I’m Just His Wife

“Oh, daughter. Eat it while it’s still hot. Take the medicine afterwards.” Manang said and placed the tray in front of me.

The smell was delicious. I took the spoon and scooped up the broth. I blew it first before sucking.

I smiled when I realized that the taste of this soup was similar to the soup that Mom cooked for me when I was young.

“Man, thank you. This soup you cooked was delicious.” I said smiling and continued eating.

Manang smiled shyly at me so I frowned at her. He took a deep breath before speaking.

“Ah, sister … I didn’t cook that. Ivan cooked that, sister …” Manang said so I stopped eating and my eyes widened.

I swallowed and stared at Manang. I waited for him to say it was just a joke but he just remained shy smiling at me.

“Se … Seriously, Manang?” I can’t believe my question.

I thought Ivan didn’t know how to cook because I had never seen him cook. But he cooked it, like a chef cooked it! It’s still delicious when I cook it.

Manang nodded and scratched his neck. “Yes, sister. He told me not to tell you that he cooked that. He’s embarrassed. He even called your Mommy to ask what you want to eat when you’re sick. So there, he cooked you of chicken soup. He followed your Mommy’s recipe. ”

I was swallowed. Shit, what were you doing, Ivan? I want to continue to act cold to you but how can I do that eh you surprise me with what you do? You were softening my heart again! Annoying.

Manang laughed at me so I smiled shyly at him.

“Do you think Ivan doesn’t know how to cook? When he was in high school, he wanted to cook and he used to help me in the kitchen. It doesn’t matter that he should have taken a culinary arts course then in case his daddy doesn’t want to. And while she was cooking, she won Lara’s heart … “said Manang so I lost my smile and I was stunned.

Lara … she was very lucky and Ivan loves her. I kept thinking, how could Ivan love her? I mean, what efforts was Ivan making to show that he loves Lara?

I sighed. I shouldn’t give up on what he”s doing to me now. I will only get hurt eventually. Maybe it’s okay for me to just love him secretly. And at least, I wasn’t hurt.

“A-Ah … I’m sorry, sister. My story got too long …” He said shyly to me but I just smiled at him sparingly. She has been Ivan’s nanny since childhood so she knows a lot about him.

“Man, please tell me how Lara and Ivan met … and how they became …”

I want to know why Ivan was so passionate about Lara. And for me to accept to myself that they should be for each other.

“But sister …” Manang said worriedly.

I shook my head and smiled. “Man, don’t worry about me. I just want to know …”

“were you sure, sister?” There was still a trace of concern on Manang’s face but I just gave him a sweet smile and a nod.

Manang took a deep breath. “When Ivan was young, he dreamed of having a relationship with a woman who was very similar to his mommy. He was kind, smart, simple and good at cooking. He was in his last year of high school when he met Lara. He joined a cooking contest and he competed with Lara there. He was amazed at the way Lara cooked so he seemed to like it little by little. And also, he heard things about Lara that she was kind and smart. So he liked it. . Lara lost to her in the cooking contest so she admired that woman even more. No one had beaten her before in the field of cooking. But Lara … she lost to Ivan … “I nodded at what Manang was saying. Ivan’s dream girl was Lara so that’s how much he loves her.

“… During their first year of college, Ivan only had the courage to woo Lara. Lara didn’t allow him at first because Lara said she prioritized her studies. But she didn’t give up. She really wanted to Lara so he flirted with her even though Lara didn’t want to. And soon they became. They loved each other very much and I was one of the witnesses there. Their parents did not know their relationship because they were not allowed to have sex. relationship because their education was more important. But that didn’t stop them … they love each other even more … ”

My tears welled up so Manang stopped talking. A tear dripped from my left eye but I immediately wiped it away.

I smiled at Manang. “All right, Tell me more …”

He shook his head. “No, sister. You’re already hurting. I shouldn’t have told you …”

I was so bitten on my lower lip and forced to laugh. “Man, it’s okay. Please, go ahead. I’m already fascinated by your story eh …” I pretended to be joking but deep inside it seemed to tear my heart apart. This was how it hurts when you hear from other people’s mouths that the person you love loves the woman he loves …

***

Rigella’s POV

Manang continued to tell the story and I just listened quietly. I want to know everything. It was all about them before I came and became a hindrance to them.

