North Star

Chapter XV

"What are you doing?" She was cleaning the entire house. It's been two months after her operation. She has her life back. And it is the last month of being married to her. I got the promotion of course. She continued her studies after she was discharged and now she got her doctorate degree with flying colors. She had the best thesis in Stanford University. She's brilliant.
"Can't you see  I'm cleaning?"
"Yeah,I know. But why are you doing that? Does the vacuum cleaner never help you?"
"Stop it!I don't want to argue with you early in the morning. Leave me alone ".
" fine "
"Breakfast is ready. Help yourself "
"Aren't you gonna eat?"
"I don't have the appetite."
"Finn,you have medications. Remember that!"
"Yeah,I know that well."
"Then why aren't you eating? Finish that up and eat with  me "
She put the rag and left. Oh what was that?
"Do you have problem with me?" I followed her in the laundry area. She's putting our clothes in the washing machine.
"I'm working don't disturb me."
"You must tell me . I'm not a fortune teller to guess what's your problem with me.  I have never done anything."
"You think so?"
"what? What do you mean?"
"You never told me,you keep secrets with me. You know that's what I hate people who are really liars. I never care who you are with because I don't give damn care---"
"Will you stop swearing?"
Her tears came out from her eyes. She's crying. Definitely.
" You were with Hana yesterday. That's why you never came home. " she said in a low voice.
Is she jealous?
"Did I call you yesterday?"
"You did. But you said you had overtime."
"I'm sorry."
"Stop saying sorry. I guess my life ends here. I want to go back to the Philippines."
"Fine,I'll let you go. "
She threw my shirt on the machine.
"I want a divorce paper."
"I don't have time to process it. Do it if you want to " After I said it,I left.
I smiled. Does my plan work? Is she jealous? I went to our room to take a bath. It's Saturday and I don't have work.
I was humming when I came out from the bathroom. She was there. When she saw me,she threw my clothes on my face.
"Hey,are you really that angry?"
I told her before she closed the door. She is cute when she gets angry.
I wore the clothes she gave to me. Then I went out. I saw her on the couch in our living room.
"I'm going to eat, would you like to eat with me?" I asked her.
"No" she said.
"Fine. Let's see who will be starving."
I ate all the foods she prepared. I'm sure she will be looking for it.
When I'm done,I got my laptop and started to work.
"I'm sorry"I told her.
She got up and left me and went to our room.
I called Hana.
" hello,best friend."
"I had a problem"
"Is it about your wife?"
"Yah,"
"Well,I can call her. Why didn't you tell her yesterday that you came to our house? "
"I forgot . I was overwhelmed looking at your son. "
"Yeah. I'm sorry too. Don't worry I'll make it up for you. I'll visit you tomorrow with Akihiro."
"Really?"
"Yeah,you're wife will be insane if she wouldn't know the real truth. I'm older than you. My gosh,it's embarrassing to know that I became your mistress."
I laughed.
"Thank you Hana" Oh what a very good timing. She went out and absolutely she could hear the words I uttered earlier. C'mon,don't walk away from me.
"I'm going out!"
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to meet my classmates."
"Go home early."
She went out. I immediately got my car keys. I have to follow her.
I followed the taxi which she was riding now.
Then moment pass by,it stops. To a club? Club? What is she doing here? To drink and dance?
"What are you doing here?" I asked her when she came out from the taxi.
" to drink. What else you can do in here? "
"Are you crazy? A doctor? Will drink here in this goddamn place?"
"Fine,my best friend in the Philippines is here. She wants to meet me. "
"What?"
"Yeah, so go back home "
"Let's go. I want to see that best friend"
We went inside. Many young people are in there. They are drinking liquor.
"Tsk,smells bad."
"That what your meeting place. Who choose this place?"
"She loves drinking."
"Then you can let her come in our house."
"I want to stay away from you but you came all the way here. "
"I don't want you to go alone "
"Don't be good to me I'm still angry."
"I already asked sorry from you."
"I didn't accept it yet."
"I'm sorry."
"No."
We keep on walking until we saw the woman who is waving at us.
"That's your friend?"
"Yeah,she's Lee."
"Who's that man next to her?"
"Her husband. His Korean."
"Okay."
My eyes roam around. There were sexy young women who were dancing. I looked at Finn. She was wearing her favorite skinny jeans and a lose white shirt. She put her hair in a bun. It was long already. She looks pretty on her converse shoes.
I sat down next to her after we were introduced.
"We would likes to dance ,wouldn't you?"
Lee stood up with her husband.
"No,go ahead " she said. We were left alone.  I drank my wine and so she did with her orange juice.
"I'm sorry."
"What did you do yesterday?"
"They had baby shower. Hana is pregnant."
She cried.
"Are you breaking up on me because she is pregnant with your child?"
"Did I say? Can you first listen to me before making any assumption, honey?"
"She's pregnant right?"
"Yeah she did but not mine. She has a boyfriend. They  were married in Japan."
I hugged her.
"Why are you crying?"
"I don't know."
"Then don't cry. I was drunk yesterday. My mom told me to stay home. I was at my parents house yesterday after I went to Hana's baby shower.  I don't want you to be worried at me so I didn't come home."
"Really?"
"Promise."
"I was really worried about you yesterday."
"I'm sorry. I won't do it again."
I hugged her again this time.
"Do you still remember what I said before the operation?"
"What is it ?"
"That I love you so live for me?"
"You love me?"
"I did."
"What?"
"I did loving you after I saw you in my grandfather's wake. I was interested in you that time but I can't open my mouth. Good thing you can talk to me."
"What?"
"Hmm. I followed you in social media and that's how I live with you throughout the years."
"What?"
" yeah,so I was surprised when you didn't remember me the first time we met here. I was heartbroken. I always remember you. "
"Why didn't you come to the Philippines to find me?"
"I did but every time I do that you were out of the country. I know you went to many Asian countries."
"What?"
"That's why my company were thinking about my trip to the Philippines. They thought I met my secret wife. One time,I talked to my superior and he told me that if I won't stop from getting vacations every month, I will be fired. So I told him I met my wife and he told all the other workers."
"So you're the one started the rumor."
"That's the easiest way to be near you. I don't expect you would agree to this situation. My mom always think of you everyday. She always said that its good if you'll be my wife. So when she heard about the rumor,she immediately went to the Philippines to get you. And the rest is a history."
"I was attracted to the offer but actually my parents had hidden agenda about this. They let me come here to be treated."
"Why did you know?"
"I called my doctor when I had my first attack in Thailand. She said the next time it will attack,it would be fatal. I know. I could die  but when I came here,everything changed. My life changed."