"Am I really too late, my wife? Rejection isn't in my dictionary. I'll make sure that I will win you back." - Zach [FF13]

🍁💨🍁💨🍁

She grabbed the huge paper bag and the white bath towel beside it. Inside the bag, there's three new different style and color of dresses sizes 0, her size, a tanned wedge sandals and a pink Kate and Spade small satchel purse. She checked the tag, though the prices were already ripped off, she knew from its signature brand names that he bought it from the States. There were also five pair of Victoria Secret's bra and panties, some body lotion, body mist, a toothbrush, and a hair brush.

Strange. Why is he so thoughtful out of the sudden?

A sweet smile was painted on her lips.
She was really touched receiving those gifts from him, not because it's branded but the thought that he remembers buying some stuffs for her. She really thought that he forgot about her when he got away.

She chose the peach dress patterned with small butterflies and flowers, and pink pair of laced undies. She placed it with the towel as well as the toothbrush, lotion, and body mist.

She's about to go out of the room, when the picture frames on the small study table caught her attention.

It's his family picture on one frame. The three persons on it looks really happy. The little boy around 5 years old was on the middle of his parents. His mom was very pretty. She had a fair complexion, chinita eyes, and bright smile. His father looked handsome as well, had a tanned complexion, and angular jawline.

"He looked so much alike of his mother. He's really cute," she murmured, "Manang Eva said that the boys have the appearance of their mother most of time, and girls their father's. Uly resembled so much of his mom and his little baby girl, look as if they they're coconut cut in half."

On the other photo frame was when he graduated elementary. He was all smiled and seemed to be a collector of awards and medals.

"Whoa! He must be really smart."

She went out of the small room. Her eyes traveled around the house. Though, it's made of hollow blocks, it was roughly done, probably painted by one-coat of vanilla ice cream color that's been faded by aged, and some long cracked were visible. A few more earthquakes, it might give up. There's another bedroom on left side, obviously his parent's bedroom and on the right was going down the 5-step ladder. On the right side was a door partly open and yes, it's the bathroom. Then, the small living area with a 3-seater couch made of bamboo, two one-person seats, and a coffee table also made of bamboo. There are three jalousie windows behind the bamboo couch without any curtains that's opened, and gave enough sunlight inside the house. A few steps from the couch was the main door made of plywood without any paints.

The air inside the house was wafted with the delicious yet, strong stinky aroma of fried dried fish, most commonly known as 'tuyo'. She tasted it once when she was a teenager. Her dad didn't want their cook to fried it inside their kitchen as the smells stuck on the fabrics for a long time. They fried it at the dirty kitchen at the backyard when her dad was on his business trip. She complained by its smell but their housemaids just laughed at her and told that it's delicious. Her yaya let her taste it and she liked it.

She went down and peeked at the kitchen. It was just slightly divided by the sea shells drapes attached to the ceiling.

Gosh! How does that man look so sexy while cooking?

He's facing the gas range and seems dueling with whatever on the frying pan using the bamboo slotted turner.

She wanted to hug him from the back on that position like in those romance TV series, but then her conscious mind reminded her that he's her ex and they never been closed even before. She let out a deep sigh of disappointment.

How I wish to do it with my man, too, without hesitation? It must be really sweet and romantic. But I guess, not with Zach anymore.

She walked to the bathroom and pushed the door. She screamed again as two cockroaches flew to her head from the bathroom. She's jumping while shaken off her head and still letting out a scandalous yelped. With all the insects created by God, she really hates the cockroaches.

She heard Zach chuckled behind her. "Oh, did my pets welcome you? I told them to kiss you gently, but it freaked you out."

She faced him and grimaced in annoyance. "I don't need their greetings!" She groped the switch in the bathroom, turned it on, went inside while mutterings in dismay, and shut the door behind her.

She was more annoyed to see that the door could only be locked by small hook not the proper door knob. The bathroom was also very small with a tiny sink without cabinet, a toilet bowl and no faucet at all but two huge drums and pails, filled with water. The floor was cemented roughly as well. It's the first time she saw that kind of bathroom.

No shower heads at all? So, I'm just going to use that 'tabo'? She's pertaining to blue big mug to scoop the water on the drum.

She brushed her teeth, undressed, did her morning call, and tried the water temperature by her fingers. Its winter cold like her ex. She heaved a deep breathe before she splashed herself using the mug of water.

"Ohh, gosh!" she yelped. She was jumping every time she splashed herself to relief the coldness. She immediately shampooed and conditioned her hair using the things in there. She also used the soap as there's no shower gel and scrubbing mitts.

She dried herself after a while and put on her dress. She saw a pair of new dried beach slipper outside the bathroom, her size.

"Come on, let's have brunch," Zach invited her. He's seating on one of the single bamboo chairs facing her direction, but his eyes on his cellphone.

"Where's my phone?" she inquired.

He shrugged his shoulder. "I didn't bother to bring it with you." He walked towards the dining area.

Her lips pouted like a duck and joined him in the dining. The square table made of bamboo was already set with two plates and cutleries. On the serving plates are fried rice, eggs, hotdogs, and tuyo. The sight and smells of the foods made her drools and her tummy craved for it.

"Can I borrow your phone? I need to call my boyfriend," she emphasized the last word.

