Wayne's POV

"Wayne..." Tanya's soft voice called my name. She rested her head on my chest and wrapped her arms around me. She pressed a kiss on my jaw. "Hindi ko akalain magkikita kami nina Edna at Luis. Sila rin pala ang magkakatuluyan."

I didn't say a word or even move a muscle. Why didn't we end up like them? Instead here we were, in a complicated and frustrating relationship. I didn't even know what to call this? What was I supposed to be? The lover of a mistress?

"Wayne, nakikinig ka ba sa akin?" She lifted her head up and leveled her head to mine.

"Yeah..." I answered quietly.

"Bakit ba ang tahimik mo ngayon? May problema ba?" A hint of worry crossed her face.

"Nothing. I'm just tired." I exhaled.

It hurt having to hear her say that she loved that old man. It broke my heart into pieces, it shattered every illusion I had of our happy family. I was just here to fill George's place until he comes back. Tanya and Therese weren't mine and that was what hurts the most.

"Sabi naman kasi sa'yo huwag kang masyadong magpapakapagod." She nuzzled her face into my neck. "Gusto mo bang i-massage kita?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Wayne, something's bothering you. Nararamdaman ko. Dahil ba iyon kay Luis? Matagal na 'yun. Napatawad na siya ni Nanay at napatawad ko na din siya. He has grown now at may pamilya na sila ni Edna. Isa pa, napagbayaran niya na ang kasalanan niya."

"It's not him." It was that old man!

"Then what's bothering you? Sabihin mo sa akin para hindi na ako nanghuhula." Her fingers gently played over my chest.

"Nothing. You better get some sleep. We've had a long day at maaga pa ang pasok ni Therese bukas." I reminded her before kissing her on the lips.

"Are you sure you're okay?" She asked again.

"Yeah."

"Good night, Wayne. I love you." She muttered before drifting to sleep.

"I love you too, Angel." I whispered.

All the fear and vulnerability that engulfed me earlier was back as I stared at the ceiling. She said she loved George and that he had a special place in her heart. It played in my mind over and over again, those words mocked me. I had her in my arms now but at any moment, I felt like she could be snatched away from me. I still love Tanya as I did the first time I'd felt it. I love her even though I wasn't supposed to. And if she let me, I'd fight for her and Therese.

I was perfectly aware of the wounds and bruises I was about to get, the risk, the possible heartbreak at the end of all these. I guess fear wasn't enough for me to stop because I was still here. I'd always be here for her. They say you have to love yourself first before loving anyone. I call that bullshit because I only truly learned to love myself the moment I loved her I only love myself when I'm with her. For this feeling I'd risk anything, everything...

The Buddhists say it isn't love until she calms your soul. She always takes me into her ocean of tranquility. Everytime I'm with her my world shrinks down to just the two of us to the degree that I couldn't find it in me to care about the rest of it is any more.When we're together I feel a tingle along my spine that tells me that any moment now I'd be complete. She made me feel whole like no other. She brings the soul in me, the love in me.

I knew, sooner or later, George would come back and take back his place but until then I wanted to stay in this blissful oblivion.

I let Tanya design the interior of the lounge bar. She spoke with the interior designer we hired and showed the sketch to me. Her style was very different from mine. Mine was dark and edgy and hers were soft and very chic. I liked it as the style was different from all the bar lounge I owned.

"Nagustuhan mo ba yung designs na pinili ko?" Tanya asked.

"Of course. They're perfect." I said.

"Wayne." She cupped my face with one hand. "Are you sure you're okay? Kagabi ka pa walang kibo." Her eyes lowered to the glass of scotch I was holding. She took it from me and placed it down on top of the counter I was leaning against.

"I already told you, I'm okay." I assured her, taking her hand in mine and bringing it to my lips.

"Eh bakit kasi ang tahimik mo?"

"Because I had nothing to say." I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her closer to me. I lowered my head and drew my lips near her ear. "But now I do. You're beautiful."

"Yan ka na naman! Napakabolero." She looked up at me, smiling.

I smiled and kissed her on her forehead, to the tip of her nose and then my lips pressed against hers. She kissed me back. Her taste and the perfect fit of her in my arms made something coiled inside me. I wanted the world to disappear to only the two of us. After a second or two, she pulled away.

"Wayne, baka may makakita sa atin." She said, looking around. The designers and the planners were just a few feet away from us.

"Ano naman kung makita nila tayo?" My brows furrowed. "Kinahihiya mo ba ako?"

"Wayne, it's not that..." She gently said. "I just don't want them to think..."

"To think what? Na may relasyon tayo?" I said in a low growl.

"Wayne, hindi iyon." She shook her head.

I turned and walked away. I tried to bottle up what I felt when she said that thing about George last night but my insecurity was eating me up. I couldn't fuckin hide it even if I tried. I felt the bottle that I had kept my emotions in crack and I knew that any wrong thing she says could cause me to explode.

"Wayne..." She followed behind me until we were out in the parking lot. She caught up on me, wrapping her arms around one of mine. "Wayne, ano bang nangyayari sa'yo?"

"Nothing." We stopped in front of my car and I turned to face her. "I'm sorry, Angel. I guess I'm just having a hard day."

She cupped my face in her two soft palms and looked me in the eye. "Hindi totoo ang iniisip mo. Hindi kita kinahihiya, Wayne. Huwag ka naman magalit sa akin." She leaned over, drawing her lips close to mine. Her lips lightly grazed mine. "Mahal na mahal kita."

