SAGE CARRIED the boxes inside while Selen was left outside and finished unloading the grocery bags from the trunk. Then, a hand appeared from behind and helped her. She recognized the tattoo on its wrist.
“Rei, what are you doing here?” She pushed him away with the fear that Sage would throw a fit if he would see him.
“Why are you pushing me away?” Her dear friend could not hide the irritation in his voice.
“It wouldn’t be nice if Sage saw you inside his…” She paused and turned in the direction of the house.
Reinald removed her hands on his chest and snorted.
“I’m just concerned about you. That scumbag left you alone unloading those heavy stuff.”
“It’s my job, though.”
“So, you really did it…”
“This is the only way I can get close to Sage to execute my plan.”
He put his hands inside his pockets and looked away.
“I don’t understand why I’m not fit to be your husband. This isn’t fair. I’m hurt.” He breathed exasperatedly.
“I’m sorry…” Selen bit her lower lip.
“Why do you have to look for someone else when I’m standing right in front of you all this time?” Reinald asked somberly.
She gaped at him. It was an unexpected confession. They had been friends for so many years, and all he did was joke around that he wanted to marry her. But now, hearing him speak that way regarding the matters of his heart, Selen knew he was not kidding around anymore. However, her decisions will never change. Reinald may have been feeling something for Selen, but it was not the case for her. A friend will remain a dear friend to her.
“Rein…” She heaved a deep sigh. “Let’s talk about this some other time.”
Selen did not get any response from him. He just stared at her for a while before turning his back on her. Her heart ached as she watched Reinald walk towards his house.
Am I a bad friend?
She will never take advantage of his feelings for her because that would make her a bad friend. With a heavy heart, she returned to Sage’s house.
Selen picked up the grocery bags and brought them to the kitchen.
“I don’t care who you date, but I don’t like the idea that you’re romantically involved with my neighbor.” Sage opened a can of beer.
“E-eh?” Selen looked at him with mouth wide open.
So, he thought that she and Reinald were in a relationship?
“I won’t repeat what I just said.” He walked out of the kitchen.
She shook her head and started organizing the groceries and other stuff.
SELEN was in the middle of preparing dinner when her phone rang. She immediately answered the call when she saw Marceline’s name flashing on the screen.
“Yes?” She put the call on speaker mode so that she could continue with the chopping.
“Where is Sage?” Marceline asked. She sounded a little anxious, and she did not know why.
“I think he’s inside his room now.”
What is he doing up there?”
“And that… I don’t know. When we arrived from grocery shopping, he went upstairs. I’m in the kitchen since then.”
“Selen, I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Could you please stay with him tonight?” I forgot that it’s the time of the year tomorrow. I’m still stuck here in Baguio because the meeting was rescheduled. I couldn’t be there tonight.”
Her brows furrowed. “What are you talking about? I don’t get it why I have to stay with him tonight.”
“It’s his parents’ death anniversary tomorrow. Every year, the day before that, Sage always fell ill and he usually have nightmares. Stay with him tonight. I will double your pay for today. Okay? `Bye.” Marceline hung up.
Selen stared at her phone screen for quite some time before everything sinks in. She did not expect that Sage was hiding such deep wounds in his heart.
Oh, my poor Sage…
She sighed. She would willingly stay with him tonight to give him company.
SHE RUBBED her palms together after she was done preparing dinner. She just hoped that Sage would like her cooking. Selen was confident in other things that she does, but not in cooking.
She headed upstairs to call Sage.
“Dinner is served,” she said as she stood in front of his bedroom door.
Minutes passed, and there was no Sage coming out of the room. So, she decided to open the door.
“Sage?”
Selen was greeted by a pitched dark room and a deafening silence. Her hand searched the wall for the switch that she found immediately. And when the lights opened, she found out that the room was empty.
Did he go out without?
She ran to the balcony of his room and looked for his car. It was still parked in the garage.
But where is Sage?
“Sage!” she yelled. “Where are you—Oh, God!”
Selen was started when someone’s feet appeared from above.
“Why are you screaming from the top of your lungs? You’ll scare the neighborhood.” It was Sage. He was casually sitting on the roof.
“What are you doing up there? How did you get there?”
He pointed in the direction of the stairs beside the balcony.
“Get down here! The dinner is ready. You should eat your meal before it gets cold.” Selen put her hands on her sides as she waited for Sage to come down.
“I’m not eating dinner,” he said.
“You should have told me earlier that you’re not going to eat dinner!” She hates it whenever her effort was wasted.
Selen left the room and went back to the kitchen.
“Who will eat this now?” she asked herself and sighed as she cleared the table.
She was already washing the dishes when Sage appeared in the kitchen.
“What are you doing here? You said you’re not eating dinner.”
“Chicken noodle soup,” he said.
She turned in his direction. “What?”
“I want to eat chicken noodle soup.” Sage pulled a chair and sat there.
“Are you—” Selen noticed that sad look in his eyes. And then, she remembered what Marceline told her over the phone. “Okay, wait.”
She sauntered towards the fridge.
“Back when I was a child, my mom used to make chicken noodle soup whenever I’m sick. Once I tasted it, everything will start to feel better as if it was a remedy,” Sage said somberly.
“Oh… I see.”
“That day before my parents died in a car accident, my mom cooked it for the last time.”
Selen glanced at him. He was leaning against his seat with his head tilted back and his shoulders moving in a rhythm that she knew very well.
“Ah… I don’t know why I’m telling this all to you.” He looked at her with teary eyes. “This is a confidential matter. Don’t you ever tell a single soul.”