You’re Still My Man – English

GINA

She was annoyed the next morning because she couldn’t find Ace’s car key, and she thought he might have forgotten to put his key on the table. She looked at the clock. It was ten o’clock in the morning. She knew that Ace came home in the morning. Even against her will, she needs to wake him up because she wanted to get her grocery shopping done, so she could spend the afternoon with her family and nephew.

God, she’s tired of finding the key. She really wanted to wake up Ace. But suddenly something entered her mind. What if the key is in his pocket? Well, she wouldn’t mind crawling under the blanket with him and sleeping a while.

She was just shaken by her thoughts. She really needs to spend some time away from the boarding house by herself. For that she needed a car key.

She has no other choice but to enter the room of Ace. She was now in front of the door of his room as she carefully turned the lock. When she entered the room, she saw Ace sleeping soundly. She tiptoed in and searched the keys with her eyes. But she still couldn’t see the key, she headed to the chair where he’d draped his jeans. She immediately took it and searched for the pocket.

“If you act like that, you’d make a lousy spy.” Ace said in a husky tone that obviously he was awake. He got up and stared at her. “Do you know how strong you are to sigh when you’re upset?”

She dropped Ace pants on the floor because she was even more annoyed.

“Then I must spend a lot of time sighing these days.”

But Ace just laughed at her.

“Come Here.”

“I do not want to.”

“But why?”

“Just don’t order me.”

“Come here, please, Gina.” he said, and he patted the bed beside him.

Gina sat, tucking a leg under her. She was shocked when Ace touched her chin and stared into her eyes. “Are you not feeling well?”

“No, why?”

“You don’t look well.”

She averted her chin from his grasp.

“I’m just tired, that’s all.”

Ace touched her forehead. “Why are you hot?”

“I’m fine. You’d better just give me your key so I can go now.”

“I’ll drive you.”

“But I want to go alone,” she pronounced each word distinctly. “I’m getting tired of this set-up, Ace. I also want to be alone sometimes. Besides, if you’re there, we’ll only spend twice as much. Because you’re an impulse buyer.”

“Did you know that I enjoyed grocery shopping for the first time when we were shopping together.” He said softly. “I really learned a lot from you, especially when shopping for vegetables and meat. Don’t you really want to take me with you?”

“What did you eat today and your taste is different now?”

“Nothing. I just want to be with you, Gina.”

The sincerity of his face irritated her as much as it flattered her. She just raised her hands. “All right. I give up. You win.” Then she gives him a sultry smile.

—–

ACE

“Are you okay? You look like you’re not feeling well?” He said to Gina when they got home from the mall. He immediately lowered the plastic bags he was carrying to touch Gina’s forehead, knowing already that she was feverish. “My God, Gina. You’re so hot.”

“I don’t feel so good,” she said softly while reaching the counter table for support. “Maybe it’s because of the flu that was rampant now at school.”

Fortunately, he quickly grabbed Gina’s arms because she was about to fall. The heat from her penetrated his clothes and warmed his own skin.

He assisted Gina to her room and opened the door. When Gina entered her room, he was about to close the door when he saw that she had difficulty in removing her shoes.

“Sit.” he said.

“Don’t order me. I’m not a dog.” She said.

“Did you know that our marriage vows include the word ‘Obey’? He muttered as he crouched before her and slipped her shoes off.

“Those marriage vows are not important to us. You promised that you would love me forever, but we know that is not true. So, I could not promise to obey because there is no truth in our oath.” She said and lay down on the bed with her eyes closed.

Guilt is on top of everything he was dealing with. “Sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean that. What do you want to wear now?” He asked and he was just malicious in what he was saying.

“Can I wear your t-shirt?”

He took a t-shirt from his closet and started to take off Gina’s top, leaving with her bra on. When he put on the t-shirt he had chosen for Gina, his hands brushed her body as he felt the warmth of it. And Gina’s eyes just kept closed the whole time.

