KATE went inside the bathroom to get a wet towel that she would use to wipe Jan. But when she returned to the bed, she saw Jan sitting on the floor, puking.
“Oh, God…” she muttered and rushed out of the room and called for help.
Luisa immediately came, followed by Nana Talia.
“What happened?” the two asked in unison.
“I need help. Jan’s wasted,” Kate told them and turned in her husband’s direction as she heaved a deep sigh.
“O-oh.” Nana Talia cupped her mouth. “I’ll go get something to clean the floor.”
“Luisa, can you help me take him to the tub?”
“Yes, of course.”
They pulled Jan and almost dragged him to the tub. He was so wasted; he looked like a giant version of a baby who needed his mother’s helping hand to get a bath.
“I can do it from here,” Kate told the maid after they successfully put her husband inside the tub.
Luisa nodded her head and left the bathroom. She helped Nana Talia on cleaning the floor and change the sheets.
Kate then closed the bathroom door and started undressing her husband. Jan was half-awake, half-asleep. She was not sure what state of mind he had at that moment. Would he even understand her if she gave him an earful?
After removing the last piece of his clothing, Kate grabbed the showerhead and turned it on. She wet his hair first, then his body. The water was a bit cold; it seemed to waken Jan’s senses. He raised his head and grabbed her wrist.
“What are you doing?” he asked in a cold tone.
She did not know why, but his voice sent chills all over her body.
Kate heaved a sigh and pulled her hand away. She then turned off the shower and crouched beside the tub, facing her husband.
“Well, as you can see, I’m bathing you because you’re too wasted to take care of yourself.” She gestured on the pile of his clothes on the floor. “You… puked on yourself.”
If only the situation was a little different, Kate would laugh at him because of what happened. Who would have thought that Jan would be like that? The Jan she was with now was far different from the man she knew. Or maybe, she did not know him at all.
How would she even know him if he was hiding something? How would she know everything about him when he was keeping his emotions all to himself? Kate wanted to share with everything that he had stored there, and she would do the same in return.
Jan opened the faucet and let the tub be filled with water.
“Please pass the soap and the scrub, Katherine,” he said.
She stood up and got what he needed.
Kate saw Jan’s naked body under the clear water on the tub when she handed him the things he asked for. She swallowed hard and looked away.
“I-I think you’re sober now. Y-you can bathe yourself, right. I-I’m going out now.”
She was about to turn around when Jan suddenly held her hand.
“Do you want to join me, Katherine?”
“I—”
He rose from the tub. Kate just stayed still when he removed her robe and nightgown. She was just standing there, letting him do what he wanted.
“You’re not wearing anything underneath,” he said upon seeing her naked after removing the nightgown.
Kate felt her cheeks burning, and the butterflies inside her stomach started to flutter. And when his gaze traveled down there, she felt chaos all over her system. He stretched out a hand to her, inviting her. And so, she did join him.
They sat inside the tub face to face, with their gazes still fixed on one another.
Jan then squeezed the soap into the scrub and started bathing. Kate just watched him as she hugged her legs.
“Did you wait for me?” he asked afterwards.
“Hm.” Kate rested her chin on her knee and blinked her eyes lazily.
“Did you eat your dinner?”
That was when she let out a soft chuckle.
“Are you my dad, Jan?”
“No. I’m your husband.”
“You are. So, why don’t you bare your soul to me, Jan?”
He halted from lathering soap onto his chest and turned in her direction. Jan looked at her intently.
“What is this about, Katherine?”
She crawled towards him and stayed on fours. “I want to know the rest of you, Jan. Tell me everything—”
He suddenly took her to his lap and wrapped an arm around her waist. His other hand went up and cupped her cheek.
“Katherine…” His eyes were full of emotions she could not decipher.
“You can tell me everything, Jan… then I’ll get to share a portion of your pain—”
Jan cupped the back of her head and pulled her for a kiss. It was deep, warm, but she could feel his fear. His lips were trembling as he kissed her. But no matter what kind of kiss it was, it never failed to set her heart on fire. She moved upwards and took his length inside her warmth.
He gasped. “Katherine…”
“Hush…” She planted a quick kiss on his lips. “Let me….”
She moved slowly, up, and down, following her own pace. A smile curved on her lips when Jan titled his head up and closed his eyes. Then there go his soft moans, filling the bathroom.
“Keep quiet…” she drawled. “Nana and Luisa might hear us—”
“I don’t care.” Jan grasped her sides and guided her.
“Am I… doing this right?” she asked breathily.
“Yes.” He pressed his forehead against hers, and his grip tightened on her sides.
