Jiya,s pov
It's been one month since I've been at home due to illness. I couldn't go to the agency. I've gotten a bit better - the bandage on my head is still there and will take a few more days to heal, but the burn on my hand has reduced somewhat.
Today, for the first time in many days, I stepped out of my room and sat in the open area outside, taking a chair with me. I saw the cats playing together, the duck walking around with her ducklings, rabbits hopping about, the chickens pecking here and there, and the dog eating his food. The weather today is so beautiful - a light cool breeze, sweet sunlight falling on my face.
I was enjoying the view, but for some reason, I missed Alex a lot. The last time we had dinner together was the last time he came to the house - he hasn't come since then. I once asked Grandma why Alex doesn't come anymore. She said he has been very busy, which is understandable... after all, such a big celebrity would naturally be like that. But still, I really wanted to see Alex today.
I closed my eyes. All the scenes of being with Alex came to my mind. I could hear his voice in my ears. Instantly, tears rolled down my cheeks. I placed my hand on my chest - my heartbeat was pounding, and there was a strange ache in my chest.
In one-sided love, there is no fear of losing someone - I know that. I also know that the person you love deeply may never be yours. And yet, it hurts so much. Where will I find the fate that will make him mine?. Maybe it's simply not in my destiny.
Just then, Grandma came and sat in the chair next to me.
Grandma: "What happened? Why do you look sad?"
As she spoke, I quickly wiped my tears and said, "No, Grandma, it's nothing serious."
She kept looking at me for a while and then said, "If you have any problem, you can tell me. Don't keep it in and get stressed - tell me."
Me: "No, Grandma, honestly it's nothing. And the thing that used to worry me is no longer there - because you saved me from a huge problem."
It's been one month since I last went to the agency, so I didn't get my salary. My parents manage all the household expenses with my salary - with the money I earn.even the help my uncle gave to my mom stopped. The last time, when I broke my leg, Bob Sir deducted a small amount from my salary. But this time, he didn't do that - he cut the entire salary. job is still there, but they didn't pay me. Naturally, if I don't work, they won't give me my salary. At that time, Grandma gave me money and helped me.
Grandma: "Then why were you crying?"
Me: "It's nothing, Grandma."
Grandma: "We only cry when there's pain in our hearts."
She was right. I didn't reply.
Grandma: "If you ever have a problem, you can tell me, and I'll help you as much as I can. Anyway, I'm cooking today after a long time. All this time we've been eating the chef's food, but today I'll cook, and you'll tell me how it tastes."
Me: "Of course, if I need help, I'll tell you. What are you cooking?"
Grandma: "A Filipino dish - salmon sinigang. That's the name."
I remembered that in one of his interviews, Alex said salmon sinigang is his favorite. I had always wanted to try it.
Grandma: "Stay here, I'll start cooking."
She went into the kitchen. I stayed there, feeling like sketching, but my hand still wasn't healed enough to draw. I didn't feel like sitting outside anymore, so I went to my room and lay on the bed. I closed my eyes and saw Mom and Dad talking happily. Then suddenly, I saw Alex. A cool breeze touched me, and I felt so happy. But then Alex started walking away from me, and my parents, too, began moving away. I quickly opened my eyes - ah, it was a dream. I had fallen asleep so quickly. But why do I keep seeing this same type of dream again and again?
Just then, Grandma entered the room.
Grandma: "When did you come back to your room? I was looking for you outside."
Me: "I came here right after talking to you."
Grandma: "You shouldn't stay in your room too much if you want to get better. Today, after a month, you went outside, and now you've come back so quickly. For your health, you should spend more time in the open air."
She looked at me for a while, thinking about something, then said, "Come with me."
She took me to the dining table, where she was packing food. After packing it, she gave it to one of the house staff and said to me, "You should go with her. You need to get out a little."
Me: "Where are we going?"
Grandma: "To Alex's house. Salmon sinigang is his favorite, so take this to him."
