Chapter 10

"Sorry, I have to work from home today."

"Ah, that's okay, I'm just not feeling well. Sorry, Zie."

After getting permission from Kozie, Orlyn ended the call and took a deep breath. She looked at Cein, who was fast asleep.

"I'm sorry, Cein, I lied. I can't tell you that I have a husband yet, or I might lose my job again," Orlyn thought, feeling guilty for hiding her true status.

Then Orlyn went over and sat down in the chair next to Cein's hospital bed. Her husband had been taken to the emergency room complaining of chest pains, and Orlyn didn't waste any time getting Cein to the hospital. She didn't want to be late and was afraid that something might happen to Cein.

Orlyn took Cein's hand and rubbed it gently.

"I'm sorry, Cein," Orlyn said.

"I shouldn't have been so busy with work that I didn't notice you were sick," Orlyn said, feeling responsible for what had happened to Cein.

Orlyn took a deep breath and then saw Cein slowly open his eyes. Orlyn moved closer to Cein.

"Are you awake? How's your chest? Does it still hurt?" Orlyn asked worriedly.

Cein didn't answer immediately; instead, he looked at Orlyn and took her hand gently.

"Are you still angry with me, Lyn?" Cein asked.

Orlyn's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Who's angry?" she asked.

"You, of course. Sahla was only helping to lower my fever. We weren't doing anything; she was going to be a BA in the company. She happened to be visiting the office and found me in the lobby with a high fever. I wanted to go to the hospital with you, but you didn't come home. I asked Sahla to go back and was going to look for you at your friend's cafe," Cein explained in detail while gently rubbing Orlyn's hand, genuinely afraid that Orlyn might be angry with him.

Orlyn was silent as she listened to Cein's explanation. Then she smiled and gently rubbed her husband's hand.

"I am not angry, Cein. In fact, I'm sorry. It must have seemed as if I didn't care about you. But it's just that I didn't know that you were sick. I shouldn't have gone to my mother that night; I should have been the one to hug you, not Sahla," Orlyn said.

Cein was silent because he had thought that Orlyn couldn't accept him as a husband. Now it was clear from Orlyn's face that she really cared for him. Cein was really afraid that Orlyn would change because she was angry with him and Sahla.

"Cein, you will forgive me, won't you?" Orlyn asked again.

Cein looked at his wife and then slowly nodded in agreement.

"You have done nothing wrong, Orlyn. Thank you."

"For what?" Orlyn asked confused.

"For accepting me as your full-fledged husband."

Orlyn remained silent upon hearing Cein's words, her face showing clear confusion.

"Did I really accept Cein as my husband?"

***

Kozie watched Orlyn who was busy with her laptop. Kozie continued to stare at Orlyn, resting her chin on her hand, seemingly lost in thought.

"I have to finish this quickly. Cein is coming back from the hospital this afternoon," Orlyn thought, typing faster into the Excel sheet she was working on.

Moments later, Orlyn stopped her work because she felt someone watching her. She looked up and saw Kozie staring at her. Orlyn's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"What is it, Zie? Why are you staring at me?" Orlyn asked.

Kozie didn't answer and instead chuckled softly.

"I just like watching you work. It makes you even more beautiful."

Orlyn's face suddenly turned red with embarrassment. Her heart raced uncontrollably.

"Don't let it be a drum group, okay?" Orlyn thought and patted her chest.

Kozie continued to laugh, enjoying Orlyn's shy expression.

"You're even cuter when you're shy, Lyn. That's why I never get bored watching you."

Kozie spoke confidently and looked at Orlyn intently. Orlyn's face felt hotter and she could only look at Kozie.

"Orlyn, breathe!" Orlyn told herself to stay focused and not let Kozie's flattery affect her.

Kozie smiled weakly and moved closer to Orlyn.

"Are you sure you don't want to consider my feelings?" Kozie asked in a deep voice.

Orlyn's breath caught; it felt like an unexpected attack. She backed away as Kozie came closer. Then Kozie held Orlyn's body to prevent her from falling from the chair and pulled Orlyn closer.

"You're going to fall!"

Orlyn blinked several times because her face was now so close to Kozie's. Suddenly, the sound of Orlyn's phone ringing made them both look at the table where Orlyn's phone was. Orlyn quickly grabbed her phone and looked at Kozie.

"I'll take the call," Orlyn said.

Kozie nodded slightly in agreement. After Orlyn left, Kozie frowned in confusion.

"Cein? Who?"

***

"What did the test results say? It seems that you often have chest pains," Orlyn asked, covering Cein's legs, who had decided to lean back.

"It's nothing to worry about, just some pressure from the stomach acid," Cein answered casually.

Orlyn looked incredulous.

"Really? Where are the test results?" Orlyn asked suspiciously.

"They should be in the bag. If you don't believe me, check it yourself," Cein said, pointing to his hospital bag.

Orlyn smiled when she heard Cein's words. When Cein talked like that, it meant he wasn't lying. Orlyn knew that Cein was not someone who could lie.

"Okay, I believe you. What do you want to eat? Mom said that she and Dad were coming here. They asked what you wanted to eat. I didn't have time to cook. I came straight from the cafe to pick you up from the hospital," Orlyn said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Cein smiled and shook his head slightly.

"I'm not hungry yet, maybe later. You must be tired after working all day. Go take a shower! Order some food so we can be quick about it; don't bother Mom and Dad," Cein said.

"Well, Mom and Dad wouldn't be bothered if we ordered food. I'll ask them to get some rawon. You love rawon, don't you?" Orlyn offered.

"But you don't like rawon, Lyn. Just get soto kikil. Isn't that what you prefer?"

Orlyn was silent when she heard Cein's words. Since they got married and Orlyn found out that she didn't like black rawon, Cein rarely bought or cooked it. Cein always chose food that Orlyn liked over what he preferred.

"Orlyn, why are you silent?" Cein asked, gently shaking Orlyn's hand.

Orlyn was startled and shook her head slightly. She smiled and rubbed Cein's hand gently.

"I want to eat Rawon, Cein. Well, I think I'll just order it from Mama. Wait here, I'll get my phone. It's outside," Orlyn said, getting up from her seat.

Cein nodded and let Orlyn go. Cein watched Orlyn's retreat, took a deep breath, and then smiled faintly.

***