Denny drove to the biggest shopping mall in the downtown area. It had restaurants and many other shops in the whole establishment, including a supermarket. It even had other entertainment booths, as well as cinemas. Many people shop and spend time with their family indoors in the mall as the air conditioner would be adjusted according to the season and weather outside. If it's cold, the heater will be on, while coolers will be on when it's hot. "I haven't tried any of this, so you are not allowed to laugh at me," Denny warned Trisha. "Yes, honey," Trisha replied with a nod. The word "honey" became casual and fluent as if she was addressing Denny as her master. The respect it contained did not lessen by the sweet word; rather, it solidifies it. Charming and respectful in a way. They arrived at the place after about half an hour drive. The parking lot was within the building, so Denny drove his car to the closest empty spot, but as it was the weekend, they still had to reach the sev
"That would be perfect! Because I am the best tour guide you can find," Denny boasted with a wide grin.He was feeling his confidence hitting the roof. More than Medicine, more than business, above all knowledge stored in his brains, his hobby as a traveler is his claimed best skills and talent. "When my brother regains his health and takes his office again, I will book us a return ticket to the best place to visit in Japan for our overseas trip," Denny stated his thoughts. The food arrived. A pot of soup was placed on top of the induction burner in the center of the table. The waiter turned the fire on, and the soup started to boil softly. He began to explain what to do, but Denny smiled at the waiter gently."We'll take it from here," Denny stated kindly. "Thank you."The waiter smiled back. He was actually relieved he did not have to explain anything. It was a protocol for servers like them to introduce the menu and how to enjoy the food, but customers like Denny would decline if
The plan to buy a few things came out, like buying the whole place already. Denny was too fascinated with many things that he thought were so nice and affordable even when Trisha believed they were not necessary to be bought. He was excited to put things into the cart as they walked around."Honey, what do you think about this one?" Asked Denny to Trisha.The service girl could not help but chuckle every time he would ask that line. It was as if his question was merely perfunctory. Because in the end, he would still decide if he would put it into the cart or put it back into the racks. Trisha did not reply right away as she watched Denny checking every item he was interested in, so the man turned to look at her."Honey..?" he called again, just to see her smiling at him with clear fascination."Would you really like to hear my opinion about it?" she asked with a playful pout. Then she pointed at their cart with her pointed lips. "We don't even have the space to put them anymore, haven
As he waited, Denny decided to look around but only nearby where Trisha left him, just in case she came back so soon, she would see him right away. He checked the other scented oils on the shelves. There were so many scents to choose from. "I think they have all kinds of nice scented oils around here," Denny murmured, checking every bottle and their scent sampler. But the rack he was nearby with were all flower-scented oils. He saw clary sage, chamomile, geranium, jasmine, juniper berry, lavender, rose, and their claimed effects to be good for. Lavender, Ylang Ylang, and Clary Sage have calming properties when one needs to relieve some stress. To smoothen or improve the appearance of the skin, Geranium, Helichrysum, or Roman Chamomile is said to be the best option. In general, the common properties that floral oils give to its user are emotional benefits as well as enhancement to the skin and hair. There were small bottles with only about fifty milliliters contents. The smallest one
The two were still murmuring and giggling when a guy from the next counter to the right line on the cashiers' row kept staring and frowning as he seemed to recognize someone from the crowd where he was looking at. There were some racks of items sold in single packaging right next to the cashier. Things that people would fancy to pick while waiting for their turn to be paying their goods and leave the supermarket like bubble gums, car air fresheners, wet wipes, eco-bags, bottled water, energy drink, and more. It also divides the line from one cashier counter to the other. But the distance was not too far from each other, and Denny's conversation with the lady cashier reached the nearby cashiers and customers. He attracted attention, although they did not say anything. Their eyes followed to where he went after speaking about his pleas with the person he considered to be of concern. The guy recognized Trisha, but he was not so sure. He decided to find out if she was who he thought she
Denny was not surprised at what name the guy called Trisha. He had seen from the legal documents of their contract that her name Trisha is what she uses at work. It wasn't her real name, but as he was used to the one she introduced herself to him, Denny did not mind. Besides, nowadays, he doesn't even call her by her first name. She is his "honey" and he was hers."Honey, do you want to talk with this guy?" Denny asked Trisha gently. He did not want to be rude and pull her away if she wanted to deal with the guy. But if things were only up to him, if he could decide for her, Denny wanted to punch the guy for that grab on her wrist earlier. "No, honey. I don't think I need to speak with anyone who would dump me like a hot potato after getting what he's after," Trisha replied with disdain, then she turned to the guy, looked him straight in the eye, and declared with stern and firm tone. "And may I tell you, Donald Debron, I don't want to see your face ever again!" Trisha wound her arm
