Chapter Five

My head throbbed, a dull ache that pulsed in time with the lingering remnants of a bizarre dream.  In the dream, Laxus had been standing in my room, his presence as real as the air I breathed.  I jolted upright, my eyes scanning the room, searching for any trace of him.  Finding nothing, I let out a shaky breath of relief.

"Thank God," I muttered, pressing my fingertips against my throbbing temples.  "How did I get here?"  The question hung in the air, unanswered.  I tried to recall the events of the previous night, but my memory was a blank slate.  Maybe I'd had too much to drink, I thought, shrugging off the nagging feeling of unease.

I went to the bathroom, needing a hot shower to wash away the lingering fog of confusion and the unsettling aftertaste of my dream.  After I'd dressed, I stepped out of my room and saw Tyler, my brother, heading out the front door.

"Where do you think you're going?" I asked, my voice laced with suspicion.  Tyler's head snapped up, his eyes widening in surprise.  He bolted, running towards the garage.  I followed him, my heart pounding in my chest.

Mom appeared in the doorway, her brow furrowed with concern.  "What's going on?" she asked.

"We're fine, Mom," Tyler said, his voice strained, his eyes darting between me and Mom.

 "Are you sure, Tyler? Tyra?" Mom questioned, her gaze settling on me.  I nodded, trying to quell the rising tide of apprehension in my stomach.

As soon as Mom disappeared back inside, Tyler made a beeline for his car, his hand reaching for the door handle.  I stepped in front of him, stopping him dead in his tracks.  "Tyler, what's going on?" I pressed, my voice low and urgent.  "Where are you going?”

"What happened yesterday, huh?" I pressed, my voice sharp with suspicion.  Tyler's eyes darted away, a flicker of guilt crossing his face.

"Look, I'm really sorry—" he started, but I cut him off.

 "Sorry now?" I scoffed, my voice dripping with sarcasm.  "He wants my help, and as his brother-in-law, I helped him," he said, his voice defensive.

I let out a humorless laugh. "You're not his brother-in-law anymore, Tyler. I signed the divorce papers."  His expression shifted from defensiveness to surprise.

"So, it's final now?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

 "Yeah," I said, my voice firm. "And stop helping him come after me. You're disrespecting your sister."  I turned away, my anger simmering beneath the surface.

I climbed into my car and drove away, my mind racing.  I needed to talk to Trisha and Joana, get their help sorting through the legal paperwork.

"Your brother did that?" Joana exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief as I recounted the events.  "He's really a hard-headed guy," she added, shaking her head in disappointment.

 "How did you even get home?" Trisha asked, her brows furrowed with concern.

 "I don't know," I said, my voice laced with frustration. "I just found myself in my room."  I tried to piece together the missing pieces of the night before, but my memory remained stubbornly blank.

 "Dang! You should stop drinking," Trisha said, her tone laced with a hint of amusement.  I sighed, agreeing with her.  Maybe it was time to take a break from the nightlife, at least until I could figure out what had happened last night.

We finished processing the paperwork, the official stamp on my VISA a tangible symbol of a new beginning.  As a thank you for their support, I treated Trisha and Joana to lunch, the clinking of silverware against plates a welcome distraction from the whirlwind of emotions I'd been navigating.

"Are you leaving alone?" Trisha asked as we were finishing our meal.

"Yeah," I said, a determined glint in my eye. "New life, new me."

 "That's good to hear," Joana said, her voice laced with warmth. "And you need to heal."  I chuckled, her words hitting a chord of truth.

 "Yeah, I know," I said,  grabbing the bill and paying for our meal.

We were just stepping onto the sidewalk when Trisha's phone rang.

"I'll just take this," she said, excusing herself to answer the call.

 "Maybe that's Jared," Joana whispered, her eyes following Trisha as she walked a few steps away.

 "You should teach my brother a lesson," I said, a mischievous glint in my eye.

 "Don't worry," Joana said, her voice laced with a hint of steel. "I'll make sure he doesn't do it again."  I smirked, knowing she wouldn't let Tyler get away with his actions.

Trisha returned, her expression a mix of apology and concern as she met my gaze.

"What now?" I asked, my voice laced with curiosity.  Trisha's lips curved into a smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

 "Jared just called, and he invited us to a party," she said, her gaze lingering on me.

 "He's there, right?" I asked, a wave of apprehension washing over me.  Trisha nodded, confirming my suspicion.

 "I'm not going," I said, my voice firm.  Joana, sensing my reluctance, immediately agreed.

 "You can go by yourself. Enjoy the party," Joana said, her tone light. Trisha, however, continued to look at me, her expression hesitant.

 "Hey, it's fine," I assured her, my voice gentle. "You have other friends. You don't need to be with us all the time."  Trisha finally smiled, her apprehension fading.

 "Thank you so much," she said, pulling us both into a warm embrace.

Trisha hailed a cab and left, her figure disappearing down the street.  I turned to Joana, who was mirroring my own pensive expression.

