Chapter 39 Second Chance

Elaine walked for several minutes while Tan quietly followed on the opposite side of the road. Tan had mixed emotions in his heart and he cannot remove her from his sight not even for a second.

The wind softly blew Elaine's hair and the hem of her blouse follows her every step. Just like before, everything she wore fit perfectly to her slender body. The same body he’d adored and worshipped.

Tan came to a realization that for the last three years, he had never gone an entire day without longing for her. The yearning was deep and strong it was consuming him. And maybe, he intentionally traded those feelings with anger.

Why- it was the question that was too painful for Tan to ask and the answers to that ‘why’ scare him ever since their paths crossed again.

Why did Elaine leave him? Why was it so easy for her to forget and throw his love away? Why the span of three years, she didn’t see him even once. Didn’t she miss him the way he did? Even just a tiny bit, didn’t she regret throwing the years they spent together?

The pang of pain and regret crept into Tan's heart. He regretted letting the time just pass by. The three years he wasted living in sadness, he should have spent looking for Elaine and finding the truth. But he didn’t do that because he was busy convincing himself that she left him for money.

The De Marcos' didn’t know about what happened to Elaine. Perhaps because during those times, they were focused on his accident and recovery. While Elaine was suffering all alone, there he was, lying in his hospital bed, worthless.

Now that he knows the real answers to his questions- he felt as if his heart is being crushed by several gigantic hands. He deserved that for being mean to her this entire time.

Elaine suffered because of him. He owed his wife a lot. He drowned in happiness when he married the first woman he loved. She didn’t bother to know more about her or know where she came from.

He wasn’t by Elaine’s side during those times she needed him. Even when those times were over, he still wasn’t there. Their child was gone and he never even knew of his existence. That all happened because he was so damn busy taking care of his career while he let his wife suffer on her own.

Tan hope it wasn’t too late yet. Hopefully, he could still catch up on those wasted time. Hopefully, they’d be given a second chance.

He knows the truth so well. Elaine might be the daughter of their family’s mortal enemy but nothing will change. Not even her ugly past could change the beating of his heart.

Tan stopped walking when Elaine stood in front of the stoplight. He saw her look up to the sky.

He felt a tender touch in his heart when he saw a glimmer of hope in her lips. Almost… almost the same smile that made him fall to his knees.

It was already dark, Elaine seemed surprised to realize that. She was set to return when she unintentionally caught a glimpse of Tan.

Tan’s heart throbbed against his chest. Slowly, the smile on her lips faded. Confusion, wonder, love-which hopefully was real taken its place.

When Elaine’s gaze met Tan’s, it became hard for her to look away. It seemed like she was being sucked by his black eyes despite the darkness of the night.

When Tan started to walk across and close the gap between them while Elaine just stayed there and waited for him on the other side of the road. She can’t order her feet nor her body to move. Her heart was throbbing in her chest, deafening in anticipation, in love.

What was he doing here? She doesn’t remember mentioning or bringing him over to Bettina’s house before.

When Tan was right in front of her, Elaine remained standing still. Her heart still beating thunderously.

“Sorry, I didn’t do as you said. I followed you from The Palace until here.”

Elaine swallowed the imaginary lump in her throat.

W-why? She wanted to ask but her lips stayed unopened. Her eyes were staring at his eyes.

To tell you that you don’t need to keep those painful memories deep in your heart all alone anymore. Because I’d be right by your side no matter what happens. I’m willing to carry your burden, share your fears and pains.

That was the answer Tan’s gaze was giving her. As if he read the question in her mind. She blinked when Tan opened his mouth again.

“I’ve missed you so much, Wife…”

The surrounding seemed to lit up when after saying those words, a smile touched the corners of Tan's mouth.

ELAINE let out a sigh. She closed her eyes and opened them again. She stared at the ceiling. It’s been hours since they’ve separated but it’s as if those six words kept replaying in her mind.

“I’ve missed you so much, Wife…”

She tumbled in bed. She stayed in a hotel in Makati. That’s where Tan brought her because he didn’t allow her to drive herself.

She turned to look at Drew who’s been snoring on the couch. She wasn’t able to stop Drew to come to be with her. Aside from the fact that she wants to spend some time because Macon and she had a misunderstanding for a week now. Until now, Drew was scared that she might harm herself just like before.

She could not blame her though. Sandra called Drew whenever she was rushed to the hospital. But she was done with that part of her life. She was done killing herself to escape her pains.

Elaine had been struggling to overcome her own fears for the last three years. It was hard to do so, especially since Drew was her only companion since she was diagnosed by Sandra.

When she got a little better, the PTSD started. It happened a few weeks before Tan and her saw each other again. Maybe it was triggered by her wanting to be free of the sickness. The episodes and flashbacks came one after the other.

“It’s eleven o clock, pretty please force yourself to get some sleep,” Drew moaned.

But her voice just went out the other ear.

When did Tan become that outspoken? When he was courting her before, he couldn’t even decently deliver his love confession to her...

