SICK
I woke up the next morning feeling heavy and sick. Maybe I am really sick because I couldn’t stand up when I tried to. I can’t even move my body.
Kristoff walked to my room. We don’t share one room. But our rooms are next to each other.
He called me and said some things I couldn’t decipher anymore. He keeps talking but I don’t think I know what he was talking about.
Is he speaking in Chinese? I don’t know.
My head hurts like hell and I can’t move and it’s cold and maybe I need his hug and…. Wait. What did I just think of?
I need his hug?
Oh no. Please, Ashanti. Get a hold of yourself.
I closed my eyes and went to sleep again.
Sorry, Kristoff. I can’t understand you right now. Everything is blurring and fading away.
***
I woke up with a heavy feeling on my hand. I looked at the window
THIS LADYLora, our helper, peered on the door while Kristoff and I are laughing together over that funny stuff he was talking about.“Kristoff, there is a visitor downstairs,” she told him. She then turned to me with the eyes of a concerned mother. I smiled at her, assuring her that I am fine now.Kristoff suddenly stayed still, frozen and I don’t know how to describe his facial expression. Was he nervous upon hearing that?I looked at him as he sighed to collect his cool. I know there is something wrong.“What’s wrong?” I finally found my guts to ask.He shook his head as he stood up and walked down stairs. I watched him as he hesitantly moved to the door. He is not like this.There is something wrong. I don’t really like it when he is acting this way. It’s like he doesn’t want to share his problems. Doesn’t he know that it’s making me craz
INFINITEXI widened my eyes. “No way!” I replied, disagreeing. There is no way I am going to ask those boys to run for my fashion show. Not with that Hunter Looney. He had pestered me during my high school and college days. And that is enough for me.“But, Shan, that is all the options we’ve got,” Min told me.“How did that happen?” I asked. “Aren’t they joining the fashion show as well?” I asked again.Min and the rest shook their heads. “They are under another brand, so, no.” Min replied.I sighed. “I’m going to solve this,” I said as I went to my table and sat.Min walked to me. “Ashanti, we will still talk to InfiniteX if ever you will change your mind. Or if ever you won’t be able to look for a solution.” She told me.I sighed and nodded.She looked at me. “Don’t worry. W
THAT JERK“Good morning, Ashanti.” I snapped back as soon as I heard that familiar irritating voice. I swear to God I haven’t hated a person in my whole life as much as I hate this guy.I am not really a bad person but Hunter Looney is really the kind of person who would test my patience. He looked at me with a grin on his face as his members walked behind him.I rolled my eyes. What a jerk.“Aren’t you going to greet me good morning, too?” he asked me as he welcomed himself in the office.Min, who was standing by the door, was shocked to see situation. I guess I have to explain later.“What’s good in seeing your face?” I asked him as fiercely as I could.He smirked. “Then, morning is fine with me.” He snapped back.I rolled my eyes. “Talking to you isn’t even fine with me, jerk, how much more greeting you?”
SORRYJust as when the boys left, Kristoff entered the office with something unreadable in his face. He looked like he was mad but he was more worried than angry.“Ashanti,” he started as I went back to my chair.I looked at him as I sat. “What’s up?” I asked him, trying to act cool and normal.Kristoff gave me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry,” he said.I narrowed my eyes on him. “What are you apologizing for?” I asked innocently.He leaned on my table with his hands. “Don’t pretend you don’t know,” he said. “Chester told me everything.” He continued.I nodded. “It’s all under control now,” I replied as I planned on how to kill Chester and Genevieve later. “We have found artists to model already.” I added.Kristoff looked at me. I don’t know how to describe the look he ga
MARXThere is nothing you can do when your heart decides who to love. I remember my professor in Psychology say this. For once, I have believed that this quote is a positive thing. But when I finally knew about Kristoff’s feelings, I realized that I am losing in this.I love him.He doesn’t love me.I care for him.I don’t know if what he is doing is caring for me.He does things now that he doesn’t usually do for me before. I don’t exactly know if this is an improving affection but I can see that he is starting to change.Bit by bit.I just hope it’s for the best. Because it is hurting me too much, I can’t seem to handle anymore.I walked out of my room today, prepared to go to the office. I am planning to skip breakfast because I know how awkwardly I will act in front of Kristoff after that hug last night.Come to think of it, I did r
