"Can you stop laughing? it's not even funny." tawa parin ng tawa si Kaylee kahit pa nga tapos na sila sa panonood ni Alexander ng horror movie na iyon. "eh paanong.." nakahawak si Kaylee sa tiyan habang tumatawa. "hindi tatawa eh para kang..." tumatawa na naman siya. "tanga." napahawak pang muli si Kaylee sa tiyan n'ya habang tumatawa kay Alexander. "tanga? talaga lang ah?" kahit pa nga sobrang tawa ni Kaylee na para bang wala na siyang makita dahil naluluha narin siya kakatawa, nakikita n'ya ang naiinis na mukha ni Alexander. "Sinong tao yung magtatago sa unan at tatakbo sa likod ng couch dahil lang may ghost sa pinapanood n'yang movie." huminga ng malalim si Kaylee para mahimasmasan siya kakatawa pero natawa na naman siya ulit ng sinamaan siya ng tingin ni Alexander. "It wasn't just a simple ghost, it was a demon and that movie is based on real life events." pagtatanggol nito sa sarili nito. "so you believe in demon? you're a tough guy and cruel boss and husband and yet you're
Kaylee is spacing out. She keeps thinking of how Alexander still keeps in touch with his ex girlfriend. She's so curious if she's the one who called him that night as well. During breakfast, kahit pa nga nagpapanggap sila ni Alexander sa harap ng mga katulong na sweet, hindi parin mawala sa isip n'ya na kausap nito ang ex nito kagabi. Hindi n'ya alam kung anong maramdaman or kung may dapat ba siyang maramdaman. "wait, I should not think about this and is should not feel anything about it. That was his ex, they're together for 4 years so it's normal. And beside, he doesn't love me and I don't love him para mag-act ako this way? right? right, self. I should just relax and help him to whatever his aiming for with this pretending that we're really are in love in front of the maids. After all, that's what I'm good at, being used." she bitterly said to herself and sip the tea that she has. She's at the library again, reading a book with tea and other snack just to pass the day. She's c
"Ano ba problema mo?" she hissed. She's angry for what he said and for ending that call kahit pa nga nag-uusap pa silang dalawa ni Ava. "Really? Ang iniisip mo agad is yung ipapa-reto mo sa mga kaibigan mo sa'yo when we got divorce? that fast?" kumunot ang noo ni Kaylee dito, nagsalubong ang dalawang kilay n'ya. "Yes, that fast. Alexander, hindi kita gusto at hindi mo ako gusto. Mas lalong hindi natin mahal ang isa't-isa, so what is it to you na magpapa reto ako kaagad sa mga kaibigan sa mga lalaking kilala nila when we got divorce?" tugon n'ya dito na may galit pa din. "Still!! everyone knows that you are married to me, tapos right after the divorce may bago agad?" puno ng inis at hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Alexander sakanya. "it's better than to have a contact with your ex even though you're married, right?" she caught him off guard. Bigla nalang itong natameme at nakatingin lang sakanya. "What are you talking about?" maang-maangan pa nito. "Don't deny it, alam ko naman si
Kaylee finds her relaxing time, away from stress and away from the face of Alexander when she's in the bathroom and lying down on the bubble on the bath tub. She's been in the bathroom for 2 hours now, after that dinner in bed that Alexander did just to show to everyone that they're in good terms, she felt like a long bath is needed because of how disgusted she is. Kaylee's eyes are closed and just feeling the cold water hugging her whole body. She is trying her best to clear her mind while she's in the shower, and trying her best not to think of Alexander's face while showering because if she will, she will definitely have a worst bath after a worst days with Alexander. "Kaylee, you've been there for 2 hours, are you still alive?" Alexander shouted outside and Kaylee just smiled to herself while breathing heavily to control herself and calm herself down. She didn't bother answering his nonsense question, she just stayed there and continue relaxing amidst Alexander's annoying vo
