Book 2 : 11

I stood frozen by the door after Calla declared her war at me. I watched her enter the door to her office, and I flinched as she slammed it close. I didn't have to let Sean explain why she exited on that door. Aside from the room, we shared, and the one that Calla occupied, Sean had another private room in his office, just beside Calla's space.

With the way Sean connected our doors in the house, and here in Laminae, I could not keep myself from suspecting that perhaps, on the wall adjacent or parallel to Calla's room, it could also have a door connecting the two rooms from inside. No one would ever suspect that while Sean is inside his office, he could always find time to spend some romantic moments with her.

I swallowed hard as the pain crept fully into my heart. It hurt too much that I didn't have the energy to confront him. I walked away and went back to our room, trying to be brave. And since I came here to surprise him with dinner, I set up the table just as I had planned.

The door squeaked in a prolonged sound, telling me that Sean was slowly entering the room. I turned to him and gave him a pursed smile.

"Dinner is ready. Go wash your hand."

He stared at me with a glint of guilt in his eyes, watching my every move. Having everything ready before he arrived, I pulled out a chair and sat down ahead of him. I scooped a ladleful of rice in his plate and added some viands in it. Pouring some soup into his bowl afterward, I glanced at him again and invited him to hurry up and sit down.

We ate in silence; the clanking of our cutleries against the plates was the only sound we heard. To ease the sense of awkwardness, I kept placing food on his plate.

"Eat plenty. You must have an exhausting day," I said, breaking up the silence and throwing him an idiom.

Sean cleared his throat, wanting to say something, but didn't get enough courage yet.

"Chairman Abella, give me the half-day off, so here, I am preparing our dinner."

I looked up, locking our gaze for a moment, then looked down again on my plate as I cut some steaks for both of us.

The tormenting silence in the atmosphere felt like a knife, cutting through my heart. As swallowing saliva could already make a cry escape from my lips, I excused myself to go to the bathroom. The moment I locked the door, I picked up a towel on the shelf and burrowed my face into it. I then poured out my pain in a muffled and bitter cry until I was able to heave out enough. Enough to sustain my pretense within the few hours I need to put up with Sean.

I walked back to the dining table to continue eating. The sumptuous food I had prepared became a tasteless sponge in my mouth, but still, I kept eating.

"Babe," Sean finally opened his mouth, but I cut him off. I didn't want to talk about it, or else I wouldn't be able to hold back my tears.

"Juice? Coffee or tea?" I stood up abruptly, without waiting for his reply. To be able to stay longer away from him, I walked to the cupboard and pulled out the jar of ground coffee beans. I then placed it on the coffee maker and waited until it was ready.

Placing two cups on a tray, I brought it to the table. I put sugar and cream on it before pushing his cup in front of him. He accepted it, and from the corners of my eyes, I could feel his gaze on me.

"By the way, Sean, Chairman Abella would like to talk to you regarding some business matters I can not relate. He wants me to ask when you are free."

Still, Sean kept his silence and didn't answer me. I continued sipping my coffee to divert my attention. I emptied my cup faster while he didn't even touch his. I knew he was gathering the courage to bring up the subject.

"You may take a bath and rest ahead if you're done. I'll have to clean up this one, first." I looked at him again, and he gazed back, giving me a nod afterward.

As soon as he left the dining table, I started crying again while I collected the dishes. I just bit my lip to make it soundless as soon as possible. It took me a while to finish since I wanted to buy more time and courage.

Getting lost in my thoughts as I cleaned the sink, two arms wrapped around me from behind. I paused and took a deep sigh, debating within myself if I should start confronting him or not. Before I was able to decide, his chin rested on my shoulder, pulling me closer in a tight hug.

"Babe, I'm sorry!" he whispered into my ear.

I held my breath to hold back my tears, then exhaled so slowly as ever to ease the searing pain.

"No need," I replied. If he didn't want to hurt me, he should not have kept secrets from me. But since he chose to do it, why would he be sorry?

The bitterness I felt caused a bitter taste on my mouth that I wanted to puke out. I thrust forward as the wave of discomfort filled my stomach and my throat, throwing up everything that I ate.

"Red!" He started to panic as my bouts of vomiting came in succession, rubbing my back in rapid strokes. "Are you alright? I'll call Dr. Mimi."

I shook my head and pushed him away. When I finally rested, I turned to look at him.

"Sean, do me a favor. Go ahead to our room or wherever you want to go. Or, to whoever you want to be with. I need to be alone."

Sean held my gaze in a hurting expression. And perhaps because he saw the glints of hidden anger in my eyes, he turned and left. I no longer suppressed my devastating emotion. I broke into a loud wailing, contesting to another successive wave of stomach discomfort.