On Love & Friendship

Chapter 14- Guilt

Althea staying at Jade's condo every  Monday and Thurs has become a regular thing with them. She will cook food for Jade and keep it on fridge so Jade will just reheat it. Then cook again for the remaining days every week.  She doesn't want her to eat in Fastfood. Althea took good care of Jade.

She encouraged her to find time to run also sometimes forcing her to wake up in the morning to join her. There were instances thay they will fight over it coz Jade is so stubborn and lazy to get up. Althea doesn't tolerate her on this so Jade would be the one to make peace with her everytime.

Jade was fine with this arrangement. There will be times that Jade will join Althea on her Out of Town work if she is not busy with School. Althea make sure that she make up another day with Jade if she couldn't visit her on either days.

They limit calls and text messages.  It was a hard arrangement but they both tried to enjoy their time together.

Jade was able to focus on her studies and she continued to read and study about Annulment cases and asked her lawyer friends about Althea's case, Ofcourse keeping the confidentiality.

All the more when they explore they found more conflicts that may bring in to them like how they will established the rape when there was no formal compaint filed or vitiated consent on the marriage , they know that it will be a hurdle to prove. They may also invoke other grounds like psychological incapacity or unreconcileable differences. the only common relief they got is the Custody will go to the Mother atleast until the child is 7 y/o below.

But Miguel is now 7.

Jade has never asked Althea about her plan again but one day Althea opened up to her that Ben was being extra caring with her and was sorry to having the Annulment subject brought up to her. This pained Jade. She suddenly felt numb.

" So what was your answer to him?"
" Jade... I told him that I have not changed my mind..and We were never been intimate with each other since he got back from the States...Jade I am so sorry for telling you this...I wish I can do something more...for you.."
Althea was sad about this.
" I'm scared Althea...I don't want to lose you..."
" I can't tell you how much this hurts me too Jade...."

Althea hugged Jade so tight. Her mind is troubled, the feeling of guilt inside her is growing each day. She never wanted to hurt Jade and it seems that the more their love for each other grows deeper the more they are putting themselves to into higher  level of Pain eventually.

" Jade...Love can you fixed your schedule next week? "
" Why? I have no major activity in school, I think my sked is fine.."
" Great...can you come with me to Boracay? I have a shoot just 2 Nights, we'll leave Friday then back on Sunday morning? You want? Please?"
" Love...ofcourse...you know I'll go wherever as long as we are together...."
Jade was smiling at Althea.
" What about Miguel? Who will take care of him ? is Ben available?"
" Yes, actually they have this event in School next week too, Father and Son Camp...Friday till Sat..so he'll be fine...I will just fixed their things so they will be set to go..."

In Althea's mind she just want to make Jade happy in every opportunity she can find. But at the same time she wants to be a good Mother to Miguel. She make sure that she managed her time efficiently atleast for the two of them. There is a feeling of guilt in her heart everytime she looked at Miguel, She prayed that he will not judged her if in time he will discover that she's having an affair and that She was never in love with his Father. And with Ben, she was sorry that she cannot loved him back...not as a Wife.

----x

They arrived at the Hotel just in time for lunch. Their reservation includes lunch and Dinner so they rested in the room for a while.
" Are you hungry now or you want to rest first"
Althea asked Jade when they were inside their room.
" I'm not yet hungry. I want to take a rest first...how about you are you not tired?"'
" No, I'm good. let me just call Batchi, they are supposed to be here now..Our photo shoot at 4pm later."