Episode 13

Renata switched on the kitchen light, immediately illuminating the luxurious ambiance of the marble-clad space.

It was now midnight, an unusually late hour for a kitchen visit. Yet, Renata's stomach growled from skipping her evening meal.

She walked toward the fridge, grabbed an apple and some milk, then placed them on the marble tabletop.

"This should tide me over," murmured Renata as she peeled the apple and cut it into slices.

Afterward, she settled into a white chair and began to eat the apple slices.

Her mind wandered back to the demanding order from Mr. K that weighed heavily on her. How could she start work before six in the morning? What was there for her to do so early? Mr. K had ended the call abruptly without further explanation. Reluctantly, Renata knew she had to follow her boss's directive.

"Ugh, what an annoying man," grumbled Renata.

***

At the same time.

Her long hair fell perfectly around her shoulders, her eyes dark, and her face as pale as tofu. She applied cherry red lipstick to her full lips.

Next, she spritzed herself with a lavender-scented perfume, the scent enveloping her figure clad in transparent lingerie, accentuating her flawless body contours.

"I need to make amends with Alvaro," Sanaya said, looking at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.

Yes, she was determined to please her husband tonight. Sanaya could not bear the thought of Alvaro ignoring her because of the afternoon's incident.

Once she was ready, Sanaya emerged from the bathroom and approached Alvaro, who was deeply focused on his laptop while reclining in bed.

"Darling," she cooed affectionately.

But Alvaro remained unresponsive. It seemed the handsome man was still irked.

Sanaya draped herself around him, gently pushing his head between her protruding breasts.

"Please don't be mad anymore," she said in the same sweet tone.

"Get off me, I'm not in the mood, and besides, I'm working on a report," snapped Alvaro, pushing her away.

Stung by his rejection—a first for Sanaya—her fists clenched.

"Are you still angry?" Sanaya asked, her voice breaking with emotion.

Alvaro snorted and did not reply. Standing up, he headed for the bedroom door.

"Where are you going, Alvaro?" Sanaya quickly caught him by tugging at the back of his pajamas.

"I'm going to make some coffee, you should get some sleep," Alvaro replied.

With that, Sanaya let go, allowing Alvaro to leave the room.

As Alvaro departed, Sanaya's expression hardened, her features devoid of the previous softness and innocence.

*Smash*

In a fit of rage, Sanaya swept the makeup table with both hands, sending the contents crashing to the floor. Cosmetics and a flower vase shattered upon impact.

She then gazed into the vanity mirror, reflecting her image engulfed in fury. That fury she reserved for...

"Renata," Sanaya hissed with a piercing glare, "Just when I was beginning to feel a sliver of happiness."

She blamed Renata, seeing her transformation as the reason for Alvaro's renewed interest.

Hatred for Renata had simmered in her for ages.

"That wretch should know her place. Why couldn't she remain the tramp she was? Should I injure her head once more to 'cure' her memory loss?"

***

Back to the kitchen.

Alvaro slowed his pace upon seeing someone asleep with their head resting on the table.

"Renata?"

There was Renata, having dozed off after her snack, the image akin to Snow White.

He chuckled softly to himself.

Now close to the slumbering Renata, he observed her peaceful face. Her complexion was as white as cheese, her nose petite and prominent, her eyebrows arched, and her eyelashes long and curled.

Alvaro had long realized her beauty surpassing even that of Sanaya's.

Impulsively, his hand moved to tuck Renata's black hair behind her ear, his gaze softening.

"If only you hadn't betrayed me, perhaps by now we would have──"

He stopped midsentence upon noticing a lone tear trickling from Renata's still-closed eyes. His heart ached at the sight.

Throughout their four years together, he was unaware of this vulnerable side of hers.

What was she dreaming about? Why the tears? Questions Alvaro knew he could not answer.

His hand reached out again to wipe the tear away.

"Jeff..."

Alvaro froze in motion.

"Jefray."

His body turned to ice at her murmured words, uttering the name of someone familiar.

"You and Jefray?" Alvaro couldn't believe it.

Perhaps ‘Jefray' in Renata's dream differed from the one in his thoughts.

Alvaro considered the possibility that Renata was involved with Jefray Tjong, his older brother.

Renata opened her eyes slowly, blinked a few times to gain clarity, seemingly puzzled by Alvaro's presence.

Wait.

"Alvaro?"

Renata straightened her posture abruptly, her eyes wide with shock. Her gaze then swept around—she was still in the kitchen. The realization hit her that she had fallen asleep there.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Do I look like a ghost to you?" Alvaro asked, feeling slightly insulted by her wide-eyed stare.

"I'm just surprised, that's all," Renata replied, recomposing herself.

"Do you not have a room to sleep in that you're passed out in the kitchen? How foolish," Alvaro sneered.

He seemed annoyed, whether because he was mistaken for a ghost or for some other reason.

"Whether I sleep in the kitchen or on the front porch is none of your business," Renata retorted sharply.

"It's indeed none of my business," Alvaro remarked bitterly.

"Okay then."

As Renata stood up to leave for her room, Alvaro grabbed her arm.

"What now?" Renata snapped, trying to free herself from him.

"What's your involvement with J?" Alvaro asked, though with a hint of doubt.

Renata raised an eyebrow, puzzled by Alvaro's question, "As I said, it's none of your business."

"It is my business when it's about my brother!" Alvaro exclaimed.

"I'm surprised you care so much about your brother."

Alvaro clenched his jaw. Whether he was made to appear that way or genuinely cared, to him, his brother was an obstacle, nothing more.

"Stay away from J, don't use him as a rebound because you can't have me."

Alvaro somehow believed that Renata was trying to get back at him by moving on to Mr. J, to show she could snag someone more successful than him. Surely that must be her motive. There was no way his ex-girlfriend loved his brother, because Renata had only loved him.

"You're too full of yourself, which is a pity because there's nobody I'm using as a rebound," Renata's reply hit home.

"Come on, Alvaro. I have no feelings left for you. If I'm involved with someone else, it's not as a rebound but because I love that person."

His words struck Alvaro like lightning in the night. He looked at Renata incredulously.

"So you're in love with J?"

Renata shrugged nonchalantly, leaving Alvaro to his speculations. All she wanted was to end this pointless conversation and return to her room for sleep.

Remember, she had an early morning ahead of her.

_To Be Continued_

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