“… Until the day came when they got angry because Lara had dropped her grade. Lara blamed Ivan because she said Lara spent more time with Ivan than studying. They didn’t Ivan was so miserable and not a day went by that he didn’t drink alcohol. He also neglected his studies because he was so affected by what happened to them. He did everything he could to get her back. Lara with him. And after a few times of teasing him, they got along again. They love each other so much … ”Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

My eyes watered at what Manang said but I tried to smile. Not once, Ivan was able to coax me. Maybe just now? Or if he was really cheating on me?

Sometimes I ask myself, what do I not have that Lara has? Why does Ivan love her so much? Am I not enough? Why was that unfair?

“… And, the time has come when you talked to Ivan and you admitted that he got you pregnant. And exactly that day he was supposed to invite Lara to get married. Her world was so ruined then. As her second mother , while he was talking to me and telling me what happened, I could feel that he was hurting. He couldn’t even talk to me then and he couldn’t go to school. Lara visits him at his condo but he doesn’t face his girlfriend. He was embarrassed. because … he loves Lara so much but he managed to betray her … “Manang said with a bow and I saw Manang’s tears dripping.

The tears that I had been holding back were already dripping. If I hadn’t come, and I hadn’t admitted to Ivan that I was pregnant he might have been happy now with Lara. I was the barrier to the two of them.

I bit my lower lip to stop my sobbing. Why didn’t I realize that right away? I have to get out of her life for her to be happy. But why … why don’t I? Because maybe it’s too much pain …

“… He didn’t know what to do then, he just leaned on me. He loved Lara very much and he wasn’t ready to be a father at that time. And when he confessed to his parents he was hurt by his daddy, his daddy already knows what happened because you told his parents about your condition. It even led to the point that, he just wanted to commit suicide … but he couldn’t because … because he was worried he has his daughter, Ice. He broke up with Lara then because they agreed to marry you. What he did was very painful but he sacrificed because he didn’t want to hurt Lara any more … ” Manang cried and her weak sobs disappeared. Manang Lisa really considers Ivan a child.

I close my eyes emphatically. I didn’t know all that had happened to him. It was my fault why he was hurt then. Maybe the pains he caused me were not enough for me to pay for all the pains he suffered.

Manang sniffed before telling the story again. “Did you know that after you got married and he suddenly disappeared he went to Lara? He apologized to Lara but Lara didn’t accept it. While he was crying at me then I couldn’t even calm him down because I knew I wasn’t The pain he was feeling would go away. All I could do was wipe the tears dripping from his eyes. If he was hurt I would be hurt more because I consider him a child. My whole life has just revolved around him. I am no longer had a wife and a family because I chose to take care of and guide her while I was alive … “Manang’s sobs and cries intensified so I hugged her.

It’s only now that I realize that I deserve all the pain Ivan did to me. Because I was the one who ruined his life, in his dreams with Lara. I used to be aggressive so I ruined my life.

I took a deep breath and patted Manang’s back. I held back my tears. Ivan has always loved Lara very much. I no longer wonder why he doesn’t want to release it even though we”re married.

When Manang finished crying, she separated from me and wiped away my tears. He smiled at me and picked up the tray in front of me.

Manang sneezed. “My story was getting longer. This soup was already cold, do you want me to heat it up?” He smiled at the offer.

I shook my head and smiled wryly. “Don’t, Manang. I’m full. I’m sorry, I’m still telling you stories. You’re still crying.” I’m embarrassed to say.

Manang put my hair on my ear that was draped over my cheek and then sighed.

“No, daughter. I should be the one to apologize to you. I know you were hurting now because of what you found out …” Manang said and handed me a medicine pill and a glass of water.

I took the medicine and put the glass on the tray. Manang said goodbye and I just nodded at him then he told me to wipe myself before he left the room.

I took the basin with only lukewarm water and then mixed it with alcohol. I soaked a clean handkerchief in it and squeezed it and then wiped it on my body. I was a little shivering from the cold.

I lay down on the bed and placed the handkerchief on my forehead. I stared at the ceiling and thought of things.