"I'm getting a divorce, I won't change my mind about that! I trust you but you're just fooling me!"
Vanessa tearfully broke her husband Leonel's sharp gaze. She's the victim here but it looks like her husband has the audacity to get mad. Her heart was broken even more as she saw Leonel and Dianne playing with fire again. She thought she could ignore that but she was not a fool to be martyred. Once is enough, if she forgives a cheater, there is a possibility that he will just repeat the sin committed.
"No Vanessa, we're just getting married, you can't file a divorce!" Leonel's stubbornness. He forcefully grabbed Vannesa's wrist and tossed her to bed.
"So what? I'll pay for you so you don't have to think about it! I'd rather be tied to your lies for the rest of my life!" Vanessa's answer was invincible. She wiped away the tears with the bedsheet.
"You forced me to do this! You can't give me what I need!" Leonel growled and guided herself next to Vanessa. He will be forced to claim it. In that way, his wife's heart may soften and her mind may change. But something else happened, Vanessa became more like a tiger, she trampled on him and kicked him out of bed.
He forgot, Vanessa was a taekwondo player before. Be was overcome with pain and got up immediately. He quickly approached Vanessa and gave the couple a slap. Unsatisfied, he pulled out his wife and strangled her. Only then did he stop when he realized it could no longer breathe so he loosened the grip on her neck.
***
Vanessa's sweat as she woke up from that seemingly nightmare. She gasped for air. She first looked around every corner of the room. She was the only one there so she went out to see where June and Nanay Isay were. She closes her eyes tightly because there is no one in the living room. The hardship she feels now was quite unbearable. She can't remember anything and that dream must be her past. She saw a thick notebook on the table and first checked if anything was written because she would first make a diary to write down the things that were happening to her while she could not remember anything.
On the first page, she read a name. In all fairness, it has nice penmanship. "June Ybañez," she read.
"June?" Her brain thought as she lost a few memories. She bit her lip, June was the man with Nanay Isay. June is also the one who stops her heartbeat whenever she sees his concern in her. And even calling him “puti” still brings vitality to her heart.
But still, she can't trust him. Maybe June was the one he dreamed of beating her up. She gasped as she figured it out. Maybe June was the reason she was hospitalized. She kept that notebook and went outside. She had to leave as soon as possible because the only danger was to stay under his guardianship. But she stopped when she realized it was late at night. Is it safe to go outside?
But Vanessa still shrugged and followed her own instincts. It was only right that he left because the two were gone.
****
The amount of vegetables we sold to Mr. Randy was quite good, next time he'll take it from us, "Nanay Isay said happily to June. They were so busy all day that they didn't care about the time. They also harvested so much and were able to distribute it in the market. June smiled as he drove back to the bungalow. He is happy because she knows that it is more convenient for Nanay Isay to pick vegetables because she will have a service car to use because of her.
"How is Puti?" She suddenly
remembered that they had left Vanessa in the bungalow. They know that he always sleeps for a long time but he can't help but worry. It is also difficult to be unaccompanied because of her condition.
"I ordered that when she wakes up, she'll have to eat immediately because there was a dish in the refrigerator," replied Nanay Isay.
"Okay." June just speeded up to get home right away.
Within an hour they returned home. White's mouth dog greeted him immediately.
"Wow, how are you? Did you watch over our guest?" June asked the dog, as if it would answer him. His smile widened because his tail was wagging but he was barking again like he did when they found Vanessa.
"Puti can't be bothered anymore," he commented while shaking his head.
Nanay Isay sighed. "Wait a minute, let me look at that White, that woman inside."
Mother Isay entered the house confused. Vanessa was no longer there so she went back to June who was lying outside.
"June, that woman is missing!"
Puti's dog ran fast so June followed him out. This time, he is confident in Puti's ability to find Vanessa and hopefully it won't be far from Talisay town. He didn't make a mistake, they found Vanessa waiting for the tricycle to go to the other side of town.
June's fears were allayed when he saw Vanessa but his annoyance at what she did only prevailed. Because if something bad happens to Vanessa again, it might still be his fault and how will he coordinate with the police when she is out of his custody?
"Here you are, what is your trip in life?"
Vanessa looked up as she heard the familiar voice. That was at the same time as the barking of the dog Puti.
"I'm leaving. You don't have to worry for me. Thank you," she said and was unable to meet June's gaze. She was scared because she could see the anger in its voice and eyes. It made her hurt more, maybe June would hurt her.
