Chapter 20 Their Silly Hearts

----FLASHBACK-----

October 14, 2016

Baguio City, Philippines

Thera opened the car door and got off the car when it stopped right in front of Uncle Jaime's house. Joshua inherited the house when the latter died.

Her secretary, Yumi, accompanied Thera on that trip. Two sets of curious eyes, owned by two older women sitting on the side of the road.

Thera wanted to roll her eyes. It was still too early to gossip; her rolex wristwatch says 9'oclock in the morning.

"Stay here," she told Yumi, who attempted to follow her.

Right at the middle of the road, Manang Mamen – one of the two tale-tellers greeted her. She was holding the hand of a girl who was about fourteen years old.

"It took you a while to visit, Thera. Did you come to visit Joshua? He came home late last night. I heard him and Rowela argues early in the morning."

Thera now rolled her eyes. When it comes to gossip, no one could beat Manang Mamen, but Thera knew she did not just greet her to dish about the couple. A few years ago, the older woman asked her to help her youngest daughter get a job at The Palace Hotel. Manang Mamen's daughter land a job as a hotel receptionist with her help.

Just a few months later, she heard she got a suspension.

The ignorant bitch partied every night and came at

work drunk.

The ungrateful witch blamed her when she got permanently dismiss from her job. She accused her and blamed her, saying she was the one behind her dismissal.

"By the way, this is my grand daughter, Kaycee. "Can you, perchance, give her a job? Maid, or laundry girl, perhaps? She is good at housework. She can cook and do the laundry and can run errands. You can totally count on her," the old woman said proudly.

Thera glanced at the teenager who was also eyeing her. She returned her gaze at Manang Mamen, who was all smile; the typical appearance of someone who's asking for a favor and hundred percent sure she'd get the help.

"I haven't heard about this, but when did her parents die?"

Manang Mamen hesitated then, waved her hand in the air, and laughed. "You really are funny, Thera. Leo and his wife are still alive; they're inside the house right now."

"Oh. That's how it is, eh. So then why would they let this young malnourished child of theirs work? If they are still alive and breathing, then they are the ones that must work. They should at least first raise, educate, and fatten their children before they throw them away to work," she said in a sarcastic tone.

Manang Mamen's jaw dropped, stunned and embarrassed at the same time. Thera shot a glance at Kaycee, who lowered her head before she walked away.

She rang the buzzer at the gate. She persistently repeated over and over until she couldn't see Joshua being spit out the door.

Finally, the half-naked man, who was shocked to see her, came out of the house.

"H-how long has it been since you last visited?" he asked, again, obviously hesitating to open the gate for her, "How are you, Thera?"

Thera gave him a slight smirk. "Alive and kicking. Are you disappointed?"

Joshua laughed awkwardly and nervously. "That's not true…"

Not true. She scoffed. Thera found out just last year, Joshua mortgaged the townhouse he bought for Tito Jaime and then returned to Baguio without giving her a heads up. When he ran out of money to spend, he entered illegal jobs – including stealing and conning other people.

"You probably know why I'm here. Work and pay the debts you owe me, Joshua, or I will tear down this house of yours and make you sleep on the street with your family."

Joshua opened his mouth to protest, but Thera raised her hand to stop him.

"I remembered how cold you are when you drove me away and let me sleep and spend my birthday at a convenience store nearby so that you can celebrate it with your whore of a girlfriend that night. Do you think I can't do that to you? Dare me. I sure can."

Joshua swallowed.

"Can I not ask for an extension at least, cousin? Rowela still has no work because she's the one taking care of our child."

Thera straightened her back and raised her chin. She made sure she'd sounded mean before she replied.

"It's no longer my problem if you all starve. Pay your debt on time," Thera turned her back and walked away.

Thera's tired of promises that no one can keep. She had given Joshua a large amount of money for investment several times before, but it always ended in losses.

As soon as Thera passed Manang Mamen, she heard her talking to her granddaughter.

"When the time comes, and you get rich, don't be like that woman, Kaycee. She's greedy and selfish and can not look back to where she came from. She's talking and acting high and mighty when all she did was to squander her rich husband's money!"

Thera gritted her teeth and stopped in her tracks. With a sharp glare, she faced Manang Mamen, who became nervous all of a sudden. Then her cold gaze transferred from the older woman to the girl beside her.

She bent a little to align their faces. "Hija, when you grow old, for pity's sake, be grateful and don't be like your grandmother. Do you know what I've seen she's been doing since I was little? He is handing over money to your stupid, worthless father for his gambling and vices."

Manang Mamen's face turned red in rage. "You would not know why I did it because you have never experienced being a mother! Thanks God, He did not give you one because you are a pathetic loser who knew nothing but hurt other people's feelings!

You are a devil, Thera! You are a demon hiding behind your beautiful face and expensive clothes!"

Thera clenched her fists, ready to attack the older woman but before she could take a step closer, Yumi

suppressed her by tightly holding her hand.

"Thera…"

She shrugged her secretary's hand and glared at Manang Mamen, who, in fear, quickly turned around and entered the gate of her house.

