Chapter 28 A Painful Trip Down Memory Lane

====FLASHBACK=====

August 11, 2015

Pangasinan, Philippines

Thera pulled to a stop and parked her car on the side of the road. The man he met in Baguio asked her to drop him off at a restaurant.

"Thank you, Thera. I owe you one,"

She smiled a bit. The man was about to say something, but he chose to shut his mouth. It seemed like the woman was still not in the mood for a chat. He felt the need to get out of the car. Clutching the door handle preventively, he turned to face her once more.

"Do you want some coffee? I supposed we both hadn't had breakfast yet,"

Thera shook her head to refuse his offer. "I'm full. Thank you,"

The man shut the door, defeated. He was left behind while watching her drive off her car. A sigh escaped from his mouth. Thera had the prettiest yet saddest eyes Top ever laid his eyes on. Did she ever peer at him for a short while? He was positive she didn't. However, he was hoping she did.

It was late at night when Thera arrived at her house in Alabang the following day. She was so exhausted she couldn't drive any further up to Manila. She decided to spend the rest of the night at a hotel in Tarlac. Her supposed to be two and a half hours of sleep turned out to be twelve hours long.

Her eyes wandered around the house. A bittersweet smile formed her lips. After marrying Sean, she lived in this house for five years. It was given to them by Tan as a wedding gift. Sadly, she would be leaving that house soon. It was a good decision, though. There aren't any happy memories attached in the place anyway.

Thera heaved out a sigh and reached for her phone placed on the dashboard. She sighed upon seeing its dead battery. Hurrying to see Sean, she forgot to bring her phone charger with her. Earlier today, while driving, she thought of ringing Kisses. She was the only person she could count on whenever she's feeling down. Her friend was always there when he needed her.

Needless to say but she was her best outlet. The one you can share a drink with while ranting about anything in the world and someone you can have fun with. But now, she wasn't planning to share her heartbreak with her. Scared she might think of her as less of a woman whenever she found out that she submitted herself to Sean.

Thera wanted to free herself from Sean. She waited for five years, hoping he would come back to her. It did not happen, even after giving him everything. She wasted her efforts and time for a hopeless chance. But everything was finally coming to an end. She will start over again and force herself to forget everything.

She knew it would take time. She tried to do the same thing only to fail in the end. Maybe it's because she made herself believe Sean will come back one day.

Thera's steps were heavy as she took her way towards the narrow hall leading to the main door. She was about to get into the room when she noticed a bit of light pierced through the slightly opened door. The guest room - the space where Kisses used to sleep in. Could she possibly be in the room? She wasn't sure, but somehow, it perked her up.

She walked towards the room with a forced smile on her face. But the door burst open, revealing Kisses in a robe. Kisses blocked the door, slightly closing it.

"Since when have you arrived?" she asked.

"I didn't k-know you'll come,"

"I just got here not too long ago," she answered, trying to peer inside the room. She could see a figure of a guy lying down on the bed. She was starting to feel nervous. However, she could not fathom why.

She noticed how Kisses' expression shifted. One second, she was surprised. But now, she looked rather cold.

"I know you're curious," she said before taking a few steps backward, pulling the door open wide enough for her to see.

Thera stood speechless when she recognized who the man was. Her heart was racing when she moved her gaze off of him and turned to Kisses. She felt her head start to feel numb. What must she think?

Before she could utter a word, Kisses stepped out of the room, held her hand after pushing the door closed. Kisses lead her towards the stairs. Thera's knees were shaking.

No, maybe she was thinking it the wrong way. There must be a reason why Sean was there. She needed to hear her out.

"Kisses…" she uttered, still lost in mind.

"Need I say more? You see what you need to see, Thera," she said, letting go of her hand. Despite the forceful cold expression on her face, Thera could still see a glimpse of guilt in her friend's eyes. "I love Sean. We loved each other,"

"H-he's my husband."

"When?"

Thera urged her mind to talk, to counter her question. But numbness swept her thoroughly. What must she tell her anyway? How is she going to respond to that difficult question?

Their marriage didn't even reach six hours. It has already ended after Sean left her broken.

"I met him first! I knew I gave in, but I realized I couldn't bear losing him!"

Thera could not find the urge to speak. But her tears streamed down from her eyes one by one.

"For five years, I tried to endure all your dramas and lend you my ears. I've tried so much to help you fix your relationship with Sean. Let me be happy with him for once!"

The tears continued to seep down Thera's cheeks. Not once she ever felt happy within those years she just mentioned. All this time, she thought Kisses was willing to listen to her. She was wrong.

"You want to know when? It doesn't matter, Thera. Just let him go and let us be happy. I'm begging you. Please sign the annulment papers."

Thera gripped the staircase tightly. She felt like her head began to spin. Kisses knew about the annulment.

How could he do that to her? Whether Sean loved her or fooled her around, at this moment, she was sure no more.

Thera shook her head. Sean did not look at her the same way he was looking at her five years ago. However, she did not believe he was capable of hurting her this way.

With her eyes welling with tears, she turned around to walk back to the guest room when Kisses gripped her hand.

"Do you really want to confirm if it was him on the bed?"

