Brownie

I shook my head, “It’s not that. I’m referring to you going on a meeting where I had a chance to meet other people.  And I got to play with the kids.”

Plus, my view of Maria changed. She’s not bad after all. I think I can tolerate her.

He pouted and teased,  “You really seem to enjoy being away from me.”

I was about to reply when a sharp pain stabbed my stomach. I stopped.

Phoenix noticed my mood changing so he asked, “What? What’s wrong?”

Realizing what it was, I muttered a curse. Oh. It's the time of the month. Why now? I heaved a sigh.

"Being a girl sucks," I mumbled.

Phoenix turned to me, hearing that. "Being my girl wouldn't." He said.

My breath hitched. W-what?

He then cleared his throat, his face turning serious. "Sereia, I have a question for you."

He was staring intently at me. The intensity was too much to bear so I looked away. "W-what ...?" I asked.

"Tell me. You’re falling for me, aren’t you?"

I almost stumbled at what he said. I looked at him. Seriously?

He’s really narcissistic and arrogant for thinking that way.

"Keep dreaming, Phoenix,” I replied, rolling my eyes at him. “You’ll have to eat everything before that will happen.”

He sighed. "Then I’ll just have to eat everything in my rice farm."

I chuckled at his joke, smiling at his silly expression.

Really, I can’t seem to know what’s in his mind.

****

The next day, I woke up early and went down the stairs. I saw Phoenix sitting on the sofa while reading a book and sipping coffee.

He looked very fresh now, with his wet hair that I guess he just took a shower, and he was wearing a clean white shirt now with denim jeans and his Rolex watch on his wrist.

I can’t help but stare at the sight. It looks like he just came out of a magazine cover. No wonder all the girls and his fans are for him. I hate to admit it, he has the looks.

Phoenix looked up, sensing my presence. His lips instantly curved into a smile and that made his eyes lighten up. "Good morning, princess."

"Good morning," I answered and sat on the sofa beside him.

"Do you have a meeting today?" I asked.

And he shook his head, “Not much." He replied, now continuing on reading the book in his hand.  I glanced at the book that he’s reading.

Based on the title, A Guide to a Perfect Shot, it’s obvious that it’s a book about photography

Why is he reading it? Now my curiosity just got bigger.

I was about to open my mouth to ask him, but thought about it and knew it was not a good idea. At least, not now. He seems so focused on reading it and I'm just bothering him.

The silence was now broken as Lola Nanding showed up from her room just beside the kitchen.

“Phoenix?” She called out and Phoenix turned to her. “Yes, grandma?”

“Your father has been calling me for days now. Won‘t you answer them when they call?” She said,

He bitterly chewed on his lip as his face darkened. “I don’t want to hear their nonsense, grandma. Ignore them.”

I wanted to ask about this but decided not to, feeling Phoenix’s mood changing.

"Okay then.” Lola Nanding said, sighing and asked again “Can you drive me to the market?”

“Yes, granny." He answered, now finishing his cup of coffee, and stood up.

"Oh wait, I still need to hang up the laundry first." She said and I butted in.

"Grandma Nanding, can I come with you?" I asked.

"Are you sure, my dear?" She looked at me, concerned.

I nodded. "Of course."

She sighed, pursing her lips. "Honestly, I still have to do a lot of things. Is it okay if  you and Raziel will buy what we need at the market?"

I glanced at Phoenix who raised his eyebrows at me in question.

I shrugged, “Of course, Lola Nanding. I can handle it.”

She smiled at that and then gave me some money and a paper containing the list of goods that we needed to buy.

She looked at me apologetically. "I'm sorry, my dear. You’re supposed to be a guest, but I’m asking you to do some errands for me."

I sent her a comforting smile. "It's okay, Lola Nanding. Besides, I think I need to get familiar with this place."

She nodded, wanted to say something more but then sighed and left.

Phoenix then motioned me to go now, “Shall we go?”

I nodded and yelled, “We’ll leave now, Lola Nanding."

We then hopped on Phoenix’s car and it took us another hour before we got to the city, where the market was actually located. Phoenix said that it’s much cheaper and said that he knew the vendors there.

We bought everything on the list as quickly as possible and headed home just in time for lunch.

When we finished eating, Phoenix’s phone was buzzing with a lot of phone calls. He answered each of them and when I asked him about it, he said those were the investors for the farm.

"We're not going to the rice field today?" I asked.

"Not today. I have to take care of something important. The harvesting is over, tomorrow I'll be busy again." He responded, glancing at the clock again.

"Do you want to go? I'll just send Maria with you so you can play with the kids again." He suggested and I refused.

"I'm fine. I think I’ll just stay here for now." I said and he nodded, now walking away.