COMPARISONKristoff, Hunter and I entered the elevator. I don’t know why but I think there is an awkward atmosphere in the elevator. No. I think there really is. I could feel it radiating from the three of us.And you know what’s worse? Kristoff’ arm is wrapped around me and I can contain all my emotions. I am dying inside. I don’t know why but he seemed to be a bit protective of me in front of Hunter. It is weird. But is a good weird.This is the first time I have ever saw him come this close to me for the longest time.Hunter Looney, on the other hand, is really quiet. This is one of the rarest times that I will see him shut up and not pester me.Should I bring Kristoff all the time for him to stop bothering me?But then again, that would be hard on my part.“Wow. Hunter, you’re quiet,” I started to tease him as I looked at him.Okay, let me do thi
HIS FEELINGS“Okay. That’s all for today,” I told my employees as I closed the folder and ended the presentation I have been preparing for the past few weeks.The fashion show is just a day away and I am glad that everything is going well.I smiled at Min who waited for me at the door.“Congrats, Shan. You did it!” She beamed as I stopped in front of her. “Finally! Tomorrow, all your hard works will pay off!” She beamed excitedly.I chuckled and nodded. “It’s not just me though. It’s all of our hard works,” I replied. “We should all celebrate after the show!” I beamed as Min and I started jumping up and down in the office like we are some crazy fan girls going insane over the long-awaited comeback of Block V.We just stopped jumping when we felt really tired.“Okay. Let’s stop, I’m tired,” I said as we both
HANDSOMEMy world stopped the moment Kristoff’s lips landed on mine. I don’t know what to react. I don’t know what to think. I don’t know what this means. I don’t know why he is doing this.What is he trying to prove?Kristoff eventually pulled away from me but his eyes were locked on mine. It’s as if he is going to tell me something. But he couldn’t say it in words.I snapped out of my thoughts. I can’t let my guards down at this moment. I can’t lose my sanity right now. Not with a kiss.Not with that kiss.Somehow, he must’ve noticed that I am thinking about what he is thinking, because, then, his hand slid to my hand, interlacing each of his fingers on mine.I bit my lip as I tried to suppress this growing feeling in me. All these emotions, I can’t contain each and every single one of them anymore.I stared at our hands bef
ASHANTI“I can’t take it anymore,” I told Kristoff as we were in the labor room. This morning, I had several Braxton-Hicks that made Kristoff panic. The contractions had been intensified from then up to now.“Baby, just hold on a little longer.” I don’t know who Kristoff is telling that—me or the baby.He gripped onto my hand as before planting a kiss on my sweaty forehead.I’ve known how painful it is to give birth but the ones I have read never really made me feel this way. This is—by far—the worst pain in my life. I have never even imagined feeling this excruciating pain.Dr. Johnson, my OB, with a nurse came towards us. The nurse explained that the doctor will be checking my cervical dilatation.“You’re fully dilated now, Mrs. Marx. You can push now.” Dr. Johnson told me and encouraged me to bear down.Kristoff was holdi
ASHANTI“I want to eat ice cream.” I raised my brow at what Kristoff told me. We are cuddling on the couch while watching the closing ceremonies of Asian Games, and then, there he is, pouting at me and hugging my body tightly.It was such an awful sight, to be honest. Kristoff and pouting should never be used in one sentence.“But it’s the middle of the night,” I replied and he pouted even more.I almost scoffed when I saw his face like that. Is he kidding me? Why is he acting like this right now? It was as if he is a baby or what.Truthfully, he was like this for the past few days. It’s too extreme to the point that I think he’s the pregnant one. He’s the one with raging hormones and not me.It’s too funny to even think about his expressions when he tells me that he likes pizza, ice cream, twin bananas, dragon fruits and what so ever.I’ve searche
ASHANTI“Are you alright?” Kristoff asked me as I paled when I was looking at the calendar. I was looking at my normal cycle before realizing that I am delayed. Three weeks delayed.I looked at him and nodded.He narrowed his eyes on me and sat closer to me. “Come on. You can’t fool me with that face of yours,” he beamed. “Tell me. What’s wrong, baby?” he asked in the sweetest voice that I have ever heard in my whole life.The way he calls me baby! I can feel my intestines coil with each other and the butterflies are flying all the way up to my throat. I want to throw up.I gulped when I realized that it’s true. I want to throw up. I immediately ran to the toilet and vomited on the bowl. Kristoff came running behind me, panicking about my condition.“Hey, what’s happening?” he asked me as he caressed my back. “Come on, I’l
