"Ma'am, breakfast po pinapadala po ni Sir Mateo." rinig kong sabi ng yaya sa labas at kumatok nang tatlong beses kaya tumayo ako upang pagbuksan ito nang pinto tyaka lumabas.

The maid smiled at me as she carried a tray table. I stepped aside to let her in, widening the doorway.

"Come in, please," I asked shyly, "Is Mateo here?"

She set my food down on my bed and turned to me, smiling.

"Nasa trabaho po, Ma'am, babalik din naman daw po maya-maya" she said, bowing her head before leaving. I didn't even get to thank her.

I was bored, so I just ate and watched TV.

"How are you?" I was interrupted by Mateo entering the room and taking off his coat. I stood up to help him remove it.

"I'm fine, how's work?" I asked.

"It's tiring, but I saw you, I'm not tired anymore," he said, hugging me from behind. I felt my cheeks flush, but thankfully he was hugging me.

"Hubby, I have a question," I said, turning to face him.

"Hmm?" He was stroking my hair with his fingers, waiting for me to speak.

"Why haven't I seen any wedding pictures of us?" I asked, furrowing my brow. I felt him pause his stroking of my hair.

"What about it?" he asked, unsure of what to say, and he swallowed several times.

"Hubby?" I asked, confused by his behavior, but my face remained calm.

"I hid them at our penthouse," he said, continuing to stroke my hair. I just nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

I continued watching TV while he went to take a quick shower.

"Are you hungry? Tell me so I can order food. I don't know how to cook, so..." he said, shyly. I laughed at that. I guess that's why I'm the one who cooks for us.

I wasn't hungry yet because I had just eaten, but he might be hungry, so I'd eat with him. They have maids here, but I don't want to rely on them if I can do it myself.

"I'll cook," I said, kissing him on the cheek.

"No, just rest there. I'll order food for us. I'll call you when it's ready. I'll let our maid rest first," he said, kissing me on the forehead. My heart warmed at his words. I nodded and lay down, continuing to watch TV.

