A Love After Marriage

Thirty Two

Bel glanced down at her watch and let out a soft sigh before looking around the quiet road in front of her apartment. The sky has already turned dark and they have been standing outside the building of her apartment for almost twenty minutes.

"Sure ka ba talagang pupunta siya? It's already 8.15pm now." She asked, turning to her best friend, who was standing beside her. "Kung talaga nag-agree siya to let Isabelle to follow you, hindi niya dapat kukunin si Isabelle sa una palang. I don't think all this will be so simple. To me, it's not easy to fight with Bea De Leon if you choose to be her enemy."

Caitlin turned to the direction where cars were usually coming from and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. But except waiting, what else can I do?" She said with a helpless expression. "I tried to call Mommy Dette and she refused to answer my call. I went to their house this morning but no one was there. I know Isabelle is with them, but I don't know where they are hiding her." She sighed exaggeratedly as her hands reached up to rub her forehead. She is tired, very tired.

Bel let out another sigh. "Why are you so insistent this time? I thought everything is getting better when I see your relationship with her was getting so much better lately." She paused and looked at Caitlin. "I know how much you love this woman. You sacrificed almost everything for her. I really don't understand. Why give up now? Why can't you give her another chance this time? You should know if anything happen to both of you, the one who suffer is going to be Isabelle. The children will always be the victims. Isabelle is still so small. She needs a father. As long as you agree not to divorce, Isabelle will have both her parents."

She moved closer to Caitlin and held her hand with a soft squeeze. "I know you are upset because of Jhoanna, but you know this isn't the first time. She has always been taking care of her and her son all these years. But... you should know she is only a responsibility because of what she promised her best friend. I know she has feeling for this woman, but if she really wants to be with her, I think she wouldn't wait until now. They have a lot of chances in the past. I think they are just..."

"It's different this time." Caitlin cut her off as she held her best friend's eyes, disappointment evident in her voice. "You might think I'm just jealous and upset because of Jhoanna, but I'm not." A faint smile formed on her lips. "I'm just... getting tired of being neglected or... or maybe I'm getting greedy. I don't want to be kept at home and keep waiting for her to come back to us. I'm tired of sacrificing without getting anything in return. You are right that Isabelle is still small, but she is growing up. She will slowly realize something is not right with her parents and it won't be healthy for her to grow up like this. And moreover..." She paused again and felt her heart still ache whenever she thinks about what she heard in the hospital that day. "Jhoanna... is not just a responsibility anymore. She... she wanted to be more than just a friend."

Bel parted her lips into a small 'O', shocked by what Caitlin just said. More than just a friend? What does that mean? She thought... she thought Jhoanna doesn't love Bea. And... she thought Caitlin was so angry this time because Isabelle was sick and Bea was not around because of Jhoanna again. She didn't know the situation is so serious this time.

"I... she... I mean... maybe... you..." Bel tried to say something but couldn't find the right word to form a complete sentence. And just when she finally found the right words to comfort Caitlin, the sound of a car heading towards their direction took all her concentration away.

The car stopped near where they were standing and when Caitlin took a clearer look at the car, her eyes dimmed in disappointment. It wasn't Bea's car. But when the driver came out, the disappointment quickly vanished as a faint smile formed on her lips.

"Why are you two standing here at this hour?" Jessie asked while walking towards them.

"Tito Jessie" Bel smiled at him. "What are you doing here?" Instead of replying his question, Bel asked curiously.