The Wattpad Filipino Block Party 2021

Alone with my other half

(Julian and Zoey's side story)

from Lovely Liaison

"Julian!" Zoey called out from the living room. But she got no answer.

She had been scanning through the selection for movie night.

It has been one week since the city had gone on lockdown because of the worldwide crisis of the virus, which is called COVID-19. In response to the situation, the Hawksley Holding corporation and offices had announced to pause all operations for the safety of the staff. Thus, Zoey and Julian, who should have been in the office in the middle of the day, are in their apartment, finding ways to fill their time after finishing their work-at-home tasks.

Frustrated for the lack or response, she pulled out her phone and texted her significant other.

Zoey: Where are you? Popcorn and movie are ready.

It took a second for him to reply.

Julian: I'm in the upstairs office.

Julian: Do you know where is the file for the contracts on the Estates Projects?

Zoey: I emailed it to you. Check your inbox.

After another minute, he replied.

Julian: I don't see it.

Before Zoey could reply, she got another text. It was from her best friend April.

April: Anything fun plan with you and the hubby? 🔥 😜

April: I'm bored. 😑

Zoey: Movie and popcorn break. 🍿

Zoey: I thought you have that thing with your secret admirer.

April: You know it no longer a secret, right? 🙄

April: So, movie and popcorns. Nothing adventurous? 😝 💦 What had married life done to you? 🤧

Zoey: Was I ever adventurous? 🤨

April: Right. Who am I every asking?

April: But, for me, at least let me know your love life is not dried up. 😩

Zoey: 🙄 Who do you think is my husband? A monk?

April: Your right 😜

Thinking about Julian, Zoey turned to his text chain and left another message.

Zoey: Were you about to find it?

Julian: I'm looking through my email. I'll find it.

A minute or so later, and still she hadn't received any confirmation from him. She texted back.

Zoey: Babe, I've marked it as an important message. You should be able to find it.

Julian: Got it. Thanks, love.

And then, still no confirmation. Zoey turned back to her text chain with April.

Zoey: I might not have married a monk. But I think I married a boomer. Julian can't find a single email in his inbox right now.

April: 🤣 How did that man manage a company?

Zoey: He had Rufus, or Amy before, and now me.

Zoey: Looks like I need to go and save my prince. Text you later loves! 😘

April: Go slay queen! 😍

She knew he'd been using work to deal with his stress being stuck in the apartment. While Zoey, on the other hand, made sure her sanity was still intact despite the change of daily routine.

After placing the food on the table, she made a detour towards Julian's office.

Zoey crossed her arms over her chest and stared at Julian intently. It took him a minute to notice her standing by the door.

"Zoey, I don't see it. And I need to read through that contract. Where was it again?" He asked.

With a sigh, Zoey walked up to his desk and pushed him back along on his chair, giving her a better view of his computer monitor. She skimmed through his emails until she found them. She then downloaded the files and opened them for him to check.

"Done," she said proudly.

"Thanks, babe," Julian replied and pulled Zoey down to sit on his lap. "Let me read it through for a minute, and then I'm all yours, okay?"

Zoey glanced at the time on the corner of Julian's computer monitor and saw it was mid-afternoon. He'd been at it since early morning and haven't taken a break. He even had a working lunch.

With a deep sigh, Zoey got up and tugged Julian off the chair. She proceeded to drag him out. His baffled expression was still a sight to see.

Once they were in the living room, she lightly pushed him down the couch.

"Sit down," she commanded.

Julian's bewildered gaze fueled Zoey to want to tease him more. She slowly slid and sat down, cowboy style, on Julian's lap. Her sly smirk and the twinkle in her eyes put her husband in a trance.

"Mr. Hawksley, I believe there is a time for work and a time for a break. And I believe you have been so pent-up with work these days, you forgot how to have some fun," she remarked cheekily.

"You know that since we can't do the proper operation at the office, we have to handle the day-to-day work at home. I have to handle them over here and wait for their response. So, the back and forth is a bit draining. Although we could have used video call, to ask so little thing from one of the staff, calling them, again and again, is just...."

