On the next day, I head to the kitchen after taking a quick shower. Glancing at the wall clock in the living room, I realize it's already five in the morning. Even though I am used to sleeping late at night because of my job, I set up my mind to wake up early because I already have a pregnant companion in the house. To my surprise, the aroma of hot chocolate wafts into my nostrils, and I see Ella by the kitchen island preparing something for breakfast.
"Good morning. Why are you up so early?"
"You might have early appointments." Ella glances over her shoulders and smiles.
Her answer moves me. I'm used to serving Yen, and it feels strange but wonderful to be served.
"Kitchens are taboo for pregnant women. So, how do you do manage that?" I say, masking my reaction.
"It's only eggs and bread. But I have already ordered something else for your breakfast."
"Let me do the cooking next time. Unless I am not at home and you are hungry," I say, peering at what she's making. She's slicing pears, her hands working amazingly fast. On her right sits a plate full of sliced mangoes and apples.
Ella then proceeds to the dining table and sets it for the two of us. I lean my back on the door frame, watching her. She moves around deftly like she's used to doing household chores, her cream cotton dress outlining her flaunting curves as she bends and reaches for something.
The corners of my mouth twist into a weak smile, amazed at how a beautiful and model-like woman like her works in the kitchen expertly. I have portrayed her in my mind as someone who has a maid at her beck and call. Yet, here she is, doing the opposite. Yen seldom worked in the kitchen before, so I realize it feels good to have someone else doing the meals instead of me.
Just as Ella finishes her meal, her phone rings.
"It's the food delivery," she says, then spin around towards the door. She comes back shortly with a plastic bag containing food boxes.
"Give it to me," I say, and she hands it to me without protest.
While she pulls on a chair, I walk to the kitchen bar, placing the food away from us. Then, I return to the table and take the seat across from her.
"Oh, where's the food?" she asks, tilting her head to look at me. I suddenly freeze, dazed at how beautiful she looks that way.
"I'll eat that later. I don't want you to run to the sink and empty your stomach while I'm enjoying the food."
She laughs, and dear skies, she pulls my eyes towards her again. "I'm sorry, Zed. I'll make it up to you once this ordeal ends."
When is she going home? How long does she plan to say with me?
"It's fine," I say, lifting a cup to sip on the coffee she makes for me. Placing the cup back on the table afterward, I look at her. "Ella, don't you manage your business personally?"
She pulls her brows to a questioning look before a glint of understanding lit her face. "I'm taking a leave for now because of a task. But to answer your question, yes, I have some people working for me."
"A task?"
She doesn't answer right away. Instead, she takes a bite of her bread and chews it gracefully before she opens her mouth to speak again.
"I already told you I'm here to avenge someone," she answers sincerely, but a smile breaks out on her face.
I chuckle. "You don't look like someone capable of that. Should I be scared of you?"
"Maybe." She laughs a little louder this time, but I can tell her sincerity behind her laughter.
I shake my head, wishing that she'll choose otherwise. Revenge only reaps hatred and chaos. Ella then talks about her routines at Jamella until she consumes the last slice of fruit on the plate.
She then goes up to her room while I proceed to my garden to work on another landscape. This time, my garden space is bigger than the one in my old house. And I see to it that the flower plants I choose are different from what I had there.
When the sun goes up, and its rays are already scorching, I go up to take another shower. And maybe because my bathroom is adjacent to Ella's in the next room, I can also hear the sound of the running water from there.
I turn the shower valve, and as soon as the water spurts, I grab my shampoo and soap right away. And in less than five minutes, I'm already done. While wrapping my head with a towel, I pull out my toothbrush from the rack. But before I rinse, a loud thud echoes from the other bathroom.
Thinking that Ella might have slipped on the floor, I sprint out of my room and bang her door. She's pregnant and her fall might cause a miscarriage.
"Ella!"
She doesn't answer.
"Ella!"
There's still no answer.
So, I run back to my room and grab the duplicate keys from a drawer. Then, without knocking for the third time, I fumble on the keys and push her door open. I scan my eyes inside her room, but she's not on her bed. I take large strides toward the bathroom, and I almost trip over in my haste.
And as I correctly guess, she's already on the floor.
"Ella?" My eyes dart wide as I see her sitting down on the floor, leaning her back on the wall.
"Zed, no! I don't have anything," she squeals, looking away fast.
My eyes grow wider when I realize she's naked. I'm so focused on her possible injury that her nudity doesn't register in my mind.
I grab a towel from the side and throw it at her. She also clutches it quickly and covers her chest.
"I'm fine, Zed. The floor was just too slippery," she said, grimacing and closing her eyes.
My heartbeats pound even louder. "Come here," I say, holding out my hand to help her stand.
"No, please go out. I'm naked!"
My brows furrow in anger. Why does it matter more to her than her injury?
"Damn it, Ella! Set it aside for now."
I quickly bend down and pick her up on the floor, carrying her bridal style towards her bed.
"I said I'm fine. It's just my butt – it hurts!" she grimaces again but giggles, her arms crossing quickly over her chest.
I glance at her down there, checking for possible bleeding. I only see a plump and shaved mons pubis since she clenches her legs. I flip her over to see bruises or abrasions on her back, but I only see her reddened butt cheeks and a few scratches.
I turn her flat on the bed again, seeing that those were just minor wounds that can heal on their own.
"I can help you apply a hydrogen peroxide at least. Then get dressed up quickly."
I notice her eyes dropping below my navel, so I look down, only to realize that in my fear, I didn't remember that my towel was on my head and not around my waist.
"We're even," I say awkwardly, my hands flying instantly on my head to remove the towel.
"Yes," she smiles, but her eyes remain on my thing. Making it worse, it suddenly grows hard.
"Ignore it. It's useless anyway." I press a thin smile while I wrap the towel around my waist. Ella also grabs the bedsheets to cover herself.
"Useless?"
I don't know why but my mind urges me to confess. "I go limp, Ella. My doctor says I'm having Erectile Dysfunction Syndrome."