Chapter 6

• I left Dad for a while inside the VIP room. I decided to go to the bathroom to freshen up. My Dad was a good conversationalist that he did not leave any questions behind. I think he asked almost everything that relates to me. And I answered all of it with lies.
• I sighed and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked pitiful. I was not a fan of lying but I needed to, even if I felt like my solu's getting burned in hell. It hurts me everytime I lie, butI didn’t have a choice. 
• I washed my face, not minding if my light makeup gets erased. There's no reason to be beautiful. In Atlas' eyes, I was the most ugly and wicked woman he knew. 
• “Oh, look who’s here.”
• I abruptly shifted my gaze from the newly opened door. I instantly saw Trina walking towards me, smirking. I shook my head and continued what I was doing. I quickly wiped my wet face and fixed myself, ignoring her presence. I already had enough for today. My head hurt too much to give her even a bit of my attention.
• “You know, Olive. . . Atlas and I booked a hotel nearby. After we eat dinner, we'll eat each other,” she muttered and gave off a wicked laugh. “You know why Atlas doesn't like you? Aside from the fact that you're a midget, you're also ugly.”
• My eyes narrowed down to her. Her words caught my attention. “Can you please stay away from me? I don't care about your escapades with Atlas. So, shut up!” I firmly said.
• Trina looked astonished but in a flick of an eye, she's already smirking. “You're brave now, huh. Aren't you afraid of being left?” 
• I sighed and composed myself once more. I reminded myself that Trina's just a mistress. That just like the ones before her, Atlas would leave her, too. That she's not worth my time because I'm still the legal wife.
• “If you don't have anything left to say, excuse me.” 
• I turned my back to her and picked my bag. But after a few steps, I felt her grip on my arm. I puffed out a breath. I desperately stopped myself not to hurt her but my hand did otherwise. When my gaze went to her, I pulled my arm away. Her eyes widened but I care less. Trina cut the last string of my patience. She pushed me to the limit.
• “When I say shut up, shut up! Be grateful, Trina, because I never once fought back from everything you did. You might have to borrow a face from a dog once I get enough of you!” I remarked. “Also, I'm not ugly! Do you want me to take that thick makeup off your face to see who's the ugly one?!”
• Before she could even recover, I already left her. I didn't wait for her to get her revenge. I was catching my breath as I walked through the hallway of the restaurant. My heart was beating so fast. I know I'm weak, but in times of need, I had to fight back. Because the truth is that I'm the one who has my rights. Trina's just a mistress leeching over my husband.
• “Shit!”
• I know that my ears aren't deceiving me. Even if I got hurt from the clash, I looked up to confirm my thoughts. When I lifted my head, Atlas' rumpled forehead greeted me. His eyes were full of questions as he stared at me.
• “I’m sorry,” I mumbled.
• “Why are you here? Do you really want your dad to see Trina and I?” he asked. Atlas looked so formal. He seemed to come from the site when he met with Trina. I shook my head. I shouldn't even wonder why.
• “I don't know what you're saying. I have to go. Daddy and I had to go home,” I said.
• “Don’t fool me again, Olive. I know that you're good at manipulating everything. You even manipulated th—”
• I slapped him. I looked him straight in the eyes. For the first time in our ten years of marriage, I slapped him for degrading me. I don't know. It seems like my hand had its own mind. Maybe my heart was the only thing left numb and my body was tired of not feeling anything. My heart was still a martyr, but not my mind. Not anymore.
• “I’ve had enough for today, Atlas. I’m drained from all the shit in our life. Please, let me rest. I'm tired of everything!” I said before heading to my Dad’s room. 
• Even if it was hard, I forced myself to calm down from shaking in so much anger. My knees were wobbling because of what I just did. I was usually calm and quiet. Even if I'm hurt, I can't fight for myself. But, things changed. I learned that once you have enough, you'll explode like a volcano without even realizing it.
• “Good thing you’re already here, Hija. Atlas was here. I saw him somewhere and I invited him to join us but he declined. He said he had an important meeting. I guess it's more important than us.” Daddy laughed. I just got seated and that's what greeted me. I smiled at him, too. A fake one. I can feel that he's disappointed towards Atlas.
