Ruthless

CHAPTER 34

A month had passed. Each day drags me deeper into a well of numbness, and every night stretches on, empty and cold. Clyde barely comes home-if he does, it's only to sleep for a few hours before disappearing again. At work, he remains distant, assigning tasks without so much as a glance in my direction. I've stopped hoping for things to change; I just survive through the motions.

Even with Manang Ness around, the house feels hollow. But now, even that small comfort is slipping away.

It's 6 a.m. The sun is barely peeking through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the dining table where I sit with a half-eaten bowl of cereal. The quiet is comforting, but the stillness is broken when Manang approaches, her hands nervously fidgeting with the hem of her apron. Her expression is a mix of apology and determination.

"Ma'am Tania, magpapaalam po sana ako. Kailangan ko pong mag-leave ng isang buwan." Her voice is soft but steady, a hint of sadness woven through her words.

Startled, I look up from my cereal. "Bakit po, Manang?"

She offers me a small, apologetic smile. "Yung apo ko po kasi, wala pong magbabantay. Parehong busy sa trabaho ang mga magulang niya na stay in sa malayo."

The weight of her words hangs in the air, heavy and suffocating. A month without her. A month alone in this cold house-no Clyde, no Manang. The thought sends a chill down my spine.

"Sige po. Kailan po kayo aalis?" I manage to ask, my voice trembling.

"Sa isang linggo po. Pero huwag kayong mag-alala, ihahanda ko po lahat bago ako umalis. May ilalagay po akong mga pagkain sa freezer, saka babalikan ko rin naman kayo agad."

I nod, but I can't shake the rising panic inside me. The prospect of solitude looms over me like a dark cloud. "Okay po, Manang. Salamat. Mamimiss ko po kayo."

My heart catches in my throat when she wraps her arms around me in a warm embrace. "Kayanin mo habang wala ako, ma'am ha? Gusto kong marinig ang mga kwento mo pagbalik ko." Tears well in my eyes.

I manage a weak smile, flexing my biceps playfully. "Kaya ko 'yan, Manang," I joke, but the tears spill over, and she gently wipes them away with her thumb.

"Ayaw mo ba talagang kausapin ko si Sir. Clyde? Ano ba talagang nangyari habang wala ako? Bakit umabot ka sa ganitong sitwasyon?" Her questions come rushing, each one piercing through the fragile walls I've built around my emotions.

I want to tell her everything, to unburden myself, but I can't bring myself to do it. I've kept this pain hidden, not wanting anyone to see Clyde in a different light.

"Ayoko nalang pong pag-usapan," I reply, my voice barely above a whisper. "Basta babalik ka agad, Manang, ha?"

She nods, her gaze unwavering. "Babalikan kita agad."

Surprisingly the week passes faster than I expect, and then Manang is gone. Just like that, the silence in the house becomes unbearable. Clyde hasn't been home in days. No calls, no texts. Just absence.

It's a suffocating emptiness, one that follows me even to work.

Today, I'm out on the construction site, going through routine inspections and coordinating with the workers. The sun beats down mercilessly, and the noise of machines and hammering fills the air. I rub the back of my neck, feeling the sting of sweat gathering there.

"Ma'am, okay lang po kayo?" One of the workers, a man named Victor, asks as he hands me a bottle of water.

I force a smile, though my vision swims slightly. "Okay lang. Thank you."

The truth is, I've felt off all morning-lightheaded and nauseous, but I chalked it up to stress and lack of sleep. I've been running on fumes for weeks, juggling deadlines, site inspections, and the gnawing loneliness at home.