"My brother left earlier," I said, my voice quiet. "Are you going to see him?"  Joana shook her head.

 "I'm going home to take a rest," she said, her voice weary.  I nodded, understanding her need for peace and quiet.

We climbed into my car, and I drove Joana to her home.  After dropping her off, I headed to a nearby cafe for a much-needed dose of caffeine.  As I was driving home, my phone rang.  It was Mom, and I answered immediately.

"Mom?" I said, my voice tinged with a hint of nervousness.

 "Where are you?" she asked, her voice filled with a curious urgency.

 "I'm going home," I answered, turning onto the familiar road leading to our village.

 "Good. Let's talk once you get home," she said, her words making my stomach clench with a mixture of anticipation and dread.

 "Yeah, sure," I said, my voice strained.  The call ended, leaving me with a growing sense of unease.

Pulling into the driveway, I noticed a familiar car parked outside our house.  My heart skipped a beat as I recognized the Villafuertes' vehicle.  I parked my car and grabbed my paperwork, my mind racing with a mixture of apprehension and confusion.

Stepping into the living room, I found the Villafuertes already settled on the couch.  I greeted them with a forced smile, their warm smiles doing little to ease my growing unease.

"It's so nice to see you again, Tyra," Mrs. Villafuerte said, pulling me into a tight hug.  "Laxus got the divorce papers from you, and you already signed them."

My breath hitched.  "Wait," I blurted out, my voice laced with disbelief.  How could that be?

I rushed to my room, my feet pounding on the wooden floor.  I frantically searched through my drawer, my fingers desperately seeking the brown envelope containing the divorce papers.  Where had I put it?  Then, the dream, the unsettlingly real dream, flashed through my mind.

Returning to the living room, I felt a wave of despair wash over me.  "He was here last night?" I asked my Mom, my voice trembling.  She nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of sympathy and understanding.

"He drove you home last night, honey," she said, her voice soft.  I sank onto the couch, the reality of the situation sinking in.  He had been here.  He had gotten the papers.

 "I can't remember anything last night," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

 "We're just here to ask if your decision is final," Mrs. Villafuerte said, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.  I knew they didn't want me to leave.

 "I'm sorry," I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes.  I couldn't bear to look at them, the guilt and confusion swirling inside me.

The Villafuertes left, their departure leaving a heavy silence in its wake.  I turned to go to my room, my feet moving on autopilot.  As I reached the doorway, a hand reached out, a gentle touch on my shoulder.  I turned, my heart pounding in my chest, and saw my Mom.

"Let's talk, honey," Mom said, her voice soft but firm.  I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest, and nodded.

We walked out to the backyard, the bright afternoon sun filtering through the leaves of the trees.  I hadn't realized how much her garden had grown, how vibrant and lush it had become.  I had been so consumed by my own problems that I hadn't noticed the beauty that surrounded me.

"You take care of all of this?" I asked, gesturing towards the sprawling garden.  Mom smiled, her eyes twinkling with pride.

 "If I don't have any work to do, I'm here," she said, her voice filled with quiet satisfaction.  I looked around, mesmerized by the riot of colors and scents.

 "Is there anything wrong, Mom?" I asked, noticing her lingering gaze.  She shook her head, her expression a mix of sadness and understanding.

"Are you really leaving now?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.  I paused, my heart heavy with the weight of her question.  I took a moment to gather my thoughts before slowly nodding.

 "I'm sorry, Mom," I said, my voice choking with emotion.  "I need to do this."

Mom gently patted my shoulder, her touch a source of comfort.  "You don't need to apologize, honey," she said. "If you think leaving will help you move forward, then go.  You don't need to worry about us.  Live happily again, Tyra."

Her words, filled with unconditional love and support, brought tears to my eyes.  I missed these conversations with my Mom, the kind where we could talk about anything, where her wisdom and love always offered solace.  I let out a sob, and Mom pulled me into a tight embrace.

"I'm sorry for letting you experience this kind of thing," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

I shook my head, wiping my tears.  "It's not your fault, Mom.  I'm the one who decided to marry him.  But I realized I didn't know him at all."  Mom gently wiped my tears, her touch a silent promise of unwavering support.

Mom remained silent, letting me cry freely against her shoulder.  We sat in the garden for hours, the gentle rustle of leaves and the soft fragrance of flowers a soothing balm to my troubled soul.  Finally, Dad called out to Mom, his voice echoing through the quiet afternoon air.

"Are you sure you want to be alone?" Mom asked, her voice filled with concern.  I nodded, my eyes still damp with tears.

 "Yes, Mom," I said, my voice barely a whisper.  She stood up, her touch lingering on my shoulder for a moment.  "See you later, honey," she said, kissing me gently on the top of my head.

Mom left with Dad, leaving me alone in the garden.  My mind was still swirling with emotions, my thoughts scattered and confused.  I was lost in a haze of introspection when I heard a car pull up outside the house.  Tyler wasn't home; he had gone to see Joana.  I stood up, my curiosity piqued, and went inside.