• I held his hand. “Sorry, Daddy. Maybe next time. Atlas is too busy.” 
• I forced myself to keep a cheerful tone to make my dad's weariness go away. I tried to open topics that were worthy to talk about. Daddy also asked me about the Dubai magazine that chose me as a representative for a big event about empowering women.
• My Dad was very proud of me. I could feel it. The thing is, I don't know if I should be happy or sad. I had been in different countries to represent women empowerment but me as a woman was way farther than the image I portray. It saddens me to even think about it, but that's the truth.
• I came with Daddy back to our house. I decided to stay with Dad for a while. I don't have anyone back in my house. Whenever I'm sad and Dad's free, he's the only one I can lean on. The only person that would understand and spoil me just like before.
• “You know, Hija. I really want to have a grandchild. When are you and Atlas planning to have one?" 
• Dad caught my attention. I turned to his side and removed my eyes from the car's window pane. He seemed excited. I smiled and tried to push the things that bothered me away. I leaned to my father’s shoulder and clung to him like a baby. 
• “I don't know, Dad. There's a right time for everything. We are waiting for the right time,” I said. “How about you? When are you planning to get married again?” I said jokingly.
• Daddy tapped my left shoulder. I laughed, and that made him laugh too. “Never anymore. I love your mother so much. When love hits you so hard, my daughter, it's hard to get up. You can never change your heart,” he said softly. I  felt him kissing the top of my head.
• I smiled at what my father said. I just proved how my father loved my mother so much, once again. The magic of true love. When it hits you hard, it sticks to you like glue. 
• Same goes for my feelings with Atlas. Feeling that even after a long time, I'm still drowning. Staying. Waiting. Hoping.
• Chapter 5
• I stayed at my Dad’s house for one week. I skipped work and decided to cancel all my meetings. I thought of resting from all the stress that I was feeling. I want to unwind and relax.
• I didn't inform Atlas because we don't really inform each other of our schedules. I can say that we're not close. We were two different people that were binded only because of marriage. A marriage that he didn't like but was forced to because of me.L
• Before I went home to South Ridge Village, I decided to stop by my clinic first. I got some of the papers and documents of my patients. I decided to read those papers at home. It was six in the morning and I had all day to scan it. 
• I smiled as I maneuvered my car. I reminisced about the happy days with my dad. When we went to another country just to eat and wander around for three days and when he bought a new car for me. My Dad spoiled me so much that sometimes I thought he was too good to be true. 
• Maybe I'm just too lucky to have a father that supports me and loves me unconditionally. The things some don't appreciate. Sometimes forgotten, often neglected.
• When I got home, I immediately parked my car in our backyard. I even saw Atlas’ car parked in our garage. When I glanced at my wristwatch, I saw that it was almost eight in the morning. My forehead creased. Atlas usually goes to work early. It's odd that he's still here.
• I slowly opened the door of the house. I sighed in relief that the house was quiet and peaceful, the only audible thing was the wind chimes, the twitters of Atlas' pet bird, and my slow strides.
• “Where have you been?!”
• My breathing hitched as I stopped on my tracks. I felt like I was a criminal being interrogated inside a small room, waiting to be questioned and to judge my crime.
• I heard Atlas' slippers resonating. I counted his every stride. I was only standing at the entrance of our living room, afraid to turn around because I knew that he was just behind me. I know that he's mad, based on his tone.
• Atlas stopped a few inches away from my back. I can feel the warmth of his body, even his hot breath that was exhaled on my head. I'm not really that short. Trina was just exaggerating things. Even if Atlas' height was five and eleven inches, I can still feel his breathing.
• “I’m sorry, I didn't inform you. I spent my whole week with Dad. We didn't see each other for quite a long time, that’s why,” I uttered when I finally found my voice. I tried to calm myself. There was no reason for me to explain anything to him. He said it himself that we shouldn't stick our nose into each other's business.
• “Is that how a wife acts? Really, Olive?!” 
• I instantly turned my back to face Atlas. My forehead was contorted into a frown as I scanned his face and body. He looked stressed. Aside from the dark circles under his eyes, he also had stubble around his chin.
