ASHANTI
I 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 standing because I’ve burned them all—when I heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
I looked behind me and saw Kristoff, walking down with his black three-piece Armani suit. His hair is sort of styled in a messy way but he still looks more handsome than ever. His tall stature had been so helpful with his charisma but I would say that he’s cold aura is his signature asset.
He looked at me and smiled a little. His eyes have always been so intense, like he’s always thinking about melting whoever or whatever his gaze lands on.
“Done cooking?” he asked as he looked at the pan.
I bit my lip and shut my eyes. He shouldn’t see this, alright. He shouldn’t see that the egg looked like it was cooked in the lava of a volcano because of its black color.
I heard him snort. I pouted but I didn’t show him. I don’t want him to know that I am disappointed at how he looked at my cooking.
“Remind me to not let you step into the kitchen next time, Ashanti,” he said in almost a chuckle. “You are best when you design clothes. Just stay like that.”
This time, I looked at him with a serious gaze.
He smiled and shrugged before taking the fried rice and the eggs towards the dining table. He prepared the table while I watched him. He looked like he was having fun while fixing the table. Well, it should be fun fixing my failed cooking, I guess.
I walked towards the dining area and crossed my arms across my chest. “You don’t have to eat that. I don’t even know if they’re edible.” I bit my lip.
I’ve already accepted that I am not a good cook. But to hear him say that I needed to stay out of the kitchen seemed to have hurt my pride a little. How hard is it to be considerate of others’ feelings sometimes?
Kristoff looked at me. “I will eat them, Ashanti. Why would you tell me that they’re not edible? You cooked these,” he said before sitting. “You should come here and eat with me. We will be late for work.”
I took a deep breath and stared at him for a moment before sitting across him.
We seem to be a normal married couple. But no, we aren’t. He isn’t in love with. I don’t think he’d fall in love with me. He probably sees me as a fan girl—someone who admires him so much.
Because I do.
I don’t know if it was college when I’ve fallen in love with him. He seemed to be the perfect guy. No, he is the perfect guy. He is handsome, intelligent, soft spoken and rich. God has given him everything a man could wish for. And I wanted him. I wanted him so bad.
I am not really sure if it’s because of my persistence that he asked me to be his fake girlfriend. Yes, I was contented with that. I was his fake girlfriend in college and no one knew about that except the two of us. From what I remember, he asked me to pretend because he doesn’t like how the girls flock at him every time. Having a girlfriend is the only way that those girls will stop.
It was really fun. I was known to be Ashanti Michaels, the girlfriend of the infamous Kristoff Marx. Everyone respected me because I wrapped Kristoff around my fingers. Well, no one knew it was all fake and staged. Everything was just for show.
That’s why I was so shocked when I woke up one day with Kristoff proposing to me. A lot of questions have been running in my head. Why is he doing this? Why is he proposing to me? Does he love me?
No. He doesn’t. When I ask him why, he would always change the topic. He would always escape. And I think that’s when I just have to convince myself that I should be happy. Well, I should. I married my ultimate crush.
I bit my lip as I watched Kristoff’s expression as he ate the egg. I am not expecting anything good about his expression but at least let him not be mad at me for wasting food like this.
He chewed the egg and stopped halfway. His expression turned dull and black and negative. He looked like he could puke any moment from now.
I immediately gave him water which is the safest of everything in the table, and he gulped it down.
I looked at him with a worried look. “You can skip breakfast. You don’t need to eat it,” I said it first before he utters a word.
He looked at me and smiled. “The egg is fine, Shan. You just shouldn’t place sugar in it though,” he said as he calmly took the bacon that looked like a grilled pork belly.
I looked at him in disbelief. It is the first time that I cooked for him and it was a total failure. I am never going to make another reckless move like this again or we’ll all end up hungry and angry.
“I’ll just get you some lasagna from last night. I’ll just reheat it,” I told him and stood up when he held my hand, pulling me back.
I looked at him with narrowed eyes and he just shook his head. “I’m going to eat your cooking. This is the first time that you cooked breakfast. I’ll eat them all.”
It feels like my heart melted that moment. The way his voice soothed my bleeding pride and hurt heart made me adore him even more.
If there was one thing that I am grateful for with our marriage, it is his kindness and chivalry. Our marriage is not like those of typical fixed marriage. Sure, he doesn’t love me. I am quite sure of that but he never lets me feel like I wasn’t taken care of.
Kristoff would always remember all the important dates in our life together and he would bring me out from time to time.
It is mainly the reason why I kept holding on to the fact that he cares for me. Eventually, I am wishing, it would turn into love.
“The bacon is fine. Tastes a bit weird but fine.” Kristoff complimented my bacon.
I looked at him and smiled. The anxiety in me is slowly going away. “Thanks,” I said. “Thanks for eating it even though it isn’t edible… somewhat,” I continued.
He laughed. “Of course, you prepared it. I couldn’t just leave it behind like that,” he said. He didn’t tell it sweetly but it sounded really sweet to me. I can even feel the ants eat me now.
I smiled at him. And I am quite sure, I am blushing right now. “Thank you again,” I replied.
He smiled. “But you should not do this again, especially when there are guests. Please, I don’t want anyone to know that I married kitchen-illiterate.” He joked.
I nodded and chuckled. “Yes. I won’t,” I replied as I took a bite of my own cooking. Damn, I think it is going to be a tough time for me and my stomach today.
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
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?”