Arriving inside the house, they went directly to the kitchen and placed all bags on the island table. They unloaded all items from their bags and separated the food from the others."Honey, I will deal with the food. You decide where to put the other things," Trisha suggested. She was comfortable to deal with the food as they would only be placed in the refrigerator if not on the pantry. She was sure Mister Vero would want to unpack every item he bought with fascinations and enthusiasm. "Deal, but I will have to unpack them tomorrow. We should have that wine and try these glasses that we had from our first trip to the supermarket. This needs a celebration, you know?" Denny replied with a grin as he pulled the box of wine glasses. It was only a pair of wine glasses with a print on each. One says, "You're my person..." while the other pair says "...and I'm yours." with hearts shaded with red colors on it. "I will get the wine," Denny exclaimed excitedly as he walked to his modern-style
"You might have troubles with hang-over in the morning if you try something stronger than a fruit wine," Denny replied with humor and also honesty. "We have a lot of wine, don't worry about it."He handed her the wine glass as he read what it said on the print."You are my person..." Denny poured the fruit as Trisha held the glass.Then Trisha handed Denny the other wine glass as she read its print."And I'm yours..." mimicking Denny's gesture of pouring the wine for him.They were still standing on their spot by the island table in the kitchen. They clinked their glasses before having a sip of their drinks."Cheers!""Honey, you take the glasses, and I will bring the tray. Let's move to the living room," Denny suggested."Okay," Trisha complied and followed Denny's lead on where to sit on the couches.Silence filled the place when they got seated. Denny opened the conversation."You don't have to say anything if you're not ready, okay?" Trisha nodded with a grateful smile."You can
“Honey…?” Denny called out carefully.Claudette was already about to enter the ward when she heard the man who introduced himself as Denny Vero called for Aleah so sweetly and concerned. She smiled. She just confirmed her thoughts that these two are romantically involved. She silently placed the food she bought and the change on a chair by the door before she lightly knocked and waved her hands to say she would be right back.Trisha bowed her head lower when she heard the knocking on the door. At the same time, Denny turned his head to look back and saw Mrs. Murphy pointing at the purchases she brought while she hurriedly exited the ward.Denny wasn’t able to say anything before the lady disappeared from his sight. He went to get the drinks and handed Trisha a cup of tea. There were two, so he supposed the other one was for him. He took a sip and just said anything. He urged Trisha to try hers, too.“Honey, the tea is good. You should have a sip while it’s still warm.”But Trisha place
Trisha turned her head away from Denny and faced her mom instead. Her tears started to cloud her eyes again. She bit her lips not to let her cries out of her mouth.She clearly understood what Denny had just said right now, but she could not respond right away. She was feeling torn between accepting or declining his offer of financial assistance. It wasn’t for herself alone. It was for her mom, most especially. He also mentioned being a philanthropist, which surely meant he was going to donate a considerable amount to get the procedure done with the best outcome. Yet, Trisha was still worried about what she might have to do to return such a huge favor from Denny Vero.When she was with Chloe earlier, and Denny was not by her side, Chloe spoke to Trisha with her honest and frank thoughts. Trisha realized that Denny did not know his parents already knew everything, the facts, not what they feared his sister, Denisse, might have told them. She was actually glad Denny accepted her suggesti
“She is so kind,” Denny moved closer and whispered to Trisha. “I like her a lot!”Then Denny moved back to look at the girl on her face with a silly smile.“But don’t let her know about that, okay?” Denny murmured again. “She might like me back. I am afraid of that happening.”The two shared suppressed laughter with their hands in their mouths, covering, as they both looked back in the direction of the door. They seemed to have the same fear that the person they mentioned was already back and heard what Denny just said.“I like her, too,” Trisha shrugged her shoulders as she giggled after making sure Claudette wasn’t back just yet. She played along with Denny’s joke not to let the lady Murphy know they liked her so much.“Kidding aside, she is awesome,” Denny cleared his throat before he made known to Trisha his honest opinion about the lady taking care of the patient.He also heard from the doctor and nurses he was able to speak with that Claudette is doing her duties more than a mere