The boredoom weeks for Kaylee is done. Tapos na sila sa honeymoon stage at pwede na siyang lumabas. It's Monday at maagang nagising si Kaylee na may ngiti sa labi. Sa araw na iyan ay nakapag-plano na silang magka-kaibigan na lalabas sila for lunch para kumain sa labas. Bukal man sa loob n'ya pero nagpaalam parin siya kay Alexander at pumayag naman ito dahilan para mapaisip si Kaylee na baka may nakain itong maganda kaya pumayag sa gusto n'ya. Alas sais palang ng Umaga ay bumaba na si Kaylee sa papuntang kusina na may ngiti parin sa mga labi nito. "Good morning everyone." masiglang bati ni Kaylee sa mga kasambahay na gising na rin sa mga oras na iyon. "Good morning po ma'am." sabay-sabay na bati ng mga ito sakanya. "ang aga mo po atang nagising ngayon, ma'am." nagtataka pang hayag sakanya ni Lilia. "Well, because it's Monday and ngayon babalik si Alexander sa trabaho so kailangan kong magluto ng breakfast for him." aniya pa. Don't get Kaylee wrong. She's intentionally doing it
"So how's the marriage life?" full of curiosity and a bit of teasing tone kind of a question from Ava. They're at a famous restaurant in the city, doon nila napag-desisyonan na kumain magba-barkada. And while waiting for their orders, they're making conversations. "Boring, annoying and prison." that's how she described because that's how she really felt. Natawa ang mga kaibigan n'ya sakanya. "that's harsh, is it really that bad?" Amelia then asked. "yes, it's really that bad specially if you have a husband like Alexander Monroe. He's the worst at most manggagamit na tao na nakilala ko. Well, second to my parents." she said. "Kaylee, aren't you viewing the supposed to be positive into negative because of you're anger towards the man?" kumunot ang noo ni Kaylee sa tanong naman na iyon ni Celeste. "What do you mean by that?" naguguluhan talaga siya sa ibig nitong sabihin. "Well, for instance. In the night of your wedding, we saw how that man stare at you. We saw admiration e
Bandang alas dyes ng gabi na nakauwi si Kaylee. Gusto pa sana siyang i-hatid sa loob ng bahay ng mga kaibigan n’ya dahil baka galit si Alexander but she refused and even told them that Alexander is cool with her going home at that hour. Nang nakaalis na ang sasakyan ng mga kaibigan n’ya ay pumasok na rin siya sa loob ng bahay. Pagkapasok n’ya ay medyo madilim na ang living room pero nang mapadaan siya sa kusina, sobrang liwanag pa doon at nakaupo si Alexander sa dining table habang kaharap nito ang mga pagkain. kumunot ang noo ni Kaylee dito at nanlaki ang mga mata nang ma-realize n’ya na hinintay siya nito para sa hapunan. Kaylee may be mad at him but she’s still feel pity specially when Alexander waited for her. “You said you’ll be back before dinner. What time is it now?” sobrang lamig ng boses nito. Sobra ang lamig at galit doon. “It’s 10 o’clock in the evening. Wala ka bang relo? And what are you doing? Did you really wait for me?” She said na medyo naiinis rin dito. Nang ma
Kaylee woke up with the sun hitting her face. Napansin n'ya rin pag gising n'ya na nakaayos siya ng higa sa kama, so different to what she remembers last night. Natanggal narin ang heels n'ya. Hindi na lamang iyon pinansin ni Kaylee at pumasok na sa cr para mag toothbrush at mag hilamos alam n'yang sobrang bog-bog ng mukha n'ya dahil hindi n'ya natanggal ang make up n'ya kagabi but when she stared at herself in the mirror, natanggal na ang make up n'ya sa mukha. Hindi mapigilang mag kunot ang noo ni Kaylee doon. "Did Alexander took off my own make up last night? was I that tired to not even woke up habang tinatanggal n'ya make up ko?" she mumbles to herself. Tumingin siya sa sofa bed ng kwarto kung saan doon natutulog si Alexander pero wala na ang asawa n'ya doon. Nagkibit-balikat na lamang si Kaylee sabay sipilyo at hilamos. Matapos si Kaylee sa ginagawa n'ya ay bumaba na siya sa kusina, inaasahan n'ya na andoon si Alexander at kumakain ng breakfast pero wala ang binata at nakaal