I went to the hammock that was placed in the backyard of the mansion and hung out there for a while. I thought of my experience here.

Despite what I said about being happy and stress-free here, I feel like my body is tired physically and mentally.

I didn't realize that I had fallen asleep here and just woke up to the intense ray of light from the sun.

It's really hot in the Philippines, it's just a good thing it's windy here on the farm.

I stood up and stretched my body before walking away but stopped when I saw Phoenix caressing his pet, Brownie just a few meters away from me.

I frowned at that. Phoenix seems to be forcing Brownie to stand up but Brownie couldn’t. Phoenix has this worried expression on his face.

"What are you doing Phoenix?" I asked, coming over to look at his pet.

He glanced at me and frowned. "Brownie has no appetite."

I raised my eyebrows at that, "No appetite?"

He nodded, "I checked on him earlier this morning and she’s not eating. And now that I came back again from the meeting, I checked on her again. I thought she couldn't walk because she was still walking earlier in the morning but now, she can't stand up. And she seems to be having trouble breathing."

“I’m thinking of taking her to the veterinarian later so that I’ll be assured." He said, now pacing back and forth.

I reached out and stopped him. "I'll handle it."

He looked at me as if I was insane. "How? Do you know anything about animals? You're the one who didn’t like Brownie last time."

I smiled at him, "Chill. I’m not sure if I told it to you already but I'm a veterinarian, Phoenix.”

He gasped at that, “Really? I think Lola Nanding mentioned that to me. I thought it was just a joke or something.”

I stared at him deadpan, “Do I look like I'm lying about my profession?”

Haha. Did I just spend all these years studying and taking exams just to lie?

I shake my head at that.

“Oh sorry about that.” He chuckled nervously. “Can you help me?”

I nodded, now looking at his pet, Brownie. I got my stethoscope from my room and came back to examine Brownie from her eyes to her open mouth, heartbeat and did an overall check up. “What did you make her do?"

He thought about it for a moment and replied, "Ahm...I made her carry the harvested rice earlier to the truck. Why?"

Nodding at him, I grabbed my phone and searched for the heat index, and showed it to Phoenix.

"What?"

"It’s 42 degrees celsius and you made her work until three o'clock?" I asked.

He nodded unsurely, "Yes…?”

I sighed and stared at him, petting Brownie. "Your pet is struggling from heat exhaustion.  It’s normal that he would experience it considering the fact that the weather is very hot for her to handle. I’m glad she’s handling it fine.” I said, smiling at Brownie. “Now don’t make her work until tomorrow. She needs a whole day to rest. And lots of water."

Phoenix nodded, now quietly staring at me with amazement.

I raised my eyebrow, "What?"

"Nothing. You look sexy being bossy and serious, princess.”

I sighed, but I couldn’t help the little smile escape from my lips. “Stop teasing me. I’m serious, Phoenix.”

He shrugged. “I’m serious too.”

I snorted and raised my hand to lightly hit his arm but he ran away before I could even do it. “Thank you for the help, princess!”

He said happily and took care of his pet.

I just shook my head at him, holding my stethoscope with me.

**

"How's Brownie?" I asked when we finished eating dinner.

He beamed at me, "She’s doing fine now, thanks to a certain sexy doctor."

He winked at me and I chuckled.

“And that certain sexy doctor says you’re welcome.”

He smiled, "I love that pet. She was Lola Nanding's birthday gift to me when I was little."

I gasped at that little trivia he told me, "She's been around for a long time? I’m surprised you didn't sell her to the market."

"Sereia!" He glared at me. "I can't do that to my baby! They’ll just chop her into pieces and make her as food. She’s not food, she’s a pet!”  He exclaimed, looking like a child.

"But you were able to overwork in the middle of the heat of the sun, weren't you?" I asked.

He bit his lip at that, somehow looking guilty. "Well .."

I chuckled at his reaction. So cute. Wait-what?

He then cleared his throat and suddenly became serious. "Now about the land..Do you still want to take my rice field?"

I gulped at his question.

Wasn’t that my purpose for staying here? Why am I hesitating in answering him now?

And once I successfully meet my goal, I can finally return to my work.

"Yes...." I replied, not meeting his eyes.

"Okay ..." He replied.

That night, I went to bed early. Feeling the call of nature, I made my way to the comfort room.

Sighing, I was about to return to my room when I saw something flashing from afar. It’s almost like a light, from a phone or camera?

I’m not sure.

Heading in the direction of it, I was shocked to see Phoenix’s back in the backyard. The sky was dark, and he was holding a camera towards the sky. He positioned himself to take a shot and it flashed a light.

"Phoenix?"

He jumped at the sound and turned around to silence me.

"Oh, Sereia. Shh, don't be loud!" He shushed me and went towards me. "Why are you still awake?"