As usual, I went to my daughter’s apartment to clean, but unexpectedly, my daughter-in-law returned home at noon and I heard a woman’s voice as well. A strange feeling made me quickly slip into the closet. As soon as the door shut, I trembled, listening to the conversation between my daughter-in-law and the unknown woman.
I am sixty-two, retired for three years. Since my daughter moved to Manila after getting married, I often visit to help clean and cook for her and my son-in-law, Rafael. I worry that Maricel might be too busy with work, and Rafael is often away on business trips.
Their apartment is on the 15th floor of a modern, bright building. Every time I come, I feel warm seeing my daughter’s comfortable life and the love between her and her husband. That morning, I took the usual early bus from the province.
Maricel had called:
“Mom, go ahead and rest. I’ll be home early for lunch.”
I smiled at her cheerful voice, feeling relieved. Who would have guessed that day would turn my world upside down?
I arrived around ten, cleaned, and cooked sinigang and fried fish for lunch. While mopping the living room, I froze when I heard the door open. Maricel was supposed to be at work.
It was Rafael. He wore a suit, but his shirt was undone, and there was something unusual in his expression. I was about to greet him when I heard him speaking on the phone.
My body went cold. Acting on instinct, I backed into the bedroom closet and quietly closed the door, my heart pounding. Less than five minutes later, high heels clicked in the hall.
A young woman’s voice giggled:
“What are you afraid of? Where’s your husband?”
“I just don’t want my mother-in-law to suddenly appear. She’s here so often,” Rafael’s mistress replied.
I held my breath, cold sweat breaking out. Their laughter mixed with whispers, torturing me—but then one line from the woman stopped my heart:
“What about the land in your husband’s name? You promised to divorce him and transfer it to me.”
I heard every word.
Rafael answered:
“I’m thinking. Wait until Maricel gets the money from her mother’s savings. Once I have it, I can pay my debts and then we’ll leave.
Understand?”
My blood ran cold. His target was my life savings—eight hundred thousand pesos I had planned to give Maricel as capital! I wanted to rush out, but my legs wouldn’t move.
The other woman continued:
“Say what you want, but I don’t trust you. You promised, but you still sleep with your wife. I won’t be the third wheel forever.”
Rafael snapped:
“Quiet!
Wait until the money comes; everything will change.”
A moment of silence, then Maricel’s voice on speakerphone:
“Honey, I’ll be home early. Is Mom awake yet?”
“Mom’s not here yet. I have a client to meet,” Rafael lied, coldly.
I felt numb. The polite, smiling man I once knew was now a stranger, lying without hesitation. The door slammed, footsteps faded.
I slowly opened the closet door. The room smelled of a strange perfume, Maricel’s clothes were wrinkled, and Rafael’s wedding ring lay on the table. I sank to the floor, tears streaming.
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