Chapter 93 Stepmother Avery

KIA

It was a beautiful day in Laguna; the sun was shining, the wind was blowing coolly, and I was picking up a cake for our dinner tonight and also maybe buying some stocks for the house. Guess what? — It has been a year since I first met Ares in a Manila hotel room. I should be happy right now, but my mind won't quit worrying. What if, after two years, he suddenly decides he no longer wants us? just like what we agreed to. What if the thing that he said that he didn’t have the courage to say was leaving me after two years of our agreement?

I shook my head and walked on my way. I need to quit ruminating on such things. Considering I'm undergoing therapy, it won't be beneficial for my health. The weather was freezing and the wind was howling. A lot of homes were beginning to decorate, both inside and out, since December was quickly approaching. It could be a good idea for me to pick up some holiday decorations at the market later. Around 4:30 p.m., the sun was beginning to set. There was a red and golden hue to the sky. And it was a dry day. I went inside the building with the white bricks. I hear a customer say, "Oooh, it's chilly outdoors today," as I move toward the entrance.

I respond and agree, “Yeah, it 's cold today, you gotta stay warm!”

As I walk inside the store, the first section that I notice is the fresh fruits and vegetables. Since I am here for stocks, maybe I will just grab some. I grabbed a cart and started looking around. I saw near the registers a few small cakes and candy varieties that were available for a last-minute buy. I grabbed a chocolate cake and slowly put it in my cart. Then I went to the back end of the store where the cold cuts, seafood, and meats are located. I grabbed some meat since I will cook for Ares tonight. Today is our special day, but I don’t have any idea if he still remembers, but if he doesn't, then that is fine. I still wanted to celebrate it with him.

It wasn’t long until the store was full of busy grocery shoppers. People walked through the aisles. I was in my merry mood, walking around and looking at people while I was busy grabbing some food. Then, I suddenly found her. This old woman, with a gentle mop of graying hair on her head, was wearing a large red sweater, black pants, and sensible shoes. She walked slowly, very slowly, which is actually how I got stuck behind her line.

She was buying healthy frozen entrees from the freezer section. She had a list that she was having a hard time reading and an even harder time crossing off. Her large fingers seemed not to be able to bend.

Arthritis? I don't know. Maybe.

I smiled at her. “I am trying to get all I need to eat this week. It is hard being alone,” she said.

I just stared. She pulled out another entree and put it in her shopping cart. Was she alone in this world? Did no one want to help her? “I can't cook anymore, not with these hands,” she said to me. She kept going and then came to the ice cream aisle. She picked a few single servings of different ice-creams. I followed suit, only picking larger boxes for me and Ares.

“Ah, you have a family. I only get these for myself,” she said. Then she peeked into my cart, “A cake! Who has a birthday today?”

“Yes, but we still don’t have kids. We are not ready to have one. — Oh, this cake? It’s for our first anniversary tonight. I just thought about buying it to complement the occasion.” I answered.

“First anniversary? New couple... That was the part of the couple’s life where everything was still peaceful. You just love the company of each other. How lovely. But chocolate cake for your celebration is a great choice. I used to make one when it was also our first anniversary, but I don’t eat those anymore, not with my teeth. Chocolate cake is too sweet for me. Only soft ice cream for me at night,” she smiled.

I enjoyed talking to her, so I accompanied her to stroll around the store. We went to the right side of the store where the milk and cheeses are located, along with the bread and whole grain items. While choosing which cheese to use on my carbonara for tonight, I suddenly heard a familiar voice.

“Mom, I was looking for you everywhere! I said to stay at the corner while I was in the restroom. What are you doing here?”

I looked back and saw her. I didn’t expect to see this witch here. Did I hear it right? Did she call the old lady her mom? — Then she must be Asteria’s grandmother. I never thought that we would see each other in this kind of situation. My brain couldn’t process that this witch was her daughter.

“Kia– Kianna? Why are you here?” my stepmother said, stuttering.

“You know each other?” the old woman said, feeling confused.

“Are you blind? I am buying groceries.” I said without any remorse by saying it. I looked at Grandma and smiled at her. “It is so nice to meet you. I have to go now.” I said and was about to leave when suddenly she called my name.

“Kianna!”

I stopped without looking back.

“Can we talk?” she asked. That’s when I looked back, and my eyebrows met as I looked at her, feeling confused.

What is wrong with her? What’s with this attitude?

“I don’t think we have things to talk about—”

“I… wait here. Just give me a minute or two.” She then grabbed the cart that was being held by Grandma and pushed it forward. “Mom, let’s go. I will take you to your maid. Kianna, please wait for me here. Hmm?” she said and left with Grandma.

