Fragments of Memories 2: Beautiful Stranger (Tagalog)

The first time Alessia found another woman’s perfume on Klein’s shirt, she told herself it was nothing. Maybe he had brushed against a coworker by accident. Maybe she was just being paranoid.

But tonight, sitting alone at the dining table with untouched food growing cold, the doubt returned. Klein had promised to come home early, yet it was already past nine.

The candle she had lit flickered weakly, its light falling on the empty chair across from her. Once upon a time, he would have been in it, smiling, telling her about his day. Now there was only silence and the painful voice inside her telling her what she didn’t want to admit.

She thought back to the things she had seen.

A bracelet in his office drawer that wasn’t hers.

The faint cologne on his clothes she didn’t recognize.

A food flask that wasn’t the one she packed for him.

One by one, the signs had stacked against him. And yet, Alessia stayed quiet. She wanted proof, not guesses. She wanted to trust him.

When the clock finally ticked toward ten, she blew out the candle and pushed back her chair, deciding to just go to bed.

But that was when the front door opened.

Her heart skipped a little, and a small smile formed on her face. She turned quickly and saw him walk in, but her smile disappeared when she saw he wasn’t alone.

Klein came in with a woman beside him. Alessia knew her; it was his secretary.

“Klein,” she said quietly, surprised to see him like that.

Klein looked at the woman, then back at Alessia. “Uhm, we had a group dinner not far from here,” he said. “Olivia’s house is really far, so I thought it’d be easier to bring her here. That’s okay, right?”

Okay? He brought another woman home without even telling her and it was okay?

Before Alessia could say a word, he took Olivia's hand and led her down the hallway to the empty room.

Then a particular perfume hung around the place. It was the same one she had noticed in his office… and on his shirt when he came home late.

Alessia just stood there, frozen, staring at the hallway where they had gone. For a moment, she wondered if she had heard everything correctly. Her husband had brought another woman into their home. Not just any woman, his secretary.

It was the same woman who always answered his calls at work, thr same woman whose perfume  sometimes clung faintly to his clothes whenever he came home.

Alessia’s heart was racing, but her face showed nothing. She wanted to believe there was nothing going on. That Klein really was just being kind, just giving his secretary a place to sleep for the night, but deep down, something in her knew she was lying to herself.

Was she overthinking it?

After standing there for a while, Alessia entered the bedroom and lay on the bed, facing the wall. She didn’t say anything, didn’t ask any questions. She simply closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.

A whole thirty minutes passed before she heard the door creak open, then soft footsteps followed. Klein had finally come in.

He dropped his phone carelessly on the nightstand and walked into the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water filled the room.

Alessia slowly opened her eyes. She looked at the phone, then at the bathroom door. Reaching over, she picked it up and quickly unlocked it as she still remembered his password.

She went through his messages, but there was nothing strange. No texts from the secretary, nothing suspicious. Everything looked normal.

Just as she was about to put the phone back, something caught her eye.

It was a shopping app. Curious, she tapped on it.

Her eyes widened as she saw orders upon orders; perfumes, dresses, shoes, lingerie. All feminine items. Some expensive, some very personal. And all of them were recent.

But none of those things were hers. He never gave her any of it.

Her heart dropped. Who were they for?

She heard the water stop and panic rushed through her. She quickly exited the app, cleared the recent activity, and returned the phone to the nightstand, then she turned, closed her eyes, and stayed still.

Klein stepped out shortly after, drying his hair with a towel. He didn’t say a word, he imply got dressed and climbed into bed.

Alessia didn’t speak either, but her mind was racing.

Maybe she was right. Maybe Klein was cheating.

But this time, she wanted to be sure. She wouldn’t just guess. She was going to watch him closely and find out the truth.

With that thought, she finally drifted off to sleep.

….

The next morning, Alessia had just finished setting the table and was about to go call Klein when she heard footsteps behind her.

She turned to see it was Olivia.

“I must say,” Olivia began with a small smile. The kind Alessia could tell was fake. “I really envy you.”

Alessia furrowed her brows, unsure what she meant.

“I mean, how did you end up with a man like Klein? Why don’t you let us share him?” Olivia said casually. “It’s funny, really. I’m in love with him. I want him for myself.”

Alessia’s frown deepened, but before she could even respond, Olivia suddenly grabbed her hand, then slammed it hard against her own cheek. A loud slap echoed through the room as Olivia fell back and hit the floor.

Right at that moment, Klein walked in.

“Olivia!” he called, hurrying over. He bumped into Alessia on the way, making her stumble back.

Alessia didn’t fall, but she was stunned.

“Klein…” Olivia sniffled, wiping away fake tears. “I think your wife doesn’t like me. I was just trying to apologize for coming home with you last night... but…”

She sniffled again, looking hurt.

Alessia stared at her in disbelief, then she looked at Klein and saw his face twist with anger. His eyes were sharp, cold...and directed at her.

“Are you an animal?” he yelled. “Apologize to her. Right now.”

Alessia blinked, caught off guard.

Was he...really yelling at her?

Over his secretary?