“STAY here and take a rest first, I'll take care of the kitchen," that's what Mia heard Erik tell her before he places a simple kiss on her forehead.
Mia just nodded and then closed her eyes. A few moments later, the tiredness she felt completely swept her toward a deep sleep.
It was noon when she felt a gentle caress of a hand on her cheek. When she opened her eyes, she saw the handsome face that had been making her really happy since her younger years.
"Are you okay? Lunch is ready, shall we eat?" Erik asked her in a kind tone.
Mia just nodded and then reached for the clothes that the young man had picked up from the floor. When she noticed that Erik was still standing in front of her, she was shy to speak.
“Is it okay if I ask you to, you know? I'm just going to get dressed?" she said looking meaningfully at the young man whom she think got the meaning.
"Okay, okay," Erik said, laughing softly and then leaving the room.
Mia smiled at what Erik did. Then she started putting her clothes back and she just did it quickly. She was leaving the young man's room when she noticed the vacated four-poster bed.
Her whole face immediately turned red when she remembered how and how quickly the young man had managed to possess her. And not just once but twice. When she remembered how gentle it was to him, she felt a strange flow of electricity that drew in her body, causing her to become aware, so she moved and left the room.
In the dining room, she saw that a delicious lunch was ready.
Siningang na Bangus.
"Come on," said the young man as she remained standing and staring at the lunch, he had prepared for her.
Mia nodded and then quickly sat down. She smiled again when the young man began to attend to her. She couldn't stop the thrill. Just looking at the young man, she could say that the woman he is going to marry is very lucky. Why? Because aside from being handsome the young man is also kind. He is a total package, in short. But the sad truth is that she knows that woman is not her.
That was when Mia suddenly felt sad.
Because apart from lust and body heat, she didn't want to think that there was any other special feeling attached to what happened to her and Erik. Because first of all, she didn't want to expect anything from him. Secondly, she doesn't want him to get involved in her problem. Because the last thing Mia thought of is not far from happening, especially if her ex-partner comes here to Manila to take her back and bring her home.
But that was far from her plan.
She has no intention of going back to Bernie and living with him again, especially now that she has experienced being whole again.
"About what happened to us earlier," Mia started when they finished eating.
She saw the young man's eyes light up because of what she said. It's obvious that he's happy and she wants to show him how happy she is also. But because she doesn't want to give herself false hopes, she holds back.
"For me that's special," was the young man's nonchalant answer that surprised her.
"But that's not right. I'm sorry if I was so fragile," she said bowing her head, but she gasped when she felt the young man grab her hand and kiss it.
"It's okay, you have nothing to be ashamed of. You know I've been wanting to tell you this for a long time, but I want you to know that Bernie is lucky to have you. I hope he appreciates you; I hope he takes care of you because after all everything a man can like in a woman is in you, I don't know what else he's looking for that he's seen in others, but he's a fool," Erik said passionately.
The corner of Mia's eyes quickly warmed up because of what Erik said to her. But no matter how much she longed to cry because of a mixture of joy and self-pity, she stopped herself from doing so.
Maybe she should choose to be happy because someone appreciates her now. In addition to the fact that it's Erik, that is why there's no reason to be sad.
******
JUST as they talked about, Erik will have dinner at her house that night. She cooked Chicken Adobo.
Her original plan for dinner was Sinigang na Bangus, but since that was what they had for lunch earlier, she thought of Chicken Adobo instead.
It was exactly six in the evening when she heard successive knocks on the front door. Mia's chest heaved automatically because of the nervousness that she knew it was Erik, but she chose to ignore it. Because just like she said earlier to herself, she should always choose to be happy.
"Hello," the young man quickly managed to press a warm kiss on her lips.
Mia was immediately affected by what the young man did, which is why she couldn't stop closing her eyes because of the intense electricity that she felt quickly spread through every fiber of her body.
"I bought ripe mangoes for our dessert," he said handing her a bag with three pieces of large ripe mangoes.
"Let’s eat? Dinner is ready," the young lady said as Erik entered the house. "Ah, please lock the door," he added then continued to the kitchen where he served their dinner.
"It smells good," Erik complimented while showing intense excitement on his face.
"Do you also like Chicken Adobo?" she asked amusedly then began to attend to the young man.
"Of course, Chicken Adobo, Sinigang na Bangus, and hot rice, everything is solved," he said standing up and then went to the sink to wash his hands.
Mia smiled at what the young man did. "Of course, it's better to eat Adobo and rice with our hands," she said standing up to imitate what Erik did.
As she expected, that dinner was wonderful. Not only because Erik is with her but because of the fact that he is naturally cheerful. And that is one of the many reasons why he was a favorite of many of the teachers at the school they attended.
******
"Aren't you afraid of being alone here at night?" Erik asked her when they were in the living room.
Mia made the young man a cup of coffee while she preferred to pass in having a cup as well. She was worried that she might have trouble sleeping.
Mia shook her head. "No, I’m with my mother,” she said smiling at Erik who at that moment was sitting on the long sofa while she was in the accent chair.
"Come here," the young man patted the empty part of the long sofa.
Mia's chest quickly throbbed because of what the young man did. She was stunned for a while so when Erik called her the second time, she was a little surprised.
"Will you come closer, or will I seat on your lap?" he even jokes which caused her whole face to quickly blush.
The young lady gasped after hearing that. Which is why she automatically stood up and moved to seat beside Erik.
"Move a little closer," Erik said, pulling her even closer. After that, he held her head and leaned it on his shoulder.
Mia was secretly pleased with what the young man did. She feels that everything she dreamed about when she was in high school is now happening. And she didn't think that after a long time, they would still be fulfilled.
"Do you want me to sleep here tonight?” asked the young man who put down the cup of coffee on the center table and then turned to her.
That was when Mia quickly raised her head and then shook her head one after another. "Oh, there's no need, I’m just worried that if my neighbors see us, you know they might start gossiping about us,” she explained.
The young man shrugged his shoulders. "What can they say? What do you think?" he asked, raising his thick eyebrows.
"T-That they might think that something is happening between us," she answered bluntly.
Erik's smile widened his lips as his dark eyes narrowed. "Well, something is really happening between us, isn't it?" he even mischievously winked at her afterward.
"E-Erik, didn't I tell you earlier that---,"
"I think I want to dance," the young man cut off what else she wanted to say so Mia just sighed.
"What do you think?" he took out his cell phone from the pocket of his pants.
Mia stared at Erik. "Dance?"
When a familiar song played on Erik's phone, the young lady immediately understood what he meant. That's why when he stood up and reached for her hand, she gave it to him with a smile. And a few moments later they started to dance along to the familiar and special song King and Queen of Hearts by David Pomeranz.