Maia
I tapped my foot on the hardwood floor and bit my lips in anxiety as I waited for my name to be called. I’ve been here multiple times, but I never seem to have the strength to push through with my decision. This time around, though, I promised myself that I’d finally be able to file our divorce papers. My heart may not like the idea of divorcing Clyden, but my mind tells me that this will be the best decision for the both of us. This time, I'm choosing my own happiness. I’m also pretty sure the Clyden would love the idea of us finally separating. I am the only one who’s still holding onto our broken relationship, after all.
“Mrs. Gonzalo. The attorney is ready to see you now.”
I stood up and wiped my sweaty hands on my jeans. I probably should have worn something more formal, but this was a last-minute decision.
I entered the room and looked at the familiar interior.
“Good day, Mrs. Gonzalo. It’s nice to see you again. Please take a seat.”
I cleared my throat and sat on the hard and uncomfortable chair. “Good day, Mrs. Furrow. It’s nice to see you again too.”
“So, is your reason for coming here today the same as always?”
I nodded my head. “Yes.”
“Are you sure this time around, Mrs. Gonzalo? You’ve been wanting to file divorce papers since last month, but you never seem to do so. Are you certain this time?”
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Am I really sure that I’m ready to leave the only man that I’ve ever loved? If I was being selfish, then I would have probably said no. But, this isn’t only about me now. I can feel that Clyden doesn’t love me anymore— that is if he even loved me in the first place.
Without any hesitation, I firmly nodded my head. “Yes, I’m sure this time around.”
“But will Mr. Gonzalo agree with your decision? Maybe, you can talk about your problems with him once more so you wouldn’t have to result in getting a divorce.”
I looked down on the ground and chuckled. “I’m sure he’ll be delighted by my decision.”
Mrs. Furrow frowned and looked at the application form that she was holding.
“Well, if your decision stands firm, then I still have to ask you a couple more questions before we can push through with the application. Please tell me why you want to dissolve your marriage with Mr. Clyden Gonzalo?”
I hesitated to answer and just looked down at the table.
“I know that this is a sensitive issue for married couples, but these are the necessary questions that need to be answered so that your application may become valid. I would also hate to ask this question if it wasn’t for the law requiring it. So, I hope for your full cooperation.”
The “reason for divorce” on the form was in bold letters, and next to it is the word “mandatory.” I pursed my lips together and stayed silent for a while before saying, “He doesn’t love me.”
Her eyes widened slightly as she pushed her glasses back into her face.
“A lot of married couples have also fallen out of love with each other, but they opt not to divorce each other because of the socio-economic advantages. Do you want to think about it again?”
She gazed at my stature deeply as I fiddled with my fingers. I was uncomfortable with her gaze, so I looked away.
“I can see that you still have deep feelings for your husband, Mrs. Gonzalo. Just by reading your information and looking at you right now, I can tell that you don’t necessarily want this divorce. Have you tried any other ways to save your relationship?”
“I have,” I smiled bitterly. “It’s disgusting how I’m still trying to make him love me up until now when he probably hates me. No… he despises me.”
I reminisced about our past, how I used to cook for him every day and wait for his return despite all of the uncertainties. I even tried provocative gestures at one point in my life, but they still didn’t work. Looking back at it now, I must have been such an eyesore. There’s no wonder that he never loved me and that he never will.
Mrs. Furrow’s eyes showed pity, but I didn’t want that from her.
“If Mr. Gonzalo really doesn’t love you, then I think he would take the initiative to file the divorce himself. He’s not here right now, so why don’t you discuss it with him first? He may just be aloof in nature.”
I shook my head.
“He’ll be back this evening. He just went on another business trip, but he’ll be coming back today.” I responded. “I’m sure that he’ll sign the papers without any hesitation. He had already made up his mind even before he went on the business trip.”
Mrs. Furrow took a sip of her coffee. “Can you please elaborate?”
I coughed slightly to ease the pain that I was feeling in the back of my throat. “From the moment he started working, he’s had business trips multiple times a year. It would last for a week, sometimes even up to a month. This business trip, though, is different since he had to leave for two months. But, just as he went, he told me to pack and prepare my things and go. I don’t exactly know what he means by that, but I’m guessing that he wants me to move out of the house before he comes back.”
“Maybe that isn’t what he meant by that.”
I chuckled in disbelief. “I don’t really know what else he can mean by that. Where else will I go?”
I thought back on the times that he’d let me stay in the hotel when his friends and family would have gatherings. He wouldn’t even take me to their family dinners because he was so embarrassed by me.
