ANNIVERSARY FIGHT
Silence enveloped the car when we started driving. Only the noise from the stereo was heard in the whole car.
“So…where do you want to eat?” Kristoff asked as he turned the car.
I looked straight at the road. “Wherever you want,” I replied safely.
I can tell that he is looking at me. I can tell at my peripheral view. And hell, I am distracted and over the roof uneasy.
“Is there something bothering you?” He should’ve noticed my uneasiness.
But yes, you are bothering me. I looked at him, against my will because looking at him will only distract me more, and shook my head. “No. Nothing. Just office stuff,” I replied as calm as I could.
He nodded and seemed to believe. I do hope so. “What is up for your fashion show?” he asked.
“We are still planning it. Hopefully, everything will be final by the end of the week.”
Kristoff nodded and focused on driving. Well, that’s better than looking at the conscious me right now, right?
“Actually, we are planning on getting idols and actors as models,” I started. “Can we coordinate with your company?” I asked politely.
Kristoff chuckled. “Of course. You could,” he replied.
I smiled. “Really? Thanks,” I replied in gratitude.
He gave me a quick glance. “Do you want me to model as well?” he asked in a serious tone.
I froze. Was he kidding? There is no way I am letting him model in that fashion show! A lot of girls will drool on his hotness! That, I can’t contain.
But in the end, “Do you want to?” I asked him.
He chuckled and cocked his head. “Do you want to?” This time there was humor to his voice.
I thought for a moment. “Sure. If you like,” okay, I lied. Like I said, there is no way that I am going to let him model for that fashion show. Kill me first before he does.
He laughed at me. Maybe, he had seen my inappropriate expression. I am not a good liar, that’s why.
“I guess I have to kill you first before that happens,” he said what exactly is in my head. He really knows me that well.
I faked a laugh. “What are you talking about? Go ahead and model if you want. I am all for it.” I am the worst, biggest and fattest liar in the world.
He stopped at the red light and then looked at me with a meaningful stare. “I know you are lying. You don’t have to make yourself look like an idiot,” he told me. “I won’t model if you don’t want me to.”
I looked at him and gave him a pout. How dare he call me idiot? This guy!
He chuckled. “No, you don’t look cute either,” he told me as my pout turned into a glare. Damn, he’s really pushing it.
I rolled my eyes on him and faced the other side of the road—the one away from him.
There was a complete and absolute silence in the car. I mean it. I am not talking to him. Who said I was acting cute anyway? I wasn’t even trying to act cute. I wasn’t even trying to get his attention!
Just as when I was trying to suppress my protective and possessive self, he tells me I look like an idiot and I don’t look cute? Huh! One brave move, Kristoff Marx!
He must’ve sensed my coldness because he was calling me for a couple of times now. And I am not looking at him.
“Hey, Shan,” he cooed me while his eyes are shifting from me to the road. “Hey,” he called again when I didn’t react.
Sorry, I won’t look at you.
“Hey, wifey,” he called again.
Sorry, I still won’t look at you.
“Hey, baby,” he said in a husky voice.
I froze. What did he just call me?! I couldn’t help myself so I looked at him with my eyes narrowed and my eyebrows almost meeting at the center.
“What?!” I asked him in my mad tone.
He blinked at me. “I said…hey?” He replied unsure. I guess he is shocked at how I am reacting now.
I raised my brow. “There was a word after hey, mister.” I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.
He grinned. “That’s because you aren’t looking at me! Why? Am I not handsome enough to look at?” he asked.
No, Kristoff. You’re hot. But your jokes are overrated. I wanted to tell him that but I decided against it. I just kept my mouth mum.
Minutes later, he pulled the car over a buffet, I guess. “Here. Let me cool your head down,” he told me as he went out and opened the door for me. “Come out, my queen?” he asked as he laid his hand for me to hold to.
It was a sweet gesture but no, I am not taking it. I can stand on my own. I ignored him and just went out on my own.
