Chapter 17

“I never thought I will meet you this soon, and it’s not about the inheritance,” said Atty. Recinto when she and Aldous went to his office the next day after the incident. “Have a seat.” He gestured to the visitor’s chair as he sat on his swivel chair.

“So am I.” She let out a breath, a nervous one.

The lawyer turned in Aldous’s direction.

“Is he one of your witnesses?” He turned to her again.

“Yes. And he was assaulted.”

“I see.” Atty. Recinto leaned against his seat and clasped his hands above his stomach. “We can file multiple charges against him. You have witnesses and medical reports. This case will—”

“Attorney,” Nova cut him off and turned her gaze on Aldous. She felt bad for him, and she knew Jayden deserves to rot in jail. But then, she was worried about one thing—that Jayden’s aunt might change her mind if she pushed through with the case against his nephew. She could not afford to lose the land. “I would like to settle with them.”

“W-what?” Aldous grasped her arm. “Nova, I thought you want to—”

“Well, a settlement is way better. Less work, less hassle—”

Aldous abruptly turned in the lawyer’s direction. “How dare you tell her that! Ah, right…” His lips form into a grim line. “You are her lawyer, so you will surely benefit from this case whether she pushed through or not.”

Atty. Recinto did not respond; he just stared at them calmly. Perhaps he had seen the worst since he became a lawyer.

“Aldous…” She carefully cupped his injured hand wrapped in bondage. “I know he deserves to be punished. But I had to consider something important too. Rainbow village might be in jeopardy if I choose to file a case against Jayden. His aunt owns the land I am about to buy. So please understand.”

His shoulders dropped. Maybe he realized that whatever he told her, her decision was final, and he has no power to change that. Aldous’s hands clenched, and the injured one bled.

“Y-your hand—” She tried to hold his bleeding hand, but he hid it behind him.

“If we have no business here anymore, let’s leave.” He rose from his seat and strode outside the office.

“He is that guy, right?” said Atty. Recinto after Aldous was gone. “The husband that you bought.”

Her fists clenched. What he said was right, but it kinda made her feel annoyed for an unknown reason. It did not sound pleasant to the ears. Aldous was more than his payments worth. His care for her was genuine, and it was scaring her more and more.

Nova rose to her feet.

“I’m leaving. See you soon, Atty. Recinto.”

She was almost at the door when the lawyer spoke again.

“His concern looks genuine. It seemed to me that he was not just a—”

“How would you know if you just saw him today?” she said without looking back.

“I’m a lawyer. Judging one’s character is part of my job.”

She waved her hand and went out of the office.

***

Aldous was leaning against her car when she arrived at the parking area. His hair looked like a mess, as if he pulled his own hair and did not mind fixing it. The emotions that she saw in his eyes when they were inside the lawyer’s office were still the same.

Nova sighed and unlocked the doors. But instead of sitting on the passenger’s seat, Aldous sat at the back. Maybe it was his way of telling what he feels. She did not dare to talk to him during the whole ride going to the apartment. Nova would just look at him occasionally through the rearview mirror of her car. Whenever their eyes would meet, Aldous looked away. And it made her heart heavy. Suddenly, the car seemed so small for them to breathe.

Aldous was still silent when they got into her apartment. He just lay down on the sofa and covered his eyes with one arm.

“Aldous, can we talk?” she asked when she reached the sofa.

“Hm…”

She scoffed. Sometimes, he has that attitude that seemed to piss her off. But what could she possibly do when she was the reason why he was like that? Nova finger-comb her hair and sat on the other end of the sofa.

“Could you let this one slide—”

“How about your parents?” he asked, cutting her sentence. Aldous sat up. Now they could see each other. “Have you ever thought what they would feel if they knew that you let this slide? They’re so worried about you. They—”

“They know.” She clasped her hands above her lap and stared at it. “I called them last night to inform them that I will no longer push through with filing the case against Jayden.”

“Just because you can’t afford to lose that piece of land. Right.”

She turned her gaze on Aldous and saw him gritting his teeth.

“It’s not just a piece of land,” she told him somberly. “Well, for you and other people who don’t understand, it was just a mere piece of land, but for me, for Gianna, and for every life that lives there, it was everything. We are housing more than a hundred pets there. If Mrs. Roxas kicked us out in an instant for real, I don’t know what could possibly happen. It’s a big mess, you know.”

“I have nothing against you and the shelter. But for one time, just this time, Nova…” Aldous looked at her straight in the eyes. They tell her how sincere he was, and she appreciated that. “Could you please put yourself first?”

“I thought about it a hundred times. And no matter how many times I think about it, I always came up with one decision. So, I’m asking you to respect that.”

He washed his palms over his face and sighed. “I guess there is nothing I can do to change your mind.”

“Aldous…”

He turned to her. “What?”

“Thank you. I appreciate your concern, really.”

He stared at her for seconds before nodding his head.

“You don’t have to thank me. Let’s just say that it’s only natural because I am your husband—” Aldous was not able to finish his sentence when she suddenly kissed him on the lips. “W-what was that?” he asked, puzzled.

“A kiss obviously.”

“And why did you kiss me?”

“Let’s just say that it’s only natural because I am your lawfully wedded wife.” Nova cleared her throat and stood up. “I’m going to feed the cats.”

Just this once, she let her feelings won. She will let this one slide.

***

“Oh, this is bad,” the vet said and continued to examine the cat further. “The mother cat’s breasts are too swollen, and its kittens have nothing to suck but puss. That is the reason why their weight suddenly declines. When did you start to notice—Nova, are you with me?” She turned to face her.

“Oh. Yeah, I’m following.” She smiled.

“You know what, you should have let Gianna accompany the cats.”

“Gianna’s out for an emergency rescue operation.” She went to the other side of the steel table. “What were you asking me again?”

“When did you notice?”

“I really don’t know. Maybe when he saved my life, or it all started when we met Jayden at the department store—” Nova stopped talking, and then her eyes widened.

“What the hell are you talking about? I asked you when did you notice the cat family’s condition, and here you are telling me a story about…”

“I’m so sorry, Doc. I must be out of my mind.” She knocked on her head.

“I don’t see it that way.” The vet beamed at her. “It seemed to me that you are…in love.”

“Me?” She pointed at herself and laughed exaggeratedly. “In love? I don’t think so.”

“That’s it!” The vet snapped her fingers. “The first stage is always denial.”

“You know what, I’ve heard that before. And your job here is to cure the pets, not to interpret how I feel. Or maybe you should switch your specialization.”

The vet just laughed at her. They treat each other as friends rather than clients.

“I love animals more than people.”

“Ariza…”

“Now you are calling me by my name.”

“Do you really think it is possible for someone to fall in love that fast?” Nova folded her arms and leaned on the table.

Ariza did not look at her, for she was busy examining the kittens. “I know someone who fell in love in three seconds.”

“That’s insane! Who will fall in love—”

“That’s me.”

“Oh.”

“You’re a novelist. You should know how it happens.”

“Well, it seems that writing how two people fall in love is easier than evaluating how it happened to me.” She sighed.

Ariza carefully put the kitten back in the crate.

“We all have a different perspective.”

“I agree to that. Bigtime!”

“And as for me…when it comes to love, you may rule out the when and how sometimes. You shouldn’t be relying on other people. Rely on your feelings. Listen to your heart, Nova.” Ariza took off her gloves. “So, who’s this unlucky guy?” she jested.

“Aldous not Dumbledore.”

“That’s…quite a name, huh.” Ariza chuckled.

“It is.”