ANNIVERSARY FIGHT
Silence 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 week.”
Kristoff nodded and focused on driving. Well, that’s better than looking at the conscious me right now, right?
“Actually, we are planning on getting idols and actors as models,” I started. “Can we coordinate with your company?” I asked politely.
Kristoff chuckled. “Of course. You could,” he replied.
I smiled. “Really? Thanks,” I replied in gratitude.
He gave me a quick glance. “Do you want me to model as well?” he asked in a serious tone.
I froze. Was he kidding? There is no way I am letting him model in that fashion show! A lot of girls will drool on his hotness! That, I can’t contain.
But in the end, “Do you want to?” I asked him.
He chuckled and cocked his head. “Do you want to?” This time there was humor to his voice.
I thought for a moment. “Sure. If you like,” okay, I lied. Like I said, there is no way that I am going to let him model for that fashion show. Kill me first before he does.
He laughed at me. Maybe, he had seen my inappropriate expression. I am not a good liar, that’s why.
“I guess I have to kill you first before that happens,” he said what exactly is in my head. He really knows me that well.
I faked a laugh. “What are you talking about? Go ahead and model if you want. I am all for it.” I am the worst, biggest and fattest liar in the world.
He stopped at the red light and then looked at me with a meaningful stare. “I know you are lying. You don’t have to make yourself look like an idiot,” he told me. “I won’t model if you don’t want me to.”
I looked at him and gave him a pout. How dare he call me idiot? This guy!
He chuckled. “No, you don’t look cute either,” he told me as my pout turned into a glare. Damn, he’s really pushing it.
I rolled my eyes on him and faced the other side of the road—the one away from him.
There was a complete and absolute silence in the car. I mean it. I am not talking to him. Who said I was acting cute anyway? I wasn’t even trying to act cute. I wasn’t even trying to get his attention!
Just as when I was trying to suppress my protective and possessive self, he tells me I look like an idiot and I don’t look cute? Huh! One brave move, Kristoff Marx!
He must’ve sensed my coldness because he was calling me for a couple of times now. And I am not looking at him.
“Hey, Shan,” he cooed me while his eyes are shifting from me to the road. “Hey,” he called again when I didn’t react.
Sorry, I won’t look at you.
“Hey, wifey,” he called again.
Sorry, I still won’t look at you.
“Hey, baby,” he said in a husky voice.
I froze. What did he just call me?! I couldn’t help myself so I looked at him with my eyes narrowed and my eyebrows almost meeting at the center.
“What?!” I asked him in my mad tone.
He blinked at me. “I said…hey?” He replied unsure. I guess he is shocked at how I am reacting now.
I raised my brow. “There was a word after hey, mister.” I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.
He grinned. “That’s because you aren’t looking at me! Why? Am I not handsome enough to look at?” he asked.
No, Kristoff. You’re hot. But your jokes are overrated. I wanted to tell him that but I decided against it. I just kept my mouth mum.
Minutes later, he pulled the car over a buffet, I guess. “Here. Let me cool your head down,” he told me as he went out and opened the door for me. “Come out, my queen?” he asked as he laid his hand for me to hold to.
It was a sweet gesture but no, I am not taking it. I can stand on my own. I ignored him and just went out on my own.
He blinked at me and I just headed towards the restaurant. He ran after me after giving the key to the valet. “Hey! Hey, Ashanti!” He called me. “What are you upset about?” he asked me as he caught up with me towards the entrance of the restaurant.
I looked at him and shrugged, trying to keep my cool. “Is there something to be upset about?” I asked him back.
He sighed and rolled his eyes. I caught that. “Rolling your eyes won’t do you any good either,” I said as I sat on a table for two beside the window.
He sat across me. “Wait. Whatever I did, I’m sorry okay?” He said. “If it’s me telling you that you are not cute. I am really sorry,” he said. “You are not cute, you are beautiful, okay?” He tried to make an escape for his sin.
I looked at him. “Whatever, Kristoff. You are not that hot either,” I said as I stood up to get food.