"I know you are frustrated about the current situation. And I know you are handling the stress of it in your own way. But that doesn't mean you have to push me away. On the contrary, I'm here for you. Both professionally and personally."

Julian arched an eyebrow at her. His eyes wickedly taunting her to continue. "And what do you propose to do that would help me loosen up, Mrs. Hawksley?" he asked.

Zoey lean back, to which Julian automatically responded by placing his arms around her waist, keeping her from falling.

"Well, I can think of some things..." she smiled mischievously.

She slowly tugged on the edges of his shirt, lifting them up over his head, and threw them down on the floor. Then, without breaking eye contact, she trailed her fingertip along his arms and slowly skimmed down his bare chest and down to his stomach, lingering merely inches from the button of his jeans.

Zoey could hear Julian suck in a deep breath in anticipation. She smiled, liking his reaction.

When Julian was about to reach over to her, Zoey held up her hand. "Not yet."

She trailed her hand up to her legs instead and slowly lifted her shirt, throwing them on top of Julian's discarded shirt.

"And now?"

She shook her head and got up from his lap while keeping his eyes lock on her. Then, she grabbed his hand, pulling him up from the couch, and got him to follow her up the short flight of stairs to their bedroom.

For the most part of the afternoon, there was no work talk exchanged between them.

~

Date Night at Home

(Amy and Dean's Side story)

From Elegant Deception

After the lockdown mandate from the city, Amy was nervous about how it'll affect her relationship with Dean since they've recently moved in together.

And for Amy, who had not been in a serious relationship for nearly five years, she was used to living alone for some time. So, there were instances in which she forgot that she doesn't live alone anymore. But then, a week or so with Dean, she got used to him being there.

At one point, while she was on her workstation on the small corner in the living room, she automatically reached out her hands, unconsciously knowing that Dean would place a newly brewed cup of coffee for her. It was almost like clockwork by the third week.

Amy always knew that Dean was a reliable person. He mostly did the housework, leaving Amy doing a little bit of cooking if she felt like it. Although by then, she felt like Dean was pampering her too much, she wasn't sure she'd be able to be alone again in her life.

Feeling like she wasn't doing much in their daily life, Amy decided to do something for their dating life. However, she wasn't sure how to do it. So, she texted her sister, April, who she'd always thought had a better experience with romance.

Amy: April, do you any suggestion for an in-home date idea?

April: You asked the right person to help you with this dilemma. 😉

Amy: Suggestions, please?

April: Make him dinner under candle light 😋 💏

April: Indoor picnic with the actual blankets and basket with sandwiches 🥪🍹

April: Or you in lingerie in a bed of roses 😜 ❤️‍🔥

Amy: Don't make it dirty, sister 😑

April: You asked me. What did you expect? 😘

Amy cleared her work-at-home task and then informed Dean, who was in their bedroom where his work station is located. She decided not to interrupt him with work and left him message instead.

Amy: I'm making dinner tonight.

Not a few seconds later Dean replied.

Dean: Sounds like a plan.

Dean: Why are you texting me? You know I'm just in the other room.

Amy: I know. But I didn't want to interrupt your work.

Amy: Also, come dressed.

Dean: Dressed?

Amy: Yes, dressed. And don't come out of the room too.

It took him a minute to reply.

Dean: Did I forget an anniversary or birthday?

Amy: No. Don't worry. I just wanted to do something for you. For date night. 😘

Dean: Okay. I'll be here until you ask me to come out.

Amy: Thanks, Dean. Love you. 🥰

Dean: Love you too, Ams. ❤️

Once Amy was in the kitchen, she checked the fridge and the cupboards in search of the ingredients she needed for the unique diner this evening.

After she finished cooking, leaving most of it in the oven and stove to keep it warm, she started setting up the living into a fancy-looking restaurant. To her relief, she had decent candles and flower décor for the table setting. As for the room ambiance, she unearthed the Christmas light in the small storage room. She stuck them above like garlands.

Half way through her preparations, she got a text from her sister again, asking about her plans.

April: How are you doing?

April: What are you doing?

