"JEALOUS WOMAN"

"In the countless times I asked Marius to let me help him in the kitchen, he refused just as many times. I couldn't fathom why he was doing that. But I must admit, every rejection only added to the points he earned to win my heart.

"What do you think?" he asked as we sat facing each other, having lunch together.

I first tasted the Chicken Tinola he cooked. Earlier, while we were grocery shopping, he asked me about my favorite Filipino dish. I told him the truth, and that was it. I couldn't help but be impressed when I tasted it. Then, I looked at him with a smile that I just couldn't wipe off my lips.

"In fairness, it's delicious," I replied, and it was the absolute truth.

I saw Marius's eyes twinkle after I said that. I knew he was pleased, and I had no regrets about it. The truth was, I couldn't move on, and I couldn't believe his way of courting me. It was something I hadn't experienced with my previous boyfriends.

Well, maybe that's just how it is. Perhaps Filipinos have a different way of wooing someone. Because, in all honesty, even though Marius wasn't the first Filipino to show interest in me, he was the first one to muster the courage to confess his true intentions to me.

"Now, try this vegetable," he said.

The sparks of attraction were evident between us, making every moment we spent together even more enchanting. As we continued sharing delicious food and heartfelt conversations, it became clear that this love story was unlike any other, and I was excited to see where it would lead us."

It was a vegetable dish cooked with seafood in coconut milk, and I didn't decline. As I tasted it, my heart fluttered with delight.

"I might fall in love with your cooking before falling for you," I playfully teased Marius as we began our meal.

"Please don't say that," Marius quickly protested. "I cooked these dishes hoping you'd say yes to me. Now, instead of falling for me, you'll fall for the food?"

I laughed at my suitor's remark, feeling genuinely happy. That was the truth. As we savored our meal, I couldn't help but notice the qualities in Marius that I admired in a man. But it was too early to think about wanting someone like him as my future spouse, even if I secretly knew it within myself.

After tidying up, Marius and I settled in the living room. Like earlier, I didn't insist on washing the dishes and told him that I would do it.

"Is your office far from here?" I asked him as we sat side by side on his long, comfortable couch, facing the large flat-screen TV.

Marius smiled, his eyes reflecting warmth. "Not too far, just a few kilometers away. It's a convenient location, and it gives me more time to spend with you."

I blushed at his sweet response, grateful for the chance to spend more time with him too. As we chatted and laughed together, I felt a growing connection with Marius. Although it was still early in our journey, I couldn't help but wonder where this path would lead us and how our love story would unfold.

"It's a fifteen-minute drive, assuming no traffic," he replied. "Why do you ask?" he added curiously.

I shrugged and leaned my head back on the couch's headrest. "Just curious why you haven't built your own house. Lana mentioned that half of the company you work for belongs to you," I explained.

"Oh, so your talkative sister-in-law has spilled quite a bit of information to you," he said, laughing.

"Lana isn't talkative, really. She only mentioned those things when I told her about our first meeting at the mall with my nephew," I responded, grabbing a throw pillow and hugging it.

I tried to suppress a yawn, but it escaped, prompting me to quickly cover my mouth. Unbeknownst to me, Marius had been watching me, and when I glanced at him, I blushed at his amused expression.

"Would you like to take a nap?" he asked, his eyes filled with amusement.

A part of me wanted to rest, but I didn't want to give in that easily. "Oh, I'm fine. I can stay awake," I said with a hint of determination.

Marius chuckled softly and reached for my hand, gently intertwining his fingers with mine. "If you change your mind, I'm here," he said, his voice soothing and tender.

As I felt his warm touch, a sense of comfort washed over me, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for his presence. The connection between us continued to deepen, and I realized that each moment spent with Marius was becoming more precious than I ever imagined.

I nodded in response to his question, which was indeed true. Perhaps it was because I ate a lot earlier, and also the fact that I woke up early due to my excitement for our date.

"Come here," he said, patting his lap.

My eyes questioned as they shifted between Marius's face and his lap. I knew he understood what I meant. And I was proven right when he spoke to explain himself.

"Or, would you prefer to go to my bedroom?" he asked.

At that point, I quickly declined by shaking my head. Then, I moved and lay on the sofa, resting my head on his lap.

"The atmosphere in your unit is wonderful, Marius. But it would be even better if you invested in your own house," I commented before yawning again.

Since I was lying on my side, facing the TV, I didn't expect Marius's gentle caress on my hair. I slightly straightened up, then glanced at him. Our eyes met immediately, and the moment was charged with an undeniable connection between us.

In that instant, I felt my heart skip a beat, and I couldn't deny the growing attraction I had for Marius. His touch, his presence, and the way he looked at me made me feel something special that I hadn't experienced before. Little did I know that this would be the beginning of a love story that would change both of our lives forever.

I felt sleepy, but I couldn't bring myself to meet his gaze. Instead, I shifted my focus back to the large TV screen.