He scoffed and followed me. “Okay, I am sorry. I just thought that maybe you are trying to be cute,” he whispered to me as I lined up to the buffet area.
I ignored him and took the foods I like. Memories of the burned egg this morning flashed back to me again.
He sighed and followed me as I saw him take food for himself as well. “I’m really sorry,” he whispered again.
Sorry, too, but I am not forgiving you easily this time, Kristoff.
“Wait, she doesn’t eat that!” Kristoff called the attention of the person in charge of distributing the food. “Are you trying to kill my wife?” he asked as I looked at the seafood on my plate. The girl blinked at him and bowed in apology.
Kristoff took my plate and gave me his plate instead. How? I didn’t even notice that girl putting lobsters on my plate.
I bit my lip before walking ahead towards our seat. Kristoff followed.
“Are you still not talking to me?” he asked me as I silently ate my food.
I looked at him. “I am talking to you,” I replied, looking away.
He sighed. “Are you still not forgiving me?” He changed the question.
Now, I turned to him again. “What are you sorry about?” I asked.
He looked at me. “I made you upset. I’m sorry,” he said as he ate his food, too.
I nodded. “Okay,” I replied, lying that it is fine. It’s not. It’s really not okay with me.
He gave me a look. “I know it’s not okay,” he said as he took something inside his pocket.
I narrowed my eyes at him but I anticipated for whatever he got inside his pocket.
“Here…” he passed me a card. A greeting card, I guess.
I looked at him with a raised brow. “What is this?”
He smiled confidently. “Look at it,” he replied as he nodded at the small card that’s already in my hands.
Hello, Ashanti Marx! Happy Anniversary? I know you forgot. But sorry, I remembered. Take care always.
–From: Handsome Kristoff, your hot husbandI looked at him after reading the greeting card. I swear I would’ve cried if I saw the magic sentence I have been waiting to hear there. I admit, I was a bit disappointed. But hey, who was I kidding? He probably won’t tell me those words anytime soon.
He smiled at me. “So? Forgiven?” he asked.
I looked at him and smiled weakly. Still, it is an effort, right? “Thanks. You remembered,” I replied.
He smiled widely. “Of course! It is one special date! Of course I would remember.” He beamed with pride.
I nodded. “Yes.” It would’ve been more special if you say that you love me, too.
He smiled at me and fed me his food.
But at least, he tried to make it for me. Then that explains why he is different today.
THE GIRL IN THE RESTAURANTAnd I am talking to Kristoff again, right here, right now. Maybe his unpredictable attitude caused every bit of my pissed emotion to turn a hundred and eighty degrees.Sure, he doesn’t love me. That I have reiterated all throughout. But I am thankful that he is there for me whenever I need him. And he remembers important dates even more than me.I thought I was the one who’s in love with him. Why is he the one remembering the important dates?Kristoff looked at me as he caught me staring at him. “What?” he asked me as he took a bite on his food.I shook my head. I want to tell him everything that I am feeling now. But no. What if he doesn’t like me back? What if he doesn’t love me back? I guess I couldn’t bear hearing that.He gave me a confused look. “You are getting weirder every day,” he told me.I looked at him. “Why?
ASDFGHJKLKristoff didn’t talk to me for about five minutes. He just stared at me. I am still into tears and I think the people around are looking our way now. They are probably thinking that we are quarreling right now. But no, I am quarreling with myself.I don’t know why I hate it that I can’t do anything about the fashion show right now. I wish I could do something.I wish everything would fall back into place like what Kristoff said. I wish all the problems can just resolve on their own.Kristoff sighed. “Will you stop crying, Ashanti?” he asked as he passed me a tissue.I looked at him with my tearful eyes. “I’m sorry, I can’t help it.” I took the tissue he gave me and wiped my tears.He smiled at me. “Come on! We should be happy tonight right? Don’t cry like a baby.” He smiled wider.And trust me how I had to control my feelings
SICKI 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