Elaine went back to bed. Stared at the ceiling once again. She put her arm on her forehead still thinking of Tan’s handsome face.

“I’ve missed you so much, wife.”

Elaine closed her eyes. She smiled. In three years, that was the first time she slept lighthearted.

Time check, eleven in the evening. She didn’t take her sleeping pills. Another first.

ELAINE moaned when she heard the sound of the doorbell. She opened her eyes slightly and closed them again. She was still sleepy. She felt Drew stand to get to the door. Elaine took the bolster pillow, hugged it then turned her back, not wanting to be disturbed.

Then the visitor entered, the surprised Drew did not know what to do. Tan stepped in, for a long time he was content staring at his sleeping wife’s back.

“Do you want me to wake her?”

Tan forced himself to look away from Elaine. He turned to Drew who could not hide the smile on her lips. “Let her sleep. Is she going to work?”

“From what I know, yes. Do you have a date?”

He didn’t answer. He stepped closer to Elaine then went around the other side to get himself a better view.

He smiled. Elaine was in deep slumber while he wasn’t able to sleep at all last night. He couldn’t get her off his mind. What Sandra said kept replaying on his mind. Elaine’s hardships that he knew nothing about.

Elaine was in pain for so long. She carried the burden every single day while acting tough and strong. She deserved to be happy now and he will make sure of that.

“You’re leaving?” asked Drew when he started to walk back to the door.

“Please don’t tell her I dropped by.”

“Sure. Sure,” she answered energetically.

Tan could see her trying to conceal her mischievous grin. Tan hadn’t been a few steps away from the door, Drew couldn’t help but scream.

Elaine surprisedly turned over. Drew jump on her bed, wriggling, almost like having a seizure while still screaming aloud.

Elaine was still half asleep. Drew stopped wriggling and sat by the bed. She held her on both shoulders and made Elaine face her.

“You won’t believe who just came here, Elaine. Oh, my God! Oh, my God! I could just foresee the happy ending!” Then she screamed again.

Since she was still disoriented, she didn’t fully understand what she was talking about. She yawned. She would’ve preferred to sleep than listen to her story screaming. It only hurt her ears.

“Guess who, hurry up! Guess!”

Pressured, and to make her stop screaming, she answered, “Macon?”

Drew’s face fell. The smile on her lips faded. Frowning, she released her hold, went off the bed and looked at her with piercing eyes.

“You know, it’s too early to irritate people. That scumbag won’t come here because we are fighting! It’s Tan! Your husband was here! He was staring at you for like ten minutes while you were drooling in bed! I hate you!”

Elaine was stunned. She didn’t even notice Drew marched out to the pantry to emote and prepare something to eat at the same time.

ELAINE hoped Tan would come to visit her at Ainsdale. According to Drew, he asked if she was coming to work so even if she would’ve wanted to stay in bed all day, she was forced to fix herself up.

She has been in front of the vanity mirror for almost an hour. Silly, she wanted to try all the lipstick in her bag. Elaine paired her black wrap dress with her black slingback heels. She put her hair down and chose the nude matte for her lips which somehow went with her skin tone.

“Dressed to kill, love it,” said Drew who was just outside the room. “I won’t feel envious since your happiness has been delayed for over three years. If Tan would offer a hug and kiss, give in right away. Make up for a lost time.”

She shook her head. Looked at her friend’s reflection in the mirror. “I’m not going home to our rented house in Makati. I am just going to work and will be coming back here tonight.”

Drew raised her brows. “Tell me that later before it gets dark.”

“WHY do you need to see the CCTV footage from yesterday? And inside the elevator?” asked Sean to his sibling. He went with him to the Safety and Security Office of The Palace. It was a huge room where surveillance cameras and CCTV footages were being transmitted.

“I have to check something,” said Tan. Eyes focused on the monitor when the security staff started to play it.

Sean crossed his arms. He just kept quiet when he noticed the serious expression of his twin.

After a while, Tan started clenching his teeth. He tightly closed his fists while closely watching the footage being played.

Sean gulped, turned to look at the monitor. Before he could speak, Tan turned away. He continued to walk out of the office, wearing that I’m-gonna-kill-the-bastard-who-dared-hurt-my-wife look on his face.

DREW must be a psychic. Even before six that night, Elaine found herself parking her car in front of Tan’s rented house. She waited for his text or call the whole day. Or even a surprise visit at Ainsdale to pick her up or to invite her to eat.

But the sun is almost setting, he never made his presence felt. She went to her room directly when she came inside. She changed her clothes then went out again to prepare food. She would call Tan after she made dinner.

She was done cooking before eight pm. She was tasting the beef caldereta when she heard the sound of the car. Her heart throbbed. By this time, she knew Tan would have seen her car parked in the garage.

In a hurry, Elaine took off her apron, checked herself using the mirror app on her cell phone. When she was satisfied with her appearance, she positioned herself by the door.

Her heart was beating really loud. The door opened. Tan was shortly stunned to see her.

She was about to open her mouth to speak but Tan was first to step closer to her...