I don’t know why, but I didn’t leave and just stood there like a monument or something. I can leave now, but why am I waiting for her? Why am I curious about something she will say to me? I just wonder if it’s about dad… I really miss him… Even though he didn’t treat me right back when I was still with him, I can’t stop worrying about him. He is still my dad, after all.

After waiting for several minutes, she came back, holding her Louis Vuitton bag. Of course, she got that with my dad's money. What a spoiled brat.

"You waited for me… I'm glad…" she smiled.

"Cut the crop and tell me what do you want? Your mom is not here anymore, so stop acting like an angel falling from the sky. You gave me shivers down my spine."

I said without any expression. I don't have time for some shits. I still have a lot to do today.

"Sorry, I just wanted to talk to you personally. I know I have a lot of things to catch up with you–"

"Ha-ha! Very funny. Do you still have a lot of things to catch up with me? Don't you forget that we hated each other? Why keep on acting like that?" I interjected.

"I'm so sorry, Kianna… I know I did bad things to you back then and I didn't fulfill my duty and responsibility as your mom… That is why I wanted to talk to you personally…" she said, feeling guilty. Her eyes showed how emotional she was right now.

I don't know if I should believe her or not. She looks so convincing right now.

"You don't have to say sorry because I don't care. If that's all you wanted to say, then I am going now. I still have a lot of things to do." I said and pushed my cart. I was done buying all of the necessary items that we needed at home, so I immediately went to the cashier and paid for everything in my cart.

As I was walking to the group of taxis, someone suddenly called me.

"Kianna, wait!"

Here she is again. What is wrong with this woman?

I stopped and looked at her, annoyed. "What?!"

"Can we… Can I treat you to some drink or something? Hmm… There! Let me treat you there, I will just need to talk to you… please…"

I sighed as I agreed to let her treat me in a restaurant near the shopping market. She won't stop if I keep on ignoring her, so this might shut her up for pestering me. And it's 5:34 p.m. I still have some time to prepare for going home when I get home later.

At the Jollibee

I placed the groceries that I bought in the chair before sitting down. I looked at her, waiting for her to start her business with me.

"Uhm… Yeah, I just want to say sorry and… and I know you will just say that you don't care, but still… I still want to say sorry for all that I did to you. For making you feel left out from the family. I just want your dad to treat my daughter as special as you even though we are his second family. I just got so jealous of your mom for having that kind of life and that kind of love from your dad. That is why I hated you so much back then, but, but not anymore, Kianna… I realized that I am being so hard on you. You are my husband's daughter and I am his wife. That makes you my daughter as well but I am so sorry for not treating you one…"

Am I hearing this right? I never thought she would be so serious like this in my entire life. I lived in hell back when I was still with them in that house, where I never felt like my home. She is right, I was left out for several years, and now she is saying sorry right now, like everything that happened is just so simple to forget.

"I just realized how hard I am on you when I see that my daughter, Asteria, is doing things that I cannot imagine she could do. When I knew that she was flirting with your ex, I wanted to stop her, but then I realized how badly she wanted to be loved by someone and Vincent gave that to her. She had been dreaming of that for years and finally, her dreams came true. That is why I didn't have the courage to stand by your side. I am sorry—"

"Yeah, you tolerate her wrong doings because you are like that too, with my dad, right?"

"Kianna—"

"You don't have to explain. I know everything you did and your motive with dad. But don't worry, you don't have to act like a superior at home anymore since I am no longer there. You have everything now so stop pestering my life." I stood up and was about to leave when she suddenly said something that made me stop from leaving…

"It's about your dad…" she said while lowering her head.

I narrowed my eyes. "What about my dad?"

She sighed. "His health got worse because of the company. Even though we settled the crisis that happened to the company, he still needed to work harder than before. Asteria's doing some dumb things lately, and that also affected your dad. Asteria and Vincent broke up for a reason that we didn't know. He just left my daughter, and he also never came back to his home. His family is finding him but it's been a month now and wehaven't gottent any news about him. They broke their engagement, so your dad's company can't any longer collaborate with Rivera's company. It is such a big loss for your dad's company and that also affected his health."

"So you are telling me right now that my dad is getting weaker?"

"Yes, and I am hoping that you will be able to visit him… He is still your dad, Kianna. He might have said some things that hurt your feelings, but you are aware of how much worse your dad's anger issues are, right?"

I don't know what to say… I was caught off guard by knowing that my dad's health got worse. He doesn't want to see me anymore, but why am I having this feeling that I still want to check him up? I can't lose another parent… My mom is gone and I can't lose him too…