Chapter 25

KATE went inside the bathroom to get a wet towel that she would use to wipe Jan. But when she returned to the bed, she saw Jan sitting on the floor, puking.

“Oh, God…” she muttered and rushed out of the room and called for help.

Luisa immediately came, followed by Nana Talia.

“What happened?” the two asked in unison.

“I need help. Jan’s wasted,” Kate told them and turned in her husband’s direction as she heaved a deep sigh.

“O-oh.” Nana Talia cupped her mouth. “I’ll go get something to clean the floor.”

“Luisa, can you help me take him to the tub?”

“Yes, of course.”

They pulled Jan and almost dragged him to the tub. He was so wasted; he looked like a giant version of a baby who needed his mother’s helping hand to get a bath.

“I can do it from here,” Kate told the maid after they successfully put her husband inside the tub.

Luisa nodded her head and left the bathroom. She helped Nana Talia on cleaning the floor and change the sheets.

Kate then closed the bathroom door and started undressing her husband. Jan was half-awake, half-asleep. She was not sure what state of mind he had at that moment. Would he even understand her if she gave him an earful?

After removing the last piece of his clothing, Kate grabbed the showerhead and turned it on. She wet his hair first, then his body. The water was a bit cold; it seemed to waken Jan’s senses. He raised his head and grabbed her wrist.

“What are you doing?” he asked in a cold tone.

She did not know why, but his voice sent chills all over her body.

Kate heaved a sigh and pulled her hand away. She then turned off the shower and crouched beside the tub, facing her husband.

“Well, as you can see, I’m bathing you because you’re too wasted to take care of yourself.” She gestured on the pile of his clothes on the floor. “You… puked on yourself.”

If only the situation was a little different, Kate would laugh at him because of what happened. Who would have thought that Jan would be like that? The Jan she was with now was far different from the man she knew. Or maybe, she did not know him at all.

How would she even know him if he was hiding something? How would she know everything about him when he was keeping his emotions all to himself? Kate wanted to share with everything that he had stored there, and she would do the same in return.

Jan opened the faucet and let the tub be filled with water.

“Please pass the soap and the scrub, Katherine,” he said.

She stood up and got what he needed.

Kate saw Jan’s naked body under the clear water on the tub when she handed him the things he asked for. She swallowed hard and looked away.

“I-I think you’re sober now. Y-you can bathe yourself, right. I-I’m going out now.”

She was about to turn around when Jan suddenly held her hand.

“Do you want to join me, Katherine?”

“I—”

He rose from the tub. Kate just stayed still when he removed her robe and nightgown. She was just standing there, letting him do what he wanted.

“You’re not wearing anything underneath,” he said upon seeing her naked after removing the nightgown.

Kate felt her cheeks burning, and the butterflies inside her stomach started to flutter. And when his gaze traveled down there, she felt chaos all over her system. He stretched out a hand to her, inviting her. And so, she did join him.

They sat inside the tub face to face, with their gazes still fixed on one another.

Jan then squeezed the soap into the scrub and started bathing. Kate just watched him as she hugged her legs.

“Did you wait for me?” he asked afterwards.

“Hm.” Kate rested her chin on her knee and blinked her eyes lazily.

“Did you eat your dinner?”

That was when she let out a soft chuckle.

“Are you my dad, Jan?”

“No. I’m your husband.”

“You are. So, why don’t you bare your soul to me, Jan?”

He halted from lathering soap onto his chest and turned in her direction. Jan looked at her intently.

“What is this about, Katherine?”

She crawled towards him and stayed on fours. “I want to know the rest of you, Jan. Tell me everything—”

He suddenly took her to his lap and wrapped an arm around her waist. His other hand went up and cupped her cheek.

“Katherine…” His eyes were full of emotions she could not decipher.

