Chapter 26

"Do you want to go home already?" I asked while we were standing side by side.

"Do you want to go home?" he asked back.

"Not yet," I replied.

"Then, no," he said. "Why will I go home if you're still here?"

"Because clearly, your head is elsewhere."

Narinig ko iyong pagbuntong hininga niya. Whatever was in that message, it was enough to make him bothered. Kanina pa siya hindi mapakali. A part of me wanted to know what it was, but another part of me reminded myself that it's none of my concern.

At best, we're business partners.

I should stay on my lane and everything will be fine.

"I'm sorry," he said.

Napaawang ang labi ko. Did he actually apologize? This was... weird. I was used to him being passive-aggressive or sometimes, straight to aggression.

What was in that message?

What did Rosie tell him?

"Ilan pa ba ang dapat nating kausapin?" he asked.

I wanted to tell him that we could already go home since he looked so bothered by whatever it was... but this was work. Whatever business he had with Rosie, he should deal with that on his own time. This was far more important.

"Just two more people," I replied.

"Kasama si Jack?" he asked.

"What?" I asked, my forehead creased.

"Why did he give you a diamond necklace?" he asked.

"We're back to that, I see," I replied as I started to walk because I also did not want to talk about that topic. It was just a necklace.

Archie tried his best to act normal, but I was his wife. Of course I knew when he's acting normal and when something's at the back of his mind. I ignored it until it was time to go home.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Home."

"Oh. Okay. Akala ko may iba pa tayong kakausapin."

I did not reply to his last sentence and instead, decided to walk in silence. Tahimik lang din ako sa loob ng sasakyan. When I glanced at his side, nakita ko na nakatingin lang siya sa labas. I'd see him sigh and then run his fingers through his hair.

"Thank you," I said when he opened the door for me.

"You're always welcome," he replied with a small smile on his face.

He was still silent as we were waiting for the lift. When we went inside, I was just staring at his reflection on the mirror—unabashedly at that. After a while, he finally caught me staring.

"You want a picture?" he asked in a lighter manner.

"Are you okay?" I asked. It was a valid question. Even he should know that he's acting weirdly.

He gave an unconvincing nod. "Yes, of course," sabi niya. He gave me an equally unconvincing smile. "Just work."

"Is that what Rosie texted?"

Bahagyang napaawang ang labi niya. "What?"

"I didn't read anything," I said. "My eyes accidentally glanced when a notification came in."

Hindi siya nagsalita.

When we reached our place, I quietly removed my shoes and walked towards our room. I wanted to ask more, but I needed to stop. It wasn't any of my concern. I needed to be constantly reminded of that.

"Nadia," he called my name.

Lumingon ako.

I waited for him to say something.

To tell me what the text was about.

"What?" I asked.

Bahagya siyang umiling. "Nothing," he replied. "Just wanted to say good night."

I gave him a small nod. "You won't sleep yet?"

Umiling siya. "Work."

"Okay," I replied as I got inside the room.

I did my usual routine and tried my best to fall asleep, but who was I kidding? I just kept on tossing and turning and thinking about all the worst case scenario.

Did he get her pregnant?

Because that's the worst case scenario.

I finally gave up.

I grabbed my phone and saw that it was already 1AM. I knew that Archie wasn't beside me yet dahil kanina pa ako gising. I got up and quietly walked hanggang sa makarating ako sa pinto. I tried to open the door as quietly as I could. Nang mabuksan ko iyon, I took a peek and saw Archie standing with his back on me. He was on the phone with someone. Whoever he was talking to, he seemed frustrated—judging by the way he was standing and by the way his hand was placed on the island.

I didn't know whether to make my presence known or to just go back to sleep. But I guessed I didn't have to worry about that because he turned around and saw me as I was spying on him.

His mouth turned agape.

He looked like a deer caught in headlight.

"I'll talk to you later," he said to whoever he was on the phone with. Inilagay niya sa bulsa niya iyong cellphone niya. "Hey," he told me. "I thought you were sleeping already?"

Tumango ako. "I was just about to get a glass of water," I replied.

"Oh."

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah."

I should I just ask him.

If he got her pregnant, that my business, too, right? I worked hard to get us to where we are right now. And right from the beginning, he knew about my conditions to make everything work for us.

"Archie," I called his name.

He looked at me.

I drew a deep breath.

"Did you get her pregnant?" I asked.

I watched as the color on his face drained.

It was like the wind was knocked out of my chest.

He did not.

"N-no," he said.

Hindi ako makapagsalita.

Hindi ako makagalaw.

It was like I was watching everything I built for us crumble right before me.

Of course he got her pregnant!

And of course she'll keep that baby! She's in love with him!

I briefly closed my eyes and tried to regain control of my breathing. Pagdilat ng mga mata ko, nakita ko na nakatingin siya sa akin. He looked so scared and ashamed and remorseful all at once.

"I didn't—" he said and then stopped. "I didn't know how this could happen."

I stared at him.

I didn't know what to say.

I wanted to say a lot of things, but I wanted to say the one that would hurt the most.

"I—" He stopped again. Tumingin siya sa akin. He took a step forward, but I shook my head at him. I needed the distance between us now more than ever.

"I what?" I asked when he said nothing. "I'm sorry I fucked up? I'm sorry I am such a disappointment?"

Hindi siya makapagsalita.

I stared right into his eyes.

"Tell me," I said. "Did you," I continued and then I paused. "Did you sleep with her?"

I knew he did because if not, he would not be acting like this. But he never directly told me before that there's something happening between them.

I thought that maybe there's none.

I thought that maybe, he's just like me.

That he wouldn't have the desire to be with someone else.

But who was I kidding? All my life, I'd been disappointed with men. He's nothing different from all of them. Different name; equally disappointing.

"Answer me."

He looked at me with fear in his eyes.

"Answer me!"

"Yes," he said that almost sounded like a whisper—like he was afraid to say the word because it would make it come true.

It was the world stopped spinning.

He did.

He did sleep with her.

Her of all people.

How can I now look at her? She's not even half of me and she thinks she's had half of me?

"Nadia—"

I looked at him and shook my head. "No," I said.

"Nadia, please—"

"No," I replied as I started to walk back to the room. But he was quicker than me. He stood right in front of me. I looked up at him. "Move," I said.

Umiling siya. "Let's talk."

"There's nothing to talk about," I said.

"Nadia—"

"There's nothing to talk about," I repeated. "There are only things to fix now."

I watched as confusion appeared on his face.

And then fear.

"You won't—"

"Good night, Gallego," I said as I got past him and locked the door behind me. 

**

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