RBAVS: Chapter 22

“What?”

Irene took a second before she could take her eyes off Alex. Hearing him caught her in the act, she shrank her neck back.

“Nothing. Do you have anything you want to watch?”

“I’m supposed to ask that question,” Alex chuckled. 

“I dunno, you choose. This was supposed to be a celebratory event, but then Lily couldn’t make it. So now it’s just the two of us.”

Alex smiled. “So you planned to celebrate by going to the cinema?”

Irene glared at her while her puffed-up cheeks were shown through the black mask she was wearing. “No! Do you really think I’ll let the public see Lily after all of this? Just so you know, you weren’t supposed to be invited. Hmph.” 

Alex lowered his voice, feigning grievance, “My heart aches to hear that I’m just a second thought in Irene’s mind.” 

Irene just glared at him, trying not to heave in frustration.

Seeing her reaction, Alex felt a light touch warming him. He petted the top of her hair and led her inside the cinema. 

Irene watched as he grabbed her wrist and led her in, just staring at his broad back in a daze. 

***

“What was that f*ck*ng movie? How did that even get a high rating? The girl was so frustrating. She left without saying anything, then when they met years later, she blamed it all on him?! What the f*ck! How does that girl’s brain work?”

It was almost midnight when the movie ended. The two of them were currently strolling in the park. 

Alex was leisurely walking by her side, listening to her rant and responding now and then. Tonight has been the most serene night he had in the past few days. 

After walking for quite a while, Irene now felt tired. “Let’s go sit there on the bench.” 

With just the two of them in the park, Irene let herself relax. She leaned on the backrest and just gazed at the night sky. “It would be more beautiful if we could see the stars.”

Alex turned his head to see what she was talking about and followed her gaze. “We can go hiking and watch the sky from there. The stars would be brighter there.”

Irene shifted her body towards Alex and rested her chin on her hand while leaning on the bench. “Maybe next time? I wanna go to bed.”

Irene couldn’t help but yawn and then propped her head on her forearm. “You did good.”

Alex took a pause, digesting what she said and smiled. He could feel his hands itch, wanting to wipe the tear that slipped out at the corner of her eyes. But he restrained himself; he was afraid of ruining this picturesque night.

“I’ll drive you home.”

***

A dull ache washed over Irene’s head as her weary body laid in bed. “Uhh..” 

“This wasn’t how I planned to spend the day with you,” Irene weakly smiled at Alex. 

“I knew I shouldn’t have relented when you pushed to pack your schedule full. Look at your state now.” Alex helped Irene sat up and delivered her medicine to her. 

“Thanks.” Irene handed the glass of water back to Alex and retreated to the bed, covering herself snuggly—shivering slightly at the cold. 

Alex reached his hand back to her forehead, trying to gauge her temperature again, even though he had already checked it not so long ago with a thermometer.

He could not help but blame himself for getting Irene sick. It was a lapse of judgment on his part as her manager, he should have known better. 

Irene glanced at him before saying, “Too bad, I promised Lily dinner after today’s shoot, I guess I have to take a rain check.”  

Alex playfully flicked her on the forehead where his hand previously was. “You won’t be leaving these four walls until I tell you so, missy. You two have been inseparable lately, I suppose this is the world telling you to focus on yourself.” 

“Hmph, you don’t know anything about sisterhood.” Irene sulked while only letting her eyes express her temper at him. 

“For a sick girl, you sure are bursting with energy.” Alex pinched cheek and chuckled at her childish antics. 

“Hey! I let you off when you flicked my forehead, but pinching my cheek was crossing the line, you know.” 

Alex could see her attempt at looking daggers at him. Unfortunately for her, large wet eyes and flushed cheeks sold her out. 

Seeing him not taking her seriously, Irene could feel her anger bubbling up. 

As a result, what was laid bare in Alex’s sight was Irene’s heightening ruddiness with her cheeks enlarged like a chipmunk.

Amusement was clearly spelled out on Alex’s face. 

She glowered at him frustratingly and turned her back on him. “I wanna sleep.”

Alex chuckled. “I’ll take care of everything about work; I’ll also explain to Lilian what happened. Just take a rest. I’ll be right back.”

Alex was answered with the sound of even breathing permeating the room. 

Irene woke up at noon, squinting her eyes from the rays of light that seeped through the curtains. 

“You’re just in time for lunch.” 

Irene battled with her eyelids to keep them open as she turned her head to Alex. “Wha?”

Alex placed Irene’s lunch on the bedside table and felt her forehead with his hands. 

Still the same. 

He didn’t know what he expected. A few hours had just passed since this morning; maybe the medicine was a miracle drug?

“You look pathetic.” Irene’s hoarse voice traveled to Alex’s ears. 

Alex tensed up. His soft voice responded to Irene like cajoling a baby. “Did I upset you?”

“You smell like someone drowning in self-deprecation.” Maybe it was the fever—or maybe not—but Irene was unbridled today. “It’s unsightly of you. You’re not the Alex that I know.”

Alex was too stunned to speak. 

Oblivious to the reaction of the receiver of her message, Irene continued. “I bet you a million dollars that since this morning you’ve been beating yourself for failing to be a ‘good manager’; how you neglected to keep my health in check.” 

Irene’s words hit close to home. Alex clenched the sheets under his hand. He kept his head lowered in guilt. 

A small and soft hand reached from under the pillow and clasped his hand tightly. The warmth from her hand slowly diffused to the rest of his cold body. He could not resist but to look at her directly as she uttered the words that reached the crevasses of his soul. 

