4

|CHAPTER FOUR|

I was BUSY cooking Ethan's favorite food, marinated chicken.

I was still singing softly while cooking when the phone rang at home.

I was still frowning, because just now someone called on the phone again.

"Hello?" I said first when it was answered.

"R-rina?" I was surprised when I heard Jane's stammering voice.

"Oh Jane? Why did you get called? Why on the house phone?" I asked him one after another.

"I-I called your c-cellphone but no one s-answered," he said as my brow furrowed even more.

"Why are you stuttering? is there a problem?"

"Rex is R-rina..." I suddenly felt nervous when he mentioned Rex's name.

"W-why? What happened to him?" I'm worried about the question.

"N-he's in the o-hospital. I brought him there because he's so hot I don't know what to do,"

I was even more nervous.

"W-why? What happened to him?!" I'm restless and I don't know what to do anymore.

"I'll be there tonight! Wait for it!" I said and immediately hung up, because Ethan might catch me with the name on the phone.

I looked back at what I was cooking and even though I was nervous, I still tried to prepare.

WHEN I finished preparing the table, I just heard Ethan's car outside.

I stood up carefully and prepared myself.

Ethan has entered the house and I can clearly see him washing his face while walking to the kitchen.

"It's good that you came. I cooked your favorite food. Sit down and start eating," I said with a forced smile on my lips.

He didn't look at me, instead he immediately sat down and started eating.

I also sat down and told him that he still had nothing to say.

I looked at him and glanced at him.

I wonder if I should tell him I'm leaving tonight. but if I tell him, there is a big possibility that he won't allow me and he might just slap me.

So I relaxed violently and turned back to eating when he suddenly spoke.

"Why are you glancing at me?" He asked, his voice cold again.

Did I say that I shouldn't rely on the hope he showed me that morning?

My cheeks got hot and I looked away from him. "W-nothing..."

I suddenly remembered what happened to us last night. Reason for my cheeks to get hotter with the shame I feel.

I sighed and spoke in a low voice.

"Uhmm...E-Ethan. The one about k-gab---"

"It's okay. I just consider it to be absent, and it seems to be the same as the girls I've tasted." I was stunned and stopped eating.

Isn't that just for him?

what does he want to say?

That I'm just like his girls?!

My chest tightened and I wanted to slap him, but I stopped myself. I can still bear it.

I still can.

It was eight o'clock in the evening when I got myself ready to leave.

I waited for Ethan to enter his room before leaving.

When he didn't come out for a few minutes, I decided to leave my room and try not to make any noise so that Ethan wouldn't notice.

I walked slowly until I reached the door of the house, which I opened slowly and went out.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I successfully got out of the house.

I immediately ran and just in time a taxi passed by that I thanked.

When I sat down, I immediately told the driver the hospital where Rex was, as Jane texted me earlier.

It took a few minutes before we reached the hospital and I immediately paid the driver and got out of the taxi.

I immediately went to the room Jane told me about earlier.

"Rex!" I said immediately upon entering the room.

"Rina!" Jane also called me as she got up from the chair she was sitting on earlier.

"How is he?" I asked and approached Rex seeing that he had woken up.

"How are you?" I asked him and stroked his hair.

"Mama I miss you," I almost cried when I heard the gentle voice of my five-year-old son lying in bed with a burning fever.

"I miss you too, son. How are you? Are you sick?" I hugged him after repeating my question.

"My head hurts a bit, mom. But I can do it," He asked with a smile, causing me to smile too.

"That's it? All right, rest first." I said and kissed his forehead.

"Mom? Are you leaving right away?" I felt my son's sadness while asking those questions.

I sighed. "Son, I will stay here for a few hours, but when it's morning. I have to leave." I said.

"Why? Didn't papa allow you to stay here for a few days?" I stared at my son.

I didn't hide about his dad. But every time he asks about his father why he doesn't see him, but until the photo, I just say that his father is busy and there are many

doing.

He doesn't ask why his dad is always busy and I know he just understands it.

I smiled at him. "It's not like that, son. But mom still has a lot to do."

He was even more sad. "Mom? Is dad coming here?"

I just looked away when he asked that.

"Uhm...not son, I'm sorry. Dad's just too busy. But don't worry. You'll see each other soon."

He nodded and smiled.

I spent several hours watching over my son, it was almost four o'clock so I said goodbye to Jane but not to my son because he was still asleep and I will let Jane explain to him.

When I got home, I was very grateful to see that the light was still off and Ethan didn't seem to be awake yet.

I slowly opened the door and walked slowly.

I was about to close the door when I was startled because I heard his voice I know is angry at this time.

"Where have you been?!" Suddenly the house lit up and I could clearly see his angry look looking at me.

I stood up and looked at him nervously.

"E-eth---"

He walked towards me and was startled by the painful slap he gave.

"Where are you from?! Is it your man's?! Huh?!" He slapped me again, causing me to cry because of the pain.

He pulled my hair and I was sobbing in pain, then he forcefully pushed me against the wall.

I can feel the pain in my cheek and my sore back.

I cried even more. "E-ethan n-n-you're wrong E-et-h-an." It's hard for me to say.

I reached for another slap and he slapped my face. "Am I wrong?! You're really flirting with a woman! After what happened to us, you're going to flirt with another man!!"

I wanted to tell him the truth, but I stopped myself because I knew it wasn't the right time to tell him.

Slap a few times. Pulling my hair. And he forcefully leans on me in ding-ding.

That's what he did to me over and over again until he got weak and I stopped.

He just looked at me and stormed out of the house and also slammed the door shut.

- END OF CHAPTER 4 -