“Thank you so much, Mrs. Murphy!” Trisha’s voice was shaky as she looked up from the other side of the bed, embracing her mom cautiously.Trisha felt emotional. She was glad even to only hear that her mom would regain her consciousness. She’s been in the hospital bed for almost seven months now. She might have seen the person driving the car when she was hit, but as she was still in a coma, they could not ask her. Trisha and her brother Yohan are still hoping to find the justice they deserve. The police seemed to have no more lead to continue the investigation, and since the Silver siblings did not have anyone influential to ask for assistance, they would have to rely on whatever they heard from their mom’s recollections.It would be tough to hold on to such possibilities, but they believe their mom is fighting within her to survive her situation. And one victory may lead to another if she could point out who caused her so much pain and stole so much of her time to stay healthy and pro
Soon they arrived at the ward where the name Elaine Silver was written on the chart by the foot end of the patient’s bed. A woman was reading a book seated next to the patient. She was reading the book aloud like a mother reading a bedtime story to a kid. She was too focused on her book as she read with enthusiasm and emotion according to the content of the story that she did not notice the two, Trisha and Denny, walking next to the patient’s bed.Denny and Trisha looked at each other with amused smiles on their faces. Denny gave Trisha a sign not to make a sound using his finger placed above his mouth. Trisha nodded her head as she agreed not to make a sound. She was beyond glad and satisfied that the lady Murphy was indeed attending to her mom’s welfare with so much dedication and sincerity. She was also happy that the man beside her seemed to have the same thoughts about letting the lady reading a book continue until she realized their presence. And so she continued to read:“A fath
Trisha smiled happily. Denny saw her serene smile in his peripheral vision, and he felt good. His idea was turning out to be successful. That was what he was hoping for, to make his “honey” smile, not the polite one that her face had seemed to be painted with the whole day, but the pure natural smile she would usually wear on her face when she is genuinely happy.Soon they arrived at the hospital. Trisha was worried he would be late with his appointment.“Honey, I can walk my way into the hospital. You don’t have to send me in,” Trisha cautiously suggested. “You might be late.”Denny chuckled.“It’s okay. You wait for me by the entrance. I will be right back after I park the car.”Trisha had no choice but to do as he ordered. She consoled herself that he should know what he was doing. He wouldn’t insist if he did not have enough time, right?“Okay, I will stand by the entrance door. You can call me if there are any changes,” Trisha raised her purse with her phone and wallet inside it.
Denny paused for a while. He could not say it was personal, but it wasn’t business either. But he did not want to explain further, so he just made his answer short, although a bit ambiguous.“A little of both?” Denny chuckled, helping Trisha to stand from her seat beside him.Chloe was not convinced. Or maybe even if she was, the mother still wanted to spend a little more time with her dear son, so she expressed her disagreement.“I can only let you go early today if you promise to visit us next Sunday again,” she bargained.Denny’s eyes widened in disbelief.“Mom, I cannot promise you that, but I will try,” the son scratched his non-itchy backhead as he replied.“Then you will have to stay until dinner today. What do you say about that, Aleah?” Chloe turned to the girl beside Denny.“I… am…” the service girl stuttered. She did not know what to say, but knowing her answer was awaited, she had to say something. “I’m very sorry, Mrs. Vero, but I do not decide things with…” Trisha could n
“Do you mean to marry this girl?” Franco Vero asked. His tone was still calm, not making his honest reactions known to his dearest son.“As of the moment, and if that is all for me to decide, I might say yes,” Denny chuckled at his sudden realization.The father was baffled by the son’s answer.“What do you mean?”“I don’t think the feeling is mutual just yet,” Denny let his weary mind off him.He felt good that his kind dad asked. He had been holding these thoughts within him. He could not freely speak about it with Don Carlo and Angela as he did not want to worry them for Trisha. But with his dad, he felt the assurance that his old man would understand where he was coming from. Denny let his heartfelt emotions flow.“I can feel this girl is purely doing business with me, and she never flirts nor misleads me to think she fancies me like a woman fancies a man. She is obedient in everything I ask and tells her to do because she is too cautious about losing her job. She has these invisib
As Aleah requested and without fear for Denny to grant them, they got dressed up with the doting Denny assisting his heart's wife; since they weren't legally married yet, in every step of getting her nicely yet comfortably clothed. "We should shop for new sizes of your underwear, honey," Denny gently suggested. "I am worried you might feel discomfort with the ones you used to wear and in your closet right now," he explained eagerly. He knew that pregnant women could be very sensitive, so he tried his best to clear any misinterpretations of his words. Angela excitedly bought Aleah different designs of pregnant dresses and others obviously needed by an expecting woman, but as she had not had the experience to reach pregnancy into a stage where her belly would swell up, Angela did not realize to include underwear in her shopping list. I have been meaning to do so, but as I was not allowed to go out without company aside from the nurse, I was just waiting when we could visit the shoppi