Chapter 5

Chapter 5

**Jheanne's POV**

I woke up because something heavy was draped over my lower stomach and chest.

Slowly, I opened my eyes to see what it was.

And my eyes nearly bulged out of my head when I saw Ubi.

One of his long legs was sprawled over my pelvis, his face was buried under my arm near my armpit, and one of his arms was wrapped around my chest.

"Waaaaah!" I screamed, smacking his arm and jerking upright.

He startled awake and sat up on the bed, looking dazed.

Meanwhile, I practically leapt to the side of the bed, cheeks burning, arms wrapped around myself.

"Why were you hugging me, Ubi, huh? Pervert!" I snapped.

He looked up at me with dull, sleepy eyes and shook his head.

"I'm not a pervert... it was cold..." he said, lowering his gaze.

Guilt hit me immediately.

I shouldn't have said that.

And I could already see the red mark on his skin from where I'd slapped him so hard.

"I'm sorry, Ubi. You just startled me. Go back to sleep," I said.

But he shook his head, got up, and walked out of my room.

I bit my finger as I watched him go. I couldn't stop myself-I followed him.

"Ubi, I'm sorry!" I called after him.

He looked hurt by what I'd said.

He went into the bathroom, and when he came back out, he'd already washed his face.

I just stood there watching him.

And as I did, I noticed something different about the way he moved.

He looked... practiced.

Comfortable.

As if he knew exactly what he was doing inside my condo.

My mouth fell open when he picked up the rice cooker and started making rice. Then he took out two mugs and poured brewed coffee into them.

I just stared at him in shock.

Every move he made had me gaping.

When he turned and handed one mug to me, I accepted it automatically.

It felt like he'd become a different person.

Could it be because of what I said to him earlier? Had his soul somehow left his body and come back different?

"Who are you really, Ubi?" I asked.

He froze.

Then he looked at me, frowning slightly. Slowly, his head lowered and his hand rose to his forehead. I noticed his fingers trembling.

"Ubi, are you okay?" I asked, stepping closer and touching his arm.

He looked up and stared at me.

Then he looked away and seemed startled by the mug in his own hand, as though he had only just noticed it.

I frowned harder.

"What's wrong with you, Ubi? You're scaring me. Your mood keeps changing. Just stay here for now-I'm going to take a bath. We're going out today. I'm going to my office to file for leave," I said, shaking my head.

Then I left him in the kitchen.

I went to the bathroom, showered, and got ready. When I came back out, I found him still sitting there in the kitchen, staring blankly into space.

I decided to leave him alone and just made us breakfast.

"Come eat, Ubi. We're going out today. I'm filing for leave at work, so hurry up," I called to him.

"Do I really have to come with you?" he asked.

I sighed.

"Yes. I need you, Ubi. I need someone with me so I can get through this. I need to pretend I'm okay after everything that happened. So please just help me, okay? Just pretend I'm your fiancée, that's all I'm asking from you. Don't worry-I'll take care of whatever you want," I told him.

He thought about it for a moment.

Then he nodded.

I smiled.

"Thank you, Ubi."

...

We were walking into Affinity Manpower.

Everyone we passed stared at us.

I kept my chin high and made sure I looked perfectly fine. I even held onto Ubi's arm. He didn't object. He just kept walking straight ahead.

And guess what?

He looked incredibly handsome in the polo shirt he was wearing.

I'd had my house helper buy it earlier that morning when she came to clean my condo. Since Ubi had no clothes of his own, I sent her to the nearest mall to buy him a few things. He was wearing a polo shirt, jeans, and shoes now.

He looked sharp.

Nothing like the beggar I had dragged home.

"Good morning, Ma'am Jhe!" one of my coworkers, Zsa, greeted me.

I gave her a small smile.

Her eyes kept drifting to Ubi too.

I knew she wanted to ask questions. She was a gossip, that one.

"Ma'am, how are you?" another coworker asked me. Albie. He was also an engineer.

"I'm good. Is Boss in?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Yes. And he's with-"

He couldn't finish.

I sighed.

My chest tightened. I already knew who he meant.

Hugo.

He and I worked at the same company. He was an engineer too.

I had a feeling he was inside Boss's office.

"Is Hugo in there?" I asked directly.

"Yes."

I walked past Albie, grabbed Ubi by the arm, and pulled him into my office first. I sat him down in one of the chairs there.

My body was trembling.

Knowing Hugo was here and that I was about to see him-I had no idea what I'd do when we faced each other, but one thing was clear.

I had to be strong.

I had to show him that I'd moved on fast.

I didn't even realize I was crying until I felt a hand touch my cheek and wipe away my tears.

"U-Ubi..." I whispered.

He was the one doing it.

His palm brushed the tears from my face.

I smiled faintly.

"Don't cry anymore," he said.

"Just let me, Ubi. I'm fine," I replied.

He sat back down in the chair again, but his eyes never left me.

"You're not fine," he said.

I let out a fake laugh.

"I'm fine. Just do a good job pretending, okay?"

He nodded.

I fixed myself up, retouched my makeup, and tried to hide how wrecked I felt. Once I thought I looked ready enough, I turned to Ubi, who was still quietly watching me.

I picked up the leave form I needed Boss to sign.

