Chapter 18

Nova handed the check to Mrs. Roxas in front of Atty. Recinto after they were done signing the deed of sale. At last, she finally bought the land. Now her next goal was to expand the animal shelter so they could provide bigger homes to animals in need. She was glad that the landlady did not have a change of heart, especially when she pushed through with the case against Jayden.

Yes, Nova changed her mind a day after she had that conversation with Aldous. She prayed to God and asked for a sign. God answered her prayer through her dream. She dreamt of something worst, and she woke up so scared that it might happen for real if she would not make a move.

“Thank you, Mrs. Roxas,” she told the landlady as she stretched out her hand for a handshake.

Mrs. Roxas accepted her hand. “I should be the one thanking you for buying it. I had a hard time finding a buyer.”

“I guess we’re destined to buy your land,” Gianna chimed in and laughed.

“I think so.” Mrs. Roxas put the check inside her bag and leave.

Gianna and Nova held hands and squealed in so much happiness when their former landlady left the lawyer’s office. They even danced and jumped without music like they were inside their own world.

“I hate to cut your celebration, but I need to work in peace,” Atty. Recinto said afterward that made them stop.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” they said in unison. Nova grabbed her bag and the envelope above the table. “We’re leaving. Thank you, Attorney.”

He just waved his hand and resumed working.

Gianna held her hand and walked with her out of the law firm.

Nova knew they were still in cloud nine when they reached her car. Those wide beams would not leave their faces at that moment.

“We need to celebrate with the babies and the volunteers,” she said as she started the engine.

“Right. I will call our favorite fast-food restaurant when we got there,” said Gianna.

But there was no need to order food when they arrived at Rainbow Village because there was already a buffet set in the office. The volunteers were already having a meal. There was this party set-up too. And behind the long buffet table, there was Aldous, who was currently busy assisting their volunteers.

Her friend nudged her to the side. “It looks like someone is trying to impress you.”

She just shrugged and sauntered towards the table.

“Oh, you’re here,” Aldous said when he saw her. He picked a plate and utensils that he handed her afterward. “You must be starving.”

Nova took them. “You did this?

“Yes. You know, when something good happens, we should celebrate.” He beamed. “Do you want me to fill your plate?”

“No, thanks. I can manage—” But Aldous still fills her plate with food even though she already said no.

She tried to get the plate from him right after filling it, but he would not give it back. Instead, he carried it for her as he escorted her to her table. He even pulled her chair for her. Was he pampering her? Oh, no…he should not be doing that, especially when their relationship was not going to last long.

“What do you want to drink? We have soda, juice—”

“Coffee,” she said, for she knew that they do not have that.

“Oh, you prefer coffee.” Aldous scratched the side of his head. “Okay, I’ll go out to buy you coffee.”

Nova watched him strode towards the door and leave. She sighed and shook her head after he was gone.

“You sent him away intentionally, don’t you?”

She turned in the direction of the voice and found Gianna standing a few steps away from her, carrying a plate filled with food in one hand and the other holding the piece of fried chicken she was eating.

“Of course not!” she said and scooped a spoonful of rice.

“You did,” Gianna insisted. Her friend pointed the chicken drumstick at her and wagged it exaggeratedly. “I know you. Coffee, my foot. You don’t drink coffee while eating.”

Nova just shrugged and resumed eating. However, her friend would not let it slide. Gianna sat on the visitor’s chair across her.

“I think I’m winning our bet,” her friend said with a confident grin.

She arched a brow and sneered. “We’re not done yet. It’s too early to assume that I lost.”

“Your tongue may lie, but your heart doesn’t.” Gianna wagged the chicken drumstick right in front of her face. “Action speaks louder than words, you know.”

Her brows furrowed. Did she fail to hide it in front of her, or was Gianna just too nosy?

“Stop talking, Gi. You might get indigestion.”

“Yeah, right. You want me to be silent because you don’t want to talk about it.”

“Listen. It’s—”

“Nah!” Gianna waved her hand. “You don’t have to explain. I understand it already.”

“Oh, really?” She acted surprised.

“Yeah.” Her friend nodded consecutively.

“It’s not what it looks like.”

Gianna scowled at her. She was about to say something but decided to keep it to herself when her vision caught Aldous entering the office holding a paper cup in his hand.

“Here is your coffee,” he said upon reaching her table. Aldous put it down carefully.

***

After changing into her fresh clothes, Nova fished the contract from the envelope and grabbed a pen from the drawer. Written there were the terms that she and Aldous must follow while they live under one roof. It was a little late, but it was better than nothing.

“This should be signed now.” Nova went downstairs “Aldous—”

She could not finish her sentence when she saw him topless with a towel wrapped around his waist. He was drinking water in front of the fridge.

“I should have added a term on this contract that you should not walk around the apartment when you’re naked,” she said after recovering from astonishment. Nova put the contract and pen above the table. “Sign this contract so I can have it notarized.”

Aldous turned his gaze on the table and looked at her again. “Are you sure about this?”

She folded her arms over her chest.

“Of course. I want to do this from the start, remember? It’s just…it’s just that it got delayed due to some circumstances.”

He picked up the pen. But instead of signing the contract right away, Aldous just tapped it on the table.

“I want to tell you something, Nova.”

