Ellie-chan (COMPLETED)

Thirty-Six - Blaze

I tried to wait for Hayato to come home but drowsiness got the better of me so I fell asleep. It was already morning when I woke up. The first thing that I did was look for him. He was nowhere to be found. So he really stayed with that woman! My anger from last night came back in full force. I swear, my eyes were blazing. I was so angry that I felt like I need to break something to let it out. I went to the kitchen and picked up a porcelain plate. I was about to hurl it to the wall when I heard the front door clicked and he strutted to the kitchen. He was trying to stifle a yawn.

"Ohayou gozaimasu (Good morning)," he greeted and opened the refrigerator. He got some water and drank it.

Instead of greeting him back, I went back to our room and stayed there. I don't know what to do. I want to confront him but I feel like I don't have any right to do it. After all, I am not his wife in the real sense of the word.

I took a deep breath and walked around the room to calm my nerves. My baby moved. I think it  felt the raw emotions that I was experiencing. I patted my belly to comfort the little fellow. It stopped moving.

When I heard the door opened, I immediately grabbed a towel and went straight to the bathroom. I didn't want to face him, yet. I might not be able to control myself if I do.

Although I didn't have any plans to take a shower, I took one. I deliberately took a long one so that he will be long gone when I go back to the bedroom. But much to my disappointment, he was there waiting for me when I came back. He was lying in bed with his arm on his forehead. I couldn't see his eyes. Maybe he returned to sleep. I quietly took some clothes from the closet and crept back to the bathroom where I planned to get dressed. I was already halfway to the bathroom when I heard him speak.

"Are you mad at me?" he asked in a low voice.

I froze. I turned and there he was. Wide awake. He was already sitting on the bed, looking intently at me.

"I guess you're mad. I couldn't blame you though. I'm sorry. I only meant to drive her home last night. I didn't plan to stay there for the night. I didn't know what happened. I just fell asleep."

I squinted at him. Was he telling the truth?

"I swear nothing happened between us. I just slept on her couch."

When I realized that I might have looked like a jealous wife to him, I gathered all my pride, held my head high, and with all calmness that I could master, I replied, "It doesn't matter to me. It's not as if we're really "married." You have nothing to explain to me."

I saw him raised an eyebrow. He didn't buy it. I shrugged and went back to the bathroom. He was already gone when I came back. I kind of regretted not staying long to be with him. He was just gone for like a minute or two but I already missed him. I hate this feeling!

I was about to go to the kitchen to prepare breakfast when he suddenly appeared in the doorway with only a towel wrapped around his waist. I was shocked. I thought he went to his office already. I looked at him strangely. His hair was still dripping wet. He doesn't leave the bathroom without drying his hair.

"Your mom has called. I told her you'll just call her back," he said.

"Oh. S-Sorry for that."

He didn't reply. He simply went back to the bathroom which is in between the kitchen and the living room where the phone was.

I hurriedly went and called my mother. What is it this time again? I just sent them some money the other day.

"Anak (child)," came my mother's sweet voice. I recognized that tone. I felt some churning in my stomach. I closed my eyes in exasperation. "I know you've just sent money but - the other day your father was rushed to the hospital. He's got pneumonia."

As soon as I heard what happened to my father, I panicked.

"Don't worry. He's safe now. But we need some money to pay for the hospital bills. Although we got some discounts for being a Philhealth member, we were still billed more than thirty thousand pesos. Your sisters were only able to raise five thousand pesos."

I let out a deep breath. What can I do? They (my sisters) always have no money. I mentally counted the money left in my bank account and reluctantly told my mother that I will send her some again that afternoon.

"Oh, thank you, anak (child)! You're heaven-sent!"

"What's wrong?" Hayato asked when I was done speaking with my mother. He just gotten out of the bathroom.

"N-nothing," I murmured and went past him to the bedroom. I immediately took my passbook from my bag and looked at my remaining balance. I felt like crying when I saw that I barely have two hundred thousand yen left. I will be giving birth in three months. What will I do then?

"Here. Take this," came Hayato's voice. He gave me a green envelope marked SMBC. I hesitated to take it but he forced it on my lap. "Is your dad okay?" he asked.

When I frowned, he explained that my mother had somehow explained to him their situation back home. I immediately apologized to him.

"There's nothing to apologize for," he said while getting dressed.

I just nodded absent-mindedly. When he was done, he kissed me on the cheek and patted my belly.

"Do not stress yourself out. It's only money. I have to go. See you later," and he was gone.

I checked the amount he left with me. I was shocked. It was half a million yen! I cannot accept this! He has already done a lot for me. For one thing, I was able to stay in Japan because of him. For another, he loaned me a huge amount when my father had his bypass operation. He didn't even let me repay him for that loan. And here again, he's giving me some money. I didn't feel good anymore. I feel like I am taking advantage of his generosity.

I knew he was driving to his office so I just sent him a text message. I told him, I'll only take goman-en (fifty thousand yen) and return the rest to him. He didn't reply. I waited, but there was none.

*******************

I was already heading back home that afternoon when I chanced upon Rika in the international store. I tried to avoid her, but she sought me out. Before I knew it, she was right in front of me.

"Sorry about last night," she said sweetly. "I told Hayato to go back to you as soon as I arrived home but he insisted on staying," she added, trying to sound innocent.

I forced a sweet smile although I was getting nuts inside.

"There was nothing to apologize. Hayato told me all about it."

She raised her eyebrow. For a moment, I saw a glint of anger in her eyes then she smiled at me again like we were best of friends.

"Oh, did he also tell you how much he enjoyed my kisses?"

I froze. I squinted at her. Was it just a bait to make me mad? I swallowed hard. I stopped smiling, but I did not give in to my anger.

"Actually, he didn't but based on how passionate he was to me this morning - I took it to mean that whatever you two had last night bored him to death."

Her face turned red and her eyes blazed with anger. I smiled slowly and walked away. Before I was out of earshot, I heard her say, "You bitch! You third-world good-for-nothing bitch!"

I stopped and turned my back. She was glaring at me like a mad dog. I smiled again. That was when Hayato came. He greeted Rika, but she ignored him. He looked at me then back at his ex.

"What's happening?" he asked innocently.

I shrugged. Rika walked out.