Sudden change

Apollo’s P.O.V.

When I went home, I decided to meet with my cousins, Michael, Harold, and Seb.

I've asked my cousins to meet me at the condo.

They brought some chips cola and whiskey to drink. That was their sole purpose why they met, to have a drink.

It's been a while since we've talked about this and had this kind of hangout.

As Seb took a piece of a chip which is called Piattos, he sat beside Apollo and started teasing him.

"I know why you're smiling!!"

I looked at Seb nonchalantly, waiting for the next words that will come out of his mouth.

Michael rebutted "Yeah! You know what, after your ex-girlfriend, I've never seen you smile like that! What's my name again?"

Harold ate the last piece of chips of Piattos that Seb has been eating since a while ago and then he replied, "Ivy."

Michael and Seb did the high five with Harold and then they laugh as they tease me.

I rolled my eyes while shaking my head.

"It’s been a long time, why do you keep on bringing her up? Can we just drink our liquor? Well, after all, that's the sole purpose why we're here, right?”

Now I was the one eating the chips. And to start the long-awaited session, I drank the first shot of tequila.

"Hmm… If it's really a long time, then why are you still affected when we’re talking about Ivy?" asked Michael.

Seb agreed. "You know what, now that you’re starting to feel affectionate toward Beatrix, you have to stop thinking about your past. I mean, we know that you don't have any more feelings for Ivy. But you have to prove it to us."

"Also, Beatrix is a nice woman. Don't hurt her. Despite her profession, she’s still a woman, not just a girl that you could meet up with in every club that you go into," said Harold in his blunt face.

I can feel how serious Harold is right now, but I don't know where he is coming from.

But then, I suddenly felt a grouch in my chest.

I felt irritated I started acting silly and even worse, I just drank half of the tequila, which made me drunk first.

They teased me for falling in love again after so many years, causing me to feel grouchy and annoyed, maybe?

I didn't want to discuss my personal life with anyone, even my own family.

And also, falling in love? I never know what that is. And I don't want to trick myself that I'm starting to feel something toward her.

Maybe this is just an attachment.

Beatrix has seen the weakest point of me and the way I acted toward her— it's the real me. I don't know how could I keep on acting so real in front of her.

But I can just naturally do it.

However, I'm still not sure so I'm not going to risk it I don't want to hurt her.

—

RIX’s P.O.V.

Here in the club, I was spending time with my friends, Charis and Harley.

As I was trying to clean up the table of every customer that had left, I didn't realize I was smiling on my own.

I was doing some chicky movements like I was a teenager.

But really, I can’t take it off my mind! How could he be so possessive even after knowing that I like him?

I know for a fact that I told him, clearly, that I never wanted him to do something that will make me feel I was special. Then here he goes.

He keeps on making me feel special.

My heart keeps on fluttering, and it’s knocking so fast like I was on a marathon.

Charis noticed my brightened mood and asked me about it, and I couldn't help but tell them about Apollo and our growing relationship.

"We’re still working but here we are, talking like we’re just sitting at the edge of the street!" I said.

Harley crossed his arms and tapped my shoulder. "Stop assuming. As long as there are no words coming out of his mouth, then please stop assuming,” he gravely said,

"Harley, you’re just ruining my imagination!" I said.

"It's better for it to be ruined, than for you to suffer a lifelong fake intake of situation."

Charis exclaimed, "Harley, don't be so serious about everything. Our friend needs some time to be happy. I mean, it's not that bad to fantasize about your crush. You’ve been there! And our workloads are enough to produce pressure. If our work is already pressuring and mind-blowing, what about Beatrix?"

Charis then left us to give something to one of the customer’s tables, serving the last set of orders from the newest customer, and then she came back to us to continue her reply.

"I support you."

I smiled...

However, I felt that Harley is not thinking well about this.

He's always against everything.

I continued telling them everything that had happened in the hospital, and how Apollo treated me as if I was respectful… as if I was not a prostitute.

