THE PERFECT HUSBAND (LEE BROTHERS #1)

Chapter 71. Dinner Part I

✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧

I WOKE up early, my mind still tangled in the restless thoughts that had kept me awake for most of the night. Hindi ako pinatulog ng pag-iisip ko kay Poppy. The stark reality of her change in behavior haunted me, and I couldn't shake off the gnawing worry. Kaya madaling araw pa lang ay nag-shower na 'ko at nagbihis, deciding to head to the company much earlier than usual.

The office was eerily quiet at this hour, a stark contrast to the bustling environment it would soon become. Pagpasok ko sa sariling opisina, agad akong naupo at inabala ang sarili ko sa mga trabahong naghihintay sa 'kin sa table ko, sa pagbabaka sakaling malibang ako at makalimot sa nangyari kagabi sa party. Yet, no matter how hard I tried, my focus kept drifting back to Poppy.

Her image was etched in my mind-so different, so confident, and so distant. Summer's words from last night played over and over in my head. According to her, Poppy had seemed fine at the party. Nagawa pa raw sila nitong salubungin, yakapin, kuwentuhan habang sinasabayan pa silang kumain. Summer had described her as warm, engaging, the epitome of grace under the mansion's glittering lights.

But why, then, was I the only one she couldn't face? Ni salitang "kumusta" ay hindi ko narinig sa kaniya gayong isang taon kaming hindi nagkita. The question gnawed at me, refusing to let me concentrate. My hands moved mechanically over the documents, but my thoughts were miles away.

I drummed my fingers on the desk, staring at the papers before me without really seeing them. The disconnect between what Summer had described and what I had experienced was baffling. It was as if there were two Poppys-one who was perfectly fine and social with everyone, and another who seemed to go out of her way to avoid me.

The more I thought about it, the more restless I became. I pushed back from my desk and stood, pacing the length of my office. I couldn't understand it. We were married, for heaven's sake. If she could talk and laugh with others, why couldn't she do the same with me?

I stopped by the window, looking out at the city below. The sun was fully up now, casting a golden glow over the buildings. It should have been a new day, a fresh start, but it felt like I was stuck in a loop, unable to move forward. Makakapag-move forward lang siguro 'ko kung magkakausap na kami at malalaman ko ang dahilan niya.

With a sigh, I returned to my desk, trying once again to focus. But the lingering question remained: what had changed so drastically between us? And how could I fix it, if I didn't even know what was wrong?

Sa inis ko, muli kong binitawan ang trabahong ginagawa ko. Tumayo ako, dinampot ang susi ng sasakyan ko sa ibabaw ng table para puntahan siya sa mansyon nila. Alam kong balak niyang imbitahin ako sa dinner mamayang gabi dahil binanggit na rin 'yon sa 'kin ni Summer kagabi. Pero parang hindi ko na kayang hintayin pa 'yong oras ng dinner. Kung hindi ko siya makakausap ngayon, siguradong maghapon akong walang magagawa sa sobrang pag-iisip kung ano'ng problema naming dalawa.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

When I arrived, the familiar sight of the mansion did little to calm my nerves. Ang medyo may edad na kasambahay-si Elena-ang sumalubong sa 'kin sa pinto, nakangiti siya.

"Good morning, Elena," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Narito ba si Poppy?"

Tumango siya. "Oo. Pasok ka." Lumihis siya para bigyan ako ng daan. "Nasa kuwarto si Poppy, natutulog pa. Napuyat sa party kagabi. Si Mr. Herald naman nasa company na. Halos kaaalis lang din, nagkasalisi kayo."

I hesitated for a moment, feeling a mix of uncertainty and determination. "Would it be alright if I went up to see her? Kailangan ko lang makausap si Poppy... she is my wife, after all."