The Annulment

Chapter 7

My grip on my glass tightened when I remembered what had happened five years ago.

I chuckled as I cleared my thoughts.

Who would think that the happiest day of my life will turn to my biggest

downfall?

Five years had passed, but I never forget what Jazon, my now estranged husband, did to me. How he broke and destroy me.

The memory is still vivid and clear to me, it's like it just happened yesterday.

After what happened at Jazon's condo unit in Irija, Lucettia came and fetched me. She never asked and I did not tell her a word.

I stayed with her for a few days in Irija City. And in that days, I prayed hard. I prayed that Jazon would chase me and explain his side. That he'll tell me that he's just pranking me.

But he did not. And it's not a prank.

The only message I received from him was that he'll wait for my decision before he'll face my parents. He'll go with my plan.

That's bullshit! Because he trapped me with his, so how can I go with my plan? How can I construct a plan to counter him if the only way is to follow his lead?

I went back to our home after a week. I told Mom and Dad that I and Jazon decided to separate ways for a while.

Before they asked me why, I told them that I want to study Fashion Design in Paris for two years. I told them that I want a name without my family's shadow.

I lied but that's for the best. They did not like it first, of course. Especially that Saavedra jerk won't even tell a word to them.

My parents agreed when they realized that Jazon will handle the expansion project with the Zhou’s. It will take years and they are concerned that my husband won't have time to take care of me.

How ironic.

I flew to Paris after that. I studied Fashion Design in a prestigious university there just like what I told to my parents. It took me two years and after that, I decided to start a business and thank God, I succeed. I used that as a reason for not returning to the Philippines.

The boutique I built got huge. It expanded through Paris. My name became known as a designer. I did some fashion show, got designed clothes for different people, celebrities, politicians and businessmen.

Lucettia visited me during my first month in Paris. That's when I told her what happened between me and Jazon.

I and Jazon never saw each other even once. We've been an estrange wife and husband for years.

The jerk lied every time he'll go overseas, he'll tell to our parents that he'll visit me but that's all a lie.

No one knew that our marriage was already broken since our first night as a married couple.

I heard the DJ playing the song Hands Up.

My mood lightened up when I heard the song. It's from my favorite Korean Pop Idol Group, 2pm.

I roamed my eyes. The song suits the ambiance of this place. Along with the lights and the people's presence here.

I'm at Club Octagon in Gangnam-gu, South Korea.

It's my second week here and probably my last. I decided to stay here for two weeks before returning to the Philippines.

I drank my drinks. I don't really want to go back. If only I could do that...

My head moves along with the song.

I look at the swimming pool few meters away from me. I saw many exclusive clubs in Paris and even in other country but this is the first time I'm seeing a swimming pool inside a luxurious club.

I'm at the EDM zone of the club which is quite large and for hip-hop lounge. Here, I have a better view of the people partying.

I even saw a few celebrities here, Idols and actors.

"I'm sorry, I'm late!"

My business partner, my person to-go to, my best friend Lucettia sat on the chair at my front.

"Two hours and forty-five minutes."

She pouted. "Have you tried their Octagon cocktails? They're good."

The manager of the club approached us. Lucett talked to her in Hangul before she left.

"I'm a regular here." The witch winked at me.

"So, why are you late?" I raised my brow.

She smiled wryly. "I have to meet with Kiefer first."

My eyes widened. "He's here?"

Lucettia chuckled. "Yes, we met at The Witches Boutique." That boutique is our only branch here in Seoul. It's located at Myeongdong.

"No worries, he doesn’t know that you're here, too. One more thing, he just came here for a client meeting. He needs to return to the Philippines immediately. So he has no time to club and party."

Kiefer, our Magna c*m Laude and a friend that I never expected. I met him in a fashion related conference in London three years ago. And in that time, we got closer. In no time, I let him know my story. Why the great Beatriz Cara Leviste Saavedra was living in a foreign country.

Lucettia and Kiefer, they are the only people who knows my real story.

A male waiter brought us our drinks.

"So, this one is called the pink octagon," Lucett introduced me to the cocktail.

I nodded and sip a bit. "This is not bad, " I said and drank it slowly.

She leaned closer. "So back to business, are you really going home?"

I frowned. She already knows the answer on her question.

Lucettia shook her head. "But why?"

I finished my first glass of pink octagon. "I need to file an annulment."

My marriage with Jazon was done five years ago. But because of that damn expansion with our family’s business with the Zhou’s, we need to stay married for five long years. And that five years ended two weeks ago.

I just need to finished all of my meetings and appointments in Paris that's why I'm two weeks late than what I and Jazon agreed.

"You can just tell your lawyer to do that. You don't need to go and file that yourself." Lucettia hissed. She hates Jazon more than I hate him.

"I want to do that." I looked at my second glass. "But I have to face our families after filing an annulment. I want things to end immediately that's why I decided to go there and do things personally."

Lucettia sighed. "It's been five years but I still can't believe what happened. I mean, he's your first love, your husband but he became your downfall."

Downfall. She's right. After that night, I got to experience the lowest point of my life. In my first year in Paris, I cried every night in that whole year. I tried to hurt myself. I became suicidal. It took me one whole year to finally accept my reality.

It's sickening but at least, I slowly move forward. I turned my agonies into opportunities. I became wiser and logical.

I stared at my ring finger. It's now empty. For five whole years, I wore that ring. I gave myself an excuse: so that when my parents visit me in Paris, no one will ask why I'm not wearing my ring. That's a lame reason I gave myself. But the truth is, that piece of jewelry was my favorite.

But last week, on our fifth year of being married, I removed my wedding ring. Because that's what I need to do.

I sighed again before I drinking my second glass of pink octavo.

I'm going back to Philippines the day after tomorrow and I'll do anything to end everything there immediately. I won't give Jazon a bit of chance to destroy me again.

Not again.