Chapter 3

Thea’s Point of view

I just woke up with a strong hand traveling down my tummy and the cold aircon wrapping around my body. When I cautiously opened my eyes, I found the gentleman peacefully sleeping next to me.

“Mmm…” He shifted a bit then hugged my stomach again.

I peeked outside and observed that it was a little dark. I didn’t realize that we slept that long.

I stopped moving as I recalled what had happened to the two of us earlier. I know it’s not the first time I’ve done that, but because I don’t remember anything, I feel like quadrupling the humiliation.

The moment I tried to withdraw his hand away from my torso so that I could get up and take a shower, since my body was still sticky, I was prevented from doing so by his suddenly waking up and pulling me further closer to him till there was no room between us.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to have to take a shower…” Because my voice was muffled, the sound of the air conditioner drowned out my words.

He was able to loosen my waist, which saved me from experiencing any more complications. Once my foot touched the floor, he gently pulled my arm again, forcing me to return to my lying position.

“Before you go, I will give you something.”

He was the first to come down while he was not wearing anything. Fortunately, the room was dark so I couldn’t see his whole body. However, I can see his shadow and the way his “army” swings in the dark. He walked over to the large white clothing cabinet while the two of us were just quiet.

He rummaged through the inside of his apparel and then he got dressed. In preparation for walking back, he switched on the light, and I was able to see the two phones he was carrying. He placed them in front of me, but I did not accept them. The distinction between the two phones, on the other hand, is unmistakable.

The white color has a lot of dried patches and broken screen, whilst the black color is brand new.

“Take those, please. The white phone is your old phone, and the black phone is your new phone. I’ve already saved my phone number there so that if I’m at the office and you need me, you can simply contact me.”

I accepted the cellphone from him and when he was about to turn around, I pulled him back to his position.

“Can you tell me who you truly are?”

“What do you mean?” He responded by asking me a question too. “Of course, I am your husband.”

“I get that, but… why isn’t that what my heart and mind are telling me? I -I feel… I’m not familiar with you. The way I feel towards you is… “ The moment I looked at him and saw his sorrowful eyes, I knew I couldn’t say anything else.

Because I was still seated on the bed and my feet were resting on the bitterly cold floor, he knelt in front of me and kissed the back of my hand. He leaned on my knees as if he were praying. There was a blanket draped across my body, so he couldn’t see my bare chest and shoulders.

“Thea… Sorry if you are confused and you feel like I am betraying you, but please give me some time.” I couldn’t understand what he was saying since he was simply bending down and holding my hands. “Give me a little more time…”

“What do you mean---?”

When he pulled my head back and kissed me on the forehead, I couldn’t complete what I was about to say. He pushed our foreheads together and then talked while our noses were near one another. “Just put your trust in me. All you must do is put your hope in me, please…”

I didn’t say anything, just nodded. Even though I had some reservations in my heart, someone told me that I should trust him.

“Take a bath, and I’ll make your dinner,” he said as he rose and kissed me on the lips once again.

I sat there and watched him go away until the door closed. I immediately went to the bathroom, carrying the old phone with me.

All I did was fill the bathtub with water and then lie down in it, staring at my cell phone. It seems to be brand new on the outside, but the dirt and shattered screen give it the appearance of an ancient vibe.

I attempted to open it, but the battery seemed to be down. When I was ready to give up, I tried it a second time and nearly jumped for joy when it opened. However, I was under the impression that I might uncover something here, but I soon realized that about half of the screen had turned black and that the password was still required.

In the end, I did nothing except sit back and let it all go. I just took a shower and soaked in water for almost an hour.

I just went downstairs when my stomach grumbled.

As I was heading down the stairs, I became conscious of the total quiet that pervaded the place. Because the lights are on, it is not frightening to look at.

I peeked into the kitchen, but Craig wasn’t there. I looked again in the living room, but he was still not there.

I walked outside to search for him when I became certain that I couldn’t locate him anymore. As soon as I went out the door, the brisk breeze wrapped around me, and I couldn’t help but listen to the insects buzzing around me.

After a period had passed and I had not been able to find Craig, I returned to the area of the second garden at the back of their house.

But my body almost stiffened when I heard his voice and what he said to whom he was talking to.

“No need to fret; I’ll keep it a secret from her.”.