Chapter 12: Chapter 12

It was already twelve o'clock midnight but Valjerome hasn’t returned home yet. He left after the commotion earlier in the living room. He always gets angry but this was the first time he acted like this so I couldn't help but worry for him.

For countless times, I can’t be comfortable with my position on the bed. I sighed as I stared at the ceiling, not knowing if it was because I was worried that I couldn't sleep or because I got too used to being next to him.

For more than a month that the two of us have been close, he has been sleeping in my room. Even though I wanted to ask him, I just ignored it and be happy with what he was doing.

Maybe he's trying to fix our marriage, but he doesn't have the guts to tell me.

When I can’t fall asleep, I decided to get up and go to the kitchen for a drink.

"Hmmm…what do we have here?" I whispered as I looked inside the refrigerator.

The three staff surrounding the kitchen could not escape my sight. I couldn't help but rolled my eyes because they are acting as if a bullet would come out of nowhere and hit me suddenly.

Are they even sleeping?

As I searched for food in the refrigerator I ended up biting an ice cube. I don't know why, but I like the idea of ​​eating something cold.

"Hija!" Manang said in shock as she came out of the maid's chamber. Their room is just near the kitchen.

I hesitated to smile then nodded. I couldn't speak because my mouth was full of ice.

"Why are you still awake? Are you hungry? Why don’t you call us so we could cook for you," she said continuously and quickly approached me.

I finished chewing the remaining ice in my mouth and then smiled at Manang. "No, it's okay. I'm not hungry, I'm just thirsty so I went down. You may now go back to your sleep."

"Are you sure?" Manang weighed her curiosity and looked at the ice cube molder I was holding. "Aren't you having a toothache with those?" the old woman winced at me.

I chuckled and took another ice. I tried to speak ‘no, I’m fine’, but my words muffled.

Manang hit me lightly on the shoulder. "You, kid, are something really. If you feel hot, just take a bath. You might get tonsillitis because of that later."

I winced automatically. I was only thinking about the water flowing into my body but my chest felt disgust.

I don't want to take a bath.

"Alright. I'll leave you for now. I'll just go to the bathroom first. Go back to your room after that," she ordered.

I replied with a stingy nod and a smile and then she turned her back on me. I was about to take another ice when I heard Valjerome's car. I was revived somehow so I quickly put the molder with ice back to the refrigerator and went to greet him.

I was walking towards the living room when the door opened. I stopped when I saw Valjerome with a woman.

"V-Val," I stammered calling his name as soon as our eyes met.

He stared at me coldly. "What?" he asked reluctantly.

"B-Why are you with someone?" I asked courageously as I was forcing myself to smile, hoping that what I was thinking was not right.

He raised an eyebrow. "Why are you asking?" Valjerome asked again.

"Because...I am your wife," I said at the end.

Valjerome laughed out loud and then wrapped his hand around the waist of the woman he was with "I'm just your husband on paper, Jazzie. That's all, nothing more," he said.

I can’t contain my anger so I quickly walked over to him and gave him a loud slap. I saw how his face went to the side because of what I did.

"How dare you? How about those things you've shown me lately? What are those gestures and feeling you’ve made me feel, Val?" I asked bravely.

He smirked and slowly glanced at me. "It's all just an act. I just want to fvck you to bed but it's not happening so I got tired."

I couldn’t move. His words seemed like a dagger repeatedly digging into my chest.

"Let's go," he said to his other woman then went upstairs together.

The woman glanced at me for a moment and smirked at me. She even put her face close to my husband’s neck as they went up. Instead of focusing on her actions, I put my attention to Valjerome¾hoping that he will look at me, that he will come back to me, that he will coax me. But that did not happen until they were completely went out of my sight.

What happened?

I laughed hoarsely as I wiped my face. I could feel the corners of my eyes gradually got wet as I remembered how Valjerome looked at me lifelessly, plus the hurtful words he had uttered.

"Did I just wake up from my dream?" I murmured and let my tears streamed down on my cheeks.

"Hija?" Manang called from behind.

I couldn't look back at her until she finally reached in front of me.

"What happened? Has your husband arrived already?" she asked calmly while fixing my hair.

I tried to smile despite my tears. "May I hug to you?"

Manang looked at me lightly and then hugged me. "Did your husband bring a woman again?" she whispered.

I just nodded my head and silently cried on her shoulder.

"Sshh. Don’t cry, come on. Let's go to sleep," the old lady said and then carefully supported me towards their chamber.

Manang's fellow maids were asleep when we entered the room. Shee carried me to her bed then gently laid me down.

"Everything will be fine too, dear," she comforted me again.

I was about to smile but before I even tried to, my tears already flowed down. "I hope so," I muttered.

Manang sighed and caressed my hair. "Go to sleep," she said.

I didn't answer and just closed my eyes. I tried to get rid of all the pain I was feeling and just focused my attention on Manang caressing my hair.

I hope...I hope I wake up again from a dream.

But all my hopes died because that didn't happen. Like just before, Valjerome brought woman back to our house and had sex with them. He never slept in my room again, he no longer talked to me unnecessarily, he no longer...the Valjerome I had been with for a month.

Again, the ruthless mafia boss came back.