Becoming Mrs. Martin

Jealousy

Austin's POV...

I saw Iza seated at the bench outside the school. God, why was she always this beautiful? I have been secretly loving her for many years now. Ever since we became friends when I was ten. I have secretly admired her and eventually that admiration turned to love. I stayed still, standing as to where I am, looking at her pretty face. I know that she was waiting for me. We always go to school together and go home together. I smiled and shook my head. She is currently busy reading her book. It was a sight to behold. I was about to call her and walk to her when a guy suddenly approached her first, Iñigo Manzano. He is the most popular boy in our school, everyone loves him, he's handsome, smart & charming. Above all, he's like Iza, he's rich and his family owns the largest plantations in the province. I am nothing compared to him, not to mention that everyone considers me as his slave.

"Iza. Iza. Iza." I heard him say.

Iza looked up from the book and to him looking quite irritated. She sighed, "WHAT?!"

"Whoa, Easy...my precious..." he said smiling while holding up his both hands and looking amused by her reaction.

"I am not a horse, Iñigo!" she said bluntly and crossed her arms, now looking annoyed.

Everyone in our school knows that Iñigo likes Iza very much. He would always tell it to everyone, claiming that Iza is his precious. He even always bothers me so I’ll tell him details about Iza, on what she likes, what she's doing, and on where she is.

"Hey, I didn't mean for you to feel that way, precious. I'm sorry..." he immediately reasoned out and sat beside Iza.

He’s nervous. I can sense it. Yeah, he is always nervous around Iza. That is why I think that he really likes her a lot. He can be the most arrogant jerk that you can ever meet in your entire life but he’s actually a good guy. And that’s why we’re best friends, as what he claims me to be. But all other rich kids in this entire university sees me as his slave, someone who’s nothing compared to him. And to Iza, he is soft and caring and loving.

"Why are you disturbing me again, Mr. Manzano?" Iza asked.

"Well, I... I wanted to...ask if you already have a date for the upcoming junior's prom??" he asked a bit nervously. He’s not that cool when Iza is involved. He’d always be nervous.

"You even have the guts to ASK ME??? SERIOUSLY, IÑIGO???" Iza yelled out of her frustration. "YOU SCARED ALL OF THE BOYS IN THIS CAMPUS MAKING ALL OF THEM AFRAID OF ASKING ME OUT!!!"

"Oh, it was effective?" he asked proudly and then smiling to himself. "Then, you have no choice but be my partner, right, precious???"

"And you’re even smiling!!!!" Iza stood up with her pout deepening. "And you don't even care!!! ugh!! I hate you!!"

"Hey, precious... don't be mad at me okay... I did that because I like you." he said seriously.

Then, it hit me. Iñigo can say those words directly to Iza without any anxieties. Even if he’s nervous around her, he still freely expresses his feelings for her. While me, I can't even imagine confessing my feelings to her because I know that I am not good enough for her. I sighed and looked at them. I am jealous and I can't take it anymore. I walked away and return home by myself. I know Iñigo would bring her back home safely. It’s for the best.

As I entered our little cottage, I saw Alyssa helping Mom to cook dinner. She is now 15 years old and she's growing too fast.

"Big bro!!" she yelled and rushed to embrace me.

"Hello, cupcake!! How was school?" I ask trying to smile warmly at her.

"Same. Nice." she answered and looked pass me. "Where's Iza???"

"Oh, she's busy and will not have dinner with us today." I reasoned.

"But I specially asked Mom to make her favorite Graham Balls. I even helped Mom do it." she said sadly. Then, she narrowed her eyes and started shooting daggers at me. "Did you two fight again?! DID YOU MAKE HER CRY???"

"W-WHAT?? NO!" I immediately defended myself and chuckled as she crossed her arms and looked at me sharply. "Hey, I thought you love me..."

"Big bro, I love you... but I love Iza MORE THAN you..." she said and returned to what she was doing before I came.

My mom and I just laughed at her. I shook my head and changed into house clothes. I started to help them. Dad came home and prepared himself as well for dinner. We prayed before we start eating. Then, suddenly, we heard a knock from the door.

"I'll get it!" Alyssa said excitedly as she run to the door to open it. "IZA!"

"Hey, pretty!!" Iza greeted and hugged my baby sister. She turned to us who are now at the dining table and smiled. "Sorry, I'm late."

