35th birthday

Chapter 4

Dear, he was still 16 when I married him. Yeah, Rykiel Eryx is my ex-husband...

She's too young to get married at the age of 16, right? For teenagers it's just puppy love and it's easy to forget those feelings when you slowly grow up. But not me. and I understand him why... he let me go then. Why was it so easy for him to lose me. Why he can't fight for our love. Even though I was holding on to his hands very tightly, he was still able to...let me go.

Because he's too young...

After I took the coffee from his hand, I still felt the touch of his finger on my skin. I first looked at the steaming coffee and it smelled really strange. It seems to be effective and the pain in my nose and throat will disappear. I couldn't help but bring it to my nose and smell the fragrant aroma of coffee. I smiled.

This is my favorite, actually...

Mom? Sorry, baby. The coffee looks good and it's effective," I said and lost my mind that there was another person in front of me now.

I smiled sweetly at Rykiel. His forehead was wrinkled and he seemed to be confused about what...

That he couldn't understand either.

"Thank you for the coffee, sir?" I said. Pretending, I didn't know I could do this thing either. To treat him as if I didn't know him and was just another person.

It took a long time before he answered, "Rykiel, I'm Rykiel Eryx Barjo..." he promised softly that I knew his voice had not escaped Khai's hearing.

Rykiel Eryx?" I heard my son say on the other line Have we..." I stared at him when he suddenly spoke. I'm waiting for what he has to say.

"Yes?" I asked him.

"Met before?" he asked. I felt the pang in my heart. Why, Rykiel? Why did you forget me? After you let me go then and now, we met again but you don't remember me? Or do you really not know me anymore because you have completely forgotten me?

"Have we met before?" he repeated his question. I smiled bitterly.

I thought I was no longer affected. That I will never feel this way again. But I was wrong. This is the first time we met," I said, "So, no..." I added and I even shook my head.

My chest felt numb when I saw him walking towards the end of his terrace. Even though there was still a distance between us, I could clearly see his deep gaze on me. His eyebrows met and he really focused on my face. He ran his cold eyes over all the corners of my face. His mouth moved as if he was going to say something but was cut off when someone hugged him from behind Hon!" I also saw his shock and lost his gaze on me. Even I was surprised.

I also watched as his hand went down to his waist and there he grabbed the two hands that were hugging him. There was caution in the way he handled it "Chrysler..." he said and I only smiled lightly then I slowly backed away.

My grip on the glass that was still full of coffee tightened because I hadn't tasted it yet. I took a deep breath and turned around.

I put the cup of coffee down on the bedside table and just stared at my cellphone which was still connected to Khai's phone Baby..."

What happened, Mom? Are you okay?" he asked me. I looked up to stop myself from taking it.

I'm okay...hopefully, when I haven't seen him yet but how can I make him miss me when he forgot about me? When he didn't remember me that I'm his...ex-wife... I'm fine, baby. Sorry about that," I said. I didn't hear anything else on the other line but seconds later I heard his voice. Cause the weight in my chest is gone.

The tears that were forming earlier for Rykiel have changed...

"Happy birthday, Mom. You are the best mother I've ever met in the whole world and I am lucky to have you as my Mom. I love you, more than anything and more than in this world..."

The words that came out of his mouth made my heart melt. It feels so good to hear that from him. Oh, my son. He is really sweet to me.

"And I'm the luckiest Mom to have you too, my son. Mommy loves you more," I said and laughed as I wiped my tears from my cheeks. I'm so happy.

Let's celebrity here, Mom when you came back. I'm sorry if I couldn't be with you on your 35th birthday," he said.

Alright, then. How old are you again, Jessel?" Arzeil asked me. I frowned at him because it didn't sound like he was happy with his question.

Since I am older than him. Shh...

What do you think?" I asked with raised eyebrows but a ghostly smile on my lips. He even looked at me from head to toe. I was wearing a dark green sleeveless dress and above the knee. I didn't even put lipstick on my face even though he invited me to eat at a restaurant because it was my birthday. I took my bodyguards and Sabel with me. The others are at a different table, according to their wishes.

"35 years old but damn it. I look older than you. You look like you're in a late twenties... 21?" I laughed so hard when he mentioned the number 21.

I missed my Grandma, who was also surprised at my age. Can't believe it.

Do I? Do I really look like a 21 year old?" I asked him frantically.

Maybe...you're a vampire, right?" he asked and I slapped his forehead because of the nonsense he was saying. You're unbelievable," I said.

How come you don't even grow old? What's that secret? Seriously?" he asked with a laugh and squeezed my cheek firmly. In that position we were caught by... Rykiel, along with the beautiful woman who hugged him earlier on his terrace.

I didn't see his face but now, I can clearly see it and I can only say one thing. She is very beautiful and looks like she is the same age as Rykiel and Arzeil Eryx! Your fiance Chrysler is with you," Arzeil said happily.

The girl was wearing a simple pink dress and had long hair. Her smile is also beautiful. Is it him?

Could he be the new owner of Rykiel's heart? That before it was only mine and I had no enemies in his heart.

My smile disappeared when I looked at his blank face and he also looked very serious. Our eyes met that I thought he was only looking at Arzeil but he wasn't... My heart beat faster, in a way that wasn't normal. I don't know why I'm feeling it again or if it's just that he's still like this if he beats every time I'm near him or see him.

