Amer faces the woman with Robin but he forgets where he saw the woman.
“Are you home, Robin? We just commuted together because I just went to this place.”
“Ah! I will go home later this afternoon, Amer.”
“Ah! Are you that care? Ah! What is the name of the woman with you?”
“Ah! Sorry, I forgot to introduce her. She is Lira.”
“Lira?! Something came back to his mind.
“Please help. Someone stole my necklace.”
The man ran and chased the boy, who snatched the woman’s necklace. Fortunately, he caught up with it.
The man returned the woman’s necklace.
“Thank you very much, brother.”
“There’s nothing. Next time, be careful, especially if you’re the only one roaming around. Don’t go to many people who wear gold necklaces because there are a lot of crazy people here.”
“Ok, thank you. What’s your name?”
“I’m Amer. You, what is your name?”
“I am Lira. Thanks again for your help.”
“Amer! Why are you stunned?” Robin asked.
“Ah! Nothing. By the way, I remember you. Aren’t you the woman who snatched the necklace?”
“Ah! By the way, your name is Amer, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s good and you remember me. How is your life now, Lira?
“It’s okay. See I’m pregnant.”
“Yes, I know. Who is the father?”
Robin and Lira looked at each other. They don’t know what to answer.
“Ah! It was Lira’s ex-boyfriend who got her pregnant.” Robin replied.
Lira looked at him with obviously angry eyes. Robin is lying again. People can’t be proud of her because he’s already married. Lira was silent. Amer said goodbye because the bus was leaving.
Amer got on the bus. He was still looking outside, and he could still see Robin and Lira. He was restless, as if something was wrong with the two of them. He will also find out one day what secret the two are hiding.
Robin and Lira are on their way home to her mother’s house. They were the only two there because her mother had not yet arrived.
They talked about what had happened earlier. Lira didn’t like Robin’s answer to Amer, but Robin explained Amer knew his wife, so he was just being careful.
“What about Robin now if Amer knows you are married, and he knows you? That’s how you are! You really can’t introduce me well to those you know.” Annoyed Lira said.
“Didn’t I make you understand the situation is so complicated that they can’t know that you’re going to have a child and I’m the father?”
“Wow! So what? My child will only be illegitimate. I will not allow Robin. When will they know I am carrying your child?”
“That’s what you can’t do, Lira, because I will lose everything, including the wealth left by my father.”
“I just found out now, Robin, that it’s no love between the two of us but just a mania. You just used me because your wife can’t give you what you need that you think only I can give. I am so stupid because I am blinded by all your lies.” Lira said tearfully.
Robin was silent. He knew he had hurt Lira. He also wanted nothing bad to happen to their son. So he just hugged Lira. He is confused by the situation that he can’t leave Naneth because his father told him to love Naneth and have a child, but he doesn’t know what to do especially and he got Lira pregnant. He can’t leave Lira because they already have a child.
He could think of no way he would explain to his parents if the day would come when his parents would find out the nonsense he had done.
~~~~~
The next day…
Naneth arrived early at the office to take care of the papers she was asked to do. He meets Amer. Amer said he would go to his room to talk. She was nervous. What was sir Amer’s intention? She didn’t know that she was guilty except that Gio reported she was sick the other day. Haist! What can he explain?
“Excuse me, sir Amer. You seem to call me.”
“Ah! Yes, Lira, I have something to say and I will just ask you.”
She thought he was pulled by a thorn, thinking that the files on their team leader’s desk would fly away because of extreme anger.
“Ah! What is that, sir, Amer?”
“Do you know where your husband is?” she wonders why Amer asked.
“Ah! All I know is that he is here in Manila because he said they are taking care of something with their company. All he knows is that I am in the province.” Naneth replied.
“Oh! Really! I went to the province yesterday and unexpectedly, I saw your husband with a pregnant woman.”
Naneth was shocked. Amer saw her husband with Lira. What Amer knew was that Naneth still knew what her husband was going to do.
“Ha! I don’t know that sir.” she pretended she didn’t know.
“Oh! If that so, he said that the woman was just his friend and had been his secretary before. But I doubt what he is saying. Why is he so concerned about the woman who is just his secretary? Ah! The woman’s name is Lira.”
“Really sir Amer? Robin didn’t mention to me he was in the province.”
“Oh no! I shouldn’t have told you. I might be the reason for your fight.”
“It’s okay, sir, it’s not your fault. I will take care of my husband.”
Amer noticed that Naneth just looked calm. He was about to ask, but Naneth’s phone rang.
“Excuse me, sir, my father-in-law called.” Naneth came out to answer her father-in-law’s call.
“Hello dad, you were called.”
“How is Naneth? Do you know where Robin is now? They have a board meeting tomorrow. He hasn’t come in for a week. Maybe you know what that boy is doing.” Gilbert asked.
“Ah! Dad, all I know is he is in the province. Sir Amer saw him there.”
“Who’s Amer? Why is he in the province?
“Oh! Dad, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I have a job now and I’m here on the manila assignment. I don’t know what he is doing in the province.”
