FAULTLESS EX- HUBBY

HAUNTED BY MY PAST

Last night was a way to forget about the past, the pain, the suffering, and the betrayal.

Emily and I finished a bottle of expensive red wine. We were not drinkers, so a bottle was enough to make us turn into vegetables.

Today is the start of a new life.

Did I not start it four years ago?

How come with one day of the encounter with Andrew, I seemed to return to it all over again?

I palmed my head.

“Scratch it, Trish! Stop your illusions,” I murmured to myself. I sighed deeply and stood in front of the elevator.

However, the elevator seemed stuck again on whatever floor. The queue of the office personnel at the lobby just told me I needed to use the stairs this morning. Just my luck! Huffing, I turned and walked towards the stairway. Luckily our office was on the 5th floor and climbing five flights was not a big deal.

“Trish!” I turned and looked at the person going up the stairs behind my back. I was contemplating kicking the man when I saw him, for hurting my friend.

“What do you want?” I asked irritatedly.

Josh tried to pass at least three people going up the stairs before he managed to catch up with me.

“Trish! Let’s talk first--” He said while breathing hard. He needed to schedule himself for the gym.

“Josh, I will be late for work,” I tried to shove off his hand, holding my elbow.

“Trish, I know you are the only one that can help me,” Josh said and stopped me from taking another step.

“Josh, it’s between you and Emily. How good is it to talk to me about something you two should be the only person in full control of the situation?” Josh used to have my vote but between him and Emily. I would always choose my best friend.

“Emily won't listen to my explanation.” He said. I saw the sorrow in his deep brown eyes, but why involve me?

“Josh, keep me out of your troubles. You know I will always side with my friend. And I don’t think she’s here yet. So, please. Stay the hell out of my way because I don’t want to be late!” I said while I turned my back on him and continued to climb the stairs.

“Trish, I am begging you. Just help me out one time. Just one time and I promise I won’t bug you again.”

Desperation? Were all men desperate to get back the woman they hurt? I didn't remember my ex-husband looking this desperate when I divorced him.

“Alright, Josh! Let me listen to you if I can do it or not, but no guarantee. Now speak!” I sighed.

His face right now would haunt me forever if I didn't give him this chance.

“Thanks, Trish! Emily won’t believe me, but she was wrong. So wrong! But that's not important now. Just hand her over this letter. And ask her to meet me. Just one piece of advice from you, Trish, just one time. It’s all I ask. After this, I won’t bother you again.” Josh pleaded. His face seemed to age in two days.

Again that agonizing desperate words and expressions were so hard to resist.

I pulled the letter from his hand and started stepping again on the stairs without saying anything.

“Trish-- Thank you!” Josh expressed the sincerest gratitude I had heard and seen from a man. His two words, "Thank you!" but that was enough to make me decide I was right in helping him with this one last request.

“As I said, Josh, no guarantee... but I will mention to her your request,” I said.

I didn't want to listen to him anymore and see those pitiful eyes.

Why do men betray their partners and ask forgiveness after? Why not avoid the situation altogether so that they wouldn’t have to say sorry in the end? Men and women were always different in perspective.

Sadly, I was requested to be an accomplice! Humph. Gosh, my luck!

I reached the 5th floor panting. Just my luck for the day; I was three minutes late. I was sure the bosses would also be late because they all needed to climb the stairs. Broken elevators took 2 to 4 hours before they became functional again.

I pulled my cell phone from the bag and typed a message to Emily. “Don’t come to the office early. Elevators are not functioning again.” Then I sent it to her.

"Okay," Her simple response.

I was about to put my cell phone back in my bag when the incoming call without a caller ID appeared on the screen. No caller ID means someone not in my circle, so I did not bother to answer the call. It must be an agent selling stuff that I would never need...therefore, I did not answer it. I have all the names of the people I want to remember saved on my phone.

I did my task for the day even if I had hungover from last night's drinking. I never have the same luxury of time as Emily. She was lucky to be the boss, but I am a mere subordinate. The management measured my time every minute while people in her position did not have such restrictions. I wished to have a master's degree to be promoted; otherwise, I would be stuck in this sucking condition for life.

I didn't have the luxury to be pampered by a husband right now, unlike many years back where I was given the allowance that I could not even spend in a month, thicking on my bank account monthly. However, I like my life better now, and I no longer needed to answer to a strict and clingy husband every single day of my life.

Which gets my mind back to my ex. “Trish! You are over that stage, and why think of him again?” Shoo!

Later in the afternoon...

I had accomplished all my tasks for the day, but I still had more time. I got my USB and loaded the file for my thesis.

I have the final two chapters to write. Therefore, I begin with the first one. Then when I saw my guide for the chapters. Holy cow! The chapter that I need to write includes the information I gathered from yesterday's interview. My heart sunk.

Just in time, I wanted to do my thesis so that I wouldn't have to think about him...dyarah!...Guess what? I needed to write about that damn interview with Andrew.

"Very lucky, dearest!"I almost could hear my friend Emily. But, Emily was not here to cheer me up and divert my attention.

Therefore, I told myself, “You are better than a love-sick teenager, Trish! Just do it! Listen to the damned recorder.”

I pulled my notes from my bag and got the recorded I used on yesterday’s interview. I begin to write the chapter.

Yesterday, perhaps due to my tension, I could not write every answer on my questionnaire. Anyway, I have the interview recorded.

I played the recorder with a pounding heart and listened to that voice…

His voice was too melodious when he called my name, and it was like several angels were calling me. It has that distinct quality that connotes sexuality.

That was Andrew and his effect on me.

I thought I was over him.

I thought I couldn't be affected by anything about my past and him for four years, but how come I have tears in my eyes now?

I was crying. The tears did not just stay in my eyes and were now cascading in my face.

What the heck! Why cry, Trish?

Was it because of the pain of Andrew's betrayal?

Or was it because he did not fight for you?