Struggling~ Does My Husband Have A Mistress?

"On my birthday, ma... I hope we go out again," Gian said when he suddenly stopped eating. "I hope that when that day comes, Papa will be with us to eat outside."

I suddenly slowed down my chewing and swallowed slowly. Gian can't help but always look for his dad whenever he's not around. Gian, my boy, has been used to having both of his parents with him all the time. Mike is always with us on important occasions that would happen in Gian’s life such as Gian's birthday, his graduation when he was in elementary school, recognition days, etc.

So I understand if my son is starting to feel a new atmosphere now. Mike has been sneaking in more and more often that he is taking care of a lot of things at school right now so he didn't come with us tonight. Meanwhile, he can always find some time and ways before to manage his workloads after having piled up of paperworks on his job.

"Instead of having a party, do you want to eat out?"

He laughed at my question. "Mom, birthday parties are only for children. I’m not a kid anymore."

"Are you old?" I rode on my son's trip.

"Teenager, ma," he replied seriously. "This son of yours is such a grown man... so now I want something different every time my birthday comes around. No more lavish birthday parties, otherwise... even if I can just eat out with you and Papa, that's enough for me."

Gian smiled at me before he continued eating. I can't say he's sad because I'm the only one with him today, and it's evident from the smile I see on his lips that even though I'm the only one with him today, I think he's happy and enjoying the food.

But I know that Gian would have been twice as happy if Mike had just given him at least little of his time to join us here.

"Gian?" I called his attention. He quickly turned to me. "Son, do you think your father and I will divorced?"

He dropped the two cutlery he was holding. "Is there a reason for the two of you to separate?"

For a moment, I remained silent. Gian and I only kept our eyes on each other, and hopefully he can't read in my eyes that my relationship with his father is going through a big problem right now.

"Just in case something happens, and it's inevitable for a couple to separate... especially married couples... and if that happens, Gian... who will you go with?"

I know it's not the right time to ask him such a difficult question to answer. If I spoil the fun that Gian had earlier, I'll just make it up to him in the next few days. I just couldn't help myself but to ask the question to him right away.

"Unless the problem that a couple is going through is heavy, only then will the divorce be valid." Gian's answer to my question was too far. "This is from my adviser last year, in which she told us that in the relationship between husband and wife, not everything should have ended in divorce. There are specific reasons why they end up breaking up, but that doesn't mean that for all their problems, the solution has to be ending the marriage."

I really want to tell and try to make Gian understand the situation, but I can't. I remember that he was too young for me to let him be involved with Mike and I's problems. I will not let even my son suffer from the nonsense his father is doing.

"But to answer your question, ma..." I stopped cutting the steak on my plate when Gian spoke again. “If I had to choose which of you two to go with… I wouldn't choose.”

"Because?"

"I love you both, ma. I can't live in a house with only one of you living with me. I can't seem to wake up in the morning with only one of my parents sharing the same roof with me." The mixture of his smile became bleak, and Gian immediately avoided looking at me. "Because if the day comes when one of you has to leave me, hopefully you will realize that when a flower is lost from its tree... it'll wither."

After that, we continued eating. Our conversation no longer continued because I didn't know what else to say. I think I got the answer I asked Gian for.

—

"Are you leaving early tomorrow?" I opened up to Mike when I caught him in our room already packing the things he would need for his trip to Cebu.

"Yeah. To get to the venue early. I hope we can land there immediately before afternoon." He just continued packing his clothes. "You take care of Gian first, huh? I was only there for three days, Andeng." He raised his face to look at me. "So, please take good care of our son."

"That's my responsibility. You don't need to remind me." I head to the other side of the bed and lean against the standing pillow. “Do you, Mike… know your responsibilities?”

"Of course-"

"Then can you explain to me what you were doing in a hotel last night with Eloise?"

His eyes widened as he looked. “Eloise-”

"Don't deny it. I told you that woman is my patient. I probably know her, and the strange thing is… how many times have you denied to me that you don't know her, but why have I seen you with her twice?”

I showed the picture that Jazz sent me when she saw my husband last night checking into a hotel with Eloise. I was only able to show it to Mike today because I really wanted it to coincide with the day of his departure... hopefully to stop him.

"You're just giving yourself a reason to be jealous-"

“Would it be better if it weren't true, Mike? Isn't it true?” I was the one who started this fight first, but now I’m becoming so emotional that I'm going to start crying at any moment. "You can't even give me a sensible reason for why you can’t name Eloise as someone aside from your mistress! You kept avoiding my questions! You're the only one who gives me a reason to believe that you're really having an affair!"

I was surprised and even gasped when Mike let go of the clothes he was holding. He came to me and shook my body. "Wake up from your imaginations, Andeng! You are the only one who will destroy our relationship if you continue your doubts."

“Because Eloise, yes… I know her,” he admitted to me. "Carlo's girlfriend... my friend."