Kanina pa siyang nakaupo sa sofa. Palipat-lipat ang tingin niya mula sa wall clock, sa pinto at sa cellphone na nasa center table. Mahigit isang oras na siyang naghihintay ngunit hindi pa dumadating ang asawa niya at hindi pa siya nakakatanggap ng text o tawag mula rito. Should she be worried? Kanina pa siya nakapaghanda ng hapunan. He should be home at least by six if he plans on having dinner with her. Nanood pa siya ng Youtube video para lang ma-perfect ang seafood paella na paborito ng asawa ngunit tila hindi ito uuwi. Napabuntong-hininga siya.
Was it because of what she did this morning? Did he feel threatened in any way that's why he chose to get some space? Napailing siya. Those should not be questions but statements. She had known Alex since forever, she should know better than waiting for nothing.
Alex may always appear tough but he is vulnerable inside. He always masks his real emotions with anger. He doesn't like confrontations. Palagi itong umiiwas kapag nasusukol. He always does that. Normally, she would just let him get the space he wants because he always ends up knocking on her window, asking for her forgiveness. But that was before, when they were best friends yet. She didn't feel this type of desperation before. She was never afraid if he's mad. Worried, yes. But afraid? Never. It's only when she realizes what she is about to lose that she feels afraid. And she feels like she is losing him.
Alex is her life. The thought of losing him brings her unimaginable pain. What more if it happens? She doesn't care if she appears to be desperate. She won't take the risk. She won't let anyone take her life away. The last time she let her guards down, he impregnated someone. Hindi na niya hahayaang mangyari ulit iyon. She had given him enough space. She won't let him get away this time. Not anymore.
Kinuha niya ang cellphone. Dinial niya ang number ni Gwen.
"Oh, Pepper! You've called!" bungad nito sa kanya hindi pa man siya nakaka-hello.
"Yeah, I was just wondering if Alex is with you."
"No, he is in the mountains for the-" Natigilan ito saglit. "Wait, did he not tell you about the photo shoot?"
"No. I thought we had plans for dinner." Narinig niyang napamura ito. Napailing siya. Gusto niyang matawa. Gwen sounds like Alex when she is cursing.
"I'm sorry, Pepper. I thought you knew. He is with that Heather b*tch, you know?"
Tila may sumipa sa dibdib niya. Her husband definitely knows how to get back at her. Ngumiti siya ng mapait.
"Do you happen to know when he will be back?"
"Well, it's gonna last for the whole weekend. He's gonna cover a boot camp hosted by the company Heather is modelling for and do a photo shoot for their winter collection. He'll be back maybe by Monday noon."
"I see. I wonder how he forgot to tell me that. He didn't bring clothes with him this morning."
"Well, it's a clothing company so Heather got Alex covered. And he didn't confirm until this morning so they were quite in a rush. Still, it doesn't make sense he forgot to tell you."
"Maybe he didn't want to tell me," aniyang binuntutan ng pekeng tawa.
"I'll call him," sagot ni Gwen. Gwen sounded upset as she was when they caught Alex and Heather together.
"No... Please don't tell him what we've talked about. I'll surprise him. Do you know the place?"
"I'll send you the location. But don't you think it's already late, Pepper? It takes about four hours by train."
"Don't worry, I'll manage."
"And don't forget to wear thick jacket. It gets really crazy freezing cold up there."
YOU ARE READING
Forever and Always (Book 2)
RandomAlex and Erika were best friends turned lovers. They were inseparable since childhood, and even when they were miles away from each other, distance can never set them apart. Erika thought that falling in love with her best friend was the best thing...
