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
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“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
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“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“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
ASHANTII woke with the alarm clock blasting on my bedside table. I immediately sat up and rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand. I looked at the watch and it’s already six in the morning—an hour earlier than the usual time I wake up.I walked down to the kitchen to cook breakfast. I am not really the best person to cook but I’m trying to practice. At least for my husband and I…I prepared what I needed for the fried rice and the sides. I know what to do. I’ve watched several cooking shoes lately and I believe I am going to really get better at this. I just need practice, like what Lora, our helper, and my mom tell me all the time.“Practice never betrays you,” is what my mother has been telling me. Even when I was just starting to design clothes, it has been my motto. No one was born a genius or skillful, anyway.I was on the final egg—the last egg stan
WORK AND LOVE“Wow! You are early, Ashanti.” Min greeted me as I entered the office.I smiled at her and nodded. “Kristoff wanted us to leave the house together so, I had to come early,” I replied as I placed my things on my table.She just gave me a smile and I know there is a meaning behind it.Minerva Crescent is one of my closest people in the office. She had been my person to run to, other than Genevieve, my best friend, when I am facing problems in any aspect of my life. She pretty much knows everything about me and I know that I, too, know things about her life as well.There isn’t any awkward boss-subordinate relationship between us because one, we are of the same age and, two, I don’t look at her as a subordinate. She is a friend. She’s someone reliable.I looked at the pile of folders on my table. There are about twenty of those in my estimation.“Th
ANNIVERSARY FIGHTSilence enveloped the car when we started driving. Only the noise from the stereo was heard in the whole car.“So…where do you want to eat?” Kristoff asked as he turned the car.I looked straight at the road. “Wherever you want,” I replied safely.I can tell that he is looking at me. I can tell at my peripheral view. And hell, I am distracted and over the roof uneasy.“Is there something bothering you?” He should’ve noticed my uneasiness.But yes, you are bothering me. I looked at him, against my will because looking at him will only distract me more, and shook my head. “No. Nothing. Just office stuff,” I replied as calm as I could.He nodded and seemed to believe. I do hope so. “What is up for your fashion show?” he asked.“We are still planning it. Hopefully, everything will be final by the end of the
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