His lips curved on a slyly smile. "No." He put his phone in his pocket. He poured some newly brewed coffee on a mug, added some whitener, a teaspoon of sugar, and stirred it. The way she blended her own coffee.

She was amazed when he handed it to her. "Drink some coffee. Don't you have a hang-over?"

What's wrong with him? He never made me a coffee before.

But then, she sipped a little bit.

Hmm... Perfect. How did he know my taste?

"He must be worried about me," she said.

Now, his cold stares met with her eyes. "He'll probably still snoring," he said. He put some fried rice on the plate in front of her. "Eat. You're skinnier than before. You're consuming more wine than food."

"I'm not," she protested, "I only drink it occasionally."

"Were you? Hmm? Are you sure about that?" He looked at her as if he's reading her thoughts.

She nodded like an obedient kid as she sipped more coffee.

"You were so drunk last night like a wasted woman."

She almost spitted-out her coffee. "Did I do something stupid?" She furrowed her eyebrows and tried to think about it.

"You didn't remember?" A ghost of smile sneaked out on his naturally reddish lips.

Gosh! Did I ask it out loud? What have I done? Try to remember it, Yrrah!

She gave up. She couldn't remember anything. "What did I do?" she asked sheepishly.

"Not a big deal. You just kissed me torridly in front of everyone. You said you missed me so much."

Her eyeballs literally popped-out her eye sockets. Her face turned red.

My gosh! Did I really do it?

His laugh echoed in the four corners of his house. He's so amused of her reaction.

"Tss. You're just tricking me! I will never do such a thing!" She squinted her eyes.

"Why? Didn't you miss me, my wife?" he asked mischievously as his lips lifted on his right cheek.

She arched her right eyebrow. "Stop calling me your wife. Have you forgotten that we're divorced already?"

His naughty smile popped like bubbles on his face.

"You're probably the one who missed me so much. You even kidnap me here." Now, it's her winning moment especially when his cheeks and ears turned really red like tomatoes.

Oh my! He's really blushing! He did miss me.

"Don't put your hope too high, woman!" he said sarcastically.

He put a handful of fried rice in his mouth. Yes, handful as he didn't use his spoon.

Now, a victorious smile was plastered on her lips.

They ate awkwardly and silently.

"Still, don't get drunk when you're not home and do something stupid. Your friends seemed to be the bar patrons," he said seriously after he drank his water.

"Why do you even care? Are you really that concerned about me?"

"I'm more concern about you tinted the Olevar's name that you're still using, if you do something stupid," his voice was now as cold as his glare, as if he's a mad dog.

She got goosebumps. If you only knew that I did worst. And I need to find that man before he could ruin my reputation.

"I want to go home," she said.

"You're home. Do the dishes while I take a shower." He stood up and left her in awe.

"What? This isn't my home!" she yelled but he didn't bother to looked back to her. He went straight to the bathroom.

She growled like a mad wild bear and even stomped her one foot. "He's so annoying!"

She cleared the table and washed the dishes.

We definitely grew up in different lifestyle. The very reason why he agreed to marry me, for sure. But he got his money already, why is he bothering me again? Does he need more money? Why did he come back like he was possessed by another soul? What's his motive now?

Hmm... Our parents were friends though they have opposite status, too. It probably didn't bother them at all. His parents seemed to be good people, but yet his dad killed his mom. That must be traumatic for him. But what if he's a psychotic himself? Am I really safe now? What if...?

"Are you done yet?"

"Ohh, Psychotic!" she yelped as she was stupefied. "Gosh, Zach! Are you going to kill me of heart attack?" She even dropped the spoon that she was wiping to dry.

"Why so startled? What were you even thinking?" he asked in confusion.

"Hmm... Nothing." She shook her head.

"Leave it there. Go prepare yourself now."

She noticed that he was ready to go already. He looked so cool in his wet and disheveled hair style, and on his sky-blue long-sleeved polo that had been folded to his elbow, paired with a blue jeans, and Converse shoes.

Did I take that long to wash these dishes? In fairness, he's a very handsome psycho just in case. But still, I don't want to die yet.

She rushed to the bathroom to brush her teeth again. Then, to the room she used. She brushed her long hair, no need to put make-ups as she didn't bring any. She grabbed the sachet bag and quite surprised to find a Clinique face power and lipstick inside. She checked the number code and its exactly what she was using.

Really, Zach? I didn't know that you pay attention to this small details.

She put on a face powder, lipstick, the wedge sandals. She brought the paper bag of her stuff and went down.

"I'm ready. By the way, thank you for all these stuffs."

Zach who was waiting on the couch, glanced to her with admiration.

She walked pass him to the door but he grabbed her arms. "Not so fast."

He reached something in his pocket, a red small box and handed it to her. "Merry Christmas, Caz."

Again, for the nth times today, she's flabbergasted. "A-another gift?"

"Open it."

She opened the box to revealed the platinum necklace chain with a pendant; it's a heart locket with small key. She knew it's made of platinum as it was written in the lining inside.

"Let me put it on you."

She held up her long hair so Zach could easily put on the necklace.

"Thank you. I don't even have a gift to—"

Before she could even finish her sentence, Zach cupped her face and claimed her lips.

🍁💨🍁💨🍁

5-15 May 2020

Unedited.

A/N: Feel free to point out any grammatical errors. Thankie❣