"Naka-kain kana ba Beh?" Bea asked as she interwines her finger with Jhoana.
"I ate before I went here Bei," the latter answered.
"Then why did you want to meet me here? You're not breaking up with me naman diba?"
"Silly! Of course not. It's just that I have something to tell you."
"Spill. You're making me nervous."
"I have an assignment overseas."
"How long?" Bea frowned.
"Cute. 2 months."
"That's too long."
"I know but be patient okay?"
"Of course," Bea smiled sweetly and nodded.
A girl seats at the end of the café just watching the couple silently.
"You have the right to stop them, Ate Mads. Bea's your wife," Deanna irritatedly stated.
"Don't start D. Pareho naming hindi ginusto ito." Maddie weakly smiled.
"Oh c'mon Twinny, hindi niyo nga ginusto pero hindi mo rin iyon kasalanan. Don't let her treat you like shit!" Therese stand up and was about to go to Bea and Jho's table but Maddie stopped her.
"Twinny, please?"
"Uuugh. Whatever. Let's go shopping na nga lang. Dean, call Fel!"
Therese let it go because of Maddie. Exhaustion is all written in her Twinny's face.
--
"Love!" Deanna shouted at a certain girl who's back is facing at them.
"Deanna ano ba! Huwag ka ngang sumigaw. Nasa public tayo, di lang tayo sa bahay!" The girl turned around annoyingly.
"Hi Fel." Both Maddie and Therese greeted the girl. Or I should say, Deanna's girl.
"Hi M, Hi T!"
"Love..."
"Hay nako Dean! Come here."
"Ano ba Felicia! Sa harapan pa talaga namin maglaplapan! Get a room you two!" Therese faked a disgusted face while Maddie just laughed.
"Oh edi tumawa kana 'Te Mads," Deanna stated.
"Why? Is everything okay, Ate?" Felicia, cluelessly asked.
"As usual, Fel. Bea and Jho." Therese answered, Maddie just shooked her head.
"There's nothing wrong, Fel. These two were just OAs. Nakasabay lang namin kanina sina Bea sa cafè."
"Totoo naman sinasabi nila Ate eh. You have the right."
"Loveless marriage yung sa'min. Kaya wala akong karapatan."
"It's still doesn't give her rights to have a relationship with other people, Ate. Come on, you know that!"
"I'm fine with it. I'm the one who took her away. Ayaw niyang makasal sa'kin."
"Duhh. Did you two even talk about your marriage?" Therese asked in disbelief.
"Yes. She was angry at me for agreeing to this stupid marriage. Yet the truth is, I agreed because I don't have the heart to break my Dad's heart. So I don't really care what she wants to do with her life because I understand."
"Madeleine Yrenea, you're too kind. Always put the others before yourself huh," Deanna smirked.
"I'm not. I hurt Cole, remember?" Maddie's eyes started to well with tears.
The other three went to dead silence. Of course, they remember. The former couple was a "relationship goals" but it just turned up into dead one because of a fucking request.
---
Maddie went back home only to be greeted with silent from the Condo she shares with Bea. She picked up their laundry and tied her hair in a messy bun. She changed her office attire and put their laundry in the washing machine. Even though it was a marriage out of love, she still fulfills her duties as a wife. She caters all Bea's need.
She went to the kitchen and and started cooking dinner. She finished and set the table. She showered and get her laptop waiting for Bea to come home.
Bea sent her girlfriend home and return to the Condo to get her things. She knows Maddie is waiting for her to eat dinner. Hindi niya maintindihan si Maddie, it was clearly a loveless marriage but she still dutilly attends her needs.
Bea entered and saw her wife sitting infront of her laptop with hands on keyboard and eyes closed. She smiled at the sight. She waked her up gently.
"Madeleine, you're going to hurt your neck sleeping like that."
Maddie yawns and rubbed her eyes. Cute, Bea thought.
"Sorry. Anong oras na pala?"
"It's almost 8. Come, let's have dinner."
They ate dinner silently. It is always like that. Silent and cold dinner, until Bea broke the silence.
"I won't be home for two days. Tell Mom and Dad I have something important to do."
Maddie nodded but didn't utter a word. She didn't need to ask Bea because she already knows where will her wife actually will be.
After dinner, Bea entered the room and packed her things.
"Take care Madeleine, I'm going out now."
Maddie gave her a small smile. Bea drives her car in a deep thought. What the fuck I'm feeling right now? Is this guilt?
---
"Take care, babe. I'm going to miss you a lot." Bea hugged her girlfriend and kissed both of her cheeks.
"Bei, I'm going to miss you too. I love you."
"I love you too. Huwag magpapagutom ha?"
Jho nodded and walk away but stop halfways. She turned around and waved at Bea again.
Somewhere along the airport, stood a tall and handsome guy. Watching with anger and confusion.
---
Maddie rubbed her eyes to keep herself awake. She was kept awake because due to Bea's absence. She leans back and rested her head on her head at the chair. She jumps a little when she heard the faimiliar husky voice.
"Pagod kana ba?"
Maddie straightened and saw the guy smiling widely at her.
"Cole."
She stands up and hugged the guy in delight.
"What brings you here?"
"Work. Lunch? On me."
Maddie smiled, a genuine one.
They went to a nearby restaurant for lunch.
"So Nea, how are you? How's marriage life?" Maddie's heart skipped a beat. Nea. He's the only one who calls me that.
