Heaven On Fire

Twenty Four

The morning sun painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, casting a warm glow over the quiet neighborhood. I sat at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee cradled in my hands, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The events of the previous night had left me reeling, the revelation of Benjamin's infidelity cutting deep into my heart.

Hubert's presence lingered in the back of my mind, a constant reminder of the darkness I had escaped. But it was Benjamin's betrayal that weighed heaviest on my soul, his late-night absences a stark testament to the crumbling foundation of our marriage.

As I sipped my coffee, I tried to push aside the doubts that gnawed at me, to convince myself that everything was fine. But deep down, I knew the truth – something was wrong, something had changed between us.

The sound of footsteps in the hallway pulled me from my reverie, and I looked up to see Benjamin emerge from the bedroom, his expression weary and guilt-ridden. My heart sank at the sight of him, a wave of anger and sadness washing over me.

"Morning," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded in response, unable to meet his gaze. The tension between us hung heavy in the air, a silent barrier that seemed impossible to breach.

Benjamin hesitated for a moment, as if unsure of what to say. But before he could speak, the shrill ring of his phone shattered the fragile peace, cutting through the tension like a knife. He glanced at the screen, his expression flickering with uncertainty.

"Saglit, sagutin ko lang 'to," he said, his voice tight with tension.

And with that, he hurried out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more. I watched him go, a bitter taste lingering on my tongue. What secrets did he carry with him into the light of day?

As the minutes stretched into hours, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over me like a heavy fog. I knew I couldn't continue to ignore the signs, couldn't pretend that everything was fine when it clearly wasn't.

With a determined sigh, I rose from my seat and made my way to the bedroom. The events of the previous night had left me with more questions than answers, and I knew I wouldn't find peace until I confronted Benjamin about his behavior.

But before I could confront him, a wave of doubt washed over me. What if I was wrong? What if there was a perfectly innocent explanation for Benjamin's late nights? I hesitated, my resolve waning in the face of uncertainty.

I found him sitting on the edge of the bed, his phone still clutched tightly in his hand. He looked up as I entered, his eyes clouded with guilt.

"We need to talk," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside me.

I remembered how I saw the way they looked at each other – the way their eyes met, the way their hands brushed against each other's skin. And in that moment, I knew. Benjamin's betrayal was laid bare before me, a cruel reminder of the fragility of trust.

I felt a surge of rage coursing through me, hot and fierce. How dare he? How dare he lie to me, to betray everything we had built together? The anger bubbled up inside me, threatening to spill over at any moment.

Benjamin's expression softened, a flicker of concern crossing his features. "Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice tinged with apprehension.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to say. "No, walang okay," I replied, my voice trembling with emotion. "I need to know what's been going on, Benjamin. I need to know bakit lagi kang nali-late ng uwi."

Benjamin's eyes widened in surprise, as if he hadn't expected me to confront him so directly. He opened his mouth to speak, but I held up a hand, silencing him.