“Really? I thought you weren’t working because your husband was supporting you.”
“Yes, I know, dad. But I don’t want to just stay at home doing nothing. I’m a bored dad. Besides, Robin and I rarely see each other. He’s so busy with work that I’m always left at home that I don’t know what he’s doing outside.” Said Naneth.
“Your husband is crazy. What is that boy doing? I call him but he didn’t answer. I want to talk to Robin.” Gilbert said angrily.
“All right dad, if I contact him I’ll just tell you to call me and you have a board meeting tomorrow.”
“Okay, go ahead, thank you. I’ll forgive my son first because he just doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
After their conversation, Naneth returned to her seat. Kyla was curious.
“Friend, did sir Amer scold you?”
“No, Kyla, did you know he saw my husband in the province with Lira?”
“Ha!? Kyla’s voice was super loud. The other staff looked at them. “So, what else did sir Amer say?”
“He said he didn’t believe what Robin said, that the woman was just his friend and was his secretary then.”
“Oh!! Robin’s friend doesn’t know how to lie.”
“Gaga! Of course, I was nervous that sir Amer would sue me. Accusing sir.” Said Naneth.
“So, what did you answer?
“Suppose I don’t know. I don’t want them to get involved in the problem between the two of us. But sir Amer felt guilty because he thought I would fight Robin. After all, he told me what he saw.”
“Oh! I feel so bad for sir Amer. You should just tell the truth.” Kyla said.
“Kyla, this is a problem for my husband and me. I told sir Amer not to worry because I will take care of my husband.”
Naneth is looking for a delivery man. It carries a very nice flower. Other staff said he was in his room. The man knocked and Naneth let Kyla in. Kyla was still there.
“Excuse Ms. Reyes, someone is giving it to you. Please, just sign.”
“Oh! My friend already has a secret admirer!”
“You are crazy! I don’t even know who sends flowers.”
“Open the notes first.”
Naneth read what was written in the notes. That was from Gio. He shuddered. Why is that man sending flowers?
“Who is that? Kyla quickly picked up the note and read the name written. Kyla has a big smile, and she is teasing Naneth.
“Shut up so that someone can hear us.”
There was a knock on the door. Dominic entered. Papers were given to Kyla. He saw the flower on Naneth’s table. He asked whose flower it was. Kyla replied. It was from Gio.
When Dominic heard that, he felt jealous of his friend. He suddenly lost his appetite. Kyla noticed that. She asked Dominic, but he didn’t answer. She just left without letting them know. They both wonder why Dominic had a bad trip.
~~~~~
Robin said goodbye to Lira that he would go home first. He had also read his father’s message, so he had to go back to manila. He promised Lira that he would return when he finished the jobs that he had left in Manila. Lira became emotional because she would be left behind again.
When Robin arrived in Manila, he went straight to his parents’ house because that is what his father said in his message. While they were having dinner. They finally talked about Robin missing for a week.
“So, Robin, what are you busy with? I found out from your wife that you are in the province. What are you doing there?”
“How did Naneth's dad know I was in the province?”
“Their team leader said so. Another reason Naneth didn’t tell me she had a job. I thought you didn’t want to hire your wife?
“What? I didn’t know dad she was already working. She tells me nothing. All I know is that she just went to her auntie in Manila for a vacation.” Robin replied.
“He told me herself. We talked yesterday. You have not yet answered my question to you why you are in the province.”
Robin took a long time to answer because he did not know what to answer.
“Ah! I just visited my friend who used to be a secretary dad. Something happened to her.”
“Did you visit her for a week? Doesn’t she have a family to take care of her?” replied his father, Gilbert.
“Not like that, dad.”
“Just make sure, Robin, that you’re not cheating on your wife because I just know that you’re cheating on her, so be ready for me.”
Robin feared what his father was saying. So he just kept quiet. Then he passed by their house. He also went home to their house. He was surprised that the door of their house was open.
~~~~~
He climbed upstairs, and he called Naneth’s name. When he looked around their room, he saw Naneth putting her clothes in the suitcase.
“What are you doing, Naneth?”
“I’m packing my things.”
“But why?”
“When else can I explain why, Robin?”
“Yes, because I don’t know why. What is my fault?”
“What is your sin? Ask yourself, Robin. Think about what your sin is.”
“I won’t guess Naneth. So first tell me what your reason is.” Disgusted, Robin said.
“Let’s end our marriage. I’m done with you!” Naneth goes downstairs carrying her suitcase.
Robin held Naneth’s hand. He held on tight to it to stop Naneth.
“Release me, I’m hurt,” Naneth shouted.
“I won’t let you go until you tell me your reason for leaving,” Robin replied.
“How many times have I told you that’s right? I’m tired, Robin. I am tired of our situation. I am no longer happy. Let me go first.”
“No Naneth, you promised me you wouldn’t leave me.”
“Yes, I said that, but now I know who you are. There is no reason to stay with you and fool around with you.” Said Naneth.
Will Robin be able to stop Naneth, or will their argument lead to pain?