TEN

= previous episode =

We ate solemnly on the table while enjoying the beautiful view of the green lake. Not a few birds came to ask for nuts or snacks that were on our table.

While feeding, Alex chirped. He asked if I had anything to do today or not.

"Not too."

"Oh .. what design I asked you to finish making?"

I growled at him asking about my work which he repeatedly refused to do.

"Still ... I'm still working on it."

“Good. Today ... can you help me a little? "

I smell something uncomfortable here. Since he had never asked for anything, I just nodded my head in response. And after five minutes, I regretted it.

Holidays are supposed to be quiet days. At least, I want to smear my whole body with aromatherapy scrubs or repair my hair cells so that they don't fall out and smell at the salon I subscribe to.

But that doesn't apply in this house.

Now.

Not. I wasn't even allowed to go outside because I had to clean this big house.

"When is the engine ready? Why do you have to uproot the grass in this old fashioned way?" my scolding. The tall man in the Hawaiian shirt and the gardening hat of the aunts in the vegetable garden.

Alex is busy digging the soil, selecting seeds and planting them. With a determined look but he only finished not even more than two meters.

"Hey...If that's how you work, when will you finish planting the seeds?" scolded me again and was answered with a sharp gaze.

"Noisy. Quickly pull out the grass -"

"I need a machine. If you pull it out one by one until the day after tomorrow it won't be finished, Mr Turner!"

"The juice is wasted! Hey, stop for a moment, let's take a break!"

Call Richie who came with three glasses of juice with red watermelon which is so tempting.

Today is so hot, and I wonder why Alex chose gardening in broad daylight.

"Wow. It's fresh. I'll plant this later in our backyard."

We both horse grin, "Just finish your seed first."

"Well .. Don't torture me to pull the grass again! Hurry up and fix the engine."

"I'm not sure either; we have a lawnmower," he replied casually.

And sure enough, I rewarded him with a calf kick that I didn't hesitate to give him.

I heard from afar, Richie cursed Alex who kept bugging me.

"Alex -"

I went into the house to freshen up. My resentment hasn't subsided even since the incident with my project being bullied by him. The ringing sound of the telephone interrupts my pleasure to enjoy the fresh breeze that comes from the air conditioner machine.

With half lazy to get up from the sofa, my hand reached the house phone which is next to the nightstand.

"Hello, who's there?"

No answer. Several times I called, but only the wind sound was heard.

Because I'm tired too, I want to hang up the phone immediately until finally, someone responds from the other end of the phone.

"Hello, is this Richie Dalton's house?" she said.

Female voice. And she mentioned my husband's name so wholly. Even though for business matters, Richie always uses his family name, not his real name.

I thought this woman must be an acquaintance -

"Sorry, who am I talking to?"

.

.

.

Ten minutes of my time to get dressed. Luckily I didn't smell that bad after half a day of sunbathing in the garden.

The two men entered the house and were quite surprised to see me dressed up neatly.

Especially Alex, who somehow looked down at me.

"Want to go?" Richie asked in surprise.

"Hemm," I replied indifferently, wearing my green sneakers.

"Your work is not finished, miss."

Alex then gets one hard hit in the back from Richie.

"Sorry, I was just kidding -" he said apologetically.

He even rubbed his feet on the floor, just like a child has made a mistake.

The funny thing is, I thought briefly.

But I don't want to be fooled by it !!

"Humm. Just get over the gardening. I have urgent business."

I rushed out of the house and glimpsed the two of them just silently looking.

I went back into the house because I forgot to take the car keys, "Don't wait for me. You two have dinner together."

The sound of the door ended our conversation. Richie sounded grumbling, blaming his lover.

#

I immediately headed downtown to meet someone.

The woman who called Richie a few minutes ago identified herself as Belle Tan. She called in surprise to hear about our marriage. And quite disappointed because she was not invited to the event.

I had time to ask her a few things, and she even asked me to meet. I don't know what made me interested in meeting her as if I had known him for a long time.

I thought that knowing how far along they were at least, and I could confirm why Richie had decided to be gay in the end.

I'm sure Belle is the woman who made Richie like this.

Is it possible?

Or am I misjudging?

I arrive at one of the cafes that Belle asked to meet. Not too crowded, but the place is comfortable enough to chat or just hang out with friends.

Because I don't even know what that woman looks like, I decided to call her number. Belle immediately answered, and she directed me to the place where she sat waiting for me.

Until we meet.

The girl in a white T-shirt with a jeans skirt lowered her cellphone and sunglasses in front of me.

Her face is a little familiar to me. The girl immediately stood up and reached out with a broad smile welcoming my arrival.

She is like a model and natural beauty like most Asian-American mixed girls.

"Hi. I'm Belle -"

I returned the greeting, "Sarah."

After shaking hands, Belle asked me to sit opposite her. She looks elegant, even though the clothes he wears are too ordinary and general.

I'm sure I've seen her. But where??

"It seems this is our first time meeting. But I know you because Richie always tells me about you."

I glanced suspiciously, "Richie? Ah ... because I was his childhood friend."

Belle nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, true."

Drinks arrive, and to my surprise, the juice is the same as the one I don't have time to drink at home.

"I can't believe he ended up marrying you."

"Why? Does that seem impossible to you?" I asked curiously.

Belle just replied to my question with a smile line.

"Because Richie once told me -" she said, giving me a sharp glance. I'm getting uncomfortable with his gaze.

"- that you're the woman he doesn't want to marry -"

I don't know where this lightning comes from. When the weather was so hot outside, I felt like I was stung so severely hearing what she said earlier.

.

.

CONTINUE