Then she looked at me and narrowed her eyes at me. I immediately look away and concentrated on my food. After eating and sharing some stories about what happened during the day, mom went to help Alyssa with her homework and Dad said he needs to go out for a while. I was already washing the dishes when Iza insisted to help me.

"You don't even know how to do this." I muttered.

"Don't even start with me, prince charming..." she answered with a slight irritation in her voice. "You left me today. AGAIN."

"Oh." I said.

Then she looked at me sharply and said, "So, tell me...why did you not even bother to call me or text me that we won't go home together?"

"Well, I forgot." I answered and looked down. "I'm sorry."

"Now, you are forgetting about me." she said sadly.

Silence overruled us as we continue to wash the dishes and fix everything. I felt so heavy and awkward. Iza has now fixed her things and is ready to go home.

"I'll walk you out." I offered and she just nodded.

I am not used to this silence. Iza would always talk to me when we are together, sharing everything that has happened during her day. We were almost near the front door of their mansion when she faced me and stared at me.

"Will there be a time when you will completely forget me, Austin?" she asked seriously while holding my gaze. "Will there be a time when you will…completely...totally...ignore me?"

I was shocked by her questions. Why was she suddenly asking me this? Why does she look so sad? But I decided to answer her with pure honesty.

"No." I said and stared deep into her eyes. "There will never come a time that I will completely...totally...forget or ignore you. NEVER."

"You promise?" she asked hesitantly.

"I promise, princess." I said and she smiled widely.

Then she turned her back at me and excitedly hopped towards their large door.

"Goodnight, Austin." she said before entering their mansion

"Goodnight, princess." I said quietly.

I never thought I would eventually break that promise.

I promised her that there will NEVER come a time that I'll completely...totally...ignore or forget her. This is exactly what I am doing now, right? Ignoring her. And this is what I have been doing for the past 10 years, right? Forgetting about her. I sighed.

It's her fault! She left you!

I closed my eyes as I remembered those days. Suddenly, I felt guilty thinking about those memories with Iza now that I'm married. But, I just can't help it. Now, I am currently feeling the same emotion as before when I saw Iñigo talking with Iza. I am jealous when I saw that Justin talking to AE. Now, even worse, I felt bad. Really bad?

Why am I jealous?

Now, I am totally confused with my feelings. Jealous and confused.

***

She was purposely annoying me all throughout our trip. First, she deliberately left my charger (the charger she borrowed without permission) at the villa even if I reminded her. Second, she intentionally called Justin (her childhood friend) in front of me, to apologize for my rudeness while we're on the way to my plane. Then, she accidentally (when it was obviously intentional) poured all of the contents of the powdered pepper to my steak as we were eating at the plane during our flight. So they had to give me a sandwich instead. And that's what I only ate until we landed. Upon reaching home, she quickly went to her room and slammed her door to my face.

Tell me, how can a wife be so rude?

I just breathe deeply to stop myself from becoming a monster.

***

After a week of avoiding each other, I was going home early today anticipating to see AE. I need to talk to her. I can't stand this situation we are in anymore. But I noticed that even if she was avoiding me and acts like she's still mad at me, during the past weeks of our marriage, she was always there waiting for me. I smiled at the thought of her waiting for me.

Am I becoming soft to her now?

What if she also breaks your heart?

Can I handle it this time?

And then I remembered the past again.

"Please. Come back to me." I pleaded as I grabbed her hand.

"No, Austin! It's over! We're over! Done!" Iza said in a bitchy way. "Let me go!"

"No! I will never let you go, Iza!" I answered back and embraced her tightly. She tried to get out of my embrace but I am just too strong for her. Then I felt that she stopped fighting. "Iza, I love you. I love you very...very...very much. Please. PLEASE, my princess. PLEASE. DON'T DO THIS TO ME. DON'T DO THIS TO US."

There was a very long silence after I said that to her. She allowed me to hug her tightly and kiss her forehead. I looked into her eyes and she was just staring at me with no emotions at all. She stared at me blankly.

"I love you, Iza." I said firmly to convince her to stay.

"No" she said faintly. "This is for the best, Austin."

