Chapter 9

James rubbed his chin with his free hand. His towering profile was intriguing. He was even handsome when he was clearly overwhelmed. But Hannah’s gentle spirit kept him anchored in logic. It didn’t push him over the edge. Why was it that he didn’t truly feel a struggle with the predicament? Why don’t it seem that bad? Have you bewitched me, Hannah? James lifted his eyes upon Hannah who was still holding her arm cluelessly staring at his strange behavior. “Do you think you can endure another five months being married?” He finally asked.

Hannah looked like she just came back into reality and responded, “Er…well, I have been doing this for six years. I think five more months is just a small hurdle, right?” She slightly smirked to tease him.

“Seems like this might be the only way out to get what we both want,” he said.

Her thoughts interrupted, What if I want you? STOP. Silly woman. She began arguing with her thoughts silently. And nodded towards him in agreement.

They were able to come to an agreement where the contracts were signed and James earned the keys back to his late father’s villa across town.

***

Because Sherry had no control over the situation, she returned back to her family’s residence but maintained her relationship with James. They were able to get into the villa quickly and get Hannah moved in. James and Hannah were in casual clothes, standing overworked in their “shared” bedroom attempting to negate the bed situation. James stated, “Well, we could get two smaller beds and get rid of this queen size.”

Hannah tilted her head to reevaluate. “We could but don’t you think that would be too obvious if Uncle Henry accidentally sees it? I’m not worried about me. I’m just worried that he’ll take it out on your position with company.”

“Hey,” she slapped his arm. “Don’t refer to him so coldly. He’s carried the family thus far. It weighs heavy on him that we just don’t know.” And then she exited the room to grab more belongings.

James thought to himself, “Tsk. So forgiving, eh? Just might not be so bad.” He shrugged.

After their first dinner together, Hannah went to lie down first. She had already let a long body pillow in the middle of the bed and closed her eyes in the half-lit master bedroom. The large window on her side still allow the moon light to gently outline her figure under the thing blanket.

When James exited the attached bathroom with his dark color pj’s, he got inside the blanket and lied down silently on his side of the bed. After hearing Hannah tossing and turning a little, he asked, “Can’t sleep either?”

Silent.

“It’s okay. I won’t do anything. I’m not that cruel.”

She softly responded, “James,..”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry.” Her eyes welled up with tears.

“Er, why?”

“Sherry must be so angry and helpless right now. I’m sorry.”

“She’ll be fine. She understands that even I can’t do much about it.”

“I don’t want her to misunderstand that I have any ill agenda to snatch you. That’s all.”

“If Sherry feels that strong about me, she’ll be able to wait for another five short months. Right?”

“I hope so.”

“Get some sleep. You still have work tomorrow.”

***

At the elementary school Hannah was already in her first two weeks of teaching. She was getting familiar to her students and colleagues. Rose was also a teacher just a couple of doors down the single-story school. During lunch hour, Hannah was behind her computer eating lunch and grading some homework.

At the door stood a tall, young, handsome man with a school ID tag as well. His smile as welcoming and gentle. “Hi, I’m teacher Ricky I teach the other half of third graders just on the other end of the hallway. I haven’t gotten the chance to properly introduce myself.” Hannah rushed over to shake his hand smiling. “Pleasure to meet you, teacher Ricky. I’m Hannah, the newbie.”

“Well, and that’s why I’m here to offer any help if you need it. I’ve been teaching third graders for a few years now so I think you just might find me resourceful, “ he reassured. His rolled up dress shirt made him look really professional but his personality just now seemed so easy going. His dark, short hair made him look very clean and put together. “Anyway, I’m in room 103b just down the hall so if any of your third graders are acting up, you can feel free to send them down anytime for me to discipline them as well.” Hannah was very content upon hearing this. She nodded quickly and he left.

Just as he left, Rose made her way from the opposite of the hallway. “Was that Ricky just here?” Her eyebrows raised.

“Yes. He came to introduced himself and to welcome me here.”

“Wow. Teacher Ricky has already approached you? Do you know he’s the most handsome man here and so many of the other teachers have hit on him before with no success?”

Hannah shrugged it off. “Haha. That’s not of my concern. He seemed really nice and professional. I just want to get my job done and done correctly. He was offering extra resource and moral support for the kids. That’s all.”

Rose chased her back to her computer and teased, “Don’t let me hear after the semester that you’ve fallen for him, eh?” Hannah looked at her with disturbance and asked to be left alone.

When bed time came, James was now the one tossing and turning while Hannah was already half asleep. “Are you having trouble sleeping?” Hannah sat up asking the restless figure next to the body pillow between them.

“Oh? Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up. Yeah, I can’t fall asleep,” James apologized.

She thought about how to help him fall asleep. “I’ll be right back in a bit.” Hannah put on her light gray silk robe that accentuated her curves and her long brown hair in the moonlight. When she returned with a hot cup of tea, she set it on James’ night stand and told him to drink it to help aid him with sleep soon. Hannah saw his scruffy, longer hair falling over his forehead lazily and his exposed sculpted shoulders in his tank. She felt embarrassed and quickly went to sit on her side of the bed.

“James, if you need someone to talk or vent to, you can talk to me so that you aren’t imprisoned by all your thoughts. I promise I won’t tell anyone. Besides, I don’t have anyone to tell anyway.”

James set the emptied cup aside and turned off the night lamp. “It’s okay. I don’t want to bother you more than this. Thank you for the tea.”

She nodded and went to bed as well.

After her first month of teaching, Ricky felt like treating her out to dinner as a celebratory milestone. A few of their coworkers also joined them. At the Korean bbq style restaurant, Rose sat beside Hannah and Ricky was sitting across. Even though there were other colleagues there, Ricky tried to carry a conversation with Hannah mostly. It was as if he was very interested in her so he asked most “get to know” questions. Rose looked at Hannah up and down observing how oblivious she was about the scene right before her. She thought to herself, Wow. Hannah, are you not realizing what’s happening? He’s hitting on you!

In the middle of the hang-out, Hannah retrieved her phone to quickly text James, “Will be out late with colleagues.”

Behind the wooden desk in the cornered office, James looked indifferently at phone. “Hmm.” And continued with his work. Just then, his phone rang from an incoming call. “Sherry.”

“James, take me out to dinner, please? I haven’t seen you in a couple of days.”

“Sure. I’ll come pick you up.”

While strolling downtown finding their restaurant, they happened to see through another restaurant another woman falling into the arms of a man in the hallway. Sherry blurted, “Oh! People have no shame nowadays holding each other openly even in a busy restaurant.” After the woman stood up and stabled her footing, James noticed it was Hannah with a man he’s never seen before. “Eh! James, isn’t that Hannah? What a shameful woman running around with another man.”

James was already set off secretly by seeing another man touch Hannah and the immense amount of work so he coldly responded, “Then what are we too?” He continued walking leaving her behind. “James! Wait for me!”

When James returned home, he stayed up for a couple more hours. Why am I so irritable suddenly? Hannah, what exactly are you doing? Are you not telling me something? He thought.