I'm not sure how long it was before I realized I had slept off; I didn't even notice it until a gentle touch on my hair roused me from my nap. I purred and opened my eyes gradually. I was a little taken aback when Zachary's face emerged in front of me.
"Good morning," he said softly, although his demeanor was still strong due to his rugged features.
My forehead furrowed when I caught a whiff of smoke. I ignored him and roamed my eyes, searching for that smell, but I found none. My attention went to him again when he got up from the bed.
"I have already prepared your grilled chicken intestines," he said.
I didn't say a word. My eyes only focused on his cheek when I saw something black there. Later, my mouth fell open when he lifted the hem of his shirt and wiped it on his face—perhaps he noticed my stare. His deflated and rather muscular stomach, which still sweats from time to time, exposed itself to me. I looked away and involuntarily took a gulp.
"I'm not hungry anymore," I said, and then I turned my back on him.
I felt the bed sink quickly on my side. "Is there something wrong?" he asked, curious.
I was shocked and moved away because I could feel his body touching my back. "I lost my appetite. I don't want it anymore; it turns out I want coconut."
"What?" he said in disbelief.
I saw his shoulders slump out of the corner of my eye. "But..." he trailed off. "I personally grilled it for you," I heard him whisper.
I was stunned when I gradually realized the smell that I had smelled before as well as the dirt that I saw on his face. I secretly took a breath and then looked at him without emotion. There was disappointment on his face; he didn't even bother to hide it from me.
"Did I ask you to do that?" I said, brows arching.
He heaved a sigh. "What do you want? Coconut juice or the flesh itself?" he asked instead of answering.
"Both," I said, turning my back again.
"Okay," he uttered weakly. "I'll just put the grilled intestines aside for now, just in case you want it again later."
I felt him get up from the bed. Every move he made was slow, as if he had lost the strength to move. When I heard his footsteps, I slowly looked in his direction. He was about to turn the lock on the door when I slightly cleared my throat, causing him to stop and focus his attention on me.
"Do you need anything else?" he asked.
"Bring me a piece of it," I said.
Zachary's face quickly brightened. He nodded several times before finally leaving the room. I just rolled my eyes and looked at Angel, who was now awake and watching me. I smiled and got up. I lifted her to my thigh and then stroked her fluffy fur.
"How's your sleep, baby?" I asked sweetly.
As usual, she meowed at me in response and then stretched. I smiled and started playing with her with my fingers. She tries to catch them every time I stroke her belly—something she sometimes likes but often doesn't.
"Ouch!" I moaned a little when her nails hit my skin.
My eyes widened when Zachary suddenly appeared. He was carrying something while holding and examining my hand. The seriousness and concern on his face did not escape me, even though my injury was not that bad.
"I can handle. It's just a small cut," I said, and I was about to take my hand back, but he didn't let me; instead, he gave me a cold stare.
I just raised an eyebrow at him. I was shocked when he carefully pulled me to stand up, and I just followed until we finally got out and reached the kitchen. He silently opened the faucet and placed my finger on it with a small scratch on it.
"Oh! What happened, hija?"
Aunt Victoria's booming voice behind us surprised me. Even though I've been with her for a few days, I haven't yet gotten used to how loud she speaks. I'm not sure if she was upset or just assumed I couldn't hear her. She sometimes employs terms when delivering stories that leave me confused. I don't immediately understand it since it's too complex to comprehend.
"It's just a small wound," I replied politely, then looked back at my hand, which Zachary was now soaping.
I snorted as I watched him seriously disinfect the less than a centimeter scratch. I don't know whether to laugh or be annoyed. The grilled intestine he was holding earlier are also gone. Where he put it, I don't even know.
"Oh, always be careful. Remember you're pregnant," said Aunt Victoria. "I'm going to go market. I'll leave you and your husband for now," she added, turning us away without a word.
Zachary and I were left speechless. When he was satisfied with cleaning my wound, he turned off the faucet. He looked at me for a moment before gently walking me again. Whether I wanted to stop him or oppose him, I didn't do it anymore. Just by his look, I knew he didn't listen to a word. I'm just wasting time.
We returned to the room. He made me sit on the bed before he went to the cabinet to find a bimpo. When he saw it, he immediately came back in front of me and dried my fingers. I just silently watched him do all that.
"Be careful next time," he said in a low-pitched voice.
I just rolled my eyes before finally withdrawing my hand. "Stop acting like you really care, Zachary. You might beat those artists," I said quietly.
His jaw tightened quickly. "Are we going to fight again?"
I don't know how our conversation got there. I just looked at him with raised eyebrows, challenging him to continue what he wanted to say if there was anything else. He let out a sigh before slightly kneeling in front of me. I was stunned when he held my hands and looked at me gently.
"Do you really not want to be with me?"
I couldn't help but wince at his question. "Isn't the answer obvious, Zachary?"
He heaved a deep breath and held my hands tighter. "Fine. I'll let you go, but on one condition," he said.
I let out a mocking laugh and shook my head in disbelief. I removed his hands that were holding me and looked at him coldly. Apart from annoyance, I didn't show any emotion toward him.
"Is your face really that thick?" I said. "You're really the one who feels like giving the condition, huh?" I added more.
His jaw tightened, and he closed his eyes, as if he were working very hard. I just pushed it to the back of my mind and remembered the few days I noticed him being frustrated. I don't know why he is like that; maybe something is going on between him and Eunice, which is why he is like this to me now. Condescending.
"Two weeks," he said weakly. "Just two freaking weeks. Let us forget everything and act like a normal partner... like before. After that, I'll let you go."
All emotions were erased from my face, even annoyance. I stared at Zachary. He was looking at me very seriously, as if—in that way—he was conveying to me that what he said was true.
"You're not going to chase the kid?" I assured.
He hesitated before slowly nodding. I didn't speak immediately after that. Besides, I didn't expect that, and I also don't understand why we have to pretend for two weeks.
I sat down properly and looked away. I thought over and over about the possibilities of his actions now, but no matter what I did, I ended up blank. This is something unusual. I only expect two things from someone like him: to kill me or take away my baby. I never thought he would let me go.
"Atash—"
"VICTORIA! IS MY BIG SKILLET THERE?! MAY I HAVE IT BACK?!"
Zachary's call to me was interrupted when an old man's voice echoed outside. My brow furrowed while Zachary sighed. He slowly stood up and then looked at me knowingly.
"That's Manong Pidong. I'll just go for a moment," he said.
I just nodded and watched him leave the room. I would also like to go with him but it doesn't seem like a good opportunity to go with him. Apart from the fact that I'm still confused by what he expects, I also don't know the person he's referring to.
Like Aunt Victoria, the man outside also spoke loudly. I winced; I could almost hear everything he was saying even though I was in the room. He briefly said hello to Zachary before asking what he was looking for. I couldn't follow the rest of what they were talking about because my attention was focused on Angel, who was now caressing me on top of the bed.
"Are you asking for my forgiveness?" I smiled while talking to the kitten.
She instantly meowed and purred into my lap, making me chuckle. "Forgiven," I said.
Suddenly the door opened, so my eyes focused on it. Zachary re-entered with a grilled chicken intestine in his hand. I don't know whether to laugh or grimace.
He really wanted to feed me that.
He handed me a skewer stuck on a barbeque stick, which I immediately took. I could feel him waiting for me to bite it, which is why his jaw almost dropped when I broke it into small pieces and gave it to Angel. I almost smirked when I saw how his shoulders dropped once again in disappointment.
Do you really think you can fool me with this move? Think better, Zachary.