What is love?

Chapter 82

RICHARD
Anger isn't always the answer and Richard knows that but if there's one thing Richard also knows is how to torture himself and make everyone believe he's alright. Ever since he got back to work all he did was drown himself with work, he goes home late and stopped taking care of himself. Dawn's been bugging him, he keeps on telling her everything's fine, as if the walls around him isn't collapsing. He can't shrug off how fast days can go by and sooner or later the kid, his son, will turn 4 and he will have to break Dawn's heart into a million pieces. "Mayor parang napapadalas ang late na pag uwi mo ha" Max said as she entered his office "oh yeah, I was gone for a long time" "wala naman gaanong ginawa, its okay to take the notch down" she sat down in one of his office chairs.

He looked at her and gave a wry smile "uh-uh, I don't want to overstep but.." "stop" He calmly said "okay naiintindihan ko po....... sige I'll have to get going" she said "okay, lock the door before you leave" "i will" Max was on her way out "and Max" "yes?" "Sorry" he said she just nodded. There we go, his temper is coming back and the ever growing urge for him to do something bad is getting stronger. "You can't" he kept on reminding himself whenever he looks in the mirror every morning, "you can't what?" Dawn asked when she overheard him "i....." he started "you what?" She walked closer and hugged him from behind. She's warm, too warm that he eased his body's tension. "Hmmm?" She hugged him tighter to remind him of the question "I....I....I"m just telling myself not to slack off today" he intertwined their hands, "Oh baby" she turned him to face her.

"Its okay, resting is a part of life" she cupped his face "I know but haven't I had enough rest?" He rested his hands on her hips "hahaha, you're right" she said "oh diba tama ako" he playfully said "yeah but you were all rest no action" she retorted "ahhh ganon" "oo kasi naman you injured yourself" he placed a finger on her lips "ah, ah, ah, correction I was deliberately injured" he said as a matter of fact "Alam mo this is a secret ha pero ako talaga nag utos kay Martin so we can have time together, kaso he took it seriously nasobrahan ata" she playfully grimaced. He narrowed his eyes at her and started tickling her "Richard, stop, stop" she yelled while squirming "inutos mo pala ha, di ka makakawala sakin" he hugged her tight "sige sige pag di ka tumigil, I will kick your leg" she warned in between laughs "do it and you will have to be this city's mayor until I heal" "Aghhh tama na" she's slowly slipping on the floor "okay tell me you love me muna"

"I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU" She screamed and he stopped, "ganon lang pala kadali eh" she snarled at him "you didn't ask" "oh my look at the time I might be holding you up" she said getting out of the bathroom when he caught her arm and pulled her in for a another hug "love you too" he said and kissed the top of her head. They were hugging each other for what seemed like an eternity when Richard's phone rang "babe, babe" she nudged him "answer it already kasi we have to get going nadin" she playfully pushed him off "ugh okay" he gave her one last tight hug then placed his arm on her shoulders for support "giddy up" he said. They walked over to his phone and he saw the screen Andy, its Agnes he changed her name to be a little more inconspicuous. He internally tensed up "okay ka na ba?" She asked while the phone's still ringing "yeah" he said "answer it already. My gosh" she giggled, he was hesitant to do so but she would suspect "hello" he said sakto Dawn was walking away but he sneaked a little butt grab "landi mo talaga" she said before going out the room.

"Are you there?l I can hear her" Agnes said on the other line "Bakit ka tumatawag" he greeted his teeth in anger "you told me to call you, when I need you kaya" she said "what do you need?" "I just want to let you know Marco and I settled on a name already?". What the fuck I don't care ilang besses ko ba sasabihin sainyo he thought "okay?, and?" "It's going to be Rafael Milan" he rolled his eyes "wow hindi halatang ako tatay no" he grimly said "osige na bye!" Habol niya and he turned off his phone so she wouldn't be able to call him. Ang galing ni Agnes mangsira ng araw okay na eh, Dawn's his comfort and with him overworking himself their stunt awhile ago was something he always looked forward to.