ASHANTI“Please come to the bridal shower party!” Genevieve beamed at me as she just barged into my office like this. It’s her wedding in two weeks. Finally! We worked our butts off for this wedding because Genevieve wanted a different theme. She wanted a horror theme. According to her, marriage is scary. Hence, horror theme.I looked at her. “You know Kristoff won’t approve that kind of idea,” I replied.She pouted then walked to my desk. “Well they have this thing called Bachelor Bash and I think Kristoff told Chester that he would come,” she told me as she sat on the chair in front of my desk.My eyes widened at her. “What?!” I asked in disbelief.Genevieve nodded at me.I shut my eyes and contained my cool. How could he do this? He told me he wouldn’t go because he doesn't want me to go!I sighed hard.Genevieve looked at me. &ldqu
ASHANTIKristoff walked me inside his office and he led me to his couch. I looked around and wow. His office is really big and neat. It’s not like mine.His office is like those offices I see in dramas. All leather and all made of expensive woods.He let me sit on the couch and he sat beside me. Really, really close. I can feel my heart beating really, really fast.He always had that effect on me. He always had that power in me. He makes my heart beat faster and slower at the same time.“Are you sure you're okay?” he asked me as he looked at me.I smiled and nodded. I can't even talk because I am too nervous I would stutter because of all the feels.I just can't get enough of Kristoff and his grease. He would always make me feel nervous. No matter how long we’d stayed together.He smiled at me and wrapped his arm around me. “I missed you,” he told me as he kissed m
ASHANTI“What are you cooking, Ashanti?” Genevieve asked me as she leaned on the table while I am cooking something. She sounded really awful though. Oh. I can’t blame her though. I am not a goddess in the kitchen, okay. I acknowledge that.None taken.Instead, I chuckled at her. “I’m cooking something for Kristoff,” I replied as I continued to slice the onions.Genevieve wrinkled her nose. “That? You’re cooking that for your husband?” she asked me as she pointed at the onions.I looked at the onions then blinked at her, nodding. “Why? Is there something wrong?” I asked her.She sighed hard and rolled her eyes on me. Really now, Genevieve? What in the heavens did I do wrong?“Sissy, you won’t make a circle-shaped onion when you cut it that way. Cut it cross-sectional!” she told me.I looked at her confused. “Cro
ASHANTIThey say happy endings don’t just exist in fairy tales. They also exist in reality. One has to be happy and fulfilled to say that it’s the end. So, if one is not yet happy and fulfilled, it’s not yet the end. One has to learn to have faith. Keep the faith, as they say.I had my share of ups and downs. I even think there are more downs than ups. But that’s okay. At least I am happy right now. I am contented.Everything’s back into place. Everything’s going well again.Mom and Dad just celebrated their Pearl Wedding Anniversary, which means they are married for thirty long years. Who would have thought that married couple would reach that, especially nowadays when couples tend to break up? I even laughed at one quote I read that couples of today break up more often that one takes a bath.Is that even serious?Well, my parents are the living proof that marriage can be long-
CHANGE“Are you sure you’ll do this?” Hunter asked me as I am walking to Bianca’s hospital room.It’s been about a month when I last saw her in person. That was when Dad was hospitalized. Now, Dad already recovered. He’s at home and resting like a king.Kristoff and I have been better. He visits me every day in my unit. He’s trying to convince me to move back to our old house but I declined and refused the offer. Somehow, I loved what and where I am now.But what difference did it make? He comes home to me every day. His clothes got piled up in my place and it seems like we are living in one house again.Hunter, well, he is still Hunter Looney, the jerk with the inspirational messages from time to time. Nothing has changed with our relationship. He’s still my closest guy friend. And I am still his hot topic friend. I don’t know. He told me that one time.And no
RECONCILIATION“Dad.”I am watching Bianca hug Dad so tightly with tears brimming in her eyes. She was so broken and now she found her strength again.“My dear Bianca,” my dad hushes her as he patted her head.Kristoff came over and comforted her once again. I must admit that I am jealous. Not of Kristoff but of Dad.He looked at her with so much passion and concern. I don’t know what else. He has never looked at me with those eyes ever. Was it because Bianca’s sick? Or was it because I rebelled and I was too stubborn that I defied him because of my childish cries?I don’t know. And now I am standing near the door of his hospital room, numb and dumbfounded. Frozen. Stoned. I can’t move. I don’t know what to tell him.Should I just leave? Would I aggravate his condition when I stay here longer? The last time I talked to him was the day before he was rushe