It took Thera a few minutes before she realized she was trembling. She clasped her hands tightly and took sharp, deep breaths. Christmas is around the corner, and It's already cold in Baguio, but she could feel her blood boiling. People only saw her as a scheming gold-digging evil bitch after everything she did for them.

After two years of pain and devastation, Thera learned that it is better to leave ungrateful people and make her worthless. Perhaps she was overdoing it, but she won't give a damn now. Her heart's filled with disappointment now because of the betrayals.

Thera closed her eyes tightly. When she opened her eyes again, a set of innocent, sad eyes owned by Manang Mamen'sgranddaughter were staring at her.

"Would you like us to go to Sean and Tan's before going back?" Yumi asked as the car started moving.

Thera nodded. She focused her gaze outside the vehicle for the entire duration of the ride. She did not even notice that the car stopped again in front of The Caf.

"Cappuccino?" asked Yumi.

"I'll buy."

She pushed open the door of Sean and Tan's and looked straight at the closed door at the far end of the coffee shop. Surprisingly it was not padlocked. Miguel probably was occupying Sean's former office.

She walked towards the bar counter, following her strides were the eyes of curious customers.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am Thera," greeted the employee stationed at the cash register.

"Cappucino for two," she said and handed her one thousand peso bill.

"Your meal is on us, Ma'am Thera," the girl said, smiling.

Thera's expression hardened. Manang Mamen's words earlier echoed to her mind.

"Owner? Who among the two owners?" she asked, her lips formed into a thin line.

"Ma'am?"

"I have my own money," She said almost angrily, then slammed a thousand peso bill down on the counter.

Confused and nervous, the employed stared at the money before she shifted her gaze to Thera's narrowing eyes.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am…"

"Aren't you going to accept this? This is my money, okay ?! I worked hard to earn this! This does not come from the pocket of one of the owners of this darn coffee shop!"

Thera had grabbed the customers' attention entirely; they started talking about her and whispering behind her.

"I did not mean… It was not my intention to…"

"Shut. Up," Thera hissed, clenching her teeth, holding herself back from reaching for the woman and slapping her.

"I am already so pissed right now, Miss.

Either take my money, or I'll make you eat it!"

Miguel came out of the kitchen and was even surprised to see her. He turned around before speaking in the calmest tone he could.

"Thera, let's talk in the office—"

Thera's glare darted him.

"It would be great if you fire this stupid employee of yours, Miguel! Forget the fucking coffee! I'm not buying!"

She quickly turned around, forgetting the thousand pesos she left on the counter. Dissatisfied, she continued out the door.

If Thera had just turned around one last time, she would have seen Sean emerge from the kitchen, his gaze following her until she gets in the car waiting in front of the building.

----END OF FLASHBACK-----

October 30, 2019 (PRESENT TIME)

Baguio City, Philippines

Sean let out a sigh. The food served by the housemaid was cold, but Thera still did not come down for breakfast.

He didn't want to worry, but that was the first time Thera had reached ten o'clock in the morning in bed. Did his refusal hurt her?

The idea was absurd.

It was as if Thera had taken a stone to hurt and

strike herself. She was forced to ride his car and drop the topic when he told her he'd leave her there.

Sean only said that so she'd stop insisting; he could never do that to her again. He was anxious and worried until she found her in that restaurant with Top Montero. He sighed again upon remembering him —he was looking at Thera as if he could not see anyone but her.

He was starting to feel anxious and uneasy; he knew that it wouldn't be the last time the man would meet with his wife.

Wife. He smiled, mocking himself. He could not have Thera, but his heart could not bear to see him with another man. Selfish him. It was too late when Sean realized it was wrong a decision to bring her to his Villa. He wanted to protect her from her enemies, so he took her in and made her enter his world. Now everything's complicated.

"I can't remember how I met you, why I liked you. Why after ten years of marriage — when we should be stronger, you were leaving me. I am still searching for a lot of answers, but I want to take the risk. Even for a short time, can you treat me as your wife again, Sean?"

Silly her. She would hate herself once she regains her memories.

"Don't you have even the slightest feelings left for me? Because I think I am not over you yet."

Sean smiled without humour. Thera had no idea how hard his heart throbbed hearing those words from her. She was back to the old, innocent, and honest Thera he first met.

Sean shrugged his head. He covered the food on the table with a stainless food cover, then left the dining area.

It was Sunday. The Tea Caf is closed, but he can't hang out at the Villa with Thera. He decided to go to Miguel's place and spend the entire day reading books.

He went straight to the garage. He was already in front of the car when he remembered that Thera would be left alone in the Villa.

All maids are on a day off. They left after cooking for breakfast. Sean looked up at the room Thera was occupying.

What if she was too lazy to eat? And the cook only prepared breakfast. How about her lunch and dinner? Who's going to prep those for her?

Sean groaned. Thera was nearing thirty, she didn't remember anything, but she could handle herself. He opened the car door, then rode inside. He fastened the seat belt then immediately unbuckled it.

He would make sure he eats breakfast first; then, he'd leave.