each other. I went straight to the hotel and immediately looked for Mateo in our room. But I didn't see even a shadow of him.

I once tried calling his phone but it's unattended. Shoulder slumped, I left the room. First, I want to stay by the sea, away from people, away from noisy people. That part will be crossed by boat. After all, I've already eaten, I'll stay there first. I would like to invite Morgan, but he seems to be busy.

"Is it just you Ma'am?" Asked an elderly man I asked on the boat.

"Yes," I replied sparingly. He nodded while helping me to sit on the boat. Only a few seconds passed and the boat started moving.

I closed my eyes. The air is nice. I could only hear the noise of the engine. Far from Manila where everyone I hear is that I shouldbe a good wife to Mateo and I should appreciate the last name the Vejars have given me. The noise that always dictated my every move, dictated how to greet guests, dictated how to set up the house, and dictated how to get out of the situation I entered. And most of all, it's far from Mateo's daily reminder of how far I am in his life. Far from him making me feel that I am not worthy of his love. That I can't get even a drop.

I feel now, I am free. Free from anyone. Free from the people who hurt me and far from the people who want me to be happy but still get pain in return for their every suggestion.

It sucks. 

It sucks to hear everything they're trying to say to me. They gave me advices, and the only outcome was pain. They're not helping me; they're also making the choices hard for me to choose.

When my ride landed on the shore, the man told me several times that he would pick me up after dusk, just like I told him earlier. I responded with a nod and thanks to the old man, then I walked to the part where I could release my heavy feeling.

The shore is rocky, but only pure sand. I carefully walked back to the cave that surrounded the island. But my earlier happy moments were suddenly taken back from me. The sight of me wanting to release my resentment seemed to add even more to what I was carrying.

"Fayra..." Rose said my name in surprise while she's slowly moving to my husband's back. 

It's like she's scared of me or something. That's funny. 

My smile disappeared, I felt like I was going to fall off my feet when I heard my name from my rival's mouth.

My eyes went to both of them. And just like that my hand is itching to pull it out right now because of their holding hands.

I quickly took my eyes off them and started walking again as if I didn't see them. I can still see how their eyes followed me, especially Mateo, but I only hastened to get away from them.

No matter how many times I remind myself that it's okay, I still can't accept that I'm not the one Mateo wants to be with.

From what I saw earlier, I was only getting weaker. I lose my mind about the plans I want to make when I know to myself that they are happy with each other.

I simply laughed.

I'm such  a villain. An evil villain indeed, for making them hide from others so that they can continue what they started.