Part 4

I went numb. I felt like my vision was spinning. I feared of losing everything, my wife and my daughter at that very moment.

The next several months were challenging. I came clean. I lost her trust but she's giving me another chance. It was really tough. My wife and I went on marriage counseling. And I know it's going to be harder to build her trust again.

I severed ties with my partner and even with his family. We just can't make connections anymore in the office. People were asking what happened that we just stopped talking and I needed to transfer desk. Then I quit my job even if it means leaving that high position in the office.

After a couple of months, I got a job in Seattle. Before we left, we had a big despedida. All of our friends and family came except him. We sang auld lang syne at the top of our lungs. Everyone was smiling and I was there holding back my tears while raising that glass of champagne.

We moved to the US to start anew and leave everything behind.

Maybe the ex-partner doesn't have any idea where am I. Same thing, I didnt hear any news about him since then.

We frequently go back to Manila to visit my senior parents. We stayed at our home nearby his. I hoped that we bump into each other even just for a bit. I jogged every afternoon just in case I would chance upon him jogging also.

Nothing.

1. Covid happened. The world stopped. We weren't able to get home.

2. Flights resumed back between US and Manila. We didn't have plans to go home until the situation normalizes so we stayed in Seattle.

One autumn morning, I felt like going to starbucks to get my caffeine fix. Maybe I just wanted to take a walk, get some fresh air.

It was a cold morning and the queue was long. It's a touristy morning, I suppose. It's just a normal day for the city. While on queue, a guy in his winter jacket strode to my left side, and pretending like he was checking those 1st starbucks store souvenirs.

what the fuck?

That joe malone scent struck me. oh boy. it's the second time i felt my vision spin. my knees went weak.

Then he glanced back at me.