Things got complicated

Bram assisted me so I could stand up. He turned on the lights and air purifier fan using a remote on his table. The air purifier fan was new and I did not notice it earlier. I wrapped his coat around me tighter when the cool air hit my body. Then we both picked up our discarded clothes. I noticed a white paper bag near the center table. I took a peek at it and saw my clothes from the studio.

I cleaned up a bit in Bram's small restroom in his office. Then I wore the above the knee white linen dress that I was wearing before the gown. I bought this dress because it had spaghetti straps and it was good for hot weather. I dropped the sandals on the floor and wore them one by one. I was strapping them when Bram knocked on the door

"Are you decent?" I heard him say outside the door.

"Yes," I answered. Then I opened the door for him. I placed my platform shoes in the white paper bag then took my phone, wallet and lipstick from the clutch bag and put it in my mini sling bag. I looked at the door and Bram was still standing there, he was just staring at me.

"Are you going to use the restroom?" I asked. Then I hurriedly picked up the paper bag on the floor. I locked my sling bag then wore it like a body bag.

"We are going to Batangas Racing Circuit tomorrow," Bram said when our eyes met.

I frowned in confusion, "What? Why?" I asked as I approached him.

"I need to do it for the Youtube channel of my former team in F1," Bram explained. He walked away from the door. He was wearing a white round neck shirt, black pants and sneakers, "Chantal and Archie are waiting, we're going home tonight."

Glass House, Laguna

I opened my eyes when I felt that we stopped. I turned to Bram as he stepped out of the MX-5. I fixed my hair a bit then removed my seatbelt.

"Do you want me to carry you?" Bram asked.

I looked up to him to check if he was being sarcastic. But he appeared to be serious. His head was bent to his left as he waited for my answer.

"I can walk, thank you," I told him, then I pushed my door open.

I fixed my dress and walked towards the main entrance of our house. I heard the beeping sound when Bram locked his car then he walked behind me. I looked up the lit glass house. It was probably called a glass house because a huge part of the first and second floor was made of glass. It was covered with thick curtains during the day to protect us from the sun.

The curtains were drawn around four in the afternoon. So we could enjoy the setting sun and the night lights of the surrounding area. Maria was already waiting for us at the main entrance. I got my phone from my bag as we walked inside. Then I started to check my messages.

I got excited when I saw messages from my mom. I really wanted to talk to her about Alicia. I immediately opened it and read it. I slowed down while I typed in my reply. I was headed towards the stairs when I heard Bram speak.

"I can't take the stairs, I'm tired," he said to me, I stopped in my tracks and turned to him, "Come on!" he added.

I paused for a bit then followed him to the elevator. We were so quiet in the elevator. I was thinking to myself that he could have ridden the elevator alone. He did not need to wait for me. When we reached the second floor Bram went out and walked straight to the master bedroom.

When I got inside our room, the ambient lighting was on. Bram was seated on the living room sofa and was removing his socks. I went to our bedroom, headed for my dresser and sat on my dresser chair. I checked the time on my phone and it showed five minutes after eleven. I bit my upper lip and tried to call my mother. I was hoping that she was still up.

It was ringing on the other side when I felt Bram walk in the room. I watched him as he pulled out the drawer for our laundry basket at the walk-in closet. He dunked his used clothes in there. The only thing that he was wearing was his boxer briefs. I looked back at my dresser table when my mom answered on the other line.

"Hello?" I heard my mom say on the other line.

"Hi mom!" I greeted her, "Did I wake you?"

"No dear, I'm still up," mom replied, "I'm waiting for your brother."

My eyebrows met in the middle, "Why? Where is he?" I asked mom.

"He's in Alicia's hotel room," mom answered me.

I stared at my shocked face on the dresser mirror, "You're staying in a hotel?"

"Yes dear," mom replied, "Bram's mother booked a hotel for us near the RGC building."

"Oh okay, thanks for telling me," I said as I shook my head in disbelief, "Um…Mama Credence wants to talk to us tomorrow."

"I think I know why," Mom responded, her tone changed, "I was kind of expecting it."

I paused and spoke my next words carefully, "What did you find out?"

"That Alicia was Bram's ex-girlfriend," I heard mom say.

I momentarily closed my eyes and released a long breath. When I opened my eyes I saw Bram's reflection on the bed. He was watching me. Our eyes met then I looked away. I stared at my hair brushes instead.

"Do you want me to pick you up tomorrow?" I asked mom.

"Yes, dear," mom answered me, "Our check out is twelve o'clock."

"Okay, mom," I told her, "I'll be there before twelve. Goodnight!" Then I hung up the call.

"Can we sleep now?" Bram asked. This time the sarcasm was very obvious.

"Sorry," I told him while I stood up. I turned off the bedroom light so Bram could sleep.

Our only source of light was from the walk-in closet. I turned the light off of that room too then went straight to the bathroom. I closed the door and locked it. I slowly leaned on it and gave out a heavy sigh. The darkness of the bathroom was comforting. All I could hear was my breathing.