THE CROWDED MARRIAGE

Chapter 15

Maeve Dominique Valencia
-present-

Some things will just happen unexpectedly.

Who would have thought that I would take lessons to be able to cook? Yup. That's so unexpected because I can just ask our chef to cook for me... but for Ivory, I did.

I somehow wanted to be wife-material.

Even though I know everything was just pretend and fake... it still felt so true. And I want it to be true. I want our marriage to be real, even from my point of view.

Ivory didn't know it because after our supposed honeymoon of us in New York, we come back to the Philippines and he continued his work, and so am I.

But I applied for a cooking lesson. I will just go to the place where I applied to learn how to cook. Lahat ay gusto kong aralin, especially cooking food and baking pastries. Nag-focus din ako sa Filipino dish.

I have lots of things on my plate now. Pumapasok na rin ako sa company ni dad... and it was harsher than I thought, but the whole weekend is mine... and that's how I practice my cooking skills.

Bihira na rin akong tumanggap ng mga endorsement ng brand... na kinagalit pa sa akin ng manager ko. But she had no choice, because that's what I wanted, although I still do my contracts with other brands and companies with their endorsement.

While in my clothing line business, I pay my employees who handle everything on it, though when it comes to the client who wants my design, I personally do it in my free time. I'll just send them by email since I don't have time to visit my studio again.

I've been productive these days, even though it's tiring. But it really feels like I'm living. Also, being a vice president in practice in my family business wasn't really bad.

Ang tungkol naman sa amin ni Ivory ay medyo halos hindi na kami magkita... kahit iisa na ang place namin. Late siya lagi umuwi dahil din sa daming trabaho na tumambak sa kanya nang makabalik siya... at gano'n din ako. Kaya naman kahit gabi na puwede sana kaming magkita ay nagpapahinga na lang kami.

But our date still happens once a week. Every Saturday. We both agree to it, so we're good. Also, Ivory sometimes drives me to the company or even fetches me when he has time, which I really appreciate because I didn't even ask him to do it, but he insists.

I was roaming around the kitchen to prepare for dinner. I only took off a half day today so I could do it. I am confident now with my cooking, even though my lessons are ongoing.

I removed my apron when I finished preparing. I looked at the dinner table with the food I had cooked and prepared. It was trying, but I find it satisfying.

My eyes went to my dress. It's still clean because of the apron I wore. I'm a messy cook kasi, at kapag nakakalimutan kong magsuot ay palaging nagkaka-stain ang damit ko. It's branded pa naman, even though I have a lot of clothes, I still take care of them.

I looked at the wall clock to see the time. I messaged Ivory to see if he'd be going home from work, but he didn't answer me.

I sat on the chair as I waited for Ivory... but it's been an hour, so I just decided to cover the foods I prepared. Binalik ko naman yung iba sa lagayan nito.

Umupo muli ako sa kinauupuan ko. I still wait for him because he might go home anytime soon... until I just fell asleep while my head was on the table.

I woke up when someone softly shook me. I slightly groaned at someone who was waking me up from my sleep.

"Hmm..."

"Maeve..." I heard someone whisper, so I had to open my eyes.

"Ivory?"