Office Diaries - Chapter 138

“Preg…nant…” Jena whispered in wonder having realized the possibility just now; her hand automatically reached for her still flat stomach.

Oh yeah…

Jena finally remembered how she’d been when she was carrying Sam.

“I’m pregnant…” she said in wonder again and her sister watched as her eyes filled with tears.

“Jena!” her sister called as she came to her side.

She supported Jena as she seemed to be too weak to sit up on her own. She felt her body tremble as she began to sob.

“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” her sister asked worriedly. “Shouldn’t you be happy?”

“I should,” Jena answered in between hiccups. Her tear ducts ran loose.

“Then why are you crying?” her sister asked once more.

“Because until now I haven’t put a closure to my past!” Jena wailed making her sister more confused.

“But…” she started to say but stopped herself upon realizing that her brother-in-law hadn’t come clean to Jena yet. She couldn’t talk. It wasn’t in her place to do so.

Gently, she placed a hand on Jena’s shoulder. “Jen, eight years had already passed. You’re married now and you’re going to have a new baby. Don’t you think it’s time for you to completely let go?” she asked.

“But…”

“Jen,” her sister said in a warning, using her best I’m-your-eldest-sister-so-listen-to-me tone. “Promise me you won’t do anything foolish,” she prompted and Jena bit her lip. “It’s not just for your own good. It’s for your husband’s, Sam’s and your new baby’s too,” she continued but Jena closed her eyes.

She couldn’t understand but there was something nagging at her, making her dėsɨrė to find out the truth. She had to know. She wanted to know— most especially now that she had some clues on who Sam’s father was.

“I can’t…”

=======

“Daddy, daddy, come here!” Sammy called from the other side of the yard, waving his hands in the air excitedly. “You said you’ll teach me today!”

“Your boss is calling you,” Jena said teasingly and Alvin scratched his head, laughing at their son’s antics.

Sam had his father under his thumb and the young president couldn’t say no to his Minnie Me.

“Wait a minute, sport. I’ll just help mom with the food,” he called to Sammy who squatted on the grass with a cute pout.

“I’ll take care of this,” Jena said pertaining to the steak and Alvin frowned.

“Are you sure?” he asked doubtfully eyeing Jena’s stomach.

At four months pregnant, Jena’s bump was already showing.

“I’m sure,” she answered as she shooed her husband who gave her a peck on the lips before running to where Sammy was.

“I’ll do that,” Jena’s father-in-law offered as he took the tong from her. “You go sit with your mom there,” he continued as he pointed to where the elder lady sat by the table.

“But – ” Jena protested but the old man shooed her the same way she shooed her husband earlier.

“Okay,” she acquiesced with a smile and walked to where her mother-in-law was and sat next to her.

“This is how you do it.”

Alvin’s voice floated over and Jena looked up from the table and saw her husband teaching Sammy how to dance. They were at the backyard of her in-law’s house where they had lunch every Sunday. She smiled as she watched Sammy mimic Alvin’s dance moves and at the same time impressed with her husband’s talent in dancing.

“They really look alike!” her mother-in-law commented beside her and Jena couldn’t prevent the ache in her heart hearing those words.

She knew it was an innocent comment, but for her, each time she heard those words, she couldn’t help but be slapped by the fact that Sammy was another man’s son.

“Sammy will be a very good dancer when he grows up,” her mother-in-law continued and Jena smiled sadly at the woman’s wistful expression. “I remember Alvin started dancing when he was about Sam’s age. We didn’t want him to join a dance club but he was so stubborn that we had no choice but to give in.”

“Alvin joined a dance club?” Jena was surprised.

She had only seen Alvin in his suit and tie before. The only talent exposed to her was the young president’s business acumen. Besides, with Alvin being prim and proper, she had no idea that he had this laid back— not to mention out of character hobby and talent.

“Yes he did. He didn’t tell you?” her mother-in-law asked and she shook her head. “He’s a member of a dance club until he graduated from college. That son of mine really loved dancing.”

Jena turned her attention back to her husband just as Alvin did a breakdance and her mouth formed an ‘O’.

“Well, he seems to be good,” she commented, more than impressed.

“Good?” the elder lady snorted proudly. “He’s the best in his group. Nobody could beat him on the dance floor that’s why people called him King.”

“What?” Jena froze. She felt cold enveloping her body as she absorbed this information. “K-king?” she asked hesitantly and her mother-in-law who hadn’t noticed the change in her mood smiled.

“Yes, that’s his nickname. King. He’s the king of dance.”

King— the King of dance.

Jena felt weak hearing that name. She couldn’t help but remember the conversation she had with Alvin’s friends months ago.

Could it be?

Now more than ever, Jena wanted to know the truth. She wouldn’t be able to continue living in peace without resolving that unfinished business of her past. She needed… closure.

She had no idea how she was able to continue acting like nothing happened since that moment she saw her husband teach Sammy how to dance. Her mind was focused on a plan— a plan to unearth the mystery of her past and end things with it once and for all.

She continued to act normally until she found a chance to sneak out the next day.

“Hey sport!” Alvin came to the dining room and gave his son a kiss on the cheek and brushed his hair with his hand before he sat. His son was happily eating his favorite wieners and sweet eggrolls partnered with juice on the table. “Where’s mom?”

“Bath,” Sam answered in between chewing as he eyed his father. “Will you take me to school today?” he asked innocently and Alvin smiled.

“Sure,” he answered readily and then frowned as he studied his son’s face. “But are you okay now? Mom said you had toothache last night.”

“Toothache?” Alvin watched as his son blinked several times as if he had no idea whatsoever about what he’s talking about. “My teeth are okay daddy. Mommy checks them every day,” his son replied and the young president smiled as he nodded, though his son’s answer troubled him.

Jena didn’t sleep with him last night. His wife said that she wanted to sleep next to Sam because their son was having toothache. He, of course, didn’t question his wife’s wish to be with their child. It bothered him however that his wife would lie about the reason for her not sleeping next to him.

“I see,” he murmured as he frowned at his food.

Yesterday, after their weekly visit to his parents’ Alvin had noticed his wife’s odd behavior. Jena spaced out a lot during lunch until they went home— and now he found out that she lied to him too.

What’s wrong?

He wanted to know though deep inside there was this anxiety teetering on the edge of his conscience, telling him that the reason must be it. There was only one reason his wife would suddenly change her attitude towards him, but Alvin stubbornly refused to admit that it was the case.

If Jena had somehow found out his secret, he wouldn’t just space out right?

She would be furious— well beyond furious that was why Alvin didn’t know how to tell her about the past in the first place. He didn’t want to lose his wife. He loved her so much. So, yes, it must be Jena’s mood swing. It was common during pregnancy right? Alvin deluded himself.

A few minutes after, the room filled with a mixture of apple and vanilla scent which told him that his wife was already in the room.

“Hi,” he greeted Jena, his upturned eyes studying his wife’s face, carefully noting the other’s hesitant smile and faltering steps.

It was as if his wife was forcing herself to come near them.

“H-hi,” she answered, her eyes falling on the floor, avoiding meeting Alvin’s gaze.

Then and there the husband knew that there was something really wrong and Alvin felt cold, nervous, and uneasy.

“Have you eaten?” he asked as he stood up to pull a chair for her, and then held out his hand for her to take.

He waited in tensed silence for his wife to move, his heart pounding painfully against his ċhėst.

“Yes, I had salad earlier,” she answered as she placed her cold, clammy hand in his and Alvin held it tight in relief.

Whatever was wrong, his wife wasn’t mad at him.