"For now, I'm fine with this setup. I don't have a family yet. I mean, if I were to build my own house right away, I think I would only feel more isolated," Marius replied.

His words struck me in a different way. Suddenly, I felt a surge of compassion for him. There was sadness in his voice, and I couldn't be mistaken about that. I sensed the bitter emotions attached to each word he spoke as if he had experienced heartbreak. It seemed like a love that he had invested time and sacrificed for, but in the end, it amounted to nothing.

"I feel like I want to reject you for saying that," I responded to him.

"What? Wait, why? What did I say or do?" he asked in succession, sounding concerned.

I sat up and distanced myself from him. Pretending to watch the TV, I furrowed my eyebrows, even though my attention was not really on the screen.

"Sam? Hey, what happened?" he asked.

"Why do I feel like your words are filled with so much pain?" I asked him.

"Painful, huh?" he repeated my words in a question.

"Yeah. Are you sure you really want to court me? Or maybe you're just using me to forget or escape from your painful past?" I inquired, feeling uncertain about his intentions.

To be honest, I had no idea about Marius's past. All I knew was what he had confessed to me – about being a playboy. But I had a strong feeling that there was something more, though he never explicitly mentioned it.

"What are you saying? All I meant earlier was that I haven't built my own house beyet because I don't have a familyThat's true. I feel like I would experience more loneliness if I lived alone in a big house with no one else but household staff," he explained.

I didn't respond and simply kept my gaze fixed on him.

"The truth is, I prefer the feeling of waking up in the morning with someone beside me in bed. Or coming home from work to a wife who opens the door for me when I knock. Or having little feet running towards me to welcome me. But if I don't have that yet, I feel like I would sense my loneliness more. That's all I meant with what I said earlier," he continued, speaking softly and explaining himself.

I still didn't say anything in response to his words, but I had to admit that it slightly alleviated the irritation and jealousy I was feeling.

"Actually, Sam, my dream house plan is already complete, and I designed it myself. I'm just waiting for the approval of my future wife, of course," Marius added with a wink.

I knew he was trying to appease me, and I didn't know what it was about his actions or words, but I couldn't help but smile.

"Oh? Can I know why?" I asked, genuinely curious.

Even though I was annoyed and jealous earlier, now I managed to sound normal in my tone of speech. He shrugged his shoulders and then pulled me close, wrapping me in his arms. I didn't resist because truthfully, I was too giddy at that moment to reject Marius' incredibly romantic gesture.

"Of course, I want her to have a say in everything I do. It will be her house. I'm building it for her. Maybe she wants a bigger kitchen or multiple kitchens if she loves cooking," he said.

I couldn't help but glance up at Marius after hearing that. But when I saw that he was focused on the TV, I redirected my gaze as well. It was for the best, as he didn't catch me smiling and biting my lower lip in excitement.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah. Maybe she'd like a swimming pool, even if I'm not sure if she knows how to swim. Well, I'm willing to teach her if she doesn't. Or a bigger and more spacious garden because maybe she loves gardening," Marius continued, and I suddenly found myself looking down shyly.

"You're so sweet," I couldn't help but blurt out.

In those moments, his words replayed in my mind, particularly the part about his future wife possibly being fond of cooking. I wanted to believe he was referring to me, but I didn't want to assume, so I pushed that thought away.

Marius chuckled softly, his embrace tightening around me. "Thank you. I just want her to feel at home in our future house," he replied, his voice filled with genuine affection.

The more time I spent with him, the more I felt a growing connection and a special bond forming between us. Each little revelation about his dreams and plans made my heart flutter with the hope that I might be the one he was envisioning by his side. But for now, I'll cherish these moments and let our love story unfold in its own time.

"I'm going to sleep now," I said after being satisfied with everything I heard.

"Okay," he replied, readjusting the position of his legs.

I returned to my previous spot. "Are you okay?" I asked him, giving him a curious look.

He nodded. "Go ahead, jealous girl," he said with amusement.

"At least now you know that if I say yes to you, your pursuit of happiness with other women will come to an end," I retorted.

I didn't argue with what he said because it was true. And I felt that even if I didn't speak, Marius could still read me. It was something I actually appreciated.

"That ended a long time ago, Samantha Scott," he said, lightly pinching my cheek.

I raised an eyebrow. "Really? When? When you met the girl who caused you so much pain earlier?" I probed.

Marius shook his head and looked straight into my eyes. "When I decided to court you."

His response was short, but I was genuinely touched by it. And it wasn't for any specific reason, but rather the sincerity I felt and the emotions mirrored in his eyes when he admitted it.

In that brief moment, I was at a loss for words. And not because of any particular reason, but because of the honesty I sensed, and the shared feelings I saw in his eyes when Marius confessed.

The connection between us was becoming deeper and more profound with each passing moment. It was a connection built on trust, honesty and a mutual understanding of one another. As I closed my eyes to drift off to sleep, I couldn't help but smile, knowing that this was just the beginning of a beautiful love story yet to unfold.