I continued speaking, “I would really appreciate it if you just approved my application. My husband… No… Mr. Gonzalo has a very unwavering mindset. I’m sure that he’ll sign the papers without any problem.”
Mrs. Furrow’s frown became even deeper. “It seems like I can’t persuade you anymore. But I would also appreciate it if you’d think about it again. I have seen your bank details, and it has a negative balance. Would it be wise for you to divorce Mr. Gonzalo if your situation is like this? I know that you’re also having a hard time since your father—”
“That’s enough,” I interrupted her. “I have already made up my mind. I don’t think bringing up my bank account balance and my family is pertinent to this matter.”
She sighed and looked over the form once again. “Then I’ll approve your application for now, but you still don’t have to sign it unless you change your mind. It’ll only be effective once both parties have signed it, okay?”
I sighed in relief and nodded. “Yes. Thank you, once again, and for every other time that you listened to me.”
She smiled bitterly and patted my back. “I was rooting for your relationship, and I still am. I hope that you'll be able to find happiness, Maia.”
“Thanks, Auntie.” I stood up and dusted my pants. “I better go now.”
I walked slowly out of my aunt’s office. There was a lot on my mind, so I mindlessly walked down the halls. My trance was broken, however, when my phone rang in my pocket. I looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Karl, Clyden’s personal assistant.
I looked at the phone for quite some time before picking up the call. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to people associated with Clyden, but I felt like this was an important call.
“Hello,” I greeted.
“Oh, thank god you picked up.”
His voice had a sense of worry and urgency, so I stood straighter.
“What—What happened?”
“Clyden got in an accident.”
Without any explanation, I hailed a taxi and told him to go to the location of the hospital that Karl texted me. I fidgeted in my seat and bit my nails. I felt like the taxi wasn’t moving fast enough, but I couldn’t ask him to move past the speed limit in fear of anyone getting hurt.
In about 15 minutes, I arrived at the Haven Hospital, out of breath and with unruly hair.
“705A,” I muttered under my breath as I pressed the “7” button on the elevator.
The elevator opened on the seventh floor, and I ran to the fifth room. I could see some of Clyden’s relatives outside of the room giving me disgusted looks, but I paid them no attention. Clyden was the only one in my mind right now.
“Mrs. Gonzalo,” Karl went up to me and led me to the room.
“Is he okay? Was the operation successful?” I rambled while looking at Karl with frantic eyes.
He scratched the back of his head and looked away. “He’s fine… great, even! It’s just that—”
He hesitated for a while, so I became even more worried. “What? Did something happen?”
“I think it’s best if you just see it for yourself.”
I quickly entered the room to see my good-looking husband with a neckband, sitting on his bed, and leisurely reading a book. He seems fine, which made me sigh in relief.
What he said next, though, made me believe that he really wasn’t fine.
“Hi, love! Did you miss me?”
Maia“Hi, love! Did you miss me?”I stood frozen just as Clyden uttered those words. His soft eyes looked at mine, and I felt a strange feeling coming up at my chest. Just now, I wanted to file a divorce with him; but seeing him like this, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was making the right choice. He really is the only one who can make my heart beat like this.“Mrs. Gonzalo,” Karl said while nudging me.Clyden kept on looking at me and waiting for my response. However, I pulled Karl out of the room and slammed the door shut. Clyden must have been so confused, but I’m even more confused right now.“Mrs. Gonzalo, slow down. Why did you run off like that?” Karl asked while gently pulling his hand away from mine.“What— Why is he like that? Why did he suddenly call me love?!” I asked in exasperation.Karl chuckled, which made me frown. He cleared his throat and led me to
MaiaAfter our heated conversation, I entered the room once again. However, I was surprised to see that no one else was here with Clyden. Karl must have slipped out when Jasmine and I were arguing with each other.Since there were only the two of us here, my face naturally warmed up as I felt Clyden’s gaze on me. He kept staring at me with his bright eyes, so I slowly approached him with cautious steps. The anger that I felt from Jasmine’s words now disappeared, and it was replaced by shyness.I glanced at the bowl of fruits on the bedside table and let my fingers graze upon their vibrant skins. I bit my lips and tried to calm my accelerating heart as I sat beside his bed. I grabbed an apple and held it up next to my face. “Are you hungry? Do you want me to peel you an apple?” I asked softly.Clyden didn’t speak but just nodded. Delighted by his affirmation, I brought out the knife from the drawer and started skillfully peeli