Charis was happy that I finally found someone who never thought of my past or my work— who never give me a hard time— Oops I was wrong.

Oftentimes, Apollo gives me a hard time whenever he feels like doing it.

But most of the time when he was doing that, I was in great trouble. I did something that he clearly told me not to do.

As for Harley, well, I know how he feels, but he could admit his feelings as well.

He's always like that.

What am I supposed to do? Just listen to him?

—

When I arrived home, I was met with a sudden change in Apollo's demeanor.

He had gone back to being cold and distant, leaving me confused and unsure of what had caused the sudden shift in his behavior.

I decided to give him some space, hoping that he would open up to me soon.

He was drunk. Maybe that was the reason why he is asking weirdly again.

Maybe forgot that we’re settled.

Before we separated ways a while ago, we were okay and he even asked me to stop accepting offers.

Now why is he acting oddly, right? There's no other reason but this…. yeah that's right!

It's just because he's drunk.

I took a deep breath as I walked into Apollo's family apartment, my heart racing with anticipation.

I had decided to surprise him by cooking dinner, hoping to show him her domestic side and win his affection.

Just as what they say, a way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

All right let's see if that'll work.

So I went out to buy some groceries that I could use to cook dinner— I mean breakfast for Apollo.

"Hey," I said with a smile, holding up a bag of groceries. "I thought I'd cook break today for you."

Apollo looked up from his laptop, his expression cold as ever. "I don't remember asking you to do that," he said flatly.

My smile faltered, but I tried to keep my spirits up. "It's just a small gesture," she said. "I thought you might appreciate it."

Apollo sighed heavily, his eyes flickering over to the clock on the wall. "Fine," he said, standing up. "But make it quick. I have a meeting in an hour."

I nodded and hurried into the kitchen, feeling disappointed but determined to impress him.

I started chopping vegetables and boiling water, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my chest.

But I can't deny the fact that I'm tearing apart now. I don't know how to stop this. Maybe this is just because of the onion, right?

I know they say onion could cause people's tears.

I smiled thinking of that possibility.

Suddenly I thought, if they're using onion, I mean the celebrity.

If they had a shoot and an artist couldn't cry because he or she was happy during that day.

Ha…. what a weird realization.

I finished cooking filet mignon for Apollo I went up to our room and serve it to him.

"How do you think?” I asked.

As soon as he tasted the food, he suddenly threw it away, right into the garbage bin, and throw me a look of disgust.

"So it's not?” I asked.

"It's not. You have no talent in cooking so why do you keep on cooking? Please stop impressing me, I'm not buying it."

The door suddenly rang and Apollo and I weren't attending to it.

So maybe the maid had already opened the door for us.

The awkward silence is just making me nervous so I had to start talking.

"I will cook again.”

“Just sleep. I know you're tired from work. Stop doing things that are causing you to feel pressure."

Did he notice my eyebags? Is it already noticeable?

"I'm fine. I just wanted to serve you.”

I thought he would understand this time but instead, he raised his voice.

"JUST STOP. OKAY? I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO DO ANYTHING AT THIS HOUSE! ALL I WANT IS FOR YOU TO ACT AS MY WIFE AND THAT'S ALL, PERIOD."

Someone opens the door causing Apollo to stop shouting.

Michael was the first one to talk, "Actually we went here to remind you that we will be having a business meeting that was originally planned by our parents. So I'm sorry if we have disturbed something that is happening between the both of you?"

Seb stopped Michael from talking, and he was the one who was now taking charge of replying.

"You don't have to say sorry, Michael. If we haven't got here, maybe Beatrix will receive a nonstop scolding from Apollo. What have you been doing, Apollo? Why are you taking out your anger on her?"

Apollo look away and walk near his office chair before he replied. "Is it a requirement to treat Beatrix as a princess? When in fact, she was just my employee? Maybe you can’t see it because you are so focused on the fact that I could be falling for her, but I'm not."