Masked Joy

2

The next morning, I woke up feeling exhausted and drained. I dragged myself out of bed and made my way to the kitchen, hoping to find some coffee to wake me up. As I walked in, I saw Manang Lucy looking worried.

"Naku, iha, mayroong dumating na bisita kagabi," she said. "Mukhang galit na galit."

"Sino po?" I asked, trying to stifle a yawn.

"Si Daphney, yung kaibigan ni Scarlet," she replied.

My heart sank at the mention of Scarlet's name. I hadn't seen her since the wedding, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilty for thinking that Luke still had feelings for her. I tried to shake off the feeling and focus on the present.

As I made my way to the living room, I saw Daphney pacing back and forth, her face red with anger. When she saw me, she stopped in her tracks and glared at me.

"You!" she spat out. "You're the reason why Luke and Scarlet aren't together!"

I felt my heart skip a beat as Daphney's words sank in. I had always suspected that Luke still had feelings for Scarlet, but I never imagined that Daphney would accuse me of being the reason for their separation.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I saw them together last night!" Daphney exclaimed. "Luke and Scarlet were in a café, holding hands and laughing together. And then I found out that Luke is married to you! How could you do this to her?"

I felt like I had been punched in the gut. the thought of Luke being with Scarlet behind my back made me feel sick to my stomach. And now, Daphney was accusing me of being a traitor to Scarlet.

"I didn't know," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I had no idea that Luke and Scarlet were still seeing each other."

Daphney didn't look convinced. "Don't lie to me," she said, her eyes blazing. "You must have known something. You're his wife, for God's sake!"

I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I didn't know what to say or do. I felt like I had been betrayed by the two people I trusted the most.

"I swear, I had no idea," I said, my voice trembling. "I'm sorry."

Daphney didn't say anything. She just turned around and stormed out of the house, leaving me alone with my thoughts and my tears. I sat down on the couch, feeling lost and alone. I didn't know what to do or who to turn to.

As I sat there, I couldn't help but think about Luke and Scarlet. Had I been blind all this time?Had I ignored the signs that Luke was still in love with her? And what about Scarlet? How could she betray me like this?

I felt like my world was crashing down around me. I didn't know how to pick up the pieces and moved on. All I knew was that I had been betrayed, and I didn't know if I could ever trust anyone again.

Luke looked at me with a mix of confusion and concern. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean that I need some space," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I think it's best if we don't see each other for a while."

Luke's eyes widened in surprise. "Why? Is there something I did wrong?"

"It's not about what you did," I said feeling my resolve falter. "It's just that... I think I think you should be with Scarlet."

Luke's expression softened. "I know you've been hurting because of our relationship," he said. "But I don't think getting back together with Scarlet is the solution."

"I know, but... I just can't stand seeing you in pain," I said, my voice cracking. "I talked to Daphney earlier and she said that you've been really struggling since we started dating. I don't want to be the cause of that pain."

Luke sighed and looked down at his feet. "I appreciate your concern," he said. "But I don't want to go back to Scarlet. I've moved on from that relationship, and I think you and I have something special."

"I don't know if I can handle it," I admitted, felling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "It hurts too much."

Luke took a step closer to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "I understand that this is difficult," he said. "But I don't want to lose you. Is there anything we can do to make this work?"

I took a deep breath and wiped my tears. "I don't know," I said. "Maybe we could take a break for a little while, just until I can figure out what I want."

Luke nodded slowly. "Okay," he said. "I'll give you some space. But please know that I care about you and I want to be with you, if that's what you decide."

I nodded, feeling grateful for his understanding. As he turned to leave, I felt a pang of sadness in my chest. This was going to be harder than I thought.