April: Which one did you do?

April: Did you go with the bed of roses and lingerie? 😜 ❤️‍🔥

April: I remembered I gifted you that cute set on your last birthday. Did you wear it? 😉

Amy: My god, sister. No!

April: What? Then what are you doing?

Amy: I made him dinner under candlelight.

Amy: Well, more like Christmas lights above us.

April: Wow! I didn't expect you do go big. Good for you sis! 😄 👍

Amy: I'll text you later and tell you how it goes.

April: Don't bother. I know you'll be to busy for the rest for the night. 🔥 😜 💦

Amy: 😑

It was past nine by the time she finished. She walked into the room and got a surprise when she saw Dean sitting by the bed in a formal black suit without a tie.

"What are you wearing?" She stood there, dumbfounded.

"You did say get dressed." He smirked and got up, giving Amy a good view of his outfit.

"It's been a while since I've seen you in a suit."

"Aren't you dressing up as well?" He asked.

"Well, I can't ask you to head out there while I get dressed. However, you might want to sneak a peek."

"Then, I'll stay in here and close my eyes?" His words trailed into a question.

Amy considered it for a moment and nodded. "No peeking."

"It's not like I've not seen you naked, you know." He teasingly remarked.

Abashed by his comment, Amy light slapped his arm. "Now, sit and be good."

Dean did a playful act by covering his eyes with both of his hands. Amy chuckled and quickly headed to the closet to change. She skimmed through her clothes until she found a silk thin-strapped slip dress that April had bought for her that she'd yet to wear.

She decided against the shoes and thought being barefoot like Dean would've been enough. As she headed to the mirror to check on her appearance, she heard Dean gasped behind her.

She turned and saw his mouth half-opened in bewilderment.

"I presume you like the dress?" Amy coyly asked, turning back to look at her reflection, curious what got him to react as such.

When she saw herself, her cheeks heated as she suddenly felt a bit naked. The dress looked like lingerie or a nightgown.

What was April thinking? Amy thought in frustration.

"My guess, you didn't buy this dress," Dean said.

Amy turned and face him timidly. "You guessed right. I don't know what I was thinking of putting it on. I should have known just from the fabric and cut."

Dean walked up to her and took her hand, giving her a twirl. "No, it looks lovely on you. Don't change."

Amy's cheeks flushed deeper. She didn't attempt to argue otherwise.

"Okay, let's go eat. I'm famished."

Dean glanced at her from head to toe and back again until their eyes met. "Me too," he coyly said with a wink.

Dean held out his hand to her. "Come on. Let's eat."

Amy nodded and allowed Dean to escort her out rather than the other way around as she had hoped.

Upon stepped out of the room, Dean stopped in his tracks and gapped at the table in the middle of the room with LED lights hanging above like garlands.

"You did all of this today?"

"I did."

"I'm... ugh... out of words."

Amy chuckled and tipped her toes to plant a kiss on his cheeks. "Come on and sit. I'll plate the food."

"Do you need any help?"

Amy got the wine out of the chiller. "Uncorked this, please."

"Oh, wine too?" He shook his head.

Amy smiled and headed back to the kitchen to plate the roasted chicken, steamed potatoes, and vegetables. She then headed back to the table, both plates in each hand.

"That looks delicious, Amy."

"Thanks."

Dean pours her a glass first and then himself before holding up the glass.

"I'll like to say cheers on the work you did for this. I can't comprehend how you thought of this in a short amount of time and do it so efficiently. I am a lucky man indeed."

"Thank you. I'm glad you love it."

"You're just making it harder for me to top this off. But you know I will." He added before taking a sip from his wine.

"Let's see what you can do. How about next week?"

"I am free," Amy teasingly said. "But I'll see if I can make it."

Dean laughed and caressed her leg under the table with his foot. She gasped. "Dean..." She said his name like a warning.

"And what are your plans for dessert after? Because I maybe have some ideas...." He smirked and winked.

Amy blushed and shook her head. "Sure. I'll let you plan dessert as a treat."

~

Thank you for reading. Stay safe and healthy, everyone.