"Love?"
She gently stroke the sheets beside her. Expecting to feel her partner's warm skin on her palm. Dismay envelops her as she opened her eyes, eyeing the empty crumpled bedding on her closed fist as she feels the coldness of it.
She dialled Regina's number and she answered on the second ring.
"Hello?"
"Where are you?" She ask. Listening intently at anything from Regina's end.
"Im out..." silence "...with a friend at the bar."
A lie. She figured as soon as she said those words. Where is she at? Ah maybe at a silent bar...
She sigh.
"Okay, don't drink too much. I'll be waiting for you in the morning. Enjoy your night, love."
"I-i will. Thanks."
Narda looked at the phone on her hand. Sighing for the nth time before tossing it on the bedside table. She then closed her eyes and tried to drift back to sleep, hugging the pillow Regina usually use, seeking comfort from the remnants of the faint smell coming from Regina's shampoo lingering on the said bedding.
"Why can't you be honest with me, love?"
The same question stays until the next morning as they sat across each other on the kitchen island, enjoying some toast, scrambled egg, hotdogs and hot choco for breakfast.
"How was your night?" Regina's all smiley, biting on a piece of toast before taking a sip on her drink.
"I-its quite peaceful. Not gonna lie, it would have been better if you're beside me."
Regina simply nodded with her answer.
Narda slightly shook her head, trying to stay calm, biting the inside of her mouth as she try to stop herself from saying anything. She retrieve a small bottle from the drawers, took a pill and placed it on Regina's hand.
They looked at each other eye to eye as Regina swallowed the pill with a glass of water.
"You want me to take you to bed?"
Regina just smiled and kiss the back of Narda's hand before letting her hand go. The same hand held Narda's shoulder as she silently walk towards their bedroom.
"Kaya pa ate?" A sly smile was plastered on Narda's face before facing towards Mikha's direction who now has a worried look on her face. She might have been too busy with her thoughts that she haven't even heard Mikha opened the front door.
"Kaya pa naman. Kakayanin pa."
"Why don't you tell her that you already has a hint of what's going on with her?"
Her lips quiver as she try to hold back a sob with a fake smile. "What for? What's important is she still comes home to me."
Mikha placed a hand in the air, submitting defeat.
"Just let me be, Mikhs. No one's gonna be there for her except me. Hindi ko s'ya pwedeng basta-basta nalang komprontahin."
"I know. I know. Just letting you know that dad wants to see you and you know you don't have forever to decide."
"Alam mo na ang isasagot ko bago ka pa man pumasok sa pintong 'yan, Mikhs. It's still Regina's decision and not mine."
"Ate Narda..."