“Do you have a thermometer here?” He asked.

“Hmm…” Gina could barely open her mouth.

He just looked for her thermometer in her medical kit. Fortunately, he didn’t have a hard time finding it. He immediately took the digital thermometer and inserted it into Gina’s armpit. He held it for a few seconds until Gina fell asleep. When the thermometer made a sound, he immediately took it and checked how much temperature she had registered. And according to the result it was 38. 5 degree celsius, bad enough. He now combed his wife’s hair as he watched her sleep peacefully.

A few minutes later, he went out of her room to call the doctor on what he should do to the person with a fever. After talking to the doctor he returned to Gina while he was carrying a small basin and a pitcher of water. He put them on the side table and sat down next to his wife. He just watched her as he dipped the white face towel in water and squeezed it. He woke Gina up so that she could take the medicine, then he put the white towel on her forehead. He helped her to lie down again and then left the room.

He called the restaurant and informed their Manager that Gina was ill so she could not tender her duty. He also informed the manager that he took a leave that day, but the manager did not allow him to leave due to the number of guests who reserved for them tonight. But the manager said that he can only get out early, but he can’t be absent.

He’s not used to this because he’d never taken care of anyone before. He just sat next to Gina and watched her as she slept, wondering at the feelings of tenderness and worry. But there is no other meaning to how he feels. Of course he will take care of her as a wife. Because even if he forces himself, it won’t work. She’s a homebody, and he can’t be. The Great Wall of China divided them with their differences.

After a while, he noticed Gina’s face was sweating. She was shaking so he wrapped her in a blanket. He would have called Janice to ask her to take care of her sister while he was at work. In fact, he knows it’s not possible because she’s also watching over her baby. Who else will he call? Probably her mother, even though he’s embarrassed to ask her mom, but he’s pretty sure that she won’t refuse.

GINA

She strained to open her eyes even though she could feel the pain of it.

“My eyes are in pain,” she complained about.

“The doctor said, it’s because of your high fever. So here, you drink a lot of water.” Ace said as he walked towards her.

She got up and immediately drank a glass of water that Ace handed her. Then she lay down again.

“I’m feeling pretty okay now. Maybe I’m just over fatigue or maybe I’m just tired.”

“You won’t get a fever if you’re just tired, sweetie. I’d better make you some soup.”

Did she hear right that he would make her a soup? The words shouted joyously in her head. She didn’t expect him to take care of her. She wanted to shout with joy, if only her throat wasn’t sore.

“I want chicken soup with mushrooms please. The condiments are just in the refrigerator.”

“Okay, I’ll be right back. Drink more water if you can.”

Maybe all she needed was rest. So she didn’t want to bother her mother to watch over her, but Ace really insisted. She told him that she could do it on her own as long as he just moved the TV to her room, so that somehow she would have fun. Fortunately, he also agreed not to let her mother take care of her. Just in case, because her mother will travel far from Naga province.

“Maybe I’ll be home around ten-thirty.” He said with mixed worries.

“Okay, then. Thank you for everything.”

“Just relax, Gina. It’s the best thing for you.”

“I will.” She assured him as she scanned the expression on his face. “Just call me if you want, so you can also find out how I’m doing.”

“All right, as long as you sleep well. Don’t do the housework, okay?”Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Yes, sir.”

—–

In the evening, Ace called her again. Her sleep is already broken because from time to time he calls her. The weight of her stomach is so heavy because she drinks a lot of water, also her stomach is full of water that’s why she has no appetite for dinner. She just watched TV even though she is not interested in the shows. She looked at the clock at ten, but her mind was still very active. She just moved around the channel until a show caught her attention. She was startled when Ace suddenly came. She immediately turned off the TV and quickly went to bed and covered herself with a blanket. She also closed her eyes when she heard footsteps approaching the door of her room. While she closed her eyes, she kept thinking about the show she saw on TV earlier… How long will you keep your secret life from me, Ace?

*****