He blinked at me and I just headed towards the restaurant. He ran after me after giving the key to the valet. “Hey! Hey, Ashanti!” He called me. “What are you upset about?” he asked me as he caught up with me towards the entrance of the restaurant.
I looked at him and shrugged, trying to keep my cool. “Is there something to be upset about?” I asked him back.
He sighed and rolled his eyes. I caught that. “Rolling your eyes won’t do you any good either,” I said as I sat on a table for two beside the window.
He sat across me. “Wait. Whatever I did, I’m sorry okay?” He said. “If it’s me telling you that you are not cute. I am really sorry,” he said. “You are not cute, you are beautiful, okay?” He tried to make an escape for his sin.
I looked at him. “Whatever, Kristoff. You are not that hot either,” I said as I stood up to get food.
He scoffed and followed me. “Okay, I am sorry. I just thought that maybe you are trying to be cute,” he whispered to me as I lined up to the buffet area.
I ignored him and took the foods I like. Memories of the burned egg this morning flashed back to me again.
He sighed and followed me as I saw him take food for himself as well. “I’m really sorry,” he whispered again.
Sorry, too, but I am not forgiving you easily this time, Kristoff.
“Wait, she doesn’t eat that!” Kristoff called the attention of the person in charge of distributing the food. “Are you trying to kill my wife?” he asked as I looked at the seafood on my plate. The girl blinked at him and bowed in apology.
Kristoff took my plate and gave me his plate instead. How? I didn’t even notice that girl putting lobsters on my plate.
I bit my lip before walking ahead towards our seat. Kristoff followed.
“Are you still not talking to me?” he asked me as I silently ate my food.
I looked at him. “I am talking to you,” I replied, looking away.
He sighed. “Are you still not forgiving me?” He changed the question.
Now, I turned to him again. “What are you sorry about?” I asked.
He looked at me. “I made you upset. I’m sorry,” he said as he ate his food, too.
I nodded. “Okay,” I replied, lying that it is fine. It’s not. It’s really not okay with me.
He gave me a look. “I know it’s not okay,” he said as he took something inside his pocket.
I narrowed my eyes at him but I anticipated for whatever he got inside his pocket.
“Here…” he passed me a card. A greeting card, I guess.
I looked at him with a raised brow. “What is this?”
He smiled confidently. “Look at it,” he replied as he nodded at the small card that’s already in my hands.
Hello, Ashanti Marx! Happy Anniversary? I know you forgot. But sorry, I remembered. Take care always.
–From: Handsome Kristoff, your hot husbandI looked at him after reading the greeting card. I swear I would’ve cried if I saw the magic sentence I have been waiting to hear there. I admit, I was a bit disappointed. But hey, who was I kidding? He probably won’t tell me those words anytime soon.
He smiled at me. “So? Forgiven?” he asked.
I looked at him and smiled weakly. Still, it is an effort, right? “Thanks. You remembered,” I replied.
He smiled widely. “Of course! It is one special date! Of course I would remember.” He beamed with pride.
I nodded. “Yes.” It would’ve been more special if you say that you love me, too.
He smiled at me and fed me his food.
But at least, he tried to make it for me. Then that explains why he is different today.