I just watched whatever was on and waited for him.

~~~

Mateo woke me up to eat because his order arrived. We're in the dining room now, eating what he ordered.

"What do you want?" he asked when we sat down.

"Beef steak," I said. He nodded and filled my plate with food. I couldn't help but wonder what he did for a living, considering he always orders expensive food.

"Eat more. We'll go somewhere later after you eat," he said. I got excited, so I ate quickly.

"Hey, calm down, woman. No need to rush" he said, laughing, and wiping my lips with his thumb.

"Sorry—" I stopped when his phone rang.

"Excuses, wife," he said seriously, so I nodded and just ate.

"Make sure it's important, Francisco. What's with the underground—" I couldn't hear what he said anymore when he walked away and went to the kitchen. I just let him be. It seemed important.

But I was just wondering why he had to go far when someone called him. I know the word "privacy," but I'm his wife. I wouldn't pry.

Nag kibit-balikat na lang ako at nag patuloy sa pagkain.

"Are you done?" he asked when he came back. I nodded and stood up to clean up, even though there are maids there.

"Oo, where are we going?" I asked, frowning, tinulongan niya naman ako mag ligpit nang pinag-kainan namin.

"We're going to Mom's house," he said. I was nervous for some reason, but I just nodded. What am I nervous about?

"Okay, maliligo lang ako," I said and left.

Habang naliligo ay biglang may kumatok, kaya hininaan ko ang shower para marinig ang sasabihin ng nasa labas.

"Bakit?" sigaw ko.

"Matagal ka pa ba, wife?" Mateo shouted in his funny accent.

"Malapit na, just brushing my teeth," sigaw ko pabalik.

"Okay, I'll prepare your clothes," sigaw nito hindi nako sumagot at pinag patuloy na lang ang pagligo.

Tapos na akong maligo at pinapatuyo ko na lamang ang aking buhok.

"Mabait kaya si Mommy at Daddy niya? Kilala kaya nila ako?" I asked myself, shaking my head and continuing to shower.

After I finished showering, I saw Mateo fixing my clothes. I winced at the outfit because it was so revealing.

My face tightened at the clothes he was arranging. "You're going to make me wear that?" I asked, my voice laced with sarcasm. Mateo's attention shifted to me, his brows furrowed in confusion

"Of course not, as if I would let you wear these revealing clothes, I will burn them in front of you." he grumbled, sounding annoyed. "I mean, I don't mind you wearing these clothes, but they're too revealing. I can fight for you though; I prefer you naked," he added, a hint of a smirk in his voice.

I rolled my eyes, he was flirting with me again. "So where are my clothes then?" I asked, turning away to hide my flushed cheeks.

"On the table," he replied simply, continuing to arrange the revealing clothes. I had no idea where they came from. Did I wear them before, or did someone else own them?

Even though I was curious about the clothes and their origin, I decided not to ask.

"Let's go, you're pretty already," Mateo urged, but I was still adjusting myself. This was the first time I was going to meet his mother since she woke up from her coma. I wondered if we'd met before. We were married, so maybe we had?

But if we had met before and she knew me, why hadn't she visited me in the hospital?

I pushed those thoughts away when Mateo walked out, dressed in all black. Was there a funeral?

"Won't your mom be turned off by me? Am I pretty enough?" I asked nervously, but he just chuckled and walked towards me, kissing my forehead.

"Calm down, mom. Don't bite; you are pretty, of course." He reassured me, pulling me into a hug from behind.

"Do you think she'll like me?" I asked, still feeling a bit unsure.

"Why would you ask that? Mom has liked you since then. If she doesn't want you, I can turn my back on them and give up everything for you," he said, his voice firm and sincere. I bit my lip to stop myself from crying.

I smiled and kissed him.

"You're right, nothing has changed about me, has it?" I asked, glancing at myself in the mirror.

"Yeah, you're still the same, pretty," he replied, his face devoid of emotion. It was always hard to read his thoughts.

"Let's go?" I asked, and he nodded, grabbing his car keys and wrapping his arm around my waist.

As we sat in the car, I felt a knot of nerves in my stomach. I didn't know why.

Mateo must have sensed my unease because he took my hand.

"Nervous?" he asked. I nodded.

"Yeah, I don't even remember what your mom looks like, or even her name. I can't remember anything," I mumbled, feeling restless. He pulled over to the side of the road and turned to me.

"Calm down, Mom knows you already, and she's kind. Her name is Majika, so no need to worry," he said, kissing my hand.

"I just can't shake this feeling of unease," I admitted. He sighed.

"Maybe this is the first time you will see Mom again, after all these years," he said, starting the engine.

"Why didn't she visit me when I was in the hospital? Even your dad didn't?" I asked curiously. I felt him hesitate for a moment but he continued driving. He glanced at me briefly before focusing back on the road.

"Because they're busy," he said seriously. I remained silent.

I noticed that in the two months I was awake in the hospital, neither of his parents nor my own visited me. Not even a friend.

Did they visit while I was in a coma? Maybe not, because even when I was awake, none of them came.

"Stop thinking, you might trigger yourself. We're almost at Mom's house," he said, interrupting my thoughts. I shifted my attention away from the trees and back to him.

"Gusto ba ako ng mommy mo? Even before I went into the coma or whatever happened?" I asked nervously. He stared at me for a moment before turning back to the road.

"Of course. You two have gone out a lot since then." I nodded slowly, still unconvinced by his answer. Why was it so hard for me to accept his words?

"Okay, Ahhh!" I screamed as something exploded behind us, clutching onto Mateo's arm.

"Fuck," I heard him mutter under his breath. He grabbed his phone.

"Glen, track my location. Some fuckers attacked my car. I'm with my wife." He said quickly, swerving left and speeding up.

"W-what's happening, Mateo?" I asked, my voice trembling as I peeked over my shoulder and saw a black car tailing us.

"It's nothing, love," he said, continuing to drive. When I looked back, I saw a different vehicle, a van, following us.

"Anong ibig mong sabihing wala? Something exploded behind us, Mateo!" I said, panicking, but he didn't acknowledge me.

"There's a van behind us, Mateo," I said, fear creeping into my voice. He didn't respond.

"Fuck, calm down, love. That's Francisco," he said quickly, resting his arm on the windowsill, his jaw clenching.

I fell silent, leaning against the window, still feeling anxious. I wanted to know what was going on.