death by a thousand cuts (lenrisa)

afterglow

They say keep your friends close, and your enemies closer... but where do exes stand? An ex-wife who you loathe, to begin with?

"If anything, I regret getting married to her. Had Genie been real, my three wishes would be, not meeting Leon, not kissing Leon, and lastly, not getting married to Leon!" Therese bellowed as she was ironing her dress, a white turtleneck chiffon silk dress that she'd be wearing to Aika's graduation. Their little wonder is now a lawyer.

"Ate, I get it, pero as far as I know, hindi naman kayo magkatabi ni Ate Leo sa rites. I'm pretty sure Aika arranged it well to your liking, baka hindi naman makagraduate 'yung pamangkin ko sa inyo ulit e." Therese's sister, Pia advised. It was not a secret to their loved ones that Leon and Therese hated each other. Their closest friends and family make it possible that the two won't cross paths in gatherings where they're both needed. "If chaos would be personified, it's the duo of mum and mama," Aika would always say.

"Ok, P. I get it. Hindi ko lang kasi matiis 'yung babaeng 'yun. GOD!" Pia watched her older sister throw her hands as if the iron and dress were against her. Therese has a long patience for everyone and everything except for Leon.

It's always except for Leon.

Pia, who was silently sipping her tea just minutes ago, suddenly yelped at her phone—waving at it like a lunatic. "Hello, my Dearest pamangkin! OUR LAWYER WONDER!" Pia said proudly.

"Tita naman!!" Aika blushed at the compliment, her mum peeking to the side with her overly sculpted brows furrowed. "Oh, bakit kaya may magandang nakasilip diyan pero nakasimangot nanaman? She just talked about Mama, 'no, Tita?"

Therese's furrowed brows turned into an eyebrow raise combined with a highly oblivious face. "Huh? Love! What do you mean? No!" But Pia was sly and both of her eyebrows were raised back and forth to signal that her sister was indeed talking about Leon.

"Ma, I think your demeanour begs to differ. Never ka pang nainis ng ganyan with anyone except Mama. Don't worry, hindi kayo magkatabi sa rites. I had to make sure I was going to graduate in peace, hindi puwedeng mapagkamalan nanaman kayo ng peers ko na mortal na magkaaway," Aika rolled her eyes as she sighed in exhaustion. She has to parent her parents now and then, especially when they have to deal with Aika. Her childhood seemed just like a dream because God knows when was the last time she didn't have to act as the glue between her two endlessly quarrelling parents.

Therese grimaced, her little sister grinned at the idea of her niece being so bright regarding her stance as a daughter of two bickering ex-wives. Their family was traditional, but they were raised as activists hence Aika and her other sisters have gotten the hang of standing up for themselves whether it is in or out of the household. "Well, I will never stop saying sorry about that, Love. Promise, behave na 'ko," the proud mother's demeanour changed instantly, "WE HAVE A LAWYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Therese jumped giddily, the three women laughed as the matriarch danced. "Ate, ang tigas ng katawan mo, my God. Beauty, brains... and bones!" Pia teased and Aika died laughing at the other end of the video call.

"I have to go na! Tita and Mum, bye! Love you two!!!!!" The call ended and Pia's phone pinged, an incoming message notification from Aika.

"Tita, shet. Magkatabi si Mum and Mama ng seats. Pa'no na 'to?"