I knew it was his favorite food, and my heart suddenly ached with the urge to see him. But I didn't want to go to his house. After what happened last time I went, I had no desire to return. Alex doesn't like me going there, and neither does Alina. If I go and she's there, she might actually kill me this time - and Alex won't even save me because Alina is the woman he loves.
I was about to refuse and say, "Grandma, I-"
But Grandma interrupted: "I'm not listening to anything. The two of you will go - you know where Alex's house is."
She handed the bowl to the staff and said, "my little bird, go with her"
Your little bird will die if she falls into Alina's hands this time, I thought.
Still, the staff and I set off on foot. We reached Moon Villa. The staff walked ahead, and I followed behind.
I didn't want to go inside the house. I thought I'd just hand it over at the gate and leave. But when I knocked on the house gate, the housemaid came. She was the same maid who had spoken to Alex at his house the last time.
She recognized me and said, "Jiya ma'am, what happened to you? Please come inside. Of course, Alex sir isn't home."
It was good that he wasn't home, but I still wanted to see Alex so badly.
Me: "I had a small accident, that's why."
The maid spoke again, "Please come inside, ma'am."
I went inside because no one was there-nothing would happen, after all.
Now, grandma's housemaid handed me the food box, and I told her, "Grandma sent this, for Alex."
She placed the food on the table.
Then Alex's maid said, "Please sit, I'll bring you something to eat."
Me: "No, no, we'll leave right away."
Just as I said that, loud clapping came from behind. I turned around and saw Alina. Oh God... the very thing I'd been worried about happened.
Clapping her hands, she came toward me. I already knew what was about to happen—she was going to humiliate me now.
I used to think this girl was a good person; I never imagined she could do something this cruel.
I know Alex is her boyfriend, which is why, whenever he helps me, Alina feels jealous.
Now, what am I supposed to do?
It's not like I told Alex to help me.
With an attitude, Alina said,
"I never knew a person could be this shameless until I saw you today."
The housemaids were all listening to her in shock.
What I wondered was—Alex isn't even home, so what is this girl doing here?
Inner voice: Does having the "girlfriend" title automatically give her permission to show up wherever she wants?
Maybe it really does.
Alina continued,
"Last time, I told you very clearly to stay away from Alex's life, but now things have gone beyond limits. And that grandmother of his—what does she think, bringing strange poor people from the slums into her house?
And you—you act so well when you pretend to be sick. Bob Sir speaks in your favor, and in just one day you surpass Maddy and start working with Alex. Then Alex starts helping you, and now you're living with his grandmother. Promotion is already on its way for you. What's your next plan?"
Me: "For now, my plan is just to go my home."
I gave that answer calmly.
Alina gave a fake smile and said,
"Your home, right?"
Then, with her left hand, she grabbed a fistful of my hair—so hard that tears sprang to my eyes. I started crying.
Still holding my hair, she said,
"And make sure I never see you again. Don't come near Alex or me ever again."
Then she released my hair and added,
"Get out of here. And don't ever let me see you here again. And stop with the drama—shedding tears in front of me won't work. I'm not like Alex, Anisha, or his grandmother who will fall for your little acts."
Without saying another word, I walked out of the house in tears, the grandmother's housemaid following behind me.
I went straight to the grandmother's house. As soon as I entered, I saw her standing right in front of me.
Seeing my condition, she was shocked and asked,
"What happened?"
I immediately ran to my room, shut the door, and collapsed onto the bed. I cried loudly.
Grandmother knocked on the door and said,
"My little bird, what happened to you? Open the door."
She kept knocking for a while but eventually stopped. That meant she had gone away.
I just wanted to be alone.
After crying for a long time, I finally stopped. I looked out the window and began speaking to myself:
"I never wanted to make Alex mine, nor did I want to live with his grandmother. I only wanted to see Alex—and I did. I was doing my job just fine.
It's not my fault that Alex is always there for me in my bad days.
What should I do? Should I leave this house? Quit the agency?
But if I do that, I'll never see Alex again, and that… I can't accept.
Alex… it's been so long since I last saw you."
Saying that, I closed my eyes, still in tears.