Chapter 5

Vanessa woke up in the middle of the night because even though it was already late, her room was still very hot. Before she goes to sleep, she had even placed a small fan beside in her bed just to lessen the heat a little. And just to make things worse, her bed was hard as a freaking stone. Her back ached every time she lay down. She honestly didn’t know how she managed to survive this kind of setup. And she doesn’t even know if she will get used to it.

She changed her position and closed her eyes again, hoping sleep would come back to her senses. But bad luck seemed to always follow her and sleep had already abandoned her completely.

She finally decided to leave her room and of course, just her like her luck, her room was the only one in the whole house without an air-conditioner. That’s how selfish her husband could be. Very gentleman, as it is.

Sometimes she wondered if Gian was Lucifer’s brother. All he just needed now were horns on his head. She shook her head and reminded her mind.

I’m basically a maid here, right? So, what do I expect?

“Does Nanang’s room have an air-con, I wonder?” she asked herself.

She slipped into her slippers, grabbed her pillow and blanket, and decided to sleep on the sofa instead.

She really couldn’t stand her bedroom. Hot, hard bed, and no comfort at all. Why did she lose her air-con the moment she got married? Where was justice? Why did it feel like luck kept running away from her?

She set her pillow and blanket down on the sofa, then went to the kitchen to make herself a glass of milk, maybe that would help her fall asleep.

But then she saw Klenth—her husband’s man—busier than a flirtatious cat in heat. Klenth was typing something on his laptop. She walked closer.

“So, how’s Gian’s balls? Still intact?” she asked while laughing.

She stopped for a moment to peek at what he was doing. He was working on a PowerPoint presentation. Probably for school.

“Still black,” he answered. “Why are you still awake?”

She shrugged. “Couldn’t sleep.”

He nodded. “I see.” Then went back to typing.

“You want coffee?” she asked. He seemed polite enough, but you know what they say—don’t judge a book by its cover. Maybe he was just pretending to be nice.

And besides, the guy was her age. Didn’t Gian always say he didn’t like younger ones? Look who’s lying now, she thought bitterly. If he wanted someone younger, he could’ve just told me. I’m easy to talk to.

She rolled her eyes in disgust. Maybe her husband just didn’t like young girls. Maybe he preferred boys. After all, Gian liked soldiers, not caves.

That thought made her smile to herself.

“Yes, please. Black coffee. Thanks in advance,” Klenth replied.

“You really like everything black, huh? Even Gian’s balls.”

“Just a little,” he said dryly, looking down at the mug she placed in front of him.

Ugh, how boring. She thought to herself. I guess my husband doesn’t have good taste after all. If it were up to me, I’d prefer someone a little louder. Like Gian used to be…

Gian again. Always Gian.

After making the coffee, she sat down beside him.

“By the way, what’s your course?” she asked.

“Electrical Engineering. You?”

Wow, a future engineer. She was impressed.

“Education. A future teacher. But if things don’t work out, maybe I’ll just be your future instead,” she teased with a playful laugh. Let’s see if Gian thinks he’s the only one who can flirt.

“You’re kinda flirty with that line, girl,” Klenth said, imitating a gay voice.

What the hell? She was shocked. An engineering student who’s also gay? Seriously?

“Oh my god, are you gay too?” she blurted out.

He burst out laughing. “No! I was just joking. I’m straight.”

Yeah, right. She blew on her glass of milk. “Good. That’s better.”

If you say so.

Why are there so many gays these days? she wondered. And worse, most of them are good-looking. Should I just turn lesbian? Ugh. No.

“By the way, I don’t believe you’re Kuya Gian’s maid. What are you really to him?” he asked seriously, locking his light-brown eyes on hers.

“What do you think?” she shot back, meeting his gaze. “How about you? Are you Gian’s boyfriend? Or maybe one of Janine’s boyfriends? No offense, but Gian has plenty. Honestly, I can’t even count them on my fingers anymore.”

She sipped her milk while hearing him laugh. Goodness, his laugh reminded her so much of Gian that she almost wished her husband were straight.

