DK did not have the mood to inspect the construction that day. Later that morning, when the darkness started to reign in the sky, he went outside to breathe some air. He held a glass of brandy and let realizations flow in his mind. Jake saw him wandering around the place; he went near him and started looking around also. The clear waters of the island were lit by the moon.
“Is that the reason why you planned to put up your business here in the island?” Jake asked DK. He shook his head, “I didn’t know Joanna lived here. All I know is that she is independent already since her parents died” DK answered. Jake sighed and thought of telling DK the life story of Joanna.
“Joanna has been an independent woman. She took over her parents’ business, which is allowing people to rent rooms” Jake introduced. DK poured a glass of brandy for them to share a drink. “I’m telling you we are not a wealthy family. We make great efforts to sustain our needs. You also can’t blame me if I got furious a while ago. All this time, we thought that Joanna was about to finish her nursing degree” he continued.
DK nodded, “I know, and I understand” he replied and took a sip of his brandy. He exhaled, “What if I tell you that I really did not cheat on your cousin?” he asked. Jake’s eyebrows raised, “What do you mean?”. DK looked away and answered, “Joanna thinks that I cheated on her. She thinks that I slept with another woman I met in a bar. But it is just a big misunderstanding”.
“How can you even defend yourself if that’s the case?” Jake asked. “That’s the problem! Maybe fate is playing with me. I played with girls as if they were my toys. But the moment I learned what love really means, fate became so cruel. It drove me away from the one I really love. And that is Joanna” DK answered.
“If that is what you call a misunderstanding, then why is it that you have someone lying beside you after enjoying in a bar?” Jake doubted. DK gulped the remaining brandy in his glass. He answered, “I do not know really. This is some f*cked up setup”. Jake looked away, “If you say so. If you love her really, then prove yourself clean”.
Joanna can’t help but to shed tears; she thinks that she is a dirty woman after she revealed things to Aunt Marge and Jake. Aunt Marge sat beside her and placed a warm chocolate milk for her to drink. She pulled Joanna close and allowed her to cry on her shoulders. “Joanna, it happened already. Me and Jake are not angry with that. We were just shocked by the information. Though it is unfortunate to be true” she said while caressing Joanna’s long wavy hair.
She wiped her tears as she replied, “I just don’t know how to express myself. My emotions are all mixed up”. Aunt Marge consoled her, “It is alright. For now, you just have to finish your studies and be a good mother to your child”.
“I’m so sorry, Aunt Marge. I did not mean to make you disappointed. I’ve become so easy on myself. I failed to consider the risks” she apologized. Aunt Marge smiled, “I know you are not that kind of woman. It was just a mistake, but the child you have is a gift. By the way, when will we have the chance to meet him?” she asked. “I’ll bring him here on Christmas day. I will let him have his first Christmas here” Joanna answered.
Aunt Marge nodded, “Alright. Drink your chocolate milk and go to bed,” she said and left Joanna in the living room. For Aunt Marge and Jake, what Joanna did was out of temptation’s burst. Joanna believed that DK would pursue their relationship, not until controversies arose, giving their relationship a block.
Morning came, and DK managed the construction as if nothing had happened. None of the workers knew about Joanna and him. They kept pretending that they did not know each other. He removed his hard hat and sat down to deal with electrics and interiors. He is well-focused not until someone approaches him with a snack.
A tall, sexy, and tan-skinned woman approached her with a dessert plate in her hand. “Good morning, Sir DK! The island knows that you are a visitor here. Let me give you a freshly-baked banana pie for your snack” the woman said with a seductive voice. She stood in front of DK with an umbrella covering herself from the sun’s heat.
DK glanced at the snack plate the woman placed on his table. He looked up to see the woman giving her a charming look. Her face is well decorated with makeup, and her lips are as red as the cherries they sell. “Sorry, but I don’t eat sweets” he declined and went back to focusing. The woman just smirked, “I like guys who are mean but hot” she said while twirling her hair.
DK exhaled, “Do I know you?” he asked. “I and some of the islanders know you. But let me introduce myself” she said while offering her hand with nails painted with wine-red polish. “I am Carmine, but you can call me ‘mine’ so I can be yours” she introduced herself with a chuckle and a lip bite.
DK just scoffed, “Carmine huh? That’s why everything is colored carmine in your body” he replied with a chuckle. Carmine just continued smiling and attracting DK when Joanna saw them talking. “Thanks for the snack, Carmine. Please excuse me, I still have work to do” DK replied with a smile. “Alright! See you around the island” Carmine bid goodbye and aimed a flying kiss.
DK’s smile dropped; he is not in the mood to flirt with some random woman. He just stared at the snack Carmine gave, but he did not dare to take a bite. “Jake! Take this food out of my sight” he requested, and so Jake came to follow his order. “Honestly, Carmine’s baked goods are actually nice. Her family owns the bakery in the market” Jake informed while getting the snack.
DK glared at him, “Even so. I do not take food from strangers” he replied. “Oh ho… maybe Carmine placed a love potion in it. Better give this snack to the workers who admire her” Jake weirdly chuckled and left his boss who definitely was not in the mood to joke around.
Jonna from a distance was relieved that DK did not entertain Carmine. Joanna knows how flirtatious Carmine can be. Joanna’s eyes widened with her sudden realization. She gently slapped her cheeks and whispered, “What the hell, Joanna? Are you feeling jealous?” she asked herself. She turned around and proceeded with the housework.
She kept moving around while making herself believe that she is just protecting her child because she does not want DJ to have a father who has multiple girlfriends.