"Do you know where you're going? Huh?" June's irritable question. He held Vanessa's hand but he didn't expect what she would do next. She hit him in the stomach and knocked him down immediately. He remembered
moves, because he has a little background in martial arts.
Now it all makes sense to him, possibly the woman is a mafia or a fugitive from the law.
June stood up on her feet and sighed. "Look, you can't leave tonight. It's only for tomorrow!"
"Admit it to me, how are we related to each other? And why are you calling me by your dog's name?" Vanessa asked angrily. "Is it because I'm just a dog in your eyes? And you were able to hurt me before?"
"What? I didn't even think about hurting women. I have a profession and dignity to take care of. Are you out of your mind?" June asked again and again.
And to Vanessa's question, he didn't know what to answer. He must answer it and the reason must be convincing for her not to leave now.
"In that case, who am I? Why did I dream that the man beat me because I'm going to break up or file a divorce? Are you that man?" Tears welled up in Vanessa's beautiful eyes.
June was very worried. If so, his first suspicion of the woman in front of him may have been wrong. He hugged Vanessa and gently gave her a hug. He was surprised because Vanessa didn't move. She's calm now.
"Your husband can't do that. Because I loved you so much back then, I'm June. I'm your husband."
Vanessa couldn't say anything but her heart was already rejoicing.
***
"What? You said you were her husband? June, this is not a good joke. My God, what if she remembers that forever?" Mother Isay's voice echoed the sermon. June was very uneasy when he met the lady's persecuting eyes.
"Actually, I don't know. I just said she's my wife just so she won't leave. I have a bad feeling about that woman but somehow we still have to take care of her."
"How do you start the story?" Mother Isay asked.
"Guess I think I'll write an outline first to make a story effective," June replied, frowning.
"But how?"
****
Now that June could fall asleep at the thought of how to convey the fake story that she and Vanessa would marry. He couldn't even imagine what he was going to name it, but an idea suddenly came to his mind just when he saw a desk calendar.
It's already May 8, 2019. It's only a month before his birthday comes again. She sighed after she looked back at the calendar. He took a notebook and a ballpen out of the drawer. And he thought of giving the woman a name.
"May Ybañez." He just followed her name to the current month. He even thought of other fake information like her birthday.
"What if May 31 is his birthday?" He wrote it down. Next was her profession, he just compared it to his profession as a teacher. It was as if something had pierced her heart because Sasha's memory came back to his mind as she wrote that.
So that I don't have a hard time thinking, I'll just base it on Sasha's profile.
He squeezed the pen twice and just put the notebook back in the drawer. He just has to stand up for the lie he started. Only then would he speak if the woman he named May questioned him.
Just as May had awakened, she immediately took from under the bed the extra notebook she had taken from June's desk before she tried to run away. She immediately left the room and first looked for Nanay Isay. She found it cooking breakfast. She could smell the roasted garlic. She was feeling hungry because she didn't eat last night.
She preferred to hide and write down whatever was still fresh in her memory.
"I don't really remember everything. But I was at home and I was with two people who treated me well. Last night, one of my companions stopped me from leaving, because we were supposed to be married. Her name was June. But I still won't believe it until I talk to him. "
That's all she wrote. She tightened his grip on the notebook and thought of going back to the room. But she stopped moving when he met June.
The disappointment and annoyance were still on his face. Of course, June was not happy with her escape and she even hurt him.
"Good morning," May greeted. She was swallowed several times because June intimidated her for being so serious and she didn’t know how to apologize.
"Hi," June retorted and glanced at the notebook May was holding. The wrinkle deepened on his forehead.
"That's mine, why are you holding it?"
May suddenly put her hands behind her back to hide the notebook. "I just wrote something. Then I didn't read the other page. Can I just have it?"
She was pleading with him.
"No, what's written there is important because that's the record of our sales with Nanay Isay," June justified and suddenly May took it back from her hand. But May was quick and alertly avoided June. He hurried to climb back to the top and accidentally broke its page.
"Nanay Isay!" June's shout grabbed the attention of the lady who was busy cooking. Nanay Isay approached him quickly
"June, what happened? Why are you lying there on the floor? Did you slip?" the lady asked in surprise and then supported June who was obviously hurt.
“Nanay, I can't take that woman anymore, last night I was kicked and now I think I'm injured already!" June growled as she rubbed the aching side.
"What did you do to—"
"There, that's just his name. The notebook we're looking for where the vegetables sold are recorded is in his possession," June replied.
"I'll go to May's room. I'll just talk to her," Nanay Isay suggested.
Meanwhile, May was grabbed by the chest after she tore the page she had written on earlier. She folded it and pocketed it. She still can't forget the abusive image of June. It was as if that image had pinched her heart. It seems like June hates her existence. She didn't seem to want to approach him anymore.
He heard a knock on the door so he sighed. "Come in."
A few moments later, Nanay Isay appeared. "There, eat now because I know you didn't eat last night, there's nothing less than the dish I set aside," she gently pleads.
"I'm sorry. I don't intend to interfere with things. I just need to write things down so that if my memory ever comes back, I will still remember your kindness to me," he explained apologetically. by May.
"Is it because of that notebook that June scolded you?" Mother Isay asked.
"I don't know, I was scared of his face before." May bowed because she was ashamed to say that to the lady.
"What does he look like? Does he look like he's going to eat you alive?"
May nodded in response. She could not understand herself when she saw him. She can't even glance at him without the thump of her heart. Today, she is still nervous but not out of fear and distrust of the man. There's a part of her that wants to be with him but how can she approach him? Hesitation still precedes.
"That's really how your husband is," replied Nanay Isay who suddenly smiled at May.
"My husband," she said with a smile.
"That's how it should be, you look even better when you smile like that," commented Nanay Isay while caressing May's hair. "You know, your husband is a good teacher.
"You're both teaching students in a rural area," Nanay Isay began in her fictional story with June.
"Really? Where do we teach? Is it here in this place too?" May's face grew brighter. When it comes to June, she can’t help but feel elated. Maybe even though no one remembers his mind, his heart never forgets. Maybe she loved June. She felt that he loved her when he hugged her last night. The slight physical pain she felt while still recovering seemed to disappear immediately.
"Yes, before in the community in the mountains, you used to teach elementary and high school students," replied Nanay Isay.
"Great, that's where we met at school? Who was the first to fall in love with the two of us? When did he propose marriage? How much do I want to ask him?" May's mouth was almost torn because of the width of the smile.
"Oh May, let's go down because we're going to have breakfast. If you want to know something, ask June okay?"
"Yes Mom, thank you."
May kept her smile until she and Nanay Isay reached the dining table. They caught up with June, it looked like she had just finished eating because she suddenly stood up when she saw them coming.
"Are you done? Why didn't May and you wait for us?" Trace the melody of sullenness in Nanay Isay's voice.
June cleared his throat then drank a glass of water.
"I really lost my appetite nanay, did the woman you took care of hurt you too?" June replied irritably and May met May's innocent look at her. When their eyesight was right, he felt the woman's resentment because of the attitude she was showing. But he didn't feel sorry for it.
He needs to guide his heart as long as he can. For now, May is the one he sees as a threat and will break down the wall he has built that has been made a shield for his whole being so that he can no longer feel love. He made a promise to himself, he will never love another woman if it's not Sasha.
Yes, he was aware that May is a threat to his own feelings when he lied to her that they are married.
And he should get rid of her within a month. So he had to find her true origin.
***
May was still thinking about how to get closer to June. It's still very strange to her and even though she's the one making the way for them to get close, June still continues to avoid her.
Her heart aches because June was so distant, she doesn't seem to be married when it comes to his demeanor. She gulped when she saw Nanay Isay who's busy doing household chores.
"Nanay, where is June?" he asked.
"On the farm," Nanay Isay replied with a smile. She is not unaware that May also wants to win June's heart. She still thinks that she really likes the man, and that won't be good because what June said to May was just a lie.
It is possible that everything will be a disaster if the lie continues, especially at any time, May's memory may return.
"Just outside this house?" May's face lit up because she was so eager to see her husband. Maybe he was to blame for June before she developed amnesia so he treated her very coldly. And she was determined to settle the quarrel between them if any.
"No. The farm outside is just like a mini farm. We still have a farm in the other village, you'll be amazed to the extent. Do you want to take pictures there?" Mother Isay suggested.
"I want to. In case I don't have a camera," May admitted shyly. Nanay Isay's smile widened and someone took a notebook and a digital camera from her drawer. "Here, just use May, the notebook you used can't be because it's a sales list, here it is because it's brand new. Your husband likes to collect notes because he's a teacher. Sometimes, they give it away. He gave the unfortunate children something to use at school, "said Nanay Isay when she handed the things to May.
He smiled even more because he looked like a child eager for a new thing. I hope everyone, like May, is only superficially happy.
"My husband is very kind, Mom, can you come with me to the farm? But before that, what does June want to eat? I would like to help him cook for lunch," said May.
Mother Isay thought for a moment.
"Porridge is June's favorite food."
"Is that so? I want to cook for him, Nanay.”
"Let's go to the kitchen."
***
Evenfar away, May could still see June busy in the vast field. It was carrying a large basket full of cabbages. She was dizzy because of the heat of the sunlight hitting his skin. Summer is almost gone, but the heat is still there. Because of the effects of global warming. For a moment, she took refuge in Nanay Isay's place.
"It's noon but June is still busy, maybe she's already sweating. I'll go see her Mom huh?" May told the lady. But before she attempted to approach June, she first took a picture of her with a digital camera.
He was so handsome, very clear when zoomed in.
Her heart melted just when she realized that she's good enough at taking photos. Or is it because the man she took the picture with was just so handsome? She will find a way to print that photo so she could paste it in her notebook.
"Go on, it doesn't look busy anymore," Nanay Isay suggested.
****
June was first in the mango tree because he could feel the intense heat of the sun. He sighed and drank a bottle of water. He felt very hungry but he could not stop right away because the vegetable delivery rushed to the market. It's a waste of money when he's petty.
After a few minutes of passing time, he thought of going back to harvesting vegetables, specifically the cabbage to be delivered.
He was about to stand up when he saw the bulk of a woman approaching. Its smile was wide at him.
"Hi Sir June!" Ginalyn, June's former student at the high school she attended, greeted her warmly.
"Ginalyn? You're one of my smartest students. Right?" June asked and even spread a smile on the girl. He estimated that Ginalyn was twenty years old.
"You still remember me, Sir. That's good." Ginalyn flipped her hair. He is happy with the return of the former maestro who was his crush before. June's appearance doesn't seem to have matured when viewed.
"So, why are you here?" June asked the former student.
"I would like to help with the thesis, I need to be interviewed. I'm already taking up an agri course," Ginalyn explained, further explaining June's handsome face.
"It's shocking because you took that course. They say, there is no money and promotion in agriculture but that's where they go wrong, the agricultural industry needs to be strengthened so that many of our countrymen can benefit from the benefits it brings," June replied with a smile. The former student was even more impressed.
"You're right there Sir, the extent of the land here in the Philippines. Others are just destroying it for their own interest by converting many farms into subdivisions," Ginalyn replied frustrated when referring to a famous elite official.
"It's fun that you woke up at a young age. So my advice to you, just pursue your dream. I'm ready to help you," June promised with a loud laugh. He was very much in agreement with what Ginalyn had said.
Somehow he is happy because he has students who care about what is happening in society, they are really the real hope of this country. That thing always made him proud as a teacher.
"Okay Sir, I took your number from one of your staff so I can talk to you when you have free time. Thank you Sir!"
"Okay. Be careful," June smiled before Ginalyn turned her back on him.
She sighed when she realized her stomach was churning. The sound of his stomach was too audible. It's a good thing it didn't sound while Ginalyn was facing.
He rubbed his tummy. "I really need to have lunch. I haven't had breakfast before either."
He lifted his face and resumed walking but he was stopped by the familiar voice of a woman.
"June!" May's smiling cry and traces on his fake wife's face the eagerness to see him.
Without saying a word she greeted him with a hug. He was stoned easily. He didn't know how to react. It seems like May really believed all those lies.
‘It can’t be, why do I let him hug me lightly?’
Admit it or not, he felt something like the way he felt for his late girlfriend. There was that inexplicable excitement and joy in his heart.
But this can't be, he has to conquer that thing before it can dominate his heart and mind.
He then pushed May unintentionally and she sank into the muddy part of the ground.
"June ..."
June's treatment of him was even more painful than the pain of May's fall to the ground. Tears welled up in her sly eyes. He can't accept that when it comes to other women, June can be kind but while he is, he treats her like a rag.
"I'm sorry." June promptly supports May to stand up. "I was just really surprised you came."
"Is that so? You take care of your life!" May struggled and picked up some dirt on the ground and without saying a word smeared it on her t-shirt.
"I hope you're happy with the woman you talked to earlier!" she snorted while running.
"May!"
He couldn’t stop the fake mate from running fast. And he winced when he smelled the stinking pig manure that he would have used as manure on the ground. The unpleasant smell surrounds all over his body.
"May!" His screams grew louder because of the intense frustration.
Get ready for May. He will not miss her avenge. And he continued to blow his nose in annoyance even though he could do nothing to repay May's unpredictability.