"Alright, schedule the meeting at 4 pm today, I'll be heading home now." Alexander utter to his secretary om the other line. "Noted, sir. Have a safe drive, sir." his secretary replied and Alexander just nodded like his secretary can see it and he ended the call. He's now packing his clothes and ready to check out that hotel room that he lived for how many weeks. Matapos sabihin sakanya ni Kaylee ang lahat ng masasakit na salita na dapat n'yang marinig, naisipan n'ya munang bigyan ito ng space. Uuwi muna siya sa Manila para sa trabaho n'ya. He doesn't know how long he will give Kaylee a space, maybe he will just watch her from afar and protect her from afar for awhile before showing himself to her again. Alexander knows that Kaylee was really pissed and angry at him every since and even now, he doesn't want to add fuel to that by adding more frustration to her. After that night, Alexander didn't go to restaurant when morning came. He was just at his hotel room and spacing ou
"Alexander, ako na kasi." Alexander wanted to take the tray of food from Kaylee's hands para tulungan ito lalo na't marami-rami ang hawak nito at may drink pa na daldalhin. "I'll take this and you take the drinks." aniya pa dito. "You take the drinks and I'll take this. Hindi ka pwedeng magbuhat ng mabigat, kakagaling mo lang sa sakit." naiinis na tugon ni Kaylee sakanya. "Maayos na ang pakiramdam ko, anong pinagsasabi mong hindi pa ako magaling. Sige na, ako na ang magdadala nito at ikaw na doon." tinuro ng dalawang nguso n'ya ang drinks. "Gusto n'yo ako na magbuhat?" may biglang nagsalita sa likod nila. It's the unwanted guest of Kaylee. bumaling ang tingin ni Alexander dito at tinaasan ito ng kilay. "You shouldn't be here. This is for the employees only, you're not an employee so please get out." pagtataboy ni Alexander sa lalaki. "Alexander—" "am I wrong, Kaylee? tinaboy mo ako from here before, ba't parang sasawayin mo pa ako dahil pinapalabas ko itong bisita mo from the k
When everyone is working, at 2 pm in the afternoon, a customer enters the restaurant. It's a man that was very familiar to Alexander's sight. Naningkit ang dalawang mata n'ya ng bigla itong lumapit kay Kaylee at saka nakipag-beso dito. Tinitigan ito ng maigi ni Alexander, dahil sa selos at para narin maisip n'ya kung saan n'ya ba nakita ang binatang lumalapit-lapit kay Kaylee. "Anong ginagawa mo dito? bibili ka ba ng pagkain?" nakangiting tanong ni Kaylee sa lalaki. Sobrang laki ng ngiti ni Kaylee dito, ngiting hindi nito naibigay sakanya simula nang dumating siya sa lugar na iyon. "No, I just came to visit you." kumindat pa ito kay Kaylee na mas lalong ikina-inis ni Alexander. Who does he think that he is to do that to his wife? Mas lalo pang nainis si Alexander when the guy leaned closer to Kaylee para may maibulong dito at nagtawanan silang dalawa matapos iyon. "That's Colin, palagi iyang andito dati minsan kapag day off ni Kaylee si Kaylee ang pumupunta sakanya sa Manila." an
Morning came and Alexander felt better than last night. bumaba na rin ang lagnat nya, but Kaylee is not on his room anymore. She has left at nag-iwan lang ng note pati gamot at saka pagkain sa bedside table nya. binasa ni Alexander ang note na iniwan ni Kaylee para sakanya."I already check you, you're fever are already down but you still need to eat and drink your meds to prevent it from striking back again. Don't come to work today, just stay at home at magpa galing ng todo, don't be stubborn." napangiti si Alexander sa letter na iniwan nito matapos nya itong basahin."even in letters, she's still so bossy and mataray. I can hear her voive with only this letter." he jokingly said to himself and chuckled afterwards. Tumayo na si Alexander mula sa pagkaka upo sa kama at dinala ang pagkain na hinanda ni Kaylee sa maliit na dining table ng hotel room nya at doon kinain iyon pati narin ang gamot nya ay doon nya narin ininom. Matapos iyon ay inopen nya ang laptop nya at email nya para e-
Alexander woke up feeling tired ay dawn. Hindi na masakit ang ulo n'ya pero nanghihina parin ang buong katawan n'ya. He woke up still feeling sick but his eyes wants to see Kaylee. Hinanap ng mga mata n'ya ang asawa n'ya, umaasa siya na andoon parin ito at inaalagaan siya. At hindi nga siya nabigo dahil nakita n'ya ito sa study table n'ya na naka-upo habang may kausap sa cellphone nito. Hindi mapigilan ni Alexander na mapangiti. "Yes, I'll be home this morning, okay? you have to sleep na. It's way way past your bedtime already." anito pa sa kausap nito sa sobrang mahinahon at sweet na boses. Hindi naririnig ni Alexander ang kausap nito kaya hindi n'ya malaman kung sino at ano ito. "Alright, goodnight. I love you. Go to bed, it's 1 am already, bye." anito pa ulit at saka pinatay na ang tawag. Alexander can't help but to overthink that maybe Kaylee has a boyfriend already. "Who was that?" he asked hoping that she will not say that it's her boyfriend or what. "It's nothing that you
