Episode 2: Just Another Morning
1334 Words
The smell of breakfast still lingered in the apartment long after they had finished eating.
Sunlight streamed through the half-open curtains, bathing the small dining area in a warm golden glow.
For a few moments, everything felt peaceful.
Ordinary.
The kind of morning most people would probably overlook.
But for Ariana Zane Villacruz, mornings like these were precious.
Because a year ago, she didn't have them.
A year ago, she woke up in a bedroom larger than their entire apartment.
Servants prepared her breakfast.
Drivers waited outside.
Every minute of her day had been planned by someone else.
Now?
Now she was sitting in an old apartment wearing an oversized shirt while arguing with her boyfriend about household chores.
And honestly?
She preferred this.
Much more.
"I'm done."
AZ pushed her plate away and stretched her arms.
Across from her, Michael Navarro—better known to everyone as Cael—raised an eyebrow.
"Already?"
"I'm full."
"You said you were starving ten minutes ago."
"I was."
"And now?"
"I'm not."
Cael laughed.
"You make absolutely no sense."
"That's one of my best qualities."
"That's definitely not one of your best qualities."
AZ gasped dramatically.
"Wow."
"What?"
"That was rude."
"It was honest."
"Same thing."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Cael shook his head and stood from his chair.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
No matter how many times they had conversations like this, he never got tired of them.
Life with AZ was never boring.
Sometimes exhausting.
Sometimes chaotic.
But never boring.
AZ suddenly stood.
"I'll wash the dishes."
Cael immediately looked suspicious.
"You?"
"What does that mean?"
"It means last time you washed dishes, you somehow got water on the ceiling."
"It happened once."
"It happened twice."
"Details."
Cael laughed.
"Go get ready for work."
"But—"
"Go."
AZ narrowed her eyes.
"You're becoming bossy."
"I'm becoming responsible."
"Same thing."
"It's not."
She stuck her tongue out at him.
A very mature response from a twenty-four-year-old woman.
Then she turned and headed toward the bedroom.
Halfway there, she stopped.
"Oh."
Cael looked up.
"What?"
"My iron."
He immediately groaned.
"You found it."
"I know."
"Then why are you mentioning it again?"
AZ pointed dramatically toward the bedroom.
"Because I still think you hid it."
Cael laughed.
"I didn't hide your iron."
"You totally did."
"I put it where it belongs."
"That's exactly what someone hiding an iron would say."
"You sound ridiculous."
"Thank you."
And with that, she disappeared into the bedroom.
A few seconds later, the bathroom door closed.
Then the sound of running water filled the apartment.
Cael smiled to himself.
The apartment suddenly felt quieter.
Which was strange.
Because he could still hear AZ singing badly from inside the bathroom.
---
After clearing the table, Cael gathered the dishes and washed them quickly.
The routine had become second nature.
Growing up, he'd always been independent.
His mother had worked long hours.
His father had passed away when he was young.
There had never been anyone to clean up after him.
So he learned.
Cooking.
Laundry.
Cleaning.
Budgeting.
Everything.
At first, AZ had felt guilty about how much he did around the apartment.
Now?
Now she simply claimed he was better at it.
Convenient.
Very convenient.
After finishing the dishes, he headed toward the bedroom.
The moment he stepped inside, he froze.
Then sighed.
Deeply.
The room looked exactly as it had earlier.
Like a tornado had visited and decided to stay.
Drawers were still open.
Clothes were everywhere.
A pillow had somehow landed near the door.
And sitting proudly on top of the dresser...
Was the iron.
The same iron that had caused twenty minutes of chaos earlier that morning.
Cael stared at it.
The iron stared back.
At least it felt that way.
Slowly, he began cleaning.
He folded clothes.
Closed drawers.
Picked up books.
Straightened the blanket.
By now he could practically do it with his eyes closed.
As he worked, his gaze landed on a framed photograph sitting on the nightstand.
A small smile appeared on his face.
It was one of his favorite pictures.
The photo had been taken eight months ago during a company outing.
AZ was laughing so hard she was leaning against him.
Meanwhile, he wasn't looking at the camera.
He was looking at her.
The photographer had teased him about it for weeks afterward.
He never denied it.
How could he?
Even now, he still looked at her the same way.
As if she were the best thing that had ever happened to him.
Because she was.
---
The truth was...
When AZ first joined Northway Logistics, he hadn't paid much attention to her.
She was simply another new employee.
Another face in the office.
Another coworker.
Nothing more.
At least that's what he told himself.
But then he noticed things.
The way she smiled at everyone.
The way she remembered people's birthdays.
The way she brought extra snacks because she knew someone would forget lunch.
The way she treated everyone equally.
From janitors to supervisors.
There was no arrogance.
No superiority.
Nothing that hinted she came from wealth.
Just kindness.
Pure and simple.
And before he realized it...
He was looking forward to seeing her every day.
Then came coffee breaks.
Lunches.
Long conversations.
Friendship.
And eventually...
Love.
A loud crash interrupted his thoughts.
Cael immediately turned toward the bathroom.
"AZ?!"
"I'm okay!"
A pause.
Then—
"The shampoo attacked me!"
Cael burst out laughing.
Only AZ could lose a fight against shampoo.
---
Twenty minutes later, the bathroom door opened.
AZ stepped out with a towel wrapped around her damp hair.
The scent of her shampoo instantly filled the room.
She stopped when she noticed him folding clothes.
"Aww."
"What?"
"You cleaned."
"You sound surprised."
"I am surprised."
Cael pointed at the mess.
"You caused this."
"I was busy."
"Looking for an iron."
"Exactly."
"That you eventually found."
"Eventually."
Cael laughed.
Hopeless.
Absolutely hopeless.
AZ suddenly walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Her cheek rested against his chest.
Immediately, his expression softened.
It happened every time.
No matter how chaotic she was.
No matter how much she drove him crazy.
One hug and he forgot everything.
"Good morning again," she mumbled.
"We already said good morning."
"I know."
"Then why are you saying it again?"
"Because I like saying it."
Cael shook his head.
"You're weird."
"I learned from you."
"Impossible."
AZ looked up.
Then smiled.
The kind of smile that always made his chest tighten.
"I love you, Cael."
The words were simple.
Casual.
Spoken without hesitation.
Yet they affