Nicolas drove his car in as soon as the gate opened. He parked in front of the garage. Alejandra quickly unfastened her seat belt and left the car. She kept thinking about what he said to her at the office, throughout the drive home. It caused her to have a headache.
Alejandra wanted to avoid him every way possible and remembered they both slept in the same room. Avoiding him was impossible. She rang the doorbell and waited for someone to answer the door. Nicolas caught up with her and the door opened.
"Good evening, Sir! Good evening, Ma'am!" Valeria greeted them when she opened the door.
"Evening." Nicolas replied airily and they entered the house.
They were almost through the archway. Ivan saw his father and yelled,
"Daddy!"
His joy soon turned sour as he saw Alejandra. Patricia was in the living room with him. They were putting a jigsaw puzzle together. She was sitting on the armchair, which backed the entrance.
"Good evening, Mum!" Nicolas said flatly, standing behind the chair.
"Good evening, Mrs Patricia!" Alejandra said.
"Alejandra, dear! How was work today?" Patricia asked her.
"It was good." Alejandra replied plainly and walked to the staircase. She climbed up the stairs.
Ivan focused on completing the puzzle. Patricia had her eyes on Alejandra. She could tell from her voice that she was happy.
"How was school today?" Nicolas asked Ivan.
"It was good. I got a gold star for the cat I made in arts and crafts. My teacher said the colour of clay that I chose was good for my cat." Ivan said happily, looking for where the puzzle was holding would fit.
"That's good." Nicolas replied plainly.
"Nick, what's wrong with Alejandra?" Patricia asked.
"I don't know. She seemed fine when we left the office." Nicolas replied coolly and checked the time on his watch.
It was half past eight and Ivan wasn't in bed.
"Ivan, it is time for bed." Nicolas said flatly.
"But I haven't finished completing the puzzle yet." Ivan said.
"Don't let me repeat myself twice." Nicolas said sternly.
Ivan gave up the puzzle and stood up from the sofa. He had walked away from the table when Patricia called him back,
"No goodnight kiss?"
Ivan walked to the armchair and pecked his grandmother's cheek.
"Good night, Grandma!" Ivan said.
"Good night, Sweetheart! Sweet dreams!" Patricia said.
Ivan left the living room and climbed up the stairs. Patricia began putting pieces of the puzzles back in the box, which was on the table.
"What did you do to her?" She asked, still putting the pieces in the box.
"I didn't do anything. Why do you assume I'm responsible for her mood?" Nicolas replied airily, walking further into the room.
"Your attitude." She said, putting the lid on the box.
"I'll be in the study if you need me." Nicolas said as he left the room.
Alejandra had finished having her bath and came out of the bathroom. She had a towel wrapped around her body. Her hair was wet and dripped, even though she had dried it with a towel. She walked to the wardrobe and opened one of the doors.
Nicolas had given one quarter of the wardrobe to keep her clothes. She took out her pyjamas–a matching green sleeveless top and trousers. The trousers had a drawstring as its fastener. She closed the door and went back to the bathroom to put it on.
As soon as she came out of the bathroom, she saw Nicolas in the room. He kept his briefcase on the edge of the bed. He was removing his tie. Alejandra closed the door behind her. She made no eye contact with Nicolas and grabbed her phone, which was on the bedside table. She left the room and went to the living room. Patricia had retired to her room by the time she got there.
Her phone rang and she quickly answered it.
"Judy!" Alejandra said when she saw her sister on the screen.
They were video calling each other.
"Alejandra, how are you?" Judy asked.
"I'm good. And you?" Alejandra replied.
"I'm doing great. I've been expecting your call but you didn't call. I was worried and decided to call. To know how you were. It seems like Brother-in-law is taking good care of you." Judy said cheerfully.
"Yea. He is." Alejandra replied airily.
"Speaking of him, how is he?" Judy asked.
"He is good." Alejandra replied.
"And your step-son?" Judy added.
"He is fine as well." Alejandra said.
"Have you two started bonding yet?" Judy asked curiously.
Alejandra shook her head. A strand of hair was in front of her eye, forcing her to wear part of it behind her ear. She had dried it again while she was in the bathroom.
"Don't worry. You'll get there." Judy said, keeping her motivated.
"And Mum? How is she? Has she woken up yet?" Alejandra asked eagerly.
"No. But she squeezed my hand today." Judy revealed excitedly.
"She did?" Alejandra replied, surprised at what she was told.
"Yes. I met Dr. June and told her about it. She said it's a good sign and that Mum will wake up soon. It's only a matter of time before she does." Judy said further.
"I think I'll visit her tomorrow. Before I go to the shop." Alejandra said.
Her phone bleeped and a notification appeared. Her battery was at 2% and was about to die.
"That reminds me, your ex came to look for you." Judy informed her.
"Ben came looking for me? Well, I'm not surprised. Did he tell you why he came?" Alejandra asked her.
"He said he wanted to talk to you and-."
Before Judy could complete her sentence, Alejandra's screen turned black. Her battery had died.
"Great!" She said ironically.
Alejandra remembered she kept her charger in her suitcase. She left the living room and climbed up the stairs. She wanted to go and charge her phone. She knocked on Nicolas' door but got no response. She opened the door ajar and peeped inside the room.
Nicolas wasn't in the room. She opened the door wider and entered. She closed it behind him. She didn't hear the water running in the bathroom.
"He probably left." She thought.
Alejandra opened the wardrobe and unzipped her bag a little. She put her hand in and took her charger. She quickly zipped her bag and closed the door. She walked to the socket, close to the bedside table and plugged in her phone. The screen turned on and Alejandra saw her battery was 0%.
Alejandra was still there and heard the bathroom door open. Nicolas came out of the bathroom, wearing only his trousers. He left the upper part of his body bare. He had shaved off some of his facial hair and still maintained his signature beard style.
Alejandra couldn't help but stare at him. She had never seen him shirtless before. He had a broad chest, no chest hair and an inner navel. He looked more handsome without his glasses on. She stood there, completely stunned. Nicolas walked straight to the wardrobe. He picked out a shirt from the pile that was neatly folded. He turned around and caught Alejandra staring at him.
"What's with the stare? Haven't you seen a shirtless man before?" He asked plainly.
"I-I have." She stuttered.
"I guess when Benjamin changed in front of you, you didn't stare at him this much." Nicolas revealed as he wore his shirt.
"You knew Ben and I-." Alejandra said slowly, a little nervous.
"You both were lovers? Yes." He replied airily,
"It was really obvious."
"I thought you had left; why did you come back?" He asked as he walked to the dressing table. He picked up his glasses that were on it and wore them.
"Actually, I-I-I-." She stammered.
"You what?" He asked icily.
"I came to charge my phone. My battery died while I was talking to..." She explained nervously.
"To your boyfriend, I suppose." He said flatly.
"Benjamin and I aren't in a relationship. We ended things years ago. I was talking to Judy." She said cowardly.
"Hm!" He hummed, leaning at the table.
Alejandra sheepishly left the room and closed the door behind her. She leant against the wall. She heaved nervously and could hear her heart beating faster.
"Why was I nervous? Why did I become short on words?" Alejandra said inwardly,
"I've never been nervous around him. I don't know what happened there. Oh, Alejandra! What did you get yourself into?"
"Could it be that I've fallen for Nicolas?" She pondered.