“HONEY… Honey, wake up…”
Benjamin’s eyes squinted at the lights coming from nowhere. “Camille?” he asked. He was sure of it. That sweet angelic voice came from his wife, Camille.
“I’m here, Benjamin…”
He turned to his side and found his wife sitting on the side of the bed, glowing brightly in her white dress. She smiled as their eyes met. “Honey…” Tears started to pool around his eyes. “You came back—”
“No, Benjamin…” Camille reached to touch his face. “I’m here because I want you to let me go…”
Benjamin held his wife’s hand on his face. It felt warm and alive, just like the old times. Every morning, he woke up by her side, caressing his cheek. “I missed you, Camille… please, don’t leave me again. Don’t leave us again—”
“Benjamin, you know that I can’t do that. But, I will forever watch over you and our children,” she said and kissed his cheeks. “Be happy, Benjamin…”
Benjamin shook his head. “No… Don’t leave—” His eyes flew open, and the familiar wooden ceiling met his gaze. “Camille…”
It was the first time that his wife showed up in his dream. And, why does she telling him to let her go? Benjamin can’t do that. Camille will always remain in his heart.
Benjamin was alone again in the bed. He turned to his side, expecting to see Caroline sleeping beside her, but she wasn’t there. He stood and went to the veranda, thinking that maybe she was still talking with the Billionaire guy. But, when he slid open the door and found the terrace empty, Benjamin started to feel something different.
“Caroline?” he called her name as he walked towards the bathroom. Still, she wasn’t there. “Caroline?”
He looked around the room and noticed that her bed was made. Her bags weren’t there anymore. Benjamin opened the cabinets, and when he found it all empty, he knew it. Caroline left him.
*
Benjamin heard talks in the dining when he decided to go down after putting on his clothes. When he listened to his daughters talking and laughing about something, he felt a little hope that maybe Caroline was with them. He ran towards the dining and found only his mother and his daughters. Benjamin’s chest tightened.
“Dad, you woke up late today,” Anastacia said. “Look, Aunt Caroline bought us these gifts before she left.”
“She left?” he asked, even he knew it already. But, the art materials on the table caught his attention. “She bought all those things for you?”
“Yeah, I told him last night that we wanted to make a painting for Nanay Dolor,” Antonette said. Her brows furrowed while staring at him. “What’s with that expression, dad?”
“Aren’t you happy that your daughters are now doing their favorite hobbies again?” Nanay Dolor asked him with an arched brow. She gave him his cup of coffee when he occupied the seat next to Antonette.
“Since mom’s death, we never get a chance to paint again,” Anastacia said, but her tone wasn’t like before. Her voice was surprisingly happier now.
“We can now do the things that we love,” Antonette commented. “Thanks to Aunt Caroline, she managed to get all of these art materials overnight.”
Anastacia laughed. “Thanks to her handsome friend.”
Benjamin knotted his forehead. “Friend?”
Antonette rolled her eyes ceilingwards. “Dad, are you with us?”
“Caroline?” Benjamin was about to answer when he heard Caroline’s voice coming from the foyer. He stood quickly, almost spilling his coffee to the table.
“Dad! Be careful!”
He heard Anastacia shouted, but he ignored it. He immediately went to the foyer, and as soon as he saw Caroline entering the house, he ran to her and wrapped his arms around her.
“Benjamin… W-What happened?” Caroline asked. “Is there something wrong?”
Benjamin hugged her tightly and buried his face to her neck. “I thought you left me.”
“Why would I do that?” she asked. “I promised Nanay Dolor that I would help her in preparing for her birthday.”
He hugged her even tighter. “Was it really the reason? So, you’re staying because she asked you to? And, not because of me?”
“Benjamin…” Caroline tapped his back. “Did you have a bad dream?”
“I felt bad when I didn’t see you beside me…” he said and released her. “I felt terribly bad when I couldn’t find you anywhere, Caroline.”
Caroline’s forehead creased. “I just went—”
He pulled her closer and kissed her lips. “Please don’t leave me again, Caroline—”
“Excuse me,” a male’s voice said from their back. “Can I put all of these inside first? You’re blocking the way.”
Caroline pulled free from him and turned to face the familiar man. She helped him carry some of the grocery bags in his hand. “Benjamin, can you help us carry these to the kitchen?”
Benjamin’s brows furrowed. “Who is he?”
“Huh?” Caroline asked, puzzled by his reaction. “You’ve met him before. Don’t you remember?”
The man laughed. “I was wearing an expensive business suit when we first met at his coffee shop. I looked far different when I was wearing casual clothes like this.”
“You looked like a naughty school kid when you’re wearing shorts and tees,” Caroline added with a chuckle.
Benjamin's brows furrowed. He remembered this guy now. He was Caroline’s wealthy ex-boyfriend and the reason why he felt insecure and pity for himself.
“Why is he here?” he asked, getting all the grocery bags from Caroline. “Did you invite him?”
“I called him last night when Antonette told me that they wanted to make a gift for Nanay Dolor,” she answered. “I asked him to buy and bring art materials today.”
“And, he did what you told him?” Benjamin smirked.
“It’s not really a problem to me,” the guy named Lucas to butt in. He placed all the grocery bags inside the kitchen, where Nanay Dolor arranged them. “I’m not busy today—”
“Caroline, where are your things? The cabinets in our room were empty,” Benjamin asked Caroline, ignoring Lucas.
“I transferred it to—”
“She transferred her things in my room,” Lucas said and put his arms around Caroline’s shoulders. “I don’t want her staying in somebody’s room.”
***