Fading Echoes

Catorce

*Reader Discretion is Advised: The following content contains mature themes, including explicit language and sexual situations that may not be suitable for very young audiences. Reader discretion is strongly advised. 

Third Person

"I can't understand her anymore, Kuya!" Greggy exclaimed, frustration evident in his voice. "Everything was fine between us, and then we start arguing for no reason. It's not like I'm doing anything with Amelia! She doesn't want me getting jealous of that Cabrera guy, yet she's the one who gets all riled up when she sees me with Amy!" In a fit of anger, he tossed his belongings onto the sofa. He had come straight to his brother's place after a heated argument with Irene that had erupted earlier at the office.

"What do you want me to think?" Irene hissed furiously at him, her eyes flashing with anger. "That girl is clinging to you like a leech! Seriously, Greggy! I thought it didn't bother you. Why are you letting her do that in your own private space?!"

They had just returned home after Greggy had rushed to take Irene away from the tension that had unfolded at the office. To regain control of the situation, he had felt compelled to bring his wife home by 2:00 PM.

Irritated, Greggy flung his coat onto the couch. They were in the living room now, where their house staff could overhear the escalating argument between the couple, a confrontation they hoped never to witness again.

"How many times do I have to tell you that it's nothing?! Why can't you trust me, Irene? When have I ever cheated on you?!" Greggy fired back, gritting his teeth.

"I trust you, but I don't trust that Amelia!" Irene shouted back, her voice echoing in the tense atmosphere.

"If you trust me, then why can't you show it? I've never cheated on you, even when you wanted me to! Maybe it's you and Cabrera who are fooling around behind my back!"

Irene was left dumbfounded by her husband's accusation. She blinked rapidly, meeting his gaze with a mixture of shock and disbelief. "What did you just say?"

"Maybe you and Cabrera are the ones being unfaithful! Do you think I haven't noticed? Ever since you returned from that damned conference, he's been tailing you! Did you hear anything from me when you couldn't join me at the press conference? No, right? Because I trusted you, Irene! Why is it so hard for you to trust me?! If anyone should be struggling to trust here, it's me!" He paused, seeing tears welling up in Irene's eyes. Taking a step back, he took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his words.

"You know what? I... I don't understand us anymore. One day we're fine, and the next, we're not. And here we are, again... I just can't comprehend you..." He shook his head, turning away from her, leaving his wife in silence.

"Wasn't your wife always jealous?" David casually asked, opening a bottle of whiskey for them.

"Jealous, yes! But does she really need to create that kind of tension at the office? She still won't trust me!" Greggy harshly took the glass from his brother.

David chuckled lightly at Greggy's antics, watching him carefully.

"Well, I don't think it shows that you don't trust each other..." he remarked, taking a sip of his whiskey.

Greggy furrowed his eyebrows, looking away, lost in thought.

"You just love each other so much that you're both scared of losing each other," his brother added, glancing at Greggy.

"Of course, I love her. But I can't shake the feeling that she doesn't trust me enough to think otherwise," he emphasized, shaking his head.

"Then just breathe it all out and go back to her. I'm sure she's worried about you," David advised.