Patricia
I slept for a good six hours since I didn’t have much sleep the previous night. I reluctantly pulled myself out of the bed and waltzed straight to the bathroom. I needed to get myself cleaned up. Nelly would be coming back home soon.
I went to the kitchen some minutes later to make myself something to eat. I was reminded of my last attempt at talking to Ethan. The sandwiches I made for him were still in the fridge. Was he going to skip dinner too? Or he’d get takeout just as he did with lunch? Was he never going to eat from home anymore?
I found myself scrolling through the messages on the office group chat sometime after I was done eating. My own guilty conscience had made it a habit. I was afraid news about my ‘affair’ with Bryce would have started spreading, but there was nothing like that on the platform.
How did Ethan find out then? Did Jessica do this? I couldn’t picture her as that kind of person. Besides she promised to let me ha
Ethan“We should do this again, don’t you agree?”I managed a smile as I rose from my seat opposite Valeria and then looked at Daniel briefly before giving her an answer. “If my schedule permits it, why not?”She grinned heartily and then stood up, gushing out a ‘see you later’ before hurrying out of the restaurant.I finally dropped the smile and turned back to Daniel. He didn’t look too happy.“What?” I rolled my eyes at him, taking the lead to leave the building.“You know I don’t like this one bit.” He followed me.I stopped and then turned around. “So what? You want me to stop helping the intern, because of some petty rumours you’ve heard in the office?”Daniel groaned. “I know that girl, damnit. And I know she’s up to no good. You know something? The more you behave this way, the less I can blame Patricia.”I scoffed, shaking my head. “Sometimes I wonder why I call you my best friend.”With th
Patricia“Mommy?”“Yes sweetie,” I answered, though my focus was elsewhere as I pulled her hand through the sleeve of her shirt.“Is everything alright?” Her voice was shaky and anxious, something that wasn’t like her at all. This was the second time she was asking. I was going to have to lie again.My eyes found her worried ones. “Everything is perfect, darling.”“Then why are you so quiet? You haven’t even asked me about school or the exam. You haven’t smiled at all today. Not at me, not at dad. Why?”I sighed. This girl was too smart for her own good. Maybe I shouldn’t have taught her to read at such an early age. I cupped her face in my hands and then brushed her hair back, smiling the best I could. “You trust mommy, don’t you?”She nodded slowly.Then believe me when I say it’s alright, okay?”H
PatriciaMy bottom lip quivered. “Must you put it that way?” I whispered. “Is all this necessary?!”“Are you seriously asking me this Patricia? You're not a child, so you should know after what you’ve done, anything could happen…and I need answers.”“And you couldn’t just ask me?” I sobbed.He sighed and looked away for a second. When he looked back at me, there were hints of tears in his eyes. Angry tears. “How do you expect me to believe anything you say at this point? I need to get expert evidence. I need to be sure that Nelly doesn’t suffer any more than she is now-”“I'm on my period!” I confessed, breathing heavily. “Right now. It means no baby. I'm not pregnant!”He froze and a wave of embarrassment washed over his face, but it transformed into relief so quickly that I couldn’t be sure if it was there in the firs
PatriciaNelly and I were lying on my bed, completely covered by the sheets, as we watched a children’s movie on my laptop. She was fully engrossed in the cartoon, while my mind was playing elsewhere.I had still not called my mother and she had been calling a lot. I knew I’d have to talk to her soon, but I couldn’t bring myself to. I didn’t think I’d be able to stand it if she found out my infidelity and became disappointed in me. The door suddenly opened and we turned our attention to Ethan, who had obviously just returned from work.“Daddy!” Nelly sang as she jumped of her bed and jumped into his embrace.“How’s my cupcake doing?” He smiled as he poked her nose ruffled her hair.“Great,” she giggled. “Mom and I are watching a movie. Do you want to join?”Ethan looked at me as his smile faded. I simply stared at him, not expecting anything. He glan
PatriciaNelly and I were lying on my bed, completely covered by the sheets, as we watched a children’s movie on my laptop. She was fully engrossed in the cartoon, while my mind was playing elsewhere.I had still not called my mother and she had been calling a lot. I knew I’d have to talk to her soon, but I couldn’t bring myself to. I didn’t think I’d be able to stand it if she found out my infidelity and became disappointed in me. The door suddenly opened and we turned our attention to Ethan, who had obviously just returned from work.“Daddy!” Nelly sang as she jumped of her bed and jumped into his embrace.“How’s my cupcake doing?” He smiled as he poked her nose ruffled her hair.“Great,” she giggled. “Mom and I are watching a movie. Do you want to join?”Ethan looked at me as his smile faded. I simply stared at him, not expecting anything. He glan
PatriciaWe entered the house and my mother suddenly brought out a collection of books from a bag she was holding and handed them over to Nelly.“All these are for me?” she looked at them, wide-eyed.Mom smiled down at her. “Yes Lana.”Nelly frowned. “But what’s the occasion? My birthday has passed.”Mom chuckled. “There shouldn’t be a specific occasion for gifts.”“Thank you so much grandma and grandpa. You're the best!” she exclaimed. “Can I go to my room and read them right now?”“Sure thing.”Nelly turned to me with a big smile and then hurried away. My mother hadn’t given her the books for the fun of it. She was using it as a way to keep her busy, so she could have me all to herself, for a reason I wasn’t too sure about.“You’ve been avoiding our calls,” mom went straight to the point.I pushed my hair back and sighed, sitting down opposite them. “Please sit down.”I couldn’t even look a
