START OF THE END
“Don’t you have work today?” I looked at Kristoff who is cooking something.
He looked at me and smiled. “Good morning to you too, Ashanti!” He greeted me sarcastically.
I rolled my eyes and walked beside him. “Why are you the one cooking? Where is Lora and Jana?” I asked him.
He smiled. “It’s better this way than make you the one to cook,” he told me.
I scoffed. “Hey! You really know how to boost my self-esteem in cooking, don’t you?” I pouted.
He smiled and wrapped his arm around me while he was mixing his dish with the other. “You look cute when you pout. It makes my morning complete,” he whispered.
Suddenly, I felt my lips forming a smile and my face heating up. Damn Kristoff when he is acting like this. My heart is beating really, really, really fast.
I suddenly felt his lips on my cheek. Geez, did he just—
“I love you,” he told me as he focused on his cooking again. “This will be good. It’s ready,” he added.
I stood beside him in shock, mixed emotions. How could he make me feel like this? It seems like my heart would jump out of my chest any moment from now.
I breathed deeply to keep me on my senses. Please.
“Uh, Kristoff,” I started.
Kristoff was preparing the table already. “Yes?” he asked with a smile on his face.
I stared at him. These are one of the few times that I get to see that smiling face of his. And it makes me contented more than ever. That makes all my wishes come true.
“What? Why are you staring at me? Too handsome for your eyes?” He teased me, shaking me back to my senses.
I rolled my eyes and sat in front of the food.
In all fairness, it looks good. I didn’t know he can cook but by the looks of the dishes he just made, I think I would love him cooking foods for me for the next years.
Heck, thinking of those times makes my heart flutter once again.
“Go on and eat. They are not for you to just look at anyway.” He smiled and served me.
I smiled. Nothing could beat the happiness I am feeling right now. Well, who wouldn’t be happy when the person you love did not just cook but is also serving you breakfast right now?
This is perfect. Just perfect.
I took a taste of what he prepared. And yes. It really tasted good just as how it looks. It was good—too good, in fact. I can’t believe he would be a good chef as well. Why is everything about him so perfect? What can he not do in this life?
“How is it?” he asked me, leaning closer.
I gave him a sour look. He frowned. “It’s actually good, Kristoff. I never thought you could cook,” I told him.
He smiled brightly after hearing me say that. Of course, that smile again. That smile that makes my heart leap in joy again.
“You didn’t know how perfect your husband is, don’t you?” he asked oozing with confidence.
I scoffed. “I didn’t know Over Confidence is your middle name as well,” I told him.
He just chuckled. “You should have known,” he told me as we both began to eat.
It was quiet. Only the utensils bumping with each other and with plate can be heard. However, it wasn’t that awkward silence. It was a silence with emotions. Happy emotions.
“Are you going somewhere?” he asked me.
I looked at him and nodded. “Yes,” I replied.
Oh right. I’m going to Hunter’s place today. I am going to check on him to see if he’s fine. After all, I promised myself I would take charge of the person who saved me from dying. It is a form of gratitude, and I hope Kristoff would understand.
“Hunter?” I was shocked to hear him say his name.
I smiled weakly and nodded. “Yes.” I don’t really know what to reply because I know how it would hurt for him to know that I will be with another guy until that other guy recovers. I just wish he would be considerate about this.
He gave a small smile. “You take care,” he told me without even looking at me.
I was so afraid that he might be against this. But, sorry, Kristoff, this is the only way.
“And don’t forget to give him fruits. That will be good for his quick recovery,” he added.
I looked at him in a daze before nodding. Is this the Kristoff I know? He seems to be so agreeable and weird. What happened?
He, then, looked at me and smiled. “Do you want me to drop you off their place?” He offered. His eyes are looking straight into mine and I don’t know but I seemed to get lost already.
His stare is really melting every bit of me. I don’t really even know. I am lost but I feel secured.
“No need. You have to work,” I replied.
He smiled and stared at me. “You know I can cancel all my appointments for you, right?” He suddenly spoke and my heart fluttered upon hearing those words. How can he manage to make my heart beat faster and slower at the same time?
I smiled and I am pretty sure that I blushed.
He chuckled. “Come on, I’ll drop you by,” he told me as he gave me his heart melting smile.
What, heavens?
I smiled back and nodded. Who am I to turn that down anyway, right?
He smiled and continued eating.
***
“Thanks, Kristoff,” I told him as we arrived at Infinite’s place.
He looked at me and nodded. “Everything for you,” he is starting with these sweet talks again. Oh, Lord!
I smiled and opened the door.
“Wait,” he told me. I paused and looked at him.
“What?” I asked.
He smiled and gave me a quick kiss on my lips. “I’ll miss you,” he told me as he handed the fruits that he, volunteering, bought at the stand we passed by a while ago.
I stared at him in daze and shock.
“You better get going before I change my mind and take you home now,” he said, shaking me back to my senses.
I smiled and nodded. “Bye, Kristoff,” I told him as I opened the door.
“I love you,” he said and smiled.