Alexander keeps yawning while working in the restaurant. 6 am na siya nakatulo dahil sa dami ng trabaho nya kagabi, at 8:45 am na din siya nakapasok sa trabaho na ikinagulat din naman ni Kaylee. He was never late, in the past weeks na nagta-trabaho siya sa restaurant na iyon, sa araw na iyon lang siya late."you keep on yawning, ano ba ginawa mo kagabi at wala kang tulog?" pang limang tanong na iyan ni Kaylee sakanya sa araw na iyon and it's not even lunch yet."nothing, hindi lang ako nakatulog talaga. insomnia." aniya pa dito. ayaw nyang sabihin sa asawa nya kung ano ang ginawa nya dahil baka magalit ito. he is overworking himself."talaga lang huh? baka naman kung saan-saan ka pa nagsusuot kagabi?" she is interogating him."saan naman ako pupunta?" tanong nya din pabalik sa asawa at tinaasan siya nito ng kilay kaya ngumisi na lamang si Alexander dito. "i swear, umuwi ako kaagad pagka hatid ko sa'yo, i just really had an insomnia kaya matagal akong nakatulog. you don't have to worry
A week has passed and Alexander is consistent in helping and winning Kaylee's heart again. Every hour, minute and seconds of everyday, he never fails to make her feel na he's being true to what he feels and his intentions is pure now. No more pretentious or lies. Even though Kaylee's trust are hard to earn again, it's alright because he's willing to work on it for however long it takes. "Let me help you with that." aniya pa sa asawa niya na may bit-bit na namang tray na marami ang food na order ang laman. "You have a customer and I can perfectly put that tray into my customers table." walang emosyon na saad nito sakanya. "I know but I'm willing to help you and besides, hindi pa luto ang order ng customer ko and iyong ibang customer na andito ay may mga waiter na so my hands are free." matamis siyang ngumiti sa asawa at inirapan nalang siya ni Kaylee na mas lalong ikinangiti ni Alexander. Those rolling of eyes may be mean but better than no emotions. "Put that in table 5. I'll go g
"Kaylee, let me.." kaagad na kinuha ni Alexander ang bitbit ni Kaylee na mga pagkain. It was heavy enough kaya tumulong si Alexander dito. "Alexander, i can perfectly deliver that to my customer.." nakasunod sakanya si Kaylee habang sinasabi iyon. "i know you can but i don't have a customer so I'm gonna helpp you with yours. Besides, these are alot so a little help will be okay, right?" nakangiti niyang sambit dito. "a little help? halos lahat ng order ko ikaw ang bumunuhat ngayong araw. It's not a little help, Alexander. Parang hindi mo na ako pinapa-trabaho dito." naiinis na reklamo ni Kaylee sakanya na ikinatawa lang naman ni Alexander. "it's not a big deal.." "when will you gonna leave?" napahinto si Alexander sa tanong nito. tumingin siya kay kaylee, tumitig siya dito. "Leave me alone, Alexander. Do you think working here with me will help me convince to give you accept you back into my life. Your lies and what you did is far more heavy than your efforts now." Alexander was
kinabukasan ay maaga ulit nagising si alexander, hindi para mag jogging or ano, kundi para pumasok sa trabaho. Alas tres na siya natulog kagabi at tinapos nya lahat ng trabaho nya sa opisina. alas sais na rin siya gumising dahil papasok pa siya sa bagong trabaho nya. he has his new uniform na hiningi nya kagabi sa may-ari at nang makapag simula na siya kaagad kinabukasan. wala siyang masyadong tulog pero wala siyang pakialam, ang importante ay makapasok siya sa trabaho at makita si Kaylee ulit. 3 hours of sleep cannot hinder him from being bubbly and happy while taking a bath and ordering a breakfast and eat it with a smile on his face. his excitement to be finally work with the love of his life gave him enough energy to survive the day. Saktong 7:00 siya nakarating sa restaurant. He has a big smile while the manager slash owner is opening the restaurant. "Mr. Monaco, you know well that I don't really wanna hire you because you're a very big business man but you beg me for this f