Chapter 35: You Came
The Ceo’s Ex-Wife Can’t Escape
Chapter 35: You Came
Airina, who was in a daze, rubbed her eyes while yawning in delight. She straightened her posture, hazily opening her eyes to familiarize herself with the new feel of AC which seemed to be colder than her usual level. She got chills and yawned once more before stopping in her tracks, realizing that she was indeed in someone else’s house.
Suddenly, wild, and unnecessary scenes appeared in her mind, assuming she had been kidnapped. After regaining her senses, she hastily but warily opened the door. She was sleeping on the second floor which was furnished and neat, it smelled oddly good for someone who had kidnapped her.
While descending the stairs, she gulped her saliva.
“You’re finally awake?”
She flinched at the voice on the first floor and then blinked her eyes. She was surprised.
“E-Elisa? Are you k-kidnapped, too?”
Elisa looked at her in perplexity while scratching her left cheek. “What nonsense are you blurting early in the morning?,” she paused for a moment, “Anyhow, wash your mouth and get down here. My maid has cooked a breakfast for us.”
Although still confused, Airina obediently obeyed her words and tidied her messy appearance before coming down again. Elisa was patiently waiting for her, taking her time to scroll on social media as she did so. Airina awkwardly sat across her and cleared her throat. They weren’t that close to each other to share breakfast, more so to sleep at each other’s house. This was just more surprising than she thought.
Elisa felt her presence, merely pushing her plate towards her. “Have a taste if it’s to your taste buds.”
Airina glanced at the breakfast. It was just a simple fruit salad with an egg on top. Airina smiled.
“Thank you.”
“Ah, here too.” Elisa poured soup into a bowl, “Hangover soup.”
Airina perked her brow, suddenly recalling the stupidity she had done last night. She went to a club because she was feeling irritated at Matthew and Jackson to which she was successful as she became tipsy. That drunkenness wasn’t controlled making her say nonsense. That was when she encountered Elisa, who as far as she could remember, was wearing a revealing, tight-fitting dress.
“T-that… you took me home?”
“To my home, yes.” Elisa corrected already eating her fill.
Airina got embarrassed, her cheeks were painted red. She momentarily forgot that this wasn’t her house. The whole breakfast was straight-out awkward for Airina; either she didn’t know how to thank Elisa for her welcoming attitude or to apologize that she had to bother herself to take her to her house.
Still, she finished the simple meal with gusto.
“About last night…”
“You don’t have to either thank me or apologize to me,” Elisa cut her words with an unreadable expression on her face, “I took your home unwillingly, but that doesn’t mean you bothered me.”
“… Oh, still. Thank you for having me in your house. I never meant to sleep the night here.”
Elisa nodded her head. “I know,” she sighed, “I know that well. How about you and Jackson?”
Airina flinched, wearing an uncomfortable smile.
“In regard to that, I must thank you for helping me,” she looked around, “I had been wanting to ask but… are you moving out?” Two luggage were in the living room, beside the sofa.
“I will be leaving today.”
Airina gasped, “What? Are you going back to your country?”
“Yes,” she nonchalantly folded her arms, “I will leave everyone here so I hope you can settle your affairs with Jackson.”
Arina frowned, eyeing Elisa guiltily. “You… do you like Jackson?”
Elisa opened her mouth, and paused before replying, “Used to,” then she smiled, “Now there’s someone I am currently into.”
“Then, I wish you all the best with him. Thank you for staying and accommodating me, too,” she offered her hand, “I had a good time with you.”
Elisa shook her hands with Airina with a warm smile, “So do I, Airina.”
*
Matthew glanced at his watch. He wasn’t sure that Elisa would come on the pretense that Jackson would be the one meeting with her. He clicked his tongue, looking at the nearby sea with its salty smell faintly wafting through the air.
“Indeed, you were the one I’d meet today.”
Matthew turned to the owner of the voice, responding while blushing. “Y-you… came.” He stood up, offering the chair across him. “I thought you wouldn’t…”
Elisa laughed, “It wasn’t also my intention to come but it would be a waste to not say goodbye.”
Matthew frowned, remembering that she would be leaving today. The first time he met her, she was dazzling like a sun climbing down an airplane, but who would have thought that the foolish butterflies in his stomach would transform into slow-steady feelings? He sighed.
“Do you not blame me for scamming you?”
Elisa giggled, “Scamming?” She took a sip from the cold drink, “That’s quite the word to put it like. Anyhow, now that we’re here, is there some business you have with me?”
Matthew quirked his brow up. To say it like ‘Business with her’ felt off-putting. Besides, he asked Jackson for this exchange to spend a little longer with her. However, to know that his feelings were unrequited was horrible.
He waved his hands in dismiss, “Nothing, I guess just to share a meal with you.”
“How typical. Is this some sort of a date?”
Matthew chuckled at her words, faintly blushing. “Perhaps?”
On the other hand, as the sunset, Airina held the contact card Matthew had given to her earlier when she visited the Company and sighed powerlessly. He had also told her Jackson would spend the night in that area alone, which was lonely and sad. Left without choice, Airina drove her way – leaving Jena and her driver for their day off.
She parked her car successfully, met up with the clerk, and was led to the small pavilion where steam was drifting in the air. It was the smell of barbecue that made her stomach growl.
Guiltily, she stroked her stomach, thanking the clerk, and left alone with Jackson, who was cooking barbeque.
When he felt her presence, he sweetly smiled at her.
“You came…”, he offered his hand which she thoughtlessly grabbed, “Just perfect. I am cooking right now. Come, have some juice first.”
Airina sat on the wooden swing inside the pavilion and was served by Jackson. Quietly, as she watched him cook, she couldn’t help but think of what the future holds. What if in the first place, they were like this, loving and sweet? She held the juice tenderly with a sorrowful smile on her face.
“I thought you wouldn’t come. I waited for the whole day.” He wistfully said, as though almost crying.
Airina gazed at him, reclining into the swing, “I didn’t want to.”
“… Why did you come, then?” He meaningfully stared at her.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.
Airina stood up, placing the glass of juice on the circle table.
“Because I don’t unreasonably leave people.”