“Say my name, Jan….” Her hands slid up to his head and pulled his hair.
“Katherine…” Soon she felt his body shaking, and his release washed over her. “Gah…! Oh, Katherine…” Jan claimed her lips in a fiery kiss. “What are you doing to me, Katherine?”
“I’m loving you, Jan.” She planted a kiss on his temple.
KATE left the bed first that morning and went inside the bathroom to prepare for class. She did not wake her husband up and let him sleep more. Emotional exhaustion was more tiresome than physical one. She knew that because she had been through it every day for two years when she was living with her Aunt Bernice and her daughter Vivian.
“What’s the matter?” she asked Jan when she went out of the bathroom and saw him leaning on the headboard as he massaged his forehead.
Drying her hair, she sauntered towards the side of the bed.
“I have a terrible headache,” he muttered and looked at her.
“I’ll ask Nana Talia to bring you some medicine for your headache and a bowl of hot soup. Did you drink all the liquors in that bar last night?” She scoffed.
“Did you just scoff at me, Katherine?” His brows furrowed.
“Yes!” She hung the towel on her shoulder and propped her hands to her sides. “You went home late last night. You’re wasted. You puked on the sheets and carpet. I had to ask for the maid’s help to take you to the tub and wash you. That headache, that hangover… you brought that to yourself.”
“Katherine, lower your voice. Your pitch’s making my head throb even more—”
“I’m sorry, but you can’t stop me.” He pulled her down to the bed. However, she defied the force and remained standing. “I have the right to reprimand you because I’m your wife. May it be on papers or on this bed.”
“Oh, God… this tigress is already growing her pangs.” He leaned on the bed again and closed his eyes.
Kate noticed his cheeks were flushed. She then palmed his forehead and found out that he had a fever.
“Your burning, Jan.” Then she suddenly remembered the only reason why he would suddenly have a fever. “Stay home, okay? I’ll call Rose and tell her you—”
“Don’t bother about it. Just go to school,” he said with eyes closed. “I’ll do it myself.”
Kate heaved a deep sigh and walked in the direction of the walk-in closet. It took her a few minutes to get ready for school. Jan was sleeping again when she walked past the bed.
She headed to the kitchen before leaving.
“Where is Nana Talia?” she asked Luisa upon seeing her.
“Oh. She went out to buy something. Is there anything you need?”
“Oh, I see. Please cook something to cure Jan’s hangover and give him some medicine for his fever,” she told the maid and checked her wristwatch. “Please take it upstairs, Luisa. I can no longer attend to him now. I’ll be late for class.”
“I will. Don’t worry,” Luisa said, assuring her with a smile.
“Thank you.”
She headed outside and was surprised to see Fernan standing beside his car.
“O-oh… Fernan. Are you here for Jan?” She gestured to the door. “He’s sick with a terrible hangover.”
He opened the door to the passenger seat.
“Hop in,” Fernan said as he held the door open.
“E-eh?”
“My brother asked me a favor to drive you to school.”
Kate wagged her hands. “It’s fine. I can commute—”
“And you’ll be late for class because you’re still here, explaining.” He tilted his head in the direction of the car. “Hop in, Katherine, and I’ll deal with my brother later.”
She let out a sigh and did what she was told.
KATE kept her gaze fixed outside the car. As much as possible, she wanted to keep her thoughts to herself. However, Fernan did not think the same.“Katherine,” he said after driving a few kilometers away from home.“What is it?” She glanced at him.“Did something happen?” He sounded worried.Perhaps he had a hunch about what happened, and he just wanted to hear it from her. she heaved a deep sigh and leaned her head against the windshield as she stared at him.“After what happened the other night back in your parents’ house, Jan seemed to be a different person. He… usually calls or sends me a text just to check on me. But yesterday, he just sent me a message telling me that he was busy in the office. And then… he won’t home late at night, wasted.”“He did that again.” Fernan shook his head.Based on the sound of his voice, it seemed that he kind of e
“EVAN,” Jan called his secretary after looking at the revised design of the hotel their company was about to renovate. “Why is it like this now? The first already looks good. I just asked them for some enhancements.”He shoved the folder towards his secretary.“From what I remember, Sir, it was your father who ordered for this kind of revision. He said he wanted it to look more classic since it’s a heritage site and—”“Fine.” He pulled the folder.“Is there anything you need, Sir?” his secretary asked politely.“Nothing. You can go back to your spot.”“Alright, Sir. Call me if you need anything.”Jan focused on his work again, but after a few seconds, Evan came in again.“Sir.”“What?” He said without raising his head.“Your wife is here,” his secretary informed him.His gaze r
