Montergo Series II: No Way Home

KABANATA 20

The lights were off, and the table lamp beside Thaddeus was the only illumination throughout the living area. Even though it's quite dim I can see the seriousness in Thaddeus face. Thaddeus is sitting on a single sofa, his legs spread wide as he greeted me with a cold stare while playing with a lit cigarette in his other hand.

“You're late,” he stated firmly.

“Uhm, I had to wait for Gamila to fall asleep before I could come home,” I explained nervously.

There was something about his demeanor that startled me, and he is smoking... Thaddeus only smokes when something is bothering him. I had never seen him this serious before.

I averted my gaze. “We baked a cookies this afternoon, and I thought you might like, so I brought you some cookies.” I pulled a Tupperware container from my hobo bag and handed it to Thaddeus but he ignored it.

He raised an eyebrow. “You're spending too much time with them. You don't even had a day off.”

I simply responded, “It's my job.”

“Oh, really? Or is there something else, Xoa?” He squinted his eyes, scrutinizing my reaction.

His remark made me furrowed my brows. What got into him? Is he upset because I often left him alone in the condo? Or is this about our argument that happened week ago?

“What do you mean, Thaddeus?” I asked, looking at him in confusion.

“Quit your job,” he demanded suddenly in a serious tone.

My eyes widened in shock. “What?! Why? W-What's wrong? I don't understand. What did I do wrong?”

“You said you agreed to this arrangement because you wanted to find your biological parents. Now that you've found them, I don't see why you still need to work for Mr. Del Fuego," Thaddeus said in calm and measured tone.

“I can't just leave Gamila—” he cut me off.

“Is it really about Gamila? Or... Zechariah,” his voice echoing in the room.

What is this all about?

“You're being ridiculous, Thaddeus,” I retorted, scrunching up my face.

He smirked sarcastically. “Am I?”

“I can't abandon them just because I've already got what I wanted from them. That's not fair! Besides, the child needs me,” I scowled defiantly.

“They don't need you, Xoa. What Zechariah need is his real wife, Gamila need her biological mother. And that's not you,” he scoffed.

“You're just her substitute,” he stated firmly. Empathizing every words.

My expression hardened. His words left me speechless, unable to composed a sentence. A part of me felt shattered by his harsh reality check.

I forced a laugh, trying to hide the pain. After all, it was the truth. I knew what I was getting into from the very beginning. That was the whole point of our agreement. Being Margarita's temporary substitute.

“I know what I got myself into,” I replied in a subdued voice.

Thaddeus shook his head in disappointment, stood up and raised his two hand, surrendering. “You know what? It's your life. Do whatever you want. Tsk.”

He stormed off to his room and slammed the door shut. I flinched at the violent noise, feeling an surge of unease. I gently massaged my chest, trying to calm myself with the overwhelming heaviness in my chest. Tears began to stream down on my cheeks.