“Hey, I’m not joking,” she insisted. “I’m not even badmouthing your boyfriend.”

Klenth laughed even harder. “I can’t believe you actually thought I was Gian’s boyfriend. Jesus!”

“Wait—Kuya? Gian is your cousin?”

He nodded, taking another sip of the coffee she made. “Yeah. Kuya Gian is my third-degree cousin. We grew up in the same compound in Butuan, only for the Saldivar family. Even with the age gap, we’ve always been close.”

Oh god. For Christ’s sake, my instincts failed me again. Do I even have a brain left?

“But still, I can’t get over the fact that you thought I was his boyfriend,” Klenth said, laughing again. “You made me laugh so hard but I don’t even know your name. What’s your name, honey?”

She caught the way he called her honey. Does he think I’m a bee?

If Gian had said that, she’d probably faint from happiness. But since it came from Klenth—deadma. She don’t give a care.

“You made me your clown, idiot.” She rolled her eyes.

“I like it when you do that,” he said.

“When I do what?” she asked, puzzled.

“Uh, nothing.” He forced a smile.

“So, what’s your name again?” he asked.

“Vanessa Alvarez-Saldivar,” she answered. He raised his brows. “You heard me right. I’m Gian’s wife.”

The moment he heard it, Klenth choked and spat his coffee all over his laptop.

She laughed at his reaction. Of course, anyone would be shocked to know she was married to Gian Saldivar.

“What the fuck!” Klenth cursed. “My god, the laptop! This is Kuya’s laptop!”

That’s what you get, playboy. Throwing ‘honey-honey’ at me.

“Good night, Klenth,” she said, grabbing her milk and walking away.

Maybe I should change taste. Engineers aren’t my thing anymore, she thought to herself.

SHE woke up with a start when ice-cold water splashed across her face. It felt like it came straight from the fridge.

“Who the hell poured water on me?!” she shouted, still rubbing her face.

Another splash of cold water hit her. Damn it! Maybe it was Klenth, getting back at her for what happened last night. It wasn’t her fault his cousin’s laptop got soaked in coffee!

“What the hell! Do you want me to pour boiling water on you?!” she screamed again, wiping her face with her blanket.

“Try it.”

Her eyes shot open when she heard that voice. Gian.

Of course. Who else would ruin her morning? He was holding a pitcher, clearly the one he used to drench her.

She glared at him, her chest heaving with anger. Who the hell would be happy waking up like this?

Calm down, Vanessa. Calm down. She told herself.

But no. This couldn’t be solved with calmness.

“What’s your problem, Gian?” she yelled.

He ignored her and just stood there.

She rolled her eyes and grabbed her pillow, throwing it straight at his head. Bullseye!

If only she were Cinderella, she’d throw her glass heel at him instead. He turned to her, his light brown eyes burning with anger, his thick brows furrowed.

“Did you just throw your pillow at me?”

Obviously! she wanted to snap, but she kept it to herself.

“You’re lucky it was just a pillow. That was just practice,” she muttered.

She was fuming, but she had to control herself. Tiis-ganda. That’s the price of being married to this drama queen.

She stomped over to grab her blanket. Her neck hurt from sleeping on the sofa. And it made her even angrier remembering her hot, uncomfortable room last night. All because of stingy Gian.

“Why did you pour water on me?” she demanded.

“Why did you throw a pillow at me?” he asked back, holding it up.

“I asked first, so answer me!” she screamed.

“I’m your boss here, Vanessa, so don’t order me around!” he yelled.

She rolled her eyes again. Oh my god, he even copied my tone. He’s really pushing my limits.

“I wasn’t ordering you, I was asking! That’s different! And for the record, Gian, you’re not my boss. You’re my husband, you gay idiot!”

“You wish, girl! God, I don’t have a wife as bratty as you. Ugh, the drama!” he snapped in his flamboyant tone before storming off like a runway model.

She swore under her breath. What kind of curse is this?

What had she done to deserve this karma?

She stomped her foot in frustration. God, I just want to drag Gian’s face to my cave so he’ll finally be straight!

“So irritating!”