Secretly Married (English)

Chapter 20

Phoebe heard footsteps from the other side of the room. She turned to this particular direction and saw Kent. Everyone started clapping, but the applause stopped when Kent started pulling Phoebe away from the dance floor and into the backstage.

"What's this?" He showed the photo of Harley and Phoebe kissing in the rain.

Phoebe started crying and shaking her head. Their fathers then appeared, asking what was wrong. The two would not speak, so they said, "Try to talk calmly about this," before going out again, closing the door behind them.

"Kent, please . . ."

"How could you do this to me?"

"It's not what you think, Kent . . ."

"What else can it be?"

"Let me explain . . ."

"Didn't I ask you to wait for me? Why are you doing this? How many guys have you kissed, anyway?" "Please, let me explain. It was just a mistake." "Well, now it is now that I know!"

"Kent . . ."

"I can't do this anymore. I have to go."

Phoebe couldn't force him to stay anymore. She watched him storm off, and she just gave in to her tears, until her father came to take her home.

Jhone got there a few minutes later to console her friend.

"Pa, I'm so sorry I ruined your party."

"Stop crying. Whatever this is, you and Kent can work it out. This is just one of the few problems that you will have to face as husband and wife."

"Fibs? Listen to me," Jhone piped in. "Tell him you love him, okay?"

"I can't . . ."

"Why not? Isn't it true?"

"It is . . . It's just that what ifI don't get an answer?"

"Well, 'I love you' is not a question, right? So you can't expect him to answer it. But you have to at least tell him how you really feel."

Phoebe waited for Kent to arrive home. Her father had to leave for his flight early because he found out that his flight schedule's been moved a day earlier than expected.

"You can stay with your auntie if you need some space, okay? They'll be waiting for your call," he said before he took a cab to the airport.

"Manang Lourdes, I'll wait up for Kent. You can go to sleep now," she said. The old lady took her hand and squeezed it before leaving her in the living room.

A few minutes after midnight, she heard the gate open, the screech of a car door, and a pot of plant getting knocked over. She went to the main door and saw Kent parking his car haphazardly. He got out of the car, slammed the door shut, and walked toward her like he was drunk.

When he got nearer, Phoebe could smell alcohol on him. "Are you drunk?"

"Come here." He pulled her arm and tried to close the door behind them.

"No, Kent, I have to close the gate."

"Come here!"

"Kent, can we talk?"

"Why do you do this to me, Phoebe? Why do you act innocent when you're capable of doing this?"

"Please let me explain. It was nothing. I was just so jealous of you kissing Elisa. I think I wanted to get even. I wasn't thinking clearly then."

"And you thought that gives you the right to kiss him? God! So that night, when I drove out all night looking for you, you were with him?"

Phoebe couldn't even look at him. "Answer me!"

Phoebe looked up but only briefly. "You were with him?"

Phoebe started shaking her head, and tears started falling. "I don't know what happened. I just woke up, and I was there."

"Are you stupid? That can't be possible that you don't know what happened. Tell me, you slept with him?"

Phoebe didn't speak up again. But slowly, she nodded. The truth was she wasn't even sure. But all evidences pointed to it.

"What, Phoebe? I can't believe this. I really can't." "Kent, please. I'm sorry. I didn't even—"

"Stop explaining. I don't want to see your face anymore. This is it."

Kent started walking away. Phoebe tried to hold him back, but he shook her off. "I can't even look at you right now."

Phoebe let him go. She was hurt, sure, but she knew that she somehow deserved his spite. So she went up to her own room and started packing her bags.

Kent woke up with a bad hangover. He had never drunk before, but last night seemed like a good way to start. Then, he remembered the photo and didn't want to get up anymore. How could Phoebe have done such a thing?

He got up and out of his room and saw a note on the floor. He was about to throw it away when something caught his eye.

"Kent, I know you don't want to see my face, so I'm leaving. I love you, but I know I don't deserve to have your love after what I've done."

*later*