"ARE you okay, Bianca?" Kelly had a concerned expression on her face when she looked at me.
I cleared my throat and gave her a small smile. "Yeah. I'm fine."
"Really?" She pursed her lips. "But I noticed something's bothering you. You didn't even smile at Jeff's joke earlier."
"Did something happen at home?" Kelly continued to probe. "Did you and your husband fight?"
This time, I didn't deny her suspicion. "Not really fight," I gave her a small smile. "Just a little misunderstanding. It was my fault." I bit my lower lip.
"Oh. Have you apologized to him already?"
I shook my head. "We won't see each other for the next few days."
"He's out of town?"
I just nodded at Kelly even though she wasn't really right.
Kelly smiled at me. "Just apologize to him when he comes back. Your husband's so in love with you, you know. I'm sure he'll easily forgive you." She even sighed dreamily. "I wish I'll find that kind of man."
I looked at Kelly. I wished that was just the case. But it was more complicated than that.
Gideon didn't come home last night. He wouldn't come home later. Until the next days. And now… I couldn't help but feel lonely.
Gideon left his own house and went back to his parents' mansion in Huntington.
"Why do you have your suitcase, Gideon?" I looked at Gideon when I noticed a black suitcase beside him that morning.
"Did Darwin ask you to come to one of his business trips?" I asked. Until now, he was still working under Darwin's supervision. His father was still acting as the CEO of the company.
"No, Bianca. I'm not going on a business trip."
My brows furrowed. "Then why the suitcase? Did Amelia ask to go on a vacation?" But I talked to Amelia the other day and she hadn't mentioned anything.
"I decided to go back to my parents' house in the meantime, Bianca."
My lips parted. "W-why…"
Gideon gave me a small smile. "I think this is the best thing to do after our talk last night, Bianca."
I stilled. I remained rooted to where I was standing.
"It was an eye-opening to me, Bianca," Gideon continued. "I hadn't realized you're having a hard time. Now, I'm giving you space to sort out your feelings. Yeah, I wanted our marriage to work, Bianca. I wanted a second chance with you." His eyes found mine and zeroed in on them. "I'm in love with you, Bianca. But I know love shouldn't be forced. And I'm sorry if you ever felt like I'm forcing my feelings on you." His lips curled up in a sad but soft smile. I remained there. My feet couldn't move. I just felt seeing the emotions in Gideon's eyes, something was breaking inside of me.
"I won't do that anymore, Bianca. I'll step back from now on. I'll give you time to sort out your own feelings. I'll give you the freedom to decide what's best for you… what's best for your marriage. If you decided that after this, you still wanted to divorce me, I'll accept that, Bianca. I'll let you go, like what I said to you. I promise."
"I thought Gideon's out of town?" Kelly asked when we received food for lunch that day.
My lips parted as I stared at the familiar Italian cuisine in front of me. Gideon… he hadn't texted me since last night. I didn't expect that he'd still send food to me at work. Just like before, he made sure to order my favorite.
"Excuse me," I said to Kelly. I picked up my phone and decided to send a message to Gideon.
'Thanks for the food, Gideon.'
I felt like my heart suddenly stopped beating when he replied just seconds later.
'Enjoy the food. I hope you don't mind that I'd still send you food at work.'
I bit my lower lip as I read his reply. I didn't know why I felt like my feet were floating. It was just a simple text!
'I don't mind. Thanks again.'
Normally, he'd still reply to me after that. But this time, my phone didn't ring again.
Well, didn't he say that he's giving you space, Bianca?
I shut my eyes. Yeah. He was really giving me space right now.
I should be happy with it. But I was feeling the complete opposite.
"I heard from Kelly you had a misunderstanding with your husband." Martin talked to me when he visited the store that afternoon. "I wondered if it's because of me…"
I turned to him. My brows were slightly furrowed.
"I know your husband was jealous of me. Did he do something to you?" he asked in a concerned tone.
I shook my head. "I already told you, Gideon isn't that kind of person, Martin. He's a good husband." I gave him a small smile. "You're right, though. He got jealous… but he didn't do anything to me."
Martin shrugged, then he smiled. "That he really has nothing to be jealous about."
I raised my brow.
"Well, you said you didn't like him…" Martin pursed his lips. "But from what I can see, Bianca, you share the same feelings with your husband."
I fell silent. Even Martin knows, huh? Was I really that transparent with my feelings?
"So, why are you planning to divorce your divorce your husband, Bianca?"
I gave him a tight smile. "It's complicated, Martin. I'm sorry, I couldn't share it with you."
"It's okay, Bianca." Martin gave me an understanding smile. "But whatever issues you have with your marriage, I hope we remain friends, Bianca. I mean, just friends, nothing more." He smiled guiltily. "I admit that after finding out you're planning on divorcing your husband, I thought I might have a chance with you. Then… I saw it first hand… you're in love with him. I accepted that I don't stand a chance against him. But I really wanted to be friends with you, Bianca. You're a great person."
I smiled at him. "Of course, Martin. I'd like to be friends with you."
"Thanks, Bianca."
"Bianca, someone's looking for you."
I stopped arranging the magazines and snapped my head to Jeff who was standing in the doorway of the stockroom.
"A-alright. I'll just finish this. Thanks, Jeff."
I glanced at my wristwatch when Jeff left me. It was still fifteen minutes before my shift ended.
I wasn't expecting Gideon to fetch me today… but he came.
I thought he wanted to give me space. He didn't even text me again for the whole day. But now, he's here…
I bit my lower lip. Maybe he couldn't stop himself from seeing me?
I bit my lower lip to stifle a small smile. Why do I feel happy about this?
But the smile on my face faded when I realized the man waiting for me was not Gideon.
It was Charlie.