“What is it?” She met his gaze and found them fired with this emotion that she knew very well. It made her heart beat fast, and she was scared it reacted like that. Nova palmed her chest. The overwhelming feeling that rose on her chest seemed to make her feel like she was about to have a heart attack.

“I don’t know how you would react to it, but—”

“Aldous, could you please cut to the chase?” she snapped.

“Can we just stay together?” He crossed their distance.

She could predict what would happen next. Running away from him was the best thing to do, but her feet were too stubborn to move.

“We are…for a year. That’s the deal.” Nova gasped when he suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to his body. All she could do was to prop her hands on his chest so there would be a little space between them.

“Why don’t we make it longer…like forever…” he drawled near her ear.

Nova’s heart skipped a beat. With their bodies that close, and his breath fanning her neck, she was on the edge of losing it. And the way her emotions agree to what her body feels was definitely bad news. She was not dumb not to know what it meant.

“Aldous, this is absurd.” Her voice was almost a whisper.

“No, it isn’t.” He moved a little so he could brush her cheek with his thumb and stared at her eyes. “Everything that I did for you for the past few days was genuine, Nova. And I want to continue doing it for the rest of my life. I want to be with you so I could take care of you, protect you…and love you with all my heart.”

Her eyes grew wider. She was not prepared by his sudden confession.

“W-what—”

“Yes, Nova, I love you.”

She mustered all her strength and pushed him away.

“I am sorry, Aldous. But the feeling isn’t mutual.” She slowly shook her head. “So, you better sign the contract. Now,” Nova said in a cold tone.

He looked at her with his mouth dropped open. Her heart ached as she saw his eyes mirroring the pain he was feeling in his heart at that moment.

“You are one pretty liar,” he said as he turned around. She could sense the bitterness in his voice. “I will sign this contract and leave after.”

Her brows furrowed. “Where are you going?”

“Home. It’s where I belong. The terms on your contract simply state that I have to marry you, which I did, and annul the marriage after a year. Though there are some terms written here, it doesn’t mean that we should continue living together under one roof. The marriage isn’t consummated. No marital duties to be performed.”

Nova was not expecting that scenario that he would leave her side that early after confessing his love for her. And how could he change his mood in an instant? Now he wanted her out of his life. But what could she do? She was at fault because she lied about what she truly feels for him.

She swallowed hard to clear her throat from the lump that starting to form there.

“Go on…you are free to do what you want,” she said as her hands clenched and unclenched to her sides. “I don’t own you.”

Aldous picked up the pen and signed the contract. That sight broke her heart.

Why is this happening to me? She mused.

When he turned to her and handed her the contract, she almost cried in front of him. Good thing, she managed to hold back her tears.

“Call me whenever you are ready for the annulment.” He smiled, but it did not reach his eyes.

With a heavy heart, she went upstairs and grabbed her keys. She abruptly left the apartment because she did not want to see Aldous leaving her. Quite ironic, wasn’t it? And even Nova herself could not understand why she was like that. What was so hard at admitting to oneself that you love someone? Why did she choose to lie when she knew she will hurt like that? One thing is for sure right now, she was a hypocrite. She walked away from love and the chance to be loved by someone like Aldous.

Nova called her friend Alyssa when she got into her car. She answered her call after three rings.

“Hey…are you busy?” she asked somberly.

“What’s the matter, Nova?” Her friend must have sensed in her voice that there was something wrong with her.

“Can you meet me at the bar? I’m just too exhausted, I wane…you know.” She lied, once again.

God, why was she so good at lying these days?

“Oh, sure! I’ll see you there.”

***

Lively music, blinding lights, and a glass of martini in front of her did not seem to be the answer to mend a broken heart. Darn, she really has the audacity to feel that way after what she had done. Maybe she should have gone to a psychiatrist.

She turned to her back when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. Alyssa’s smiling face greeted her.

“Is everything okay at Rainbow Village?” Alyssa asked the moment she sat on the stool beside her.

“Hm? Yeah. All is well now. I already bought the entire land, and we’re planning for an expansion.” Nova propped her hand on her chin and traced the edge of her martini glass.

“Oh, that’s great news.” Alyssa beckoned the bartender to move closer. “Sex on the beach, please.”

“Coming up,” the bartender said.

“So…what is this all about?” Her friend turned to her again.

“It’s just…” She took a sip of her martini. “One of those days.”

“Come on! I can sense in your tone that you are hiding something from me.”

“What would I hide from you?” Nova countered.

“Here’s your sex on the beach,” the bartender chimed in.

“I don’t know. Perhaps you got laid, and you’re regretting it now—”

“I wish that’s the case. But believe me, it’s not, Aly.”

“You know we’ve been friends since…” Alyssa paused. “I can’t barely recall, but I know it’s long enough for us to share a lot of things with each other. As in a lot…So, come on, don’t be shy and tell me.” Her friend took a sip of the cocktail.

“I’m getting an annulment.”

“You mean break up?”

“Annulment.”

“When the hell did you get married?” Alyssa looked shocked rather than surprised.

Nova raised her hands and counted using her fingers. “Almost three weeks ago?”

Alyssa pushed their cocktails to the side.

“Hey, two glasses of whiskey on ice, please!” Her friend told the bartender.