Zed's POV
“Ar, do you mind if I order pizza? Ella is supposed to cook for you, but I spoiled it,” I chuckle, earning me a glare from Ella.
Ara glares at me, too. And I laugh louder. If I have not lured Ella into making love with me, she could have cooked her specialty and bragged it to Ara.
“You know what, I should have cut your joystick!”
“Pizza or what?”
“Fine, your choice. Or, anything that has beef.” She pouts and rolls her eyes.
“Anything else?”
“Chicken wings tossed in garlic and parmesan cheese and in pesto sauce.” She pauses and tilts her head to the side to think. Then, she snaps and exclaims, “Don’t forget pasta in white sauce and potato fries. Yen likes them.”
I nod. How can I forget? “What else?”
“That’s all for me. But don’t ask me what else Yen likes. You know better.”
The smile on my face dies down. I glance at Ella and see how her eyes gloom for a few seconds.
"Love, what do you like?" I feel tickled at my endearment. We may be pretending at first, but I am now sincere.
"Chocolate shake, please?" I chuckle at the sweetness of her face as she looks at me. And on how well she hides her little act of jealousy.
I walk away to grab my phone, deciding what other food I will add to the order. And what comes to mind is the green salad that Yen always ordered when we were together.
“Zedreck?” Ella’s voice has me turning in her direction while I’m making a call to the nearest gourmet pizza house for my order.
“Yes,” I holler. I’m standing by the main door while she and Ella are chatting on the couch in the living room.
“Where’s my best friend?”
“Still in the garden. Taking an important call,” I lie. I understand why Yen asked for the bathroom. Because that’s where she could hide her tears.
“Okay. Business indeed sucks. You can’t avoid calls even during bedtime.”
Ara starts discussing her plans with Ella. The both of them even stand up and walk around as Ara surveys the house. I follow them with my eyes, but I steal glances in the direction of the bathroom. It has been thirty minutes, but Yen hasn’t come out yet. I start to worry about her. And I feel sick at the discomfort she has to go through.
I glance at my watch. I decide to wait for another ten minutes. If after that Yen won’t still come out, I will already break the door.
Fortunately, she comes out after eight minutes. And now, with a thicker makeup. Although she looks fresh and is trying to wear a smile, I know her well enough. I stare at her as she gracefully walks to the living room, my heart breaking into pieces. I have already moved on and am now in love with Ella, but seeing her hurting like that is killing me. She is still the woman that I loved with all my heart.
“Where are they?” Yen asks as soon as she sees me.
“Upstairs.”
“Ah, I’ll go after them.”
“Stay here. I won’t bite. You don’t have to put up with your mask because I still see you through.”
Yen only tilts her head and looks at me with a sad smile on her face, but still, she walks toward the stairs. The door then buzzes, diverting my attention from her. I glance at them to see if Yen has caught up with them. And when I hear Ara acknowledging her presence, I head out to the gate to pick up my order.
Once I have laid the food on the table, I follow them upstairs.
“Ella, I am curious about what your master bedroom looks like. All the rooms you have shown us have a different and unique touch. I won’t mind if I see undies spreading out.”
Ara’s giggles are contagious and Ella laughs as well even if she looks like melting in shame. My heart warms at how she easily blends with them, even if Yen and Ara are from my past.
“Sure. As long as you don’t mind the mess.”
I see Yen’s eyes darting at the door nervously. I catch up to her and grab her arm as she’s about to follow them.
“Dear, you may go down and wait for us,” I whisper into her ear. She glances at me and shakes her head.
“I’m fine.”
I sigh but follow them inside. I'm sure as hell she's not.
“OMG, am I really in your bedroom or at a hotel? This is so awesome, Elle! Look at the ceiling, the curtains, the glass walls, the furniture– everything is exquisite!”
I shake my head at Ara’s endless praise. Her mouth pops faster than a bag of popcorn in a microwave!
“Oh, my goodness! Oh, my goodness!”
Our eyes fly wide at her sudden scream.
“Ara?!” I call her out and catch up to her, placing my hand on her shoulder to turn her around. I glance at Ella and Yen. They also look startled and confused.
“Ara, what’s wrong?” But Ara doesn’t stop squealing, her hands covering her face.
“Zedrick! Why have you become so lewd now?”
“Lewd?”
“Yes. Look at that wall frame. It’s you. Yuck. Since when have you started taking photos while doing sex? I’m sure you have lots of sex videos already.”
I look at the wall frame horrified. It's indeed our half-nude photograph, enclosed in a life-size frame. Even if my arm is draping around her abdomen, it still shows her hardened, perking breast. The white sheet conceals only our genitals, but it outlines my poking manhood.
"This is our bedroom, Arah, where guests are not allowed."
“Ara. stop it. It’s none of your business,” says Yen, a horrified look spreading on her face. She drags Ara by her arm and leads her out of the room.
“You know, Ar, you should tame your tongue sometimes.”
“Even our laws give us the freedom of choice and speech,” Ara replies in a poker face, rolling her eyes.
Yen glances back over her shoulder and our eyes meet. She looks away hurriedly, moving her eyes to Ella.
“Sorry, Ella. I think I should take her to the surgeon.”
“Surgeon?” Ara asks, turning around.
“Surgeon, my dear. To have your tongue cut shorter.”
Ella bursts out laughing before she answers, “It’s alright, Miss Yen. She’s fun to be with.”
“See? You should learn from me. That means you’re so boring to be with.”
Yen reaches out to Ara’s side and pinches her hard. “Boring, your ass!”
Ara shrieks again and runs downstairs. “Why? Did Zed ever do that when you're together?”
I can see how Yen stiffens even if her back is facing us. To save her from further embarrassment, I butt in.
“Ladies, come. Let’s eat while the pizza is still hot.”
Ara shrieks again, and the three of us look at each other helplessly. Ella shakes her head and laughs while Yen grits her teeth.
We all go to the dining room and I let the ladies gather around the table. I serve their plates, glass, and cutleries while waiting for another bomb that will come out of Ara’s mouth.
And she doesn’t fail me as soon as I pull a chair and sit beside Ella.
“Zedreck, I really appreciate your thoughtfulness. You remember well what Yen likes. See, you order the same food when you treated us to dinner after you successfully entered her territory.”
“Territory?”
Ara bursts out laughing and Yen’s face turns beet red.
“Territory means Yen’s hole where Zedreck plants his pole!”
“Ara, that’s not funny anymore. Stop it,” I scold Ara. Even if we’re close friends from the very start, it doesn’t spare Yen from embarrassment.
Halfway, through the meal, Yen’s phone buzzes. She excuses herself to take the call. And when she walks back to the table, she taps Ara’s shoulder.
“Can I go ahead, Ar? It’s something important.”
“But Yen, I’m not coming back here until the day of the blessing. It’s too far.”
“It’s alright. I’ll take a taxi.”
“No way. Your husband will kill me if you get kidnapped on the way.”
“I’m not a child.”
“But you are the wife of a billionaire, dear. Not to mention your billionaire dad.”
“You worry unnecessarily. I’m going now.”
Yen turns to us and excuses herself politely, saying she has a sudden important appointment. I nod. It's not new in her line of work. But Ara suddenly blurts out.
“Zed, can you take Yen to the city? I can’t go without finishing this task with Ella today.”
I freeze. I steal a glance at Ella just when she nudges my side.
“I agree, love. It’s not safe for Miss Yen to go by cab.”