MaiaThe nurses brought in Clyden’s food and left them on the bedside table. He looked at it with distaste and pouted at me.I was opening the food packet amidst all of his silent complaining. “What is it?” I asked, holding the urge to coo at his pouting face.“I’ve been eating these bland types of food ever since I was admitted here. Can I have other food besides this?” He asked and looked at me with puppy eyes.I finished opening up his food and placed them back on the table. “This is the food that the hospital has given to you, which means that it’s probably the best for your health.”“But, it tastes so bad!” He whined.I chuckled. It seems as if his Amnesia has led him to go back to being a child.“Fine, I’ll ask the doctor later if you could have other food aside from the ones that they give, but for now, eat this first, okay?” I said while helpin
MaiaAfter my shift at dawn, I went to the Gonzalo family’s mansion and went straight to the kitchen. I made sure to come here early in the morning so that no one would be awake yet. I’m afraid that the maids will see me cooking food here and accuse me of hogging all of the pantry’s contents. Even worse is if Clyden’s grandparents see me here. They both hate my guts, and rightfully so.I gently placed the ingredients that I bought from the supermarket on the counter. I slowly brought out the utensils that I needed to use so as to not make any noise. I started whipping up the ingredients that I needed for Clyden’s favorite food— cheesecake.When looking at Clyden’s appearance, one might think that he only likes savory and spicy food. However, he has a sweet tooth! I found out about this during college when he would always eat the cream bread that I’d bring to school. He even once asked me where I bought them.
MaiaI was currently on a train bound to the venue of the wedding where I was assigned to work. I’m actually working two jobs at the moment to make ends meet. During the nights and dawns, I’d work in a convenience store in the city. While during the days, I'd work as a photographer.Some of you might be wondering why I didn’t pursue a career that was pertinent to my course, but it’s quite difficult to go into the field of your dad’s past expertise.My father was a very rich and famous businessman, and many admired our family for being one of the richest in the country. However, some of my dad’s colleagues joined together to expose his corruption and embezzlement of the company’s funds. From then on, he was forced to give up his enterprises, and we gathered a huge amount of debt. More so than that, our family became the laughing stock of the business industry.My father, who valued his reputation a lot, couldn&rsqu
Maia“Maia? What are you doing here?” She asked.“Emily?” My voice showed surprise. I looked at her bright blue eyes, dirty blonde hair, and pink lips. Without a doubt, this is Emily. She was one of my close friends in college, and she was the captain of the cheerleading team back then. She was the one I asked for help for my surprise confession for Clyden back then.We both looked at each other in shock before she made the first move to hug me. I was caught off guard for a second that I didn’t know what to do with my hands, but after a couple of seconds, I gently brought my arms around her waist. I didn’t want to ruin her dress, so I didn’t press onto her too hard.“Oh my god, Maia! It is you. You haven’t changed a bit from college,” she said while breaking off the hug.I chuckled. “I could say the same about you.”She looked at my stature and saw the camera aroun
MaiaI looked at her once again as I poured her a cup of water. She was wearing a red dress paired with red heels. I don’t know whether this is her casual outfit or something, but her red dress shined against the hospital light.This is the first time that I’ve seen her in person, and I must say that she looks just like she does on television. All of the stories that I’ve heard about her in the house seem to be true too. Clyden’s grandparents always rave about her for being a well-mannered young woman with a good background. Granted that her parents also own a large enterprise, she naturally became close to Clyden because of the partnership of their businesses.I must have been staring at her for too long because she cleared her throat and turned away from me slightly. I blushed and looked away. “I’m sorry, that was rude of me. Please continue on with your conversation. I’ll be waiting outside.”I walked awa
MaiaAfter a week of waiting and whining, Clyden is finally going to be discharged from Haven Hospital. It's like he gained unbelievable strength on the day of his discharge because he walked out of the hospital all by himself. It made me feel like he was putting up an act for the past few days because I even had to feed him! He's practically prancing out of the hospital right now.Once we reached the exit, Karl was already waiting for us inside a Rolls Royce. Some of the patients and workers looked at the bright and fancy car, so I hastened my steps to avoid their gazes. I opened the door for Clyden and guided him to the back seat. I tried to close the door and enter the passenger's seat, but Clyden held onto my hand before I could do so."You'd have more space for yourself if I sit on the front seat," I said and tried to pull my hand away. However, to my surprise, he also pulled my hand towards him, causing me to fall over on his lap. I quickly got up to see i