“You can tell me everything, Jan… then I’ll get to share a portion of your pain—”

Jan cupped the back of her head and pulled her for a kiss. It was deep, warm, but she could feel his fear. His lips were trembling as he kissed her. But no matter what kind of kiss it was, it never failed to set her heart on fire. She moved upwards and took his length inside her warmth.

He gasped. “Katherine…”

“Hush…” She planted a quick kiss on his lips. “Let me….”

She moved slowly, up, and down, following her own pace. A smile curved on her lips when Jan titled his head up and closed his eyes. Then there go his soft moans, filling the bathroom.

“Keep quiet…” she drawled. “Nana and Luisa might hear us—”

“I don’t care.” Jan grasped her sides and guided her.

“Am I… doing this right?” she asked breathily.

“Yes.” He pressed his forehead against hers, and his grip tightened on her sides.

“Say my name, Jan….” Her hands slid up to his head and pulled his hair.

“Katherine…” Soon she felt his body shaking, and his release washed over her. “Gah…! Oh, Katherine…” Jan claimed her lips in a fiery kiss. “What are you doing to me, Katherine?”

“I’m loving you, Jan.” She planted a kiss on his temple.

KATE left the bed first that morning and went inside the bathroom to prepare for class. She did not wake her husband up and let him sleep more. Emotional exhaustion was more tiresome than physical one. She knew that because she had been through it every day for two years when she was living with her Aunt Bernice and her daughter Vivian.

“What’s the matter?” she asked Jan when she went out of the bathroom and saw him leaning on the headboard as he massaged his forehead.

Drying her hair, she sauntered towards the side of the bed.

“I have a terrible headache,” he muttered and looked at her.

“I’ll ask Nana Talia to bring you some medicine for your headache and a bowl of hot soup. Did you drink all the liquors in that bar last night?” She scoffed.

“Did you just scoff at me, Katherine?” His brows furrowed.

“Yes!” She hung the towel on her shoulder and propped her hands to her sides. “You went home late last night. You’re wasted. You puked on the sheets and carpet. I had to ask for the maid’s help to take you to the tub and wash you. That headache, that hangover… you brought that to yourself.”

“Katherine, lower your voice. Your pitch’s making my head throb even more—”

“I’m sorry, but you can’t stop me.” He pulled her down to the bed. However, she defied the force and remained standing. “I have the right to reprimand you because I’m your wife. May it be on papers or on this bed.”

“Oh, God… this tigress is already growing her pangs.” He leaned on the bed again and closed his eyes.

Kate noticed his cheeks were flushed. She then palmed his forehead and found out that he had a fever.

“Your burning, Jan.” Then she suddenly remembered the only reason why he would suddenly have a fever. “Stay home, okay? I’ll call Rose and tell her you—”

“Don’t bother about it. Just go to school,” he said with eyes closed. “I’ll do it myself.”

Kate heaved a deep sigh and walked in the direction of the walk-in closet. It took her a few minutes to get ready for school. Jan was sleeping again when she walked past the bed.

She headed to the kitchen before leaving.

“Where is Nana Talia?” she asked Luisa upon seeing her.

“Oh. She went out to buy something. Is there anything you need?”

“Oh, I see. Please cook something to cure Jan’s hangover and give him some medicine for his fever,” she told the maid and checked her wristwatch. “Please take it upstairs, Luisa. I can no longer attend to him now. I’ll be late for class.”

“I will. Don’t worry,” Luisa said, assuring her with a smile.

“Thank you.”

She headed outside and was surprised to see Fernan standing beside his car.

“O-oh… Fernan. Are you here for Jan?” She gestured to the door. “He’s sick with a terrible hangover.”

He opened the door to the passenger seat.

“Hop in,” Fernan said as he held the door open.

“E-eh?”

“My brother asked me a favor to drive you to school.”

Kate wagged her hands. “It’s fine. I can commute—”

“And you’ll be late for class because you’re still here, explaining.” He tilted his head in the direction of the car. “Hop in, Katherine, and I’ll deal with my brother later.”

She let out a sigh and did what she was told.