I felt like I waited an eternity for the sun to rise so that I could go to Maezy's house and see her mother. Sleep eluded me already after all those bothersome dreams. I had the feeling that those were not mere dreams but memories because I didn't have a deep sleep. I could even hear the sound of the cars that passed by.
"Want to take a walk?" Zed asked as he sipped his coffee and me on my milk.
"No. I'll go to Maezy's house."
"Is it something urgent that you can't wait until you see Mr. Mori in the office?"
I shook my head and knitted my brows, reminding me of my guilt.
"It's not him, but Maezy."
"Okay. I'll take a round. Then, I'll prepare your dress for work."
That statement moved me again. I realized Zed did all the household chores since I started working, including the laundry. I couldn't even help in cleaning the house, or in preparing our meals. Zed was like a superman who did everything, yet I never heard him complain.
"Zed, how about hiring a housemaid?"
Zed answered me with a frown. "No. No one can take care of the house the way we do."
"But you're too busy already," I insisted. At least, if he consents, my guilt would lessen a bit.
"Who's complaining?" he replied, smiling.
"I know you're not, but you're making me guilty."
He put his arm around my shoulders and said, "When the baby comes, I might need one. So that I could focus on the baby."
"Up to you."
I changed into a pair of leggings and a shirt, pretending to be on a morning walk. And when I passed by Maezy's house, I was so lucky because Jaykee's nanny was on the lawn, watering the garden.
"Hi!" I waved a hand at her.
She also looked up and called out, "Hi, Miss Yen. "You're alone?"
"Yes," I replied while roaming my eyes at the house. "Is Maezy awake?"
The nanny then turned her head towards the house.
"You want to see her? Come in. She's perhaps having coffee with Tim since he has to go to school early."
My hair stood at the mention of Tim's name. This was supposedly not the place for him, but my best friend's because she needed him the most these days.
The nanny then opened the gate for me and led me to the main door. But once she opened it, she left and went back to the garden.
The lights in the living room were turned on already, so I had the confidence to get inside. And since the door to the dining room was slightly opened, I presumed Maezy and Tim were there. Ara's face floated in my mind when I thought of Tim having coffee with Maezy because he should be spending the moment with her. And I was hurting for him.
The pang in my heart turned to a flame when my eyes fell on the two, making out on the kitchen island. And since they were so lost in their passion, they didn't see me coming in.
A wave of massive shock hit me at the moment. My feet seemed pinned to the ground, and my strength left off my body.
To more of my horror, Tim lifted Maezy and placed her on the kitchen bar, their lips entwined. He was about to slide his pajama down when Maezy caught me standing by the door.
"Yen!" Maezy exclaimed, her eyes bulging in fear and guilt. Tim quickly pulled his pants up, and Maezy jumped down from the kitchen island.
"I'm sorry," I said, surprising myself with the courage I suddenly got.
A few moments ago, I felt so lifeless and unable to move, but when Maezy caught me, I suddenly gained the strength to open my mouth. Not only that, but I also fled from the place like I had just witnessed a crime!
"Yen, wait!" Tim's voice pierced into my ear as I stepped out of the house.
I turned to look at him and said, "How could you do that to my best friend?"
Little did I know that my tears were already trickling down my face as I confronted him. I knew I was the first to know about their love affair, but it's completely a different story when you witness the betrayal right in your face!
"Yen, please. Let me be the one to break it to her. But let's wait until the baby is out," Tim begged, and somehow, I felt I had to listen to him.
"Alright. I won't let her suffer more than what she is going through now. Don't you ever realize that you are already giving her a clue?"
I didn't wait for his answer. Instead, I stormed out of the gate crying, thinking of Zed's pain at the same time the moment he would find out about my betrayal to him.
Although I didn't plan to take a walk, I had decided not to let Zed see me like this. So I walked aimlessly until I found myself at the park.
"Why are you crying, Jakara?" a woman's voice disrupted my crying spell as I sat down on a bench.
I looked up, and to my luck, I saw Nang Zabeth standing before me, examining my face with a frown. And she called me Jakara.
"Jakara?" I asked, and my heart started to pound harder. "Why do you call me by that name?"
"How can I forget? You are Maria's daughter, Jakara Blue Williams."
I stood up and held both of her arms. "Nang Xabeth, if I am indeed Maria's daughter as you said, where is my mother now? And who is she?"
She laughed like a madwoman, but her tears started rolling into her creased and dirty face. So I got frightened at that reaction that I put down my hands at my sides.
"Seven feet below the ground," she said after she stopped laughing.
"Where? Can you please take me to her grave?"
But Nang Zabeth walked away laughing and murmuring repeated words that I could no longer hear well. Then, realizing I would lose my chance to know myself because I was sure my parents would deny this, I ran after her.
"Nang Zabeth, can we have breakfast together?"
"Breakfast? Three cups of rice and a lot of fried chicken?" she said, her eyes glowing.
My heart jumped in relief. "Sure. As much as you want."
Not only that, I thought. I would also clean you up and take you to a doctor.
"Blessings, my dear. I love that!"
"Ma? Why are you wandering again? Go back to your house. Or else, I'll call the police."
Both of us turned to the direction of the voice and saw Maezy inside her car.