"Stay here, okay? I'll be right back," I told him.

"I'm coming with you."

I shook my head.

"No. Just stay here. I'm only talking to Boss. Wait for me."

I stood and headed out of my office.

Ubi didn't answer.

I took several deep breaths before knocking on Boss's office door.

Even with my back to everyone, I knew all eyes were on me. They were probably all waiting to see what would happen when Hugo and I met.

I closed my eyes briefly.

Then knocked.

The door opened, and Boss Theo stood there.

He looked startled, clearly not expecting me. I could also see the concern in his face.

"A-Anne," he said, using the nickname he had for me.

"Good afternoon, Boss. I came here to talk to you," I said formally.

"But-"

"I don't care if he's in there," I cut him off. I already knew he was about to say Hugo was inside.

I didn't wait for him to answer. I stepped past him and walked into the office.

And the moment I saw the man who had betrayed me and abandoned me, I stopped.

He was sitting there comfortably, and there was even a smile on his face.

Rage exploded in my chest.

But I forced myself to stay calm.

As much as possible, I didn't want him to see how much I was still hurting. I didn't want him to know he still affected me, even though the truth was he absolutely did.

I cleared my throat to get his attention.

He looked at me.

And when he saw me, he smirked.

The bastard didn't even have the decency to feel ashamed.

I couldn't help wondering all over again when exactly the cheating had started. Had I really never noticed? Or was he just that good at lying?

I raised a brow at him.

He laughed.

I sat down in the chair across from him. Boss Theo sat behind his desk, looking visibly tense between us. He was even sweating.

"Uh, Anne... what can I do for you?" Boss asked.

I cleared my throat again and spoke in a steady, formal voice, even though my hands were trembling because Hugo was right there beside me. My blood was boiling. I wanted to punch him in the face.

"Relax, Jhe. I don't bite," Hugo commented, laughing.

My fists clenched.

How was he this calm after everything?

Boss tried to silence him, but he just kept laughing.

"And I wouldn't feed myself to you either, asshole!" I snapped.

That shut him up. His expression turned serious.

I turned back to Boss.

"I'm filing for leave, Boss. I need to prepare for my wedding with my fiancé-I mean, we need to prepare for it together. So I need leave," I said seriously.

I felt Hugo go still in his seat.

A smile tugged at my lips.

Maybe he thought he was the only one who knew how to play games.

"R-Really? That's... surprising news," Boss said. He clearly didn't believe me. Everyone in the office had always known Hugo was the only man in my life. Which had been true-until he betrayed me.

"Oh, don't be surprised, Boss. Better get used to it," I said.

Then I handed him the form.

"Please sign it."

He took it and signed without hesitation.

Hugo, meanwhile, sat there silently for a while before finally speaking.

"So you're getting married too? To who?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes.

"None of your business."

He laughed.

A smug, insulting laugh.

"I'm getting married too, you know. That's why I'm filing for leave as well. And... you probably already know who I'm marrying, don't you?" he said with a grin. "Obviously not you, Jheanne. I'm marrying your best friend, Jana."

The words hit me like a blade.

All the confidence I had forced myself to wear vanished in an instant.

When I turned to look at him, my eyes were already full of tears.

I'd thought I could handle this.

I couldn't.

It still hurt.

Especially hearing it from him directly.

"You bastard, Hugo! How dare you!" I shouted.

I shot to my feet, lunged at him, grabbed his hair, and slapped him over and over.

"Fuck! Let go of me, you crazy woman!" he yelled.

Boss jumped up too and tried to pull us apart.

"Enough!" Boss shouted, dragging me away from Hugo.

Hugo's cheeks were red from my slaps, and fury blazed in his eyes.

At least I got something back for what they did to me.

Though honestly? It still wasn't enough.

"You're not even that handsome, and you're still a cheater!" I spat at him.

He gave me a bitter laugh.

"But I still hurt you, didn't I? You know, Jheanne, I never really loved you. I only courted you because I wanted your body. Too bad I never got to taste it. You were way too much of a tease. Want to know who I really love? Jana. We're getting married, and you? You'll be left behind crying. And that fiancé you keep talking about? I know that's a lie. You've never had any man but me. And I know you're not over me. Of course not. I'm unforgettable."

Every word made my tears fall harder.

Then the office door opened.

And in walked Jana.

My former best friend sashayed over to me and slapped me hard across the face.

"That's for hurting my boyfriend!" she snapped.

Then she walked to Hugo and wrapped herself around him.

They both looked at me and smirked.

And then-

They kissed.

Right in front of me.

"You animals!" I screamed.

I couldn't take the pain anymore.

I ran for the office door and yanked it open.

But the moment I stepped out, I ran into someone standing there.

Ubi.

He was waiting for me.

He looked at me with concern in his eyes.

I ran straight into his arms and hugged him tightly without warning.

"Ubi..." I whispered against his chest.

I felt his hand stroke my shoulder.

And somehow, just that much made me feel stronger again.

I also heard footsteps behind me.

Hugo and Jana, probably.

I pulled away from Ubi and looked up at him.

Then my eyes widened when his lips suddenly crashed down on mine.

He kissed me.

And not only did I not stop him-

I closed my eyes and let myself melt into it.

—