“KATE.”She turned behind her. Jona was inside there, peeing.“Is there a problem?” She dried her hands with a paper towel and strode towards the door.“Do you have a pad with you?” her friend asked in a low tone. “My period came early, and I don’t have one right now.”“Oh, wait. Let me check my bag. I think I have one.”Kate came out of the restroom and went back to their classroom, where she left her bag. She took the sanitary pad that had been staying inside her bag for weeks now and gave it to Jona as soon as she came back.She then leaned against the sink as she waited for her friend to come out of the cubicle.“Jona, have you ever been delayed for four weeks or more?” Kate asked innocently.The door opened, and Jona sauntered towards her. Her friend grasped her shoulders.“Kate, you have a husband and a sex life. Why are you asking
SHE rang the doorbell to Natalie’s place and hugged herself when the cold breeze touched her skin. After a few moments, the gate finally opened. Natalie, adjusting her robe, emerged.“Kate? Oh, what are you doing here at this hour?” her friend asked, puzzled.“Could you please let me in first?” she responded with a trembling voice. The cold night and her emotions that were about to explode were to blame.“Oh, right. I’m sorry.” Natalie opened the gate wider.“Thank you,” she said as soon as she got in.Her friend grasped her arm and ushered her inside the house.“Have a seat. I’ll just go to the kitchen and get you something hot to drink—”“Do you have whiskey?” Her gaze reverted to the minibar near the living room.“Oh.” Natalie arched a brow. “Okay.” She headed to the minibar afterwards.Kate plopped
“WE should leave,” Kate told Jan when he did not move an inch after she hugged him. “I’m afraid someone might catch us trespassing here. This is private property.” She slowly freed him from her embrace and caught his hands. “Let’s go home now, Katherine.” Jan smiled and planted a soft kiss on her forehead before he ushered her out of the house. “Oh, shoot,” Kate said when they finally got outside. “What is it?” He halted and turned to her. “I brought Natalie’s car.” She gestured to her friend’s car that she parked across the street. “Don’t worry.” Jan knocked on his car’s windshield. His secretary got off from the driver’s seat. “Sir, Madam,” Evan greeted with a smile. “I’ll be driving her friend’s car. Follow us.” “Alright, Sir.” Jan held out his hand. “Key, please.” Kate fished the key from the pocket of his jeans and handed it to him. He then held her by the hand and tugged her across
Years ago… JAN heaved a deep sigh as he walked down the staircase. He strode all the way out of the house and ended at the garden where his father, Alejandro Villamar Sr., was hosting a party. It was not his birthday or anyone in the family. It was just that his father likes to throw a party whenever he wants. Of course, he has the money to do that. “Oh, there you are, Jan.” His mother beckoned him to come. “Oh, so this is your firstborn?” one of his mother’s friends asked when he reached them. “Yes. My youngest is just roaming around,” his mother replied with a broad smile. He smiled at them just like what his mom had taught him. “Good evening, aunties,” he said politely. “Oh… he is such a fine young man,” said another woman from his mom’s circle. “I wish I also have a son like him.” Jan’s mother pinched his cheek. “Mom
KATE was at school when she received a call from Jan’s mother. She has no classes, though. However, she was at the library with her classmates, doing a group activity.“Excuse me. I need to answer this.” She left her seat and went out of the library. “Mom,” Kate said the moment she answered the call.“Hi, Katherine. I called to ask if you’re free this afternoon. Maybe we can have lunch together and go shopping. Well… if you’re busy, it’s fine with me.”“Oh. Uhm…” She glanced at her wristwatch. “I’ll be free around two pm. Is that okay with you?”“Oh. Great! I’ll go pick you up at your place—”“Oh, Mom… I’m at school right now. I’ll just—”“I’ll pick you up at school then. Okay?”“Hm.”“See you later, Katherine. `Bye.” Jan&rs
KATE woke up with a long-stemmed red rose above Jan’s pillow. She sat up and picked up the card beneath the stem. It was the first thing that caught her attention when she opened her eyes since she was facing his side of the bed.Good morning. I’m sorry I had to leave so early. See you tonight.Love, Jan.She picked up the rose and brought it to her chest. Jan’s simple gestures always made her feel extra special now that he slowly opened his heart to her. She might not be his first love, his one great love, or someone he dreamed of spending his life forever, but he would always be the one she loves. Kate hoped he would learn to love her the way he had loved Isabela one day.Her gaze reverted to the door when she heard consecutive knocks.“Kate, dear… are you awake?” asked Nana Talia.“Oh. Yes, Nana.” She eased herself from the bed and saun