Gally's POV: 2 AM, July 15, 2016.

"I love you, babe; please send me another photograph of you--Babe, your wife might have caught us. Don't worry babe, I'll take care of this; I love you."

After reading that convo from her husband's phone, Gally automatically felt her body shaking, and cold sweat rolled down her face. "How could he do this to me?" Those are the words repeatedly running through her mind while preventing herself from crying aloud so she won’t awaken her children.

She slowly put her husband's phone back into his side and tried her best to sleep again. But memories started to flashback. She did not love Francis when they got married, not even after having their first daughter. She did not feel the excitement in him. It looks like she is still looking for someone else, and it was not Francis. They’ve been married for eight years now, and all those times, they were living a simple and happy life. After giving birth to their second daughter, she gave up her work, and that was when she decided to stop looking for that certain feeling their relationship was lacking. It is not that she has someone else; she does not feel the magic she is looking for, unlike the first night that something intimate happens. Though she was not in her full sanity because of the alcohol intake, all the things that happened that night are still fresh in her mind. Up until now, it was the feeling that she was looking for, but even to herself, she can’t explain what she was looking for; it’s like she’s complete but empty at the same time.

Years have passed. Gally tried her very best to give the love that Francis deserved. He was not perfect, nobody’s perfect anyway, but she saw how kind of father he was to their kids and husband to her. He always tries to please his wife, especially in their first few years of marriage, where she wasn’t a good wife to him

just the emotional part

. She never felt the need to love him. For Gally, it was just an obligation because of that one mistake that led them to marriage. But overall, she was a good wife; she sees to give all her husband’s needs. Especially their children.

She could still remember the moment she met Francis, and he was the one who saves her that night from trouble and drowning in problems. It was the very night that she learned about her mother’s misbehavior towards her dad. She could still hear it from the back of her mind. All the things that she accidentally heard that night in her parents’ bedroom. Instead of confronting them, she ran away and found herself in a bar drowning in alcohol. She thought that she was living a peaceful and happy life, but after hearing those words from her father, she could feel his anger and heartaches from every word coming out from his mouth. She wanted to face her mother right that very moment, but she chose to go away and face the problem all herself.

Now, all the hate and wounds that she thought have gone are now getting back to life, and she feels deeply wounded all over again. Gally cried and cried that she did not notice what time it was already. She just decided to get up and fix herself and cook their breakfast. Gally doesn’t feel fine but needs to get up for her kids. Their maids are now on vacation leave, and she doesn’t want to deprive them of having that privilege.

"Ouch!" she said when she accidentally cut her skin while cutting some onions for her omelet.

“Oh, baby, what happened?!" her husband said and rushed to her and wiped off the blood from her fingers.

"It's nothing, baby. I'm so used to it."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm used to being hurt. So don't worry about me." But, instead, she wanted to shout at her husband's face and let him feel her anger.

Francis went behind Gally, hugged her tightly, and whispered sweet nothings in her ear.

Trying hard not to explode, “Gally, a bit of patience please, you can't get mad today, your kids are at home now.” the words that she was trying to tell herself. Instead of getting furious because of what she had discovered last night, Gally chooses to be extra sweet to her husband. "Baby, I'll be fine. Go and take your shower; I’ll just call you when the food is ready." She even gave her husband lots of kisses.

"Okay, baby, I love you."

Gally replied from her mind, "I love you, my ass!" Then there’s silence.

We were done with breakfast and everything in the kitchen when Gally was about to throw the garbage bag outside the house when she heard someone murmuring.

The voice was slowly getting clearer as she walked in the direction of the "murmuring.”

"Babe, I'm so sorry we can't talk much today, I'm at home, and my wife is also here today, and the kids, I know you'd understand me. As much as I want to spend the whole day talking to you, but you know my situation. I promised to make it up with you, babe, once I get back to work. So don’t worry, I love you. Don't talk to other guys, okay? You are mine, babe. Promise me that."

It was Francis who was murmuring inside the storage room. Gally heard everything, though she couldn't hear the other person's voice. The message was evident to her that her husband was indeed cheating on her.

The door opened then Gally asked her husband, who were you talking to?

Sweat face, can't look straight to his wife, voice shaking.

"Ugh, ah I.. ah I. I was talking to my secretary to prepare all the papers that I need to sign when I get back to work, yeah baby, that was it."

"oh, really now? Gally said back."

"Yes, baby. I have no other person to call. I'm on my seven-day vacation leave."

Gally couldn’t control herself anymore. "So, when on earth have you decided to call your secretary, babe? is that her new pet name, huh?"