Thera faced her. Her tears blurred her vision, but the pain was indescribable. It was as though she was stabbed in the heart several times.

"I want to hear it from him,"

"Can't you be any dumber, Thera? The proof had already slapped you hard. What more do you want? Have pity on yourself for once,"

She sobbed, pulling her hand from her grip. Will she be able to deal with the truth from Sean himself?

Why did it have to end like this?

Why did she even have to know?

Why did it have to be this painful?

Why her best friend out of all people?

Instead of coming back to the guest room, Thera chose to go down the stairs. Every step paralleled with a cut on her chest.

She was not sure how she was able to return to her car. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs to lessen the amount of pain and weight she carried in her chest. But she had no strength to do so. She carried too many emotions she wanted to shake away, and it frustrated her.

With a trembling hand, she turned the engine on and drove off her car. Sean was entirely out in her life. So did Kisses. The only thing that was left was her pride. With that being said, she would protect her heart at any expense.

October 14, 2015

Pangasinan

It had been two months. She changed her phone number and went far away.

Every day, she would stare at the beautiful horizon of the sea before the clock reached five. She felt as though she was one with the mountains. There was a pang of pain in her chest every time she watched the hills covering the sun as it sets. Thera would stay on the shore until her skin hurt. As soon as dusk fell, she would come out from her rented room just to watch the sunset. She would often see the kids collecting seashells by the shore. She'd wait until dark, and only then could she head back to her room.

"Hey, it's the resort's anniversary, so there will be a free buffet dinner in the restaurant later tonight. I wonder if you could come and eat if you're not busy," the twenty-five-year-old receptionist invited her. But, she only shook her head, refusing.

It had been weeks since she had lost her appetite to eat. The woman was friendly, but she could not afford to trust her. After the confrontation she had with Kisses, she tried to avoid socializing with other people.

The betrayal led her to act that way. She promised to close her door to possible attachments; she could not afford to hurt herself anymore.

Thera headed to her room. She reckoned Sean had flown to America. Her decision was to get rid of everything that has to do with Sean. Anything that would remind her of him.

She sat on the edge of the bed, bending her knees. She felt lonely and alone. Nobody's there with her to lift her up willingly. She thought that she had cried everything out. But every time she was all alone in the room, that was when her emotions began to stir her up badly.

Feeling like a fool, her tears would surge with no warning. Whenever she heard love songs, she would burst out crying. Not only does she cry when she'd see a sweet couple but also whenever she'd see two friends eating breakfast in a cafe. Worst, even when staring up in the sky would trigger her emotions.

Love yourself. Two words but seemed difficult to do. How is she supposed to start loving herself? By letting go of someone who hurt her many times over? Well, she already knew what's the right thing to do. She knew so well the answer to her questions. The thing is, she didn't know how to stand her ground just yet.

She was stupid. Because after everything that happened, a part of her was still hopeful.

Like a mountain that kept waiting for the sun to rise after the long night, she kept holding on to a hopeless chance; that waiting for Sean would lead her to her victory, that one day he would stay.

But like a sun that would constantly appear and disappear, Thera knew that Sean would not stay by her side. Her love for him, no matter how deep and pure, would never be enough to keep him.

Thera was curled up on the cold floor, her arms rested on her knees. She fell into a quiet sob, just like what she did almost every night.

Thera bound to Manila the next day. She'd like to meet the company lawyer of The Palace to inquire about the filed annulment. By the time she reached the elevator, malicious stares along with inaudible whispers had flown around her when she had walked past them.

She rang Atty. Sison, informing him that she'd be late for a few minutes. Her stomach was growling with hunger, so she decided to drop by at the restaurant to have lunch. Probably because she showed up with an empty stomach.

She chose a restaurant just inside The Palace vicinity. Thera occupied the table for two near the entrance. She had just started wolfing down her food when she overheard the conversation across from her table.

"If I were her, I would sign it already. For sure, I had earned enough fortune working my ass off for years. Besides, a relationship that was driven by money is very likely to fail no matter what. So, why bother clinging to a marriage on paper anyway?"

"Well, what are you expecting? That's how the wealthy play. Marriage is just a business. But hey, if you ask me, I'd rather not sign it, especially if I'm the president's wife. Sir Sean has everything a girl could ask for. He's a rare find."

Thera paused for a moment. Were they talking about her and Sean to her face?

"I had a feeling that ma'am Thera badly needed some money to stash those days. That's why she accepted sir Sean's marriage offer out of convenience," the woman clicked her tongue in dismay. "Damn. Too bad I was late. Where was I during those times?"

"The CEO had chosen ma'am Thera. Granted that you are the president's girlfriend, you'll be discarded like a useless piece of paper over a huge share of funds. Basically, there's nothing you can do about it. Everything is all about money against money,"

Thera stood in her seat.

What the heck are they talking about?

What does money have to do with their split-up?

And what does the chairman have to do with it as well?

Her mind was a mess. It seemed that there were so many things that happened within two months of lying low. She would not be surprised if the entire company knew about the separation.

Storming out of The Palace Mall, she headed towards The Palace Hotel and found herself going to the top floor—where a private office was located, which also served as a house owned by Mr Jacob Hernandez.