ACE
It was past nine in the morning when he arrived at Gina's house. Because one of his daily routines is jogging every morning. He was sweaty and his clothes were very wet. He took a towel which he wrapped around his neck and wiped his face. His mind felt clearer now, he ran for more than two hours only to avoid the tempting lure of uninterrupted contact with Gina. Although he does not want to admit himself, he is really tempted by his wife especially with her teasing laugh and her charming smile. Yet, contentment washed over him and he was less worried about Gina's security now that they were married. However, their relationship changed hourly, it seemed that their situation forced them closer. Still reluctant to. But he can't just give up, and he shouldn't fall in love with Gina. Heaven helps him, because he doesn't know what to do if that happens.
As soon as he entered the house, he immediately smelled the aroma of coffee. He leaned against the door after he closed it, he closed his eyes and breathed the homey smells. He could get used to this, he said to himself. He even heard Gina singing again, so he immediately went to the kitchen where her voice was coming from. He found her cooking and when she turned to him, she gave him a sweet smile.
"Good morning." She greeted him. "I hope you're hungry, because I made you pancakes and omelette."
"I don't usually eat breakfast."
GINA
Her eyebrows rose at what Ace had said.
"But since you've already prepared that. I'll just eat that later after I take a bath."
"Just take your time Ace, and by the way, I like your grungy look now." She was shocked by what she said to Ace. She thought that only in the novels she read that she can find those attractive and sweaty men. She might be dead wrong, because it's in front of her now. Or maybe it was just this sweaty man whose long muscular legs were revealed enticingly by the running shorts he wore, and whose flat solid abdomen was bare to her gaze between the waistband of his shorts and his hacked-off t-shirt. OMG! He looked so gorgeous and attractive with his unshaven face and intense, wait...green eyes? Why only now did she notice that he has these green eyes?
"What did I hear again? That you like my grungy look now?"
She was shocked when Ace suddenly pulled her waist closer to him so that she could sink into his wide chest. "Even my smell now, did you like it too, Gina?"
She sniffed and tipped her head back, and deliberately covered her nose as if she didn't like the smell. But the truth is, he smells so good. Promise! In fact, he turned her on. Sweat and all, it's so tempting. So she couldn't really stop herself from caressing and feeling Ace's sweaty body, until her hands dropped to his stomach. Sending her body into a 40 degree celsius.
"Wait, please!" he said hoarsely. "Don't repeat that please!" Without saying any words again he turned his back on her.
Ace entered the bathroom and she heard the murmur of water one after another.
After a few minutes of showering, Ace finally came out. She poured orange juice on his glass and she put fried rice and omelette on his plate.
"You spoil me." He said softly.
"I like to cook. I hope you like to eat." She said as well.
ACE
He relaxed visibly as she handed him the plate. Gina also took her own plate and decorated her pancakes.
"I haven't eaten home-cooked food in a long time," he said as they sat down in front of the dining table.
"Even me, I haven't eaten here at home for a long time. Since Janice had a boyfriend, she's only visited me here once in a month. If I'm the only one eating here, I'll miss them even more and I also miss cooking them."
"So you really want someone here at home?"
She nodded. "Janice is really the one I want to be with here, but she can't leave Mama."
"What are your plans for life, Gina?" he asked hesitantly.
"You really want to know what my plans are? Well, I want a home base job, the type who just writes even though writing doesn't work out for me. I also have a passion for sewing, I think it's profitable. Beyond that, I guess I want what most people want. Like having my own house and lot, and of course having a loving husband and cute children."
He stared at Gina for a moment and then he finally managed to speak. "Whoa! I'll admit to you, you really surprised me with your old-fashioned goals."
"I think getting married and having children is my primary goal. It doesn't matter if I just become a seamstress."
"Don't be defensive. I know you want to achieve a lot more in life, apart from marriage and sewing. From what I see of you Gina, you are an achiever. And I know you have more plans for your life."
"I've been self-supporting for over five years. So the need pushed me to learn that kind of skill, but my passion for it keeps me going."
"It's time-consuming, you know."
"It's worthwhile, and besides, I'm a homebody person, Ace."
Every time he thinks of the difference between him and Gina, it reminds him even more that they don't really meant to each other. If he wanted to advance within his field, he’d have to move, maybe several times over the course of his career. That is why he does not want to have his own family in his kind of work where he will be sent anywhere based on his mission. And even more, he can't imagine having a homebody wife like Gina if he doesn't have a permanent address. Especially that she said she wanted a stable home for her children.
GINA
After they had breakfast, she and Ace helped one another on washing the plates. She noticed that Ace was quiet and seemed to be thinking deeply so she decided to keep quiet. She smiled at her thoughts that if someone sees them washing the dishes together, they will be mistaken for their sweetness. If only they were thinking the same thing.
"Do you want to see your nephew again?" Ace sudden question aroused her imagination.
"Of course."
"I'll just take you to the hospital because I have more things to take care of."
"Won't you even go with me?"
"I'll just follow you there when I'm done taking care of some things."
Their honeymoon is over, but he can't be with her yet. "What if they look for you? Payton even said that I will take you to the hospital so he can talk to you man to man. He will be glad to see you. I just thought, how does Payton feel as a young father?"
"Of course it's fun, imagine he already has a child at twenty. And by the age of forty maybe your nephew will graduate from college."
"Ace, do you miss your dad?" She asked him all of a sudden.
"I missed everything about him." Ace serious response.
"I thought you were still seeing each other up to this day."
"Yes, we still meet until now."
"Why didn't you even invite him to our wedding?"
"I invited him."
She waited for him to continue speaking, but instead, Ace suddenly went silent.
"Will you introduce me to your father?"
"Someday." He quickly replied. "All right, Gina, get dressed, I'll take you to the hospital now."
*****