I was the first to look away when he answered Arzeil. I can't wait any longer. The weight of his presence.

"Yeah, I'm with my fiancé," he said in a cold voice.

Fiancé... He's just his fiancé. They are not married yet. But they are staying in the same hotel room. I shook my head because I was falling into deep thought again. We're done. Rykiel and I are done so it's not up to me if I see him with another woman. That he loves someone else and is getting married.

We've been done for a long time...

"It's good to see you here, Arzeil," the woman said softly. Even his voice is really soft. That's why you like him, right? "Yeah, same here, Chrysler, and by the way, this is Jessel Diamente." I was shocked when Arzeil introduced me to them I know her, Arzeil when I'm still at my high school. She's my favorite model, actually and a director," Chrysler said immediately. It's like...sounds really old, huh? Really?"

Yeah, and it's her 35th birthday today, right?" I stared at him. I think he knows a lot about me. She's a fan...maybe.

"Thirty five?" Rykiel asked suddenly and I looked at him without my own. He was staring at me again. His eyebrows also meet It's not obvious, isn't it? He looks more like 21," Arzeil interjected, making me laugh again. I reached for his cheek and squeezed it firmly.

"Maybe, your aunts are from my batch, eh," I joked but I think only the three of us were happy with my joke because your Grandpa Rykiel is very serious.

Happy birthday, Ms. Jessel. It's my pleasure to meet you here... Oh, my God..." I stopped again. Why does he talk like that? It's really tender and she's just like a princess. He is lucky, his wife is also very lucky.

It is also undeniable that the two of them are a good match.

Thank you, dear," I thanked with a smile. Arzeil invited them to have a dinner with us. That's not the case with me. Sabel was sitting next to me while Arzeil was on my left side. Rykiel and Chrysler were opposite us. ''He's right in front of me too. Why is he sitting there? He didn't even take his eyes off of me so I counted. I also learned that Chrysler Hermosa is 24 and the sole heir of the Hermosa family. His family is also very rich and his father is a business tycoon.

Those two men ordered our foods and I even smiled when I saw that he also had a cake I'm too old for this, you know," I said. Arzeil caressed my cheek.

That's okay, you don't look one, an oldy. Ball," I uttered. Arzeil wouldn't have finished joking with me if Rykiel hadn't spoken Can we start now? I'm hungry you know," he promised coldly.

Go on, Eryx," Arzeil told him.

He didn't say a word anymore and started eating again but that was new. He even added rice and a side dish to Chrysler's plate. That if he used to do that to me. But now not anymore.

He has another woman to serve and not me. Bowed down and simply sighed By the way." I looked up when he spoke. He looked directly at me again.

Happy birthday..." he said and my heart beat suddenly stopped...

Come here... Come in, son. Sweetheart," Grandma turned to me. If only he hadn't spoken, maybe that teenager and I wouldn't have broken eye contact. Why is he like that when he stares? It's like he's absorbing me and I can't even look away from him.

There's something with his eyes that I can't look away... Goodness, what was that?

I smiled when both Daddy and I were guided inside the hacienda. I'm just amazed at the equipment inside and it's really nicer here. The atmosphere of the hacienda is lively.

"Sune, bring us some snacks!" My grandmother energetically ordered her maid that her place was not far from us. He also seemed to be waiting for his boss to order him.

Yes, Donya Jessebelle," he answered politely and I was even more surprised when I heard the name he mentioned.

Grandma's name is Jessebelle. I guess I got my name Jessel from him, which is very simple but my abuela managed to forget. I just shook my head.

Dad was the first to support his Mom and then he helped me to sit on the soft sofa. There was a center table and he and Grandma sat across from us.

"Why didn't you take Lilian with you, son?" Grandpa asked my father softly.

Lilian is my mother. Oh, did he miss my Mommy too? She's busy with her work too, Mama." When Dad answered, I saw Grandma's simple expression and ''just as she looked at me. His face softened and smiled sweetly at me. I'm not sure if her smile was fake but I smiled her back at her.

"There is a beautiful waterfall here, sweetheart. You can go and bathe there... But you won't be long. I know you will enjoy it," he said in a soft voice. I was excited by what he said.

How I love to swim. I prefer to bathe in fresh water. The kind that I never get tired of and I keep going back and forth.

Really, Grandma? Can I go there now?" I asked excitedly and his smile disappeared.

Dear, you just arrived from Manila and I know, you're tired to wander around now. Just take a rest first, you can come tomorrow," he said with a smile. I would have been surprised because of his reaction but he continued what he said. "That will ruin your beauty."

My mouth fell open in shock and I stared intently at his gentle face. I just realized now. Although Grandma is old and the wrinkles on her face are obvious, she is still really beautiful. When it comes to makeup and clothes, she looks like a teenager.

"Your Grandma is right, son. Rest first and go swimming tomorrow, okay?" Dad said to me softly. I just smiled at him. "I'll take you with one of our gardeners, sweetheart. To watch over you there too. I want your safety," Grandma said. The man I saw earlier landed in my mind. I don't know why I thought of him as a gardener who would come with me for tomorrow.

To Be Continued...