Then she looked at me, straight in the eyes, saying the words that broke my heart into thousands of pieces. "I don't love you. I have NEVER loved you. I just used you because you were smart and fun to be with. And you were crazy about me. Austin, I am not your level. You will never be qualified to be with me. Please, let’s stop this drama. Don’t ever show your face in front of me again. Goodbye, Austin."

I closed my eyes as I felt a tear drop from my eye. That was 10 years ago, but it seems like it was just yesterday. The cut was so deep that it hurts even after so many years. Yes, I am still hurting. Why does it have to be so complicated?

I shook my head to remove those negative thoughts. I reasoned to myself.

What if AE's different?

What if she's serious about liking me?

I nodded at my thought. Yeah, maybe she is...I just smiled.

***

I was disappointed to know that she was not yet home. Lyn, my house help, said she left for work right after me but hasn't return yet. I sighed and went to my room. I showered and decided to cook dinner. After all, according to our deal, I needed to have a date with her at least once a week. So, a dinner date will do. Lyn came to help me prepare the ingredients until everything was done. She has also set up the table after. Then, I looked at the time, it was already 6pm. Why is she not home yet?

I paced through the living room back and forth eagerly waiting for her. I looked out the window and was about to call her when I saw a car stopping at the gate. Then a man went out and opened the door for her. A minute later, she was smiling as she waved her hand at the man before driving away.

I got furious. So, now she's letting a guy bring her home? Huh. We were only married for a couple of weeks and now she's letting a guy drive her home for goodness sake! I tried to calm myself down but to no avail. She walked inside the house and smiled when she saw me.

"You're home." she said happily.

"We need to talk." I say with my nose flared up.

"Fine." she says and she looked at me. "I'm sorry for avoiding you for this past week. I was just so pissed that you were so rude to Justin. Sorry if I did a lot of things to annoy you."

"That I forgive." I say, slightly calming down. Then I walked towards her and coldly asked, "Who is he?"

"Who?" she asked back curiously.

"That guy who brought you home." I replied.

"Oh, that's Eric." she answered casually like it's no big deal.

"Eric??!" I asked back with great irritation from my voice as I waited for her to enlighten me who the hell is he. "First, there's Justin and now, Eric?"

"Uhm. Yes-" she said and I interrupted her again.

"AND WHY IS HE BRINGING YOU HOME?" I growled.

That stupid Eric! Why does he have to ruin my mood?

"Oh, he insisted to give me a ride home since we had a little overtime in the office…" she explained.

"You could have said NO!!" I yelled.

"But Eric and I are just-" she continued to explain but I interrupted her again.

"I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!" I shouted angrily and turned away.

"Will you stop interrupting me??!" she exclaimed and followed me. "Eric and I are just friends and for goodness sake, I AM HIS BOSS!!...and I don't date my employees!!!...he’s no one…well you keep on saying that you DON'T care but your interrogation says otherwise, Austin…"

“Whatever." I commented walking to my room.

"Wait, are you jealous?" she asked, following me.

"YES!" I growled and slammed the door behind my back as I entered my room.

***

I am still in a bad mood. I’ve been trying to reason out my actions and realize that I was over reacting.

How did I get so petty?

I was facing my laptop like that for a long time not able to work properly because I’m so damn jealous until I heard a knock from the door.

"Come in." I said.

And I saw her, my wife, AE. She walked herself inside holding a tray of food. I suddenly felt hungry when the aroma of the food reached my nose. I remembered not eating dinner because of my pettiness. My stomach began to create noises.

"I brought you some food." she said hesitantly.

I sat up straight and nodded as she walked towards me. She gave me the tray of food and smiled.

“I won’t say sorry ‘coz obviously I didn’t do anything wrong.” She said as she sat beside me. “But I would say I don’t like us fighting so I hope this food gives us peace.”

“Right. I don’t like us fighting either.” I agreed and sighed, my mood changing. “And I’m sorry for over reacting. It’s the stress.”

“Uhuh…” She teased with an all knowing grin.

"I didn't know that you're sweet." I teased back and she rolled her eyes. Gotcha!

"I changed my mind." she said and tried getting the food tray back.

"Hey, I was just kidding." I said now chuckling.

"Whatever." she commented and let go. "Eat everything!"

Then she stormed out of my room. I just chuckled and finished my food. I put it back on the bedside table and I closed my eyes again and sighed. Tomorrow is a better day.