Tears Of A Wife novel Chapter 19

"Olive, my dear! The house looks so beautiful."

I smiled when I saw the happiness in Atlas' mom's face. Even if Atlas and I fought earlier, I still picked the best decorations based on my taste. No word had been uttered in the whole duration of our stroll around the mall.

I chose to shut my mouth up because I know that every word I'll say, it will just be neglected by Atlas. He already concluded everything. His mind is closed for my explanations. It hurts, especially when I hoped that we'd at least treat each other better.

I shook my head and sighed. I'm still the same woman that can be easily swayed by the man I love. I quickly hope for something, and even if I'm mad, I still can't deny the fact that I love Atlas. My heart has been a slave for him that after ten years, I'm still here. Being a martyr wife.

"Olive, come here!"

I nodded and smiled. I walked towards my mother-in-law and placed my arm onto her shoulder. We lifted our heads together to sight Atlas who's busy putting the decorations on our backyard. He was holding a big star, carefully placing it onto the tip of the tall Christmas tree we bought earlier.

"God! This is so beautiful! Atlas, come down here so we can light them up. It's perfect for this beautiful night," my mother-in-law said.

Atlas immediately obeyed his mother. He was smiling when he finally came down. That smile that made my heartbeat back when I was just seventeen.

They said that love feels euphoric. Maybe that was what happened to me. U was drowned without even knowing. I loved it without thinking twice. It's true that my first love is euphoric, but that love was also the reason why I'm hurt.

I cleared my throat and ignored my thoughts. My throat is all dried up because of the bitter memory. My heart is clenching because of all the things I went through. I turned to my mother-in-law who's still talking to her son. If only I can hide and cage myself inside my room to forget the pain and bitterness, I already did.

"I'll just get us some drinks, Mama," I said after a while. I followed them to the veranda of the house. My mother-in-law's still busy mandating Atlas around.

"Okay, dear! I'm quite thirsty," she said.

I turned to Atlas and smiled forcefully. "What do you want, Hon?" I asked.

"You," he answered.

"You perverted child!" His mother hit him and laughed. Atlas also laughed and so did I, even if I feel like my soul is burning because of pretending. What Atlas said isn't funny for me because I know that it's mixed with sarcasm.

I walked out of the veranda and headed to the kitchen. I blew out a breath when I finally arrived. I badly wanted to be away from them. I felt like I didn't belong with their jokes and conversations. Because the truth is, I can't catch up with them.

I can still remember how my heart pounded hard whenever I saw Atlas. How I unconsciously smile when he does. I even remember how I convinced Dad to give him a scholarship and make him study in Manila. In the school where I study.

"Am I beautiful back then, Mama?" I joked to alleviate the sadness within me.

"Very, especially when you go there and give gifts to children. Leklek had a lot of toys because of you!" she responded. "But it's sad that you stopped doing it, dear. You've taken the same path as Laura, our Mayor's wife. Like you, she also stopped and we didn't have news as to where she is after the mayor died."

"Is it the actress, Ma? She's a resident of San Vicente?" I asked. I know Laura Moran because she's a great actress. I'm actually one of her fans.

"Yes, dear!"

We both talked about a lot of things instead of watching television. She talked about how she liked me as her daughter-in-law. I'm happy to hear about it but I also felt guilty. I love Atlas' mother so it's not easy for me to deceive her.

"Are you gonna sleep, dear? Didn't you say you're going somewhere?" she asked.

I opened my eyes after she mentioned that. I remained laying on her lap while she continued caressing my hair. I'm tempted to sleep but I'm also tempted to go out and take a breath of fresh air.