“I’m the one who insisted on doing all those projects. I’m the one who packed my schedule till my body collapsed. I hope you realize that the pain I’m in is the consequence of the decisions I consciously made. Yes, you’re my manager, but I’m your willful artist. As your willful artist, you can never control me nor my actions. So stop beating yourself up over something you have no absolute control over, Alex.”

Now that she was fully awake, Irene watched with appreciation how the sun's rays fought their way in through the thick curtains, giving the room a dreamy air hugging you in comfort. 

As the last of her words fell, she sensed her hand that held Alex’s shift. A rough and calloused hand enveloped hers; their fingers interlocked. 

***

It’s half-past six, Lily should be done by now.

Speaking of the devil, hurried footfalls echoed in the apartment. Irene’s bedroom door burst open, and in came a teary eyed Lilian. “Are you alright? Do you feel cold? Do you feel pain anywhere? I wanted to come sooner upon hearing from Alex that you’re sick, but there were too many changes to be made that the shooting was delayed, huhuhu.”

Lilian reached out and hugged Irene, burying her face into the crook of Irene’s neck. 

Irene saw Lilian’s embrace coming and welcomed it. She listened as Lilian rambled on; her words were laced with deep concern. This angle made Lilian look like a small child plagued with worry for her loved one. She looked just like Liz when saw… 

Ah, this stings.

Lilian scanned Irene’s feeble complexion. It pains her to see Irene like this. “I was in a crunch and I didn’t know you. I asked Alex, and he said everything is taken care of. I only managed to bring fruits.” Lilian sounded sheepish. “Do you wanna eat them? They’re in the kitchen. I’ll go and prepare some for you right now.”

Before she could take a step, a gentle touch landed on her hair, caressing it softly. 

“Don’t move.” 

Lilian did not dare to.

She closed her eyes and took it in. This was a novel feeling for her. 

“Don’t bother with the fruit. It’s dinnertime. I was about to head to the dining room before you came in.” 

Irene glanced at Lilian in her arms and withdrew but not before giving her one last pat on the head. She smiled at Lilian and said, “Let’s have dinner together?” 

In the dining room, Alex eyed Lilian with exasperation. 

He watched as Lilian pulled the seat beside Irene—a seat that belonged to him. He looked over to see Irene’s expression and spectated how she indulged Lilian in defeat. 

Lilian noticed how Alex set the table and sat across Irene. Lilian gave the kitchen a glimpse when she passed by it with Irene. She did not see any takeout boxes, nor did she hear any delivery whatsoever. Could it be…? Alex made this?

Irene swept the table with her eyes, which were full of confusion. Nothing but soup occupied the space in front of them. 

It did not escape Alex’s watch as Irene’s brow wrinkled. “No solid foods for you yet.”

“I know, but what about you and Lily? What are you gonna eat?” 

Alex patiently answered her. “I’ll eat what you’ll eat.”

Lilian did not want to trouble Irene and immediately interjected. “You don’t have to worry about me; I’m fine with anything.” To prove it, Lilian grabbed the ladle and scooped herself a bowl. As she tasted it, she could not help but exclaim. “Hey! This is actually good!”

Oh? Irene looked at Alex, and sure enough, she saw him froze for a second. His instinctive reaction made her chuckle. 

When Lilian heard it, she paused and realized how her words could be easily misconstrued. In no time, her heartbeat shot up to the sky. She was scrambling to clear things up. 

“No, no, wait.. I didn’t mean anything by that.” 

“I just… I thought…” Lilian was finding it difficult to explain herself and was stumbling in her words in anxiety. “I thought Alex can’t cook… NO WAIT!” Lilian slammed her hands on the table and abruptly stood up. “What I mean is.. I didn’t expect.. No.. I mean…”

Irene burst out laughing. “This is… HAHAHAHA..”

Lilian saw how her soup shook in the bowl and spilled onto the table. In fact, she could feel the table rock from her actions. WHAT AM I DOING..?! At this point, it would be best if the ground would swallow me whole. 

Ahhhh!!!! This is so embarrassing. 

Lilian stood there like a ripe tomato ready to be harvested. She could hear Irene in stitches, which just made her flush more. HUHUHUHUHU  

Stuck in this situation, “Chef” Alex gave Lilian a glance before sighing. “I know what you mean. You don’t have to explain yourself. Just eat your food.” What have I gotten myself into…

Lilian’s eyes widened as she was met with this unexpected pardon. 

She tentatively sat back down. But she still could not believe it, so she sneaked a peek at Alex—just a sec, just… a… sec…—just making sure if she really was absolved from her mistake, huhuhu. 

But instead of liberation, what she witnessed was a case of tenderness buried in a person’s look.

***

Lilian was long gone, and even though she was tired, Irene still could not bring herself to sleep.

What occupied her mind was the man right outside her door.

She could hear him cleaning the kitchen, still busy as he was in the morning. It was as if he could never get tired.

Irene insisted that he go home and that she could take care of herself. But no matter how persuasive she got, he was immovable as a mountain. 

For a long time since she took guardianship of her sister, this was the first time Irene felt taken care of. She had almost forgotten this feeling. It isn’t as bad as I thought.  

DionneR: Hi guysss. Sooo we've caught up with the other platforms hehe. Chapters going forward will be posted weekly on MONDAY. Thanks for reading my work! I appreciate it. 😊

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