As I stepped out onto the porch, I caught sight of a car I recognized all too well.  A wave of annoyance washed over me as Laxus emerged from the vehicle.

"Seriously?  Why are you always popping out of nowhere?" I asked, my voice laced with exasperation.  He remained silent, his gaze fixed on me as he walked towards me.  He stopped when he was a few feet away, his presence imposing and unwelcome.

 "I heard Mom visited you earlier," he said, his voice low and measured.  I let out a humorless laugh.

 "Yeah, why?" I countered, my tone sharp.  He remained silent, his eyes searching mine.

 "Is she persuading you again?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of defensiveness.

 "Why don't you answer my question first?" I demanded, my patience wearing thin.  He continued to stare at me, refusing to respond.

 "Why don't you answer my question too?" he retorted, his voice a challenge.  I rolled my eyes, my frustration growing.

 "Leave. Now," I said, turning my back on him.  I started to walk back towards the house, my footsteps heavy with anger.  But before I could reach the door, he grabbed my arm, his touch rough and insistent.

"What now, Laxus?  We're over," I said, my voice firm, my gaze fixed on the ground.  "My lawyer is processing the papers now, Tyra," he said, his voice a low rumble.  I knew that already.

 "So?" I asked, my tone laced with indifference.  He remained silent, his grip on my arm tightening.  I pulled away, but he caught my arm again, his fingers digging into my skin.  I took a deep breath, forcing myself to face him.  His expression was unreadable, his eyes burning into mine.  Then, without warning, he leaned in and kissed me.

I was about to protest, to push him away, but a wave of conflicting emotions washed over me.  I found myself kissing him back, the familiar taste of his lips, the warmth of his embrace, momentarily erasing the pain and anger that had been consuming me.

He lifted me off my feet, carrying me inside the house, our kiss deepening with each step.  We ended up in my room, the door slamming shut behind us.  As he began to undress, a wave of disbelief washed over me.  What was I doing?

Our kiss reignited, his hands roaming over my body, his touch sending shivers down my spine.  He helped me out of my clothes, his kisses trailing down my neck, his fingers caressing my thigh.  A wave of longing washed over me.  I missed him, the intimacy, the connection we had shared.

I woke up, a heavy weight pressing down on my stomach.  I heard a steady rhythm of breathing beside me, and I turned my head, my heart skipping a beat.  Laxus was sleeping soundly beside me, his arm thrown across my waist.  I gently removed his arm, moving away from him, a mixture of regret and confusion swirling within me.

"Dang, I let him use me again," I whispered, running my fingers through my hair.

The morning sun was streaming through the window, casting a warm glow on the room.  I stood up, my legs feeling shaky, and started towards the bathroom.  As I reached the door, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching.  My heart pounded in my chest, a sense of foreboding washing over me.

"Tyra!"  Tyler's voice echoed from outside my door, followed by the insistent clicking of the doorknob.  Panic surged through me.  I scrambled to push Laxus off the bed, his startled curse a muffled whisper as he landed on the floor.

 "What the!" he exclaimed, but I quickly covered his mouth, my heart pounding in my chest.  "Don't make any noise," I hissed, my voice barely a whisper.  He remained silent, his eyes still closed.

The door creaked open, and I quickly straightened, trying to appear composed.  Tyler stepped inside, his gaze sweeping across the room.  He walked towards the side table, grabbing my phone charger.

"Let me borrow this," he said, his gaze intense, his voice laced with concern.  "Are you alright?" he asked, his eyes searching mine.  I nodded, trying to maintain a facade of normalcy.

 "You should knock before entering my room," I said, my voice stiff.  He just smirked, his expression a mixture of amusement and suspicion.

 "As if you're hiding someone here," he said, his smirk widening.  My heart sank.  He was right.  I couldn't deny the truth.

The smirk faded from his face when I didn't respond.  He started towards me, but I raised my hand, stopping him in his tracks.  "Don't come near me," I said, my voice trembling.

"Are you cheating on Laxus?  You're still married to him," he said, his voice sharp with accusation.  He was always so loyal to Laxus, even now.

 "The heck are you saying?" I retorted, my voice rising in frustration.  But he insisted on closing the distance between us.

 "Tyra, what are you doing?  You're hiding a man in your room?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.  Sweat trickled down my temples, my body trembling with anxiety.

Why was I acting like this?  I hadn't done anything wrong.

"I'll tell Mom about this," Tyler said, turning towards the door.

 "I didn't do anything—" I started to protest, but my words were cut short.

 "She's not cheating on me,"  a voice said from behind me.

Tyler turned slowly, his expression a mixture of surprise and confusion.  Laxus stood beside me, his gaze unwavering.

"Laxus?" Tyler exclaimed, his voice laced with astonishment.

 "Yes," Laxus said, his voice confident, his gaze meeting mine.

"Dang, what a nuisance," I muttered under my breath, my head spinning with a combination of relief and exasperation.