• “Do you have a problem with me, Atlas? This isn’t the first time that I spent a week with my father. Why does it seem like it's my fault, again?” 
• “You should’ve told me! So that I wouldn't look like a crazy fool waiting for you!" He held my arm. It was painful but I ignored it. All I cared about was the glint of frustration in Atlas’ eyes. He's angry.
• I blinked twice. Then blinked once more. I'm a psychiatrist. I could read minds and emotions. It was rare to see Atlas having this reaction towards me. I don't know if I should be happy or worried.
• “You're hurting me,” I whispered under my breath.
• I felt his grip loosened. He was staring intently at me, not even bothered by our current position. He was looking down on me while I was staring up at him.
• “You always make fun of everything, Olive. You just want to manipulate everything!” 
• “I-I’m–” I lost my words. My mind seemed shut. My mouth couldn’t even utter anything. I was just staring at his eyes. His eyes always bring me to another dimension. When I looked at Atlas' eyes, an unfamiliar emotion was there. An emotion that even I couldn't name.
• “I’m tired, Atlas. I don't know where this argument is going. If you don’t mind, can you please let go of me?” Finally, I found my voice. Atlas seemed appalled but released me, after. I heard his sighs and curses.
• I smiled bitterly and turned my back on him. I continued my pace to my room. I carefully opened the door and languidly walked inside. I put my bag on my bedside table and lazily sat down on the bed. I sighed, together with the question that never once got rid of my mind.
• When will I stop hoping for the feeling that seemed impossible to get? When will I feel like I was just a normal wife?
• I spent my whole day inside my room, scanning and reading papers of my patients. I would only stand up whenever I drink water from my mini fridge inside my room and when I'm getting tense with sitting for a long time. I know that Atlas didn't leave.the house because I never heard his car. Today was his schedule with Trina, so it was quite odd. Even so, I just shrugged it off and ignored it.
• I looked at my phone when it rang. I immediately picked it up when I saw the name of the caller. It was the president of the home owners.
• “Hello?” I greeted.
• “Hi, Mrs. Ramirez. The home owners association agreed on having a pool party tonight. We’re very glad if you and your husband will join us,” she cheerfully said from the other line.
• I creased my forehead like she could see me. At the end, I sighed in surrender. I thought that it was time for me to socialize with the members of the association, even if I knew that some of them had a twisted attitude.
• “Okay,” I agreed.
• “That will be great!” she exclaimed.
• I placed my cell phone down after she thanked me and bid goodbye. I looked at the four corners of my room. It was very lonely and empty, reflecting the real me. Of how void my soul is, of how sad I felt whenever I'm alone.
• When I felt my stomach grumble, I stopped what I was doing. I looked at my wristwatch and it was already past three in the afternoon. I shook my head and took my glasses off. I stretched my hands out and craned my neck. After a few seconds, I decided to stand up.
• I headed to the kitchen where I saw Atlas cooking something. My brows. raised at the scene. He never really moved around the kitchen even back then. I only shrugged my shoulders and stayed silent. Instead, I got a bowl and poured cereal inside.
• I silently ate. I can feel Atlas' eyes gawking at me. Every spoon was shoved hurriedly inside my mouth. I was quite uncomfortable with his actions but I just ignored it. We normally don't talk even if we don't fight. We ignore each other on every normal day.
• “You didn't eat breakfast and lunch. Now, you're eating cereal? Are you even thinking, Olive?” he uttered after a long silence.
• I stopped eating and peered at him. He was staring in front of me while his hands were holding the table. His brows were furrowed and he looked deadly. I felt like I did something wrong that made him angry.
• “I will eat what I want to eat, Atlas. What's your problem? Why do you even care about my food?” 
• My face was brave even though I felt like I'd collapse at any moment. If not for the chair I was sitting at, I'd probably lost strength already. Atlas’ presence was intimidating. I never got used to it inside those years.
• “I don't know why I agreed to be your husband, Olive. You're so hardheaded!” he said firmly.
• I smirked. A bitter smirk at that. I stared at him straight to his eyes. I wanted him to feel my agony. I wanted him to feel the pain that he caused me for the longest time. I wanted him to know.
• “I don't even feel like I have a husband, Atlas. So please, let's go on with our lives.”