"I love you too, Angel. I love you beyond sense." I found myself answering her kiss with a more passionate one. We kissed for several minutes, drinking from her mouth and taking something from her that would help me soothe the pain. Then we pulled away.

"Hindi ka na galit?" She looked at me with those doe-like eyes that makes me melt into a puddle.

"I'm not mad at you." I gently said. I was just scared and insecure. I was scared of losing her again. If I had to steal or borrow time to be with her then I fucking would. I refused to believe that she wouldn't mine. She used to mine and she would always be mine.

"What do you want to name your new pets?" I asked Therese. After Tanya and I picked her up from her school, we decided to take her to a pet shop. Tanya wouldn't let her have a pet dog yet so I decided to just get her a pair goldfish. She was ecstatic, nonetheless. We bought a tank for the fish and a few decorations she picked herself.

"I don't know. What do you think, Daddy?" Therese looked at me.

"We can name the red one Clifford." I smiled.

"Yeah! I like that name!" She beamed. "What about the other one?"

"Let's ask, Mommy." I turned my head to Tanya. She was sitting on the couch, just watching us. "What do you want to name the other goldfish, Angel?"

She stood up and walked towards us. Umupo siya sa sahig sa tabi namin. The small aquarium was placed on top of the coffee table. She drew her head closed to the aquarium. "Yung white?"

"Yup." Therese nodded her head.

"Snow White." She said.

"Okay, the red one is Clifford and the white one is Snow White." Therese tapped on the glass, pointing at the two goldfish. Then she turned to me and hugged me. "Thanks, Daddy Wayne. You're the best!"

"Anything for our little princess." I kissed her on the forehead.

"Bakit ang Daddy Wayne mo lang ang may hug? Kasama naman ako nung binili niyo yan, saka di niyo naman mabibili yan kung hindi ako pumayag." Tanya crossed her arms over her chest, kunwaring nagtatampo.

"You made Mommy upset." I said, playing along.

A hint of worry flashed across Therese's innocent face. She wrapped her arms around Tanya and hugged her. "You too, Mommy. You and Daddy Wayne are the bestest!"

"Mas love mo yata ang Daddy Wayne mo kaysa sa akin." Tanya pouted.

"I love the two of you just the same." She said, hugging the two of us in each her tiny arms. Tanya and I both chuckled at the little girl's cuteness.

I cupped Tanya's chin and drew her head closer to mine, pressing a soft kiss on her voluptuous lips.

"Daddy Wayne and Mommy sitting on a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" She sang. Our head both turned to Therese and we laughed. Life couldn't get any better with these two women in my life. With the two of them, I was at my best. They gave me what I didn't have in my life, what I wanted most, peace and purity. Some search for their who life for what I had with them. I couldn't see myself creating a life with anyone other than these two.

The phone rang and Tanya stood up to pick up the phone. Therese and I ogled at the aquarium, watching her pets swim around.

I suddenly stiffened when I heard Tanya say George's name. I pretend to be busy with Therese but my eyes were to Tanya.

"We're okay. Don't worry... Yes, Therese is here. Do you want to talk to her?" She asked before going back to our place.

"Therese, Papa George wants to talk to you." Sabi ni Tanya sa bata.

Therese's eyes glowed and she immediately took the phone from Tanya. "Papa George! I miss you so much!"

My jaw clenched. White, hot jealousy took over my whole body. I took in a deep breath as I felt my chest heave up and down at the attempt to cover it up.

"You have to come see my new pets, we named them Snow White and Clifford... Yeah, they swim alot... When are you going to come back? ... I just have to wait three more days?! " She excitedly said. "Okay! I'll wait for you, Papa. I love you."

After talking to George, Therese handed the phone back to Tanya and I heard Tanya say bye to him. She reminded the old man to take his medicine and to always take care. It was like a fucking blow to my chest hearing their conversations. It felt like my heart was being squeezed out of my chest.

"Papa George said I'd have to wait three more days and then he'll be here when I wake up." Therese told me.

I took in another deep breath to calm my raging nerves. Tanya placed the phone down to its receiver and looked at me with worry in her beautiful face.

"Wayne... can we talk? Privately?" She chewed on her bottom lip.

I could feel the tension in the air and the tight clenching anxiety in my stomach made it worse. It was as if their was an invisible weight pressing against my chest.

"Your Mommy and I just needs to talk." I tried to keep myself composed as I stood from where I was sitting.

Tanya turned her back and headed to the bedroom. I followed her.

"Is it about George?" I said in a low growl.

She slowly nodded. "Wayne, sana maintindihan mo. You need to move out. Malapit ng dumating si George."

"Of course, I understand... I'm only supposed to be here when you need me." I sarcastically snickered.

"Wayne naman. Hindi sa ganun." She wrapped her arms around me and buried her face into my chest. "He can't see you here. Hindi niya pwedeng malaman na dito na nagsasama na tayo. He doesn't even know about us. Intindihin mo sana ang sitwasyon ko." 

"Oh, I understand, alright! I fucking understand! Ako naman palagi ang kailangan umintindi!" I pried her arms off me. I took steps back from her. "You know what? I'm tired of all these... My life has been reduced to when you want me and when you don't. I can't put up with this anymore. I can't keep doing this to myself."

"Wayne..." Her eyes began to water. I wanted to pull her into a hug but stopped myself from doing so. 

Awang-awa na ako sa sarili ko. Para akong asong naghihintay sa buto-buto. I had decided I was done. From this day forward, she'd just be a memory. A beautiful one. I decided I would let her go. She gave up on me first but this time I wasn't going to let her give up on me again, this time I'd be the one to give her up.