I wore jogging pants and a racerback top for my morning walk with Ara. Zed also changed into his jogging outfit but went out ahead of me. He knew he had no place whenever I was with Ara. And he's never the jealous type who demanded my attention back to him.
Surprisingly, Ara was in a good mood this morning. She was already ready when I stopped by her house. Although wrapped in a sweater, I could still see her slimming structure. She may not tell me, but I could tell she already suspected Tim and Maezy were into a relationship.
"How's your night?" I asked as soon as we started walking.
"Lonely. You know what, even if I hate Tim for his many restrictions, I still miss him at night because he never sleeps without cuddling me. That kind of thing makes me feel secured," said Ara. Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, but she laughed it out -- breaking my heart.
I also didn't want to assure her falsely, so I said, "If Tim indeed cheats on you, then he doesn't deserve you."
"But how can Maezy do that to me? We're friends, not to mention that she is a married woman!"
"It isn't surprising, you know," I replied, "but don't worry over that yet. We have no proof."
Ara scoffed, "It's obvious, Yen. Tim used to be very sweet, but he suddenly changes when he starts to work for Maria Zenaida."
I froze when I heard the name. Maria Zenaida Cabrera was the informant when I was admitted to the hospital when I arrived back from Japan.
"What's her maiden name?" I stopped to face her.
"Maria Zenaida Cabrera, why?"
"Nothing. I didn't expect that Maezy would come from Maria Zenaida."
"But she's also Maezy in her second birth certificate. I don't know what happened before, but it's a common thing that some people get dual registrations. Back then, our civil registry's system wasn't that efficient."
I nodded. And it might be the same reason why I had two registered names. But suddenly, it occurred to me that Kim, Trish, and Kate said that Mr. Williams adopted me. But when did my adoption happen?
Because of my confusion and shock at my newly discovered identity and my marriage to Kim, I didn't give it much thought.
I will find this out, I told myself.
"Ladies, I'll go ahead." I turned to Zed's voice that sounded from my back. He slowed down from his jog and walked beside me.
"Yes, go ahead. We're on girl's talk, you know."
Zed chuckled, "Of course, I understand. But here's your water," he said, handing me a water flask.
"Thank you," I replied, then waved a hand to dismiss him.
Zed started running again, and I turned to Ara again.
"Yen, your husband is one in a million. If I were you, I would never exchange him for someone like Mr. Kim."
"Ara!" I exclaimed, getting horrified. "What makes you say that?"
She looked into my eyes and pursed a smile. "Yen, be careful. I think Mr. Kim has a thing on you. But, of course, back then, when he asked me to bring you to the company outing, I already felt he had met you before and had liked you already."
I got lost for words. I didn't know if I should tell her the truth or not. But she's my friend, a very dear friend who should know all about me.
"I also didn't think he would suddenly offer you a high position in the company."
Suddenly, I got an idea. "Ar, your students, are either Kim's workers or business partners, right? So maybe through them, we can know more about Kim."
"Why do you suddenly want to know his private life?"
Because I want to know how he was as a husband.
"Because there are rumors in the company that he was previously married to someone else. And because you say that he looks at me differently, I need to know who are the people I should avoid."
Ara raised her brows and said, "I don't understand you."
I laughed and tapped her on the shoulders, "Forget it."
Before we knew it, we reached the park already. Wanting to sit down and take a rest, we walked towards a bench under a huge tree.
"I can't wait to go abroad already," Ara's voice started to crack. "I would never sell myself cheap to them."
"I also don't understand."
"Tim and Maezy would never hear from me. I won't confront them nor throw hurting words at them. I will leave silently, and I will show how insignificant they are to my life. Just let them wait until I give birth. Life is still turning like a wheel."
I pulled Ara into a hug. That was such courage and a high sense of self-respect.
"I admire you, Ar."
Ara started to sob. The sound of pain and bitterness that she poured in it was like a dagger piercing my heart.
Just as she calmed down, a woman suddenly appeared in front of us, squinting her eyes and staring at Ara. To my horror, she was the same woman who scared the wits out of me.
"Arabella, why are you crying? Is it because Zenaida is flirting with your boyfriend? If I were you, I would never waste my tears for a useless man. I am so ashamed that Zenaida has become like that."
That caught me dumbfounded. I never expected that this woman would make sense. And it surprised me that she knew Ara well. She even called her by her full name.
Ara straightened up and smiled through her tears.
"Nang Zabeth, are they flirting only? Because as I see it, it's more than that."
The woman who already had a name replied, "Do you still need to ask that?"
She then walked away, laughing. "Oh, Zenaida, how many more penises do you need?"
I looked at Ara, squinting my eyes in amusement. Ara, in turn, shook her head. And right then, we bursto oibts
"Poor Manang Zabeth. She couldn't take the shame her daughter has brought her. That's why she has become like that."
All of a sudden, I remembered her telling me, "I knew it. You're Maria's daughter.*