ASHANTI“I can’t take it anymore,” I told Kristoff as we were in the labor room. This morning, I had several Braxton-Hicks that made Kristoff panic. The contractions had been intensified from then up to now.“Baby, just hold on a little longer.” I don’t know who Kristoff is telling that—me or the baby.He gripped onto my hand as before planting a kiss on my sweaty forehead.I’ve known how painful it is to give birth but the ones I have read never really made me feel this way. This is—by far—the worst pain in my life. I have never even imagined feeling this excruciating pain.Dr. Johnson, my OB, with a nurse came towards us. The nurse explained that the doctor will be checking my cervical dilatation.“You’re fully dilated now, Mrs. Marx. You can push now.” Dr. Johnson told me and encouraged me to bear down.Kristoff was holdi
ASHANTI“I want to eat ice cream.” I raised my brow at what Kristoff told me. We are cuddling on the couch while watching the closing ceremonies of Asian Games, and then, there he is, pouting at me and hugging my body tightly.It was such an awful sight, to be honest. Kristoff and pouting should never be used in one sentence.“But it’s the middle of the night,” I replied and he pouted even more.I almost scoffed when I saw his face like that. Is he kidding me? Why is he acting like this right now? It was as if he is a baby or what.Truthfully, he was like this for the past few days. It’s too extreme to the point that I think he’s the pregnant one. He’s the one with raging hormones and not me.It’s too funny to even think about his expressions when he tells me that he likes pizza, ice cream, twin bananas, dragon fruits and what so ever.I’ve searche
ASHANTI“Are you alright?” Kristoff asked me as I paled when I was looking at the calendar. I was looking at my normal cycle before realizing that I am delayed. Three weeks delayed.I looked at him and nodded.He narrowed his eyes on me and sat closer to me. “Come on. You can’t fool me with that face of yours,” he beamed. “Tell me. What’s wrong, baby?” he asked in the sweetest voice that I have ever heard in my whole life.The way he calls me baby! I can feel my intestines coil with each other and the butterflies are flying all the way up to my throat. I want to throw up.I gulped when I realized that it’s true. I want to throw up. I immediately ran to the toilet and vomited on the bowl. Kristoff came running behind me, panicking about my condition.“Hey, what’s happening?” he asked me as he caressed my back. “Come on, I’l
ASHANTI“Please come to the bridal shower party!” Genevieve beamed at me as she just barged into my office like this. It’s her wedding in two weeks. Finally! We worked our butts off for this wedding because Genevieve wanted a different theme. She wanted a horror theme. According to her, marriage is scary. Hence, horror theme.I looked at her. “You know Kristoff won’t approve that kind of idea,” I replied.She pouted then walked to my desk. “Well they have this thing called Bachelor Bash and I think Kristoff told Chester that he would come,” she told me as she sat on the chair in front of my desk.My eyes widened at her. “What?!” I asked in disbelief.Genevieve nodded at me.I shut my eyes and contained my cool. How could he do this? He told me he wouldn’t go because he doesn't want me to go!I sighed hard.Genevieve looked at me. &ldqu
ASHANTIKristoff walked me inside his office and he led me to his couch. I looked around and wow. His office is really big and neat. It’s not like mine.His office is like those offices I see in dramas. All leather and all made of expensive woods.He let me sit on the couch and he sat beside me. Really, really close. I can feel my heart beating really, really fast.He always had that effect on me. He always had that power in me. He makes my heart beat faster and slower at the same time.“Are you sure you're okay?” he asked me as he looked at me.I smiled and nodded. I can't even talk because I am too nervous I would stutter because of all the feels.I just can't get enough of Kristoff and his grease. He would always make me feel nervous. No matter how long we’d stayed together.He smiled at me and wrapped his arm around me. “I missed you,” he told me as he kissed m
ASHANTI“What are you cooking, Ashanti?” Genevieve asked me as she leaned on the table while I am cooking something. She sounded really awful though. Oh. I can’t blame her though. I am not a goddess in the kitchen, okay. I acknowledge that.None taken.Instead, I chuckled at her. “I’m cooking something for Kristoff,” I replied as I continued to slice the onions.Genevieve wrinkled her nose. “That? You’re cooking that for your husband?” she asked me as she pointed at the onions.I looked at the onions then blinked at her, nodding. “Why? Is there something wrong?” I asked her.She sighed hard and rolled her eyes on me. Really now, Genevieve? What in the heavens did I do wrong?“Sissy, you won’t make a circle-shaped onion when you cut it that way. Cut it cross-sectional!” she told me.I looked at her confused. “Cro