25 Does he like bread?

"Heaven, how did you?"

"Hmm? How did I learn to speak Spanish?" Heaven smiled at Paula. The question left her mouth the minute the attendant left them alone. The smile that graced her lips became wider, broader, and more confident. Who knew that speaking in another language would make feel like this? She looked at Paula and said, "In other words, even if I stayed indoors, I need some hobbies."

"Hobbies?" Paula asked, furrowing her brows. If there was any hobby Paula knew Heaven had, that was to cry and be an ingrate.

"Gosh. Can you imagine yourself doing nothing inside your room all year round?" Heaven laughed, casting the other woman a snide glance. "It's not like I focused on it. Learning languages was actually very simple to learn."

"Ah. then why did you ask me to explain everything if you already know how to speak the language?" Paula asked skeptically. 

"Because you seemed excited to help me!" Heaven exclaimed, looking like a complete blockhead while she blinked at Paula. "I thought I would hurt your feelings if I declined."

'Then you should've pretended you didn't know until the end!' Paula mentally argued. But she bit her tongue, stopping herself from arguing further. "Oh. I thought you needed help, so I offered."

"It's fine. No big deal. It only shows how you truly care for me," Heaven happily said and smiled brightly at Paula. "Anyway, I see you were still struggling with the language. Should I teach you? Just like the old times?"

Paula frowned, digging her nails into her lap. Was Heaven growing dumber? Paula knew Heaven was already highly emotional, and that she could barely function. But now, even though Heaven was a lot more energetic, it seems like she still wasn't using her head.

Paula denied all possibilities that Heaven was saying hurtful things on purpose. She was blaming Heaven's ignorance. There was no way in hell Heaven would be so cunning.

The Heaven Paula knew was a kind-hearted girl with a straightforward personality. If Heaven was angry, she would express it. Thus, if she was upset with Paula, Heaven would make it clear to her. That was how Heaven dealt with things and people.

"It's alright." Paula calmed down, smiling back at Heaven. She made sure her composure was still the same: elegant and friendly. "I already hired a tutor. Also, how can I bother you?"

"Are you sure?" Heaven asked in a sweet voice. 

"Mhm." Paula nodded. "You'll be busy moving — have you packed your things? Should we pick them up after?"

"Right."

"Hmm?"

"I am not getting a divorce," Heaven dropped the news, eyes on her friend, observing how she was going to react.

"What?!" Paula exclaimed in a loud voice. 

Heaven tilted her head to the side, bemused at Paula's reaction.

"Oh, sorry." Paula meekly said, and then she cleared her throat. "What do you mean, you're not getting a divorce? Heaven, did he threaten you again? Why are you suddenly changing your mind?"

"Paula, it's not like that," Heaven calmly said. She leaned her back against the seat and explained, "Dom didn't threaten me and he never did, or anything of the sort."

"Then, why? If he's not threatening you, did he talk you out of it? Did he guilt-trip you again? Using your son just so you stay in this miserable marriage?" Paula asked in an urgent manner.

"Paula."

"Heaven," Paula said, it was clear that she was agitated, especially the way she leaned in and clasped the edge of the table. "Don't let him sway you. Mr. Zhu is a powerful man. He can ruin anyone without lifting a finger. He shamelessly forced you into this marriage after violating you —"

Heaven slammed her hand against the table. Her eyes, which were warm and friendly a second ago, changed to a cold, calculating gaze that Paula had not seen before. It caused Paula to jump and jolt in surprise, she looked at Heaven with wide eyes.

"Heaven?" Paula cautiously called her name. Her lips quivered, sensing this inexplicable aura emanating from her friend. "Why are you —"

"How dare you?" Heaven said in a cold, cruel voice that made Paula's breath hitch. "How dare you bring up something like that?"

Paula bit her bottom lip as she lowered her eyes. She knew it was a sensitive topic and if she was in Heaven's shoes, she too would be angry. However, Paula had to mention this every once in a while to remind Heaven of her resentment toward Dominic Zhu. She got away from it in the past after coaxing Heaven, and she was certain it would be the same this time.

"Paula, I will be honest with you. Sometimes, I can't help but question this friendship," Heaven spoke after a moment of silence. Doubt colored her voice as she watched Paula slowly raise her head again. "Even if what you're spewing was true, how can you easily bring up your friend's trauma? Are you that insensitive? Or were you trying to hurt me on purpose?"

"Heaven, it's not like that —" Paula urgently defended. 

Heaven slammed her hand on the table once more, the plate clattered making Paula nervously swallow her saliva. "I let this slide in the past because you are my friend. However, I am utterly upset and disappointed in you," Heaven said dispassionately. She then planted her hands on the table and pushed herself up, leaning forward so she could closely look at Paula. "My husband didn't threaten or talk me out of the divorce. I am old enough to decide for myself, and I chose to fix my marriage. That's what I wanted to tell you today." When she was sure she delivered her message, Heaven straightened her back.

"I lost my appetite, so I'm going home first," she added, looking down to see shock dominating Paula's face. "Thanks for offering your place, but I don't need it anymore."

With that being said, Heaven picked up her purse and walked away. She didn't look back at Paula even once, nor did her steps falter. Paula, though, remained unmoving, she stayed seated with her eyes fixed on the closed door.

"Fix her marriage?" Paula repeated after regaining her senses. She scoffed and bit her inner lip as hard as she could. "No. I don't think she meant that. She's just probably upset — did I push my luck too far?"

Paula then bit her thumb out of habit to ease her nervousness. After minutes of pondering about it, she shook her head.

"She'll cool down soon. Once she did, I'm certain she will apologize," Paula said, rationalizing Heaven's actions, she then nodded, convinced and confident in Heaven's behavioral pattern. "That dumb bitch will soon cry to me, begging me to help her out of this marriage."

*************

"Damn it!" Heaven cursed as she walked out of the restaurant. She still looked dismayed by the turn of events. "She makes me angry. How dare she speak of big words so lightly — gosh, she makes me so furious! Good thing I had lunch at Grandma Zhu's house. Or else I would've sent her to hell where she belongs."

Heaven was almost at the exit of the mall when something pleasant wafted through her nostrils. It made her pause in her tracks and looked around. She turned her head, and took a deep breath, only to see a bakeshop near the doorway of the mall.

"Does he like bread?" she wondered out loud. She shrugged, not waiting for a memory to resurface. She walked inside the bakeshop with a smile on her lovely face.