"I'm fine. It was okay, different but nevermind." Cole eyed her suspiciously.
"Are you happy, Yrenea?"
Maddie faked a smile. "I am."
He sighs. He knows Maddie too well. From what he witnessed this morning, he knows Maddie is not happy. So does Bea.
"I still love you."
"Cole."
"I know. Don't worry, I know where I stand. It hurts but it hurts more seeing you in pain. She doesn't deserve you, Nea. If you were mine I'll never let anyone hurt you."
Maddie looked down. She didn't want to look at Cole.
"I thought she'll take care of you. If she won't, I will take you back."
"No. I'm fine, Cole. Don't meddle with my business."
"I know you'll stay with her. It won't hurt to try though."
"Cole."
"It's okay. I'll wait."
"Don't. Please move on. For me."
"When the time comes."
Maddie let out her breath in annoyance of Cole's stubborness and changes the topic.
"Kanino ka pala nagtatrabaho ngayon?"
"For myself. Freelance."
"A deal leads you here in the Philippines?"
"Yes. Can't wait to see you again."
"Hanggang kailan ka dito?"
"6 months."
"So I guess we'll be seeing each other a lot?"
"Yes," Cole winked. Maddie laughed.
---
Therese stopped doing her work when she noticed a figure standing in her door.
"Therese, I miss you a lot."
"Funny, I didn't though."
Bea's face fell. She knows Therese is angry at her. Therese had taken her wife's side in the wedding matter. They are Twinnies afterall.
"Lets have a lunch together. I miss us."
The truth is Therese misses her bestfriend, too. But she was angry, she thinks Bea was being selfish. And Jhoana being a dumb because she is unable to see Bea is someone else' wife now.
"She's out of the country. Please Tey?"
"Fine."
When they arrived at the restaurant, Therese was squealing and hugging a handsome guy. What surprises Bea is the guy is with her wife.
"Cole! Oh my god. Lalong kang gumwapo ha."
"Therese naman. It's nice to meet you again. Chubby kapa rin."
"Hey! Di ka parin nagbabago. It's been a year, Cole."
"I know. And here I am, still mending my broken heart."
Bea just stand behind them watching. The boy seem familiar to her. She went to Maddie and gave her a kiss on the cheeks. Therese and Cole looked surprised. Cole cleared his throat and invited the two to join them. Maddie went to her seat silently.
"I'm sorry, I don't think I have been introduce to you?" Bea asked and seated herself beside Maddie.
"We did but I think you don't remember me. I'm the photographer for your wedding."
"I see. No wonder you seem familiar. How did you meet Therese?"
Therese answered for Cole. "Cole and Maddie were really really good friends."
Bea noticed the sarcasm but chose to ignore it.
"So, Cole what brings you here?"
"Work. I just arrived this morning and thought I could give Yrenea and Therese a surprise visit."
"I see." Yrenea? Who gave you the right to call my wife her second name? Damn you!
They fell in an awkward silent. Maddie decided to cut the tension to went back to her office.
"I'm done here. I need to go back to the office. Cole, thank you for the lunch."
Cole stands together with Maddie. "I'll come with you."
Bea frowned. Therese just observe the three silently.
"It's up to you. I'll see you both later. Twinny, Beatriz." Maddie gave Bea a kiss on the cheeks causing the latter to smile brightly. Cole clenched his jaw at the sight.
Therese waited until Cole and Maddie left.
"What was the interrogation of Cole all about?" She suspiciously asked Bea.
"What are you talking about? I was just curious. Madeleine never talk about him," Bea answered defensively.
Therese smirked. "That's because you never talk to her."
"I did. We do talk."
"I doubt that."
"Whatever. I was busy."
"Busy with Jho?
"Tey ano ba! Don't drag her into this. And stop meddling with my personal life!" Bea said tiredly.
"What are friends for, Bei?"
"I. We. Nevermind. Jho misses you too, Tey."
"Amuses me."
"Why are so defensive of Maddie?"
"Because she was alone. Her best friend left her. She has no lots of friends."
"She shouldn't agree to the marriage. She messed up my life."
"Really Bea? Akala mo ikaw lang ang nasira ang buhay? Don't you think she has life too? You're not the one who is hurt. She was hurt too!"
Bea was speechless. She never considered that. She was friend with Maddie back then. They emailed each other when Maddie's still studying in the US but Maddie never really talk about her personal life. But she did remember Maddie mentioning a boyfriend.
"May alam ka ba? I remember Madeleine mentioned a boyfriend before."
"Seriously, now curious?"
"Just---" Bea was cut off when her phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Bea, this is Daddy"
"Yes Daddy?"
"Can you visit me in my office now? I needed you in my work."
"Tatapusin ko lang yung lunch ko. Cge po."
"Thank you."
"No problem, Dad. Anything for you."
"It was Maddie's father. He wants to see me."
Therese smiled and nodded. After the lunch, Bea walked Therese in her office before heading in Madayag Corp.
---
"Cole, dito nalang ako. Thank you for the lunch btw."
"Anything for you, Nea. Oh, does she know about me?"
Maddie sighs.
"It's okay. I'll see you again in the future?" Cole asked hopefully.
"Sure. We're friends."
Ouch that hurts. "Okay. Just friends."
"Coleee..."
"Okay nga lang, Yrenea. Nice meeting you again." Cole peck Maddie's cheeks and left.
Maddie sighs and let her tears roll down. I miss you so much, Cole.
---
Hello, I'm back! 🤗