"Baby, I don't know what you're saying, give me that garbage bag, and I'll throw it outside."

"No! you answer me, Francis! What the hell are you doing to me?! *shouting furiously* You think I'm that dumb not to know a thing about what you were doing? oh, come on!"

Francis started to feel uncomfortable; He knew at this moment that he fucked up. "Baby, let me explain, please."

"You better explain it very well while I'm still not losing my sanity."

"Yes, baby. Just please don't get mad at me; I love you."

“How dare you say that to my face when you have just said it to that bitch moments back? Are you really that asshole, Francis? Are you disrespectful to me, your wife?" She started to cry and throw anything her hands could get. "I hate you, Francis!!! How could you do this to me? I did nothing but showered you with love, our children, served you with everything you needed, cooked good food for you, carried your child inside my womb for nine mos., raised them for years, sleepless nights, pain, tiredness, and this is all I could get in return? What wrong have I done for you to cheat on me? what?! crying and breathing heavily."

Blackout

Holding his wife's hand, kissing it tenderly, “wake up now, baby. I love you.”

Those are the words that caused Gally's tears to fall from her eyes again.

"Why am I here?

hospital bed

I need to go home now; my kids are waiting for me."

"You passed out, baby, so I needed to bring you here. I'll just tell the doctor that you're awake now."

"How are you feeling, Mrs. Monteclaro?" you've had a severe blackout today. Your husband brought you here 10hrs ago; that’s how long you have been sleeping."

Gally didn't show any reaction. "I feel fine now, Doctor. Can I go home now and do my duties as a wife and a mother?" sharply gazed at her husband.

"Okay, if you're feeling fine now, then I'll process your discharge and send you home. Just don't forget to drink all the meds that I’ll prescribe you."

"Thank you, Doctor."

"You sure, baby, you're fine?" Francis asked.

Blank eyes, no response. "You will not be getting any words from me starting this very moment." Gally thought.

"I'll pay the bill, and we'll be heading home."

Gally looked at her husband while going out of the room, and tears started to fall once more. Francis asked Gally what food she wanted to eat, but all he could get from her was silence.

While driving, "Baby, I know you're mad at me, but please hear me out. I can explain, baby. I'm so sorry. I know you don't deserve any of these. I love you, and I do."

Hearing those words was just now unbelievable to her. How could he possibly love two girls at the same time? Do men are just really this asshole to play with every girl's feelings?

Gally Sighs. "Drive fast; I want to sleep in my bed already."

Then there goes silence, again.

Monteclaro's Residence, after preparing herself to sleep, Gally went to the guest room and finally lay down in bed and was about to sleep when the door opened. It was Francis. "Baby, let's talk, please."

Gally is still silent.

He was persistent in having a conversation with his wife. "Baby, please talk to me. Let me explain everything to you."

"Francis, please, I don't have enough energy to argue with you. Just please leave me alone. And when the time comes that my system already accepted the fact that you have cheated on me, then maybe we could talk."

With so much regret in his eyes. "Okay, baby. Goodnight then, I love you."

The door clicked.

And for the Nth time, Gally cried like a river, pitied herself for what was happening in her life; she dedicated her life to her husband and kids, only for him to cheat on her? Yet, she was once very proud of her husband for being so faithful and loyal.

Gally talking to herself, "Why? What's missing in me? What does she have that I don't? Is she more beautiful than me? Sexier than me? Better cook than me? Thoughtful than me? what?! oh, please tell me, Lord.” She did nothing but asked herself why and sobbed all night long. And fell asleep crying.

All that time, Francis was just outside the door and listened to what his wife was doing. Having the eagerness to talk to her but at the same time wanted to give her time. "Oh, God, what have I done? She’s hurt; I know she’s broken indeed. I didn't mean it; I love her dearly, but you. You know that it's true. I don't know what to do now. Could she still forgive me? What should I do? Should I go inside and lay beside her? or should I walk away? And he chose to do the latter.

Meanwhile, inside the guest room;

Gally awakened with bad dreams; this girl tried to pull Francis forcingly away from her. Gally then pulled Francis's other arm so the girl wouldn't succeed in robbing her husband. When she got Francis back in her arms, the girl suddenly disappeared.

Gally started to cry again; she didn’t know what would happen if Francis left for another girl. She can't even think about Francis forgetting her as his wife and finding another girl to replace her.

And all the good memories that she had with her husband are now flowing continuously in her mind.

Then again, Gally fell asleep with tears in her eyes.

The “second” longest and loneliest night in Gally's life.