I was stunned upon hearing that. When has he practiced the habit of making me feel fluttered all the time? It’s making me crazy.
I smiled. “See you,” I replied.
He nodded and smiled but I can feel that he is a bit disappointed that I haven’t answered his I love you. I watched him as he drove off to his office.
I immediately took my phone and dialed his number.
“Yes? Did you forget something?” He answered the call.
Does he even know how to answer the phone well?
“I just forgot, on purpose, to tell you…” I paused. I can sense that he is anticipating. “I love you, too. Bye. Take care,” I said as I hung up.
I breathed heavily before smiling widely and entering the building.
“Infinite?” I asked the receptionist.
The receptionist looked at me from head to toe. Won’t she just do her job and tell me the room number?
“2104,” she replied after hesitating. Bitch.
I smiled and thanked her. I walked to the elevator and went to the 21st floor. There were people looking at me from head to toe and I wonder why. Even the people in the elevator were doing so.
“Excuse me, are you Kristoff Marx’s wife?” The kid asked me. She was hushed by her mom and apologized to me.
I looked at her and nodded. “Yes, why?” I asked.
She smiled and pointed at the fruits I was holding. “He is sweet, Miss.” She told me as she was hushed by her mom once again. But this time, the people in the elevator chuckled.
I looked at the fruit wrap and my eyes widened.
Do not touch my wife, Hunter Looney. – Kristoff Marx.
Those words were written on the ribbon of the wrapper. How could Kristoff be so—
“Mr. Marx is really a sweet one, though.” I heard one of the women in the elevator say.
I smiled and bowed. Heck. How could you do this to me, Kristoff? No wonder, he has a reason why volunteered to buy the fruits a while ago.
The elevator pinged and it was the 21st floor. I looked for the fourth room and there I saw InfiniteX leaving one by one.
“Ashanti! Are you visiting Hunter?” Derek ran to me.
I nodded. “Yes,” I replied.
They all smiled at me and bowed.
“He is talking to someone though.” Malone said. “But you can come in,” he told me.
I smiled and nodded. “Okay.”
“Let me escort you in, Ashanti.” Martin offered to carry the fruits. “Wow. Kristoff is really overprotective of you, huh?” He told me.
I smiled, embarrassed. We’ll see about later, Kristoff.
We entered the dorm and I heard a familiar voice. Martin and I stopped.
“You like Ashanti, don’t you?” I heard that same voice that I don’t ever want to hear for the rest of my life.
Bianca Lee.
I heard Hunter scoff. “What is your business here, Ms. Lee?” he asked her. “I don’t want to involve myself in your family drama,” he said.
“Well, sorry, Looney, I think you are already involved from the time you saved my half-sister,” she replied.
Martin and I stood there, stoned and dumbfounded.
What does Bianca want? What does she want to do?
“I don’t know what you are talking about. I just saved her because she is going to be hit by a car, wouldn’t you do the same?” Hunter asked.
Bianca chuckled. “I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe not. After all, Kristoff loves her. I don’t like her,” she replied.
My eyes widened.
Hunter scoffed. “What can you do about that now? Hating her won’t make Kristoff like you, bitch,” he replied.
“Liking her secretly won’t even make you the hero here, Hunter Looney,” she replied.
“Who says I want to be the hero? I just want to live life,” Hunter replied with his usual mischievous tone.
“Live life loving a married woman secretly is rather a sad and pathetic life to me,” she replied.
Hunter laughed. “Then you must be living that same life as me, Ms. Lee,” he replied. “And don’t you dare compare me to you. Unlike you, I am doing nothing bad to the two.”
Bianca laughed. “You think?” she asked. “Well, you might not be doing anything but your mere existence makes the two head the opposite ways,” she said.
Hunter narrowed his eyes on her. “More like you do that, too, Bianca,” he said.
This time, I couldn’t bear everything they are talking about. I dropped my bag and started walking at the two.
Both of them seemed surprised.
“Oh, sister. You are here.” Bianca, the two-faced slut, acting innocent said.
Bitch, I heard everything.
I narrowed my eyes on them. “I don’t like how the two of you are talking about me and Kristoff without me and Kristoff knowing. How about you both talk about us now that I am listening?” I provoked her.
Bianca raised her brow. “And look who is talking?” She said. “Do you feel so powerful yourself?” she asked. “You and Kris are going to divorce. Mark my words,” she said.
I scoffed at slapped her. Hard.
Hunter and Martin even came in between to separate us because she was about to give me one as well.
“I’m telling Dad about this.” She warned me. “And when I tell him, you might want to say sorry to me.” She threatened.
I smiled. “Go on, tell him. Like I care,” I replied. “Remember, Bianca, you are an illegitimate child. No one wants you,” I told her.
Sorry for the harsh words but she is pushing it. She is pushing me to be evil.
She looked at me in shock and disbelief before leaving the room.
I looked at Hunter and Martin. “I’m going,” I told them. “I left fruits. Maybe you want to eat some for your fast recovery,” I told him. “See you soon.”
And I left.