Patricia“What?” I stared at my mother in disbelief. I was pleased she wasn’t interfering much, but this…? “Mom you can’t-”“You said you were ready to face the consequences, Pat,” dad reminded me. My heart sank. “This isn’t a punishment at all. It’s only what’s best for the child.”I shook my head. I wasn’t having it. “Ethan?”He didn’t look at me, but he was clearly pissed.I knew if they took Nelly, it was only going to be for a while, but at the moment, it felt like they were taking her away from me forever. My daughter was the only hope I had right now, the only person keeping me sane in this house. Being with her took my mind off all the issues. Being with her gave me a purpose. How was I going to live with this with her gone?“Look at it this way, my dear,” mom continued. “You already have knowledge of how smart she is. She’s already picking up the potholes in your relationship. Do you want her getting more depressed as she s
PatriciaHer eyes displayed surprise when she opened the door of her apartment. I kept my facial expression hard, eyes narrowed as I willed her to speak first. She gradually grew annoyed and glanced back into her house before looking back at me.“If you're here to create a scene, now’s not the time or place.” She folded her arms, as if to make her feel superior. “My husband’s at home.”“Create a scene?” I asked, cocking my head to the side. “What would make you think that, if you feel you haven’t done anything wrong, Jessica?”Aggravated that she couldn’t give back a cheeky reply, she dropped her arms and asked, “What do you want?”“I should be asking you that. What do you want from me? I get that I hurt my husband, and somehow betrayed your trust, but we’re supposed to be best friends. Why would you do all this?”Her gaze shifted.
Ethan’s POVWhen she realised I was looking at her, she laughed nervously and tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s uh…been a while…hasn’t it?”I shrugged, hoping to appear nonchalant. “I guess.”She didn’t say anything as she walked towards the bed, so I spoke up.“I cleaned up a little. This should be okay for you for one night, right?”“It should be,” she repeated, sitting on the bed.I nodded. “Goodnight then.”She frowned and stood up. “Goodnight?”I looked at her in question. “Is there anything else you need?”“Where are you going?”I jerked my thumb over my shoulder. “Guestroom.”Her face fell immediately and she did nothing to hide her disappointment. I looked away and headed out, but she stopped me again. I turned around, surprised I wasn&rsq
EthanAfter seeing Stephanie and her family off, I went upstairs to get Patricia so we could also head home. It was already very late and I was getting tired.When I got to the family room, I saw her lying in the sofa I had left her in, fast asleep. Her dress had ridden up slightly because of her position, exposing her thighs. I couldn’t help but stare. When was the last time I even saw her like this? She looked so delicate and womanly, yet I could do nothing but look.I sighed and folded my arms.“But the truth will always be that I love your son…I wouldn’t ever stop loving him. I couldn’t.”Goodness.I didn’t know which was more confusing; the fact that she claimed to still have feelings for me, or the fact that I was surprised by it at all. I hadn’t thought about our feelings for each other in a very long time that it felt like the where potholes in my memory. What was it
Patricia“Alright honey, I’ll give the phone to grandpa now, so don’t be shy to read him the poem you wrote for him,” I told Nellana, while making sure the phone didn’t slip from my fingers. I wouldn’t have drunk that much if I knew the wine was that strong.I didn’t enjoy wine much, but I guess I got carried away with pushing my feelings aside after my unintentional confession to Ethan. Although we didn’t talk much after that, there wasn’t any air of awkwardness around us. After my walking in on my conversation with Marcel, he just came closer to me and pulled me out while playfully telling his father off for ‘questioning’ me.I spent most of the day with Stephanie, mostly to avoid Ethan so he wouldn’t have to pretend to be fine with me beside him more times than necessary. Even after all that I still had to stand next to him as we cut the cake and took pictures. His arm was draped around my shoulder the whole time with a huge grin on his face. I almost thought he actually felt at ea
PatriciaI stepped closer, but I still didn’t look him in the eye.“Clearly, you’re aware that I know what’s going on between you and my son.”I nodded slowly. “I understand if you preferred for me not to be here.”“Patricia.” The way he mentioned my name gave me no option but to look up at his face.I was taken aback for a moment. He expression was all but what I expected it to be. There wasn’t any sign of resentment or disgust or plain hatred. If anything. I sensed a slight look of concern on his face. But this did nothing to make me feel better. It just made me hate myself even more.“You’ve been very good to Ethan, and to me these past years and it’s very difficult for me as it is for him to accept what you’ve done. I don’t know or want to know the reasons you have, but I really want to believe you’re indeed remorseful.”
PatriciaI stared at her nervous face for a while before asking, “About sex?”Her eyes widened immediately. “Gosh no!”I burst into laughter and she joined me instantly. “Oh my God, Patricia you’re so straightforward.”I giggled. “You think so?”“Stop it.” Her face flushed even deeper. “Anyway that’s not it. I just want simple marriage advice from a friend, and you’ve been married for five years. So I feel like you’re the best person to tell me some of what I need to know.”My smile faltered.Me? The best person to give marriage advice? Was this the universe’s way of making sure my conscience was active 24/7?I never thought I could feel guiltier than I already did.I concentrated on how Stephanie was now looking at me in anticipation. The was so much pride in her eyes for me, I nearly shed a tear.
Ethan“Yes,” the word came out of his mouth smoothly.“Dad!”“Then why are you together. How do you think this is going to work if you don’t?”I exhaled heavily and run my hand through my hair, turning away from him because I couldn’t handle it anymore.“Just listen. If your mother was still alive and she came back today to ask for my forgiveness, I could forgive her, because I wouldn’t want to continue hurting because of a grudge when I am not the guilty one. I could do that, but it doesn’t mean I would take her back. She stayed away for twenty years, and I have already moved on. But Patricia is different. I’m not comparing her to your mother or defending her. Cheating is totally wrong, but forgive me. I’m still finding it difficult associating that word with her. I’m hurt because you’re hurt, but I can’t see her as a bad person.“
Ethan“Patricia?” I called out again.Her head snapped to me, eyes widening as if she had just realised I was holding the door out for her. She switched the gift bag to her left hand so she could take my hand as I helped her out of the car.“I wonder how you don’t tire of overthinking,” I mumbled to her as I locked the car. I didn’t let go of her hand as we entered the house. My dad had kept the gate unlocked since he was expecting visitors.“I can’t help it.”I found myself rubbing my thumb over her hand in a way to calm her down. I felt her shiver immediately, but I didn’t let go. I don’t know what came over me at that moment, and I honestly didn’t want to know why I wanted to comfort her. I’d rather not be doing any thinking today.I opened the door leading inside the house and that’s where I felt her trying to slip her hand out of mine. I stopped
Ethan“No,” Patricia’s voice was shaky and uncertain. “I don’t know,” she finally added.I leaned forward. “I shouldn’t. Just talk to me like you normally would.”She furrowed her brows. “I hurt you Ethan, I’m sure you’d want to give me some boundaries...”“Forget it,” I snapped. “I suggested we work things out. So I should be able to deal with it, right?”Amusement and a hint of disbelief flickered in her eyes. “You don’t even want to know why it happened...?”I shook my head no, even though it was the direct opposite of what I wanted, but it had to be done. I couldn’t stay in this marriage if I was going to hold on to what she did. I was going to try everything including pretending to forget, then maybe I actually would.“Okay,” she breathed out, a confused smile forming on her face. I co
EthanShe didn’t have it easy like most kids.Her biological parents were both nutjobs. They maltreated her in ways no sane person could even think of, especially to a five-year-old child. People who blamed their daughter for all their misfortunes and punished her with multiple chores and at times beatings, for the mistakes they made didn’t deserve to be called parents.You would think the death of her mother, though by suicide, would bring peace or at least lighten her burden, but it only increased her nightmares a hundredfold. Yeah, she was blamed for her mother’s passing too.Her father turned into an even more violent drunk. Throwing beer bottles at his daughter and twisting her arm whenever he wished became a habit.Her breakthrough came one day, when the bottle broke on her back, leaving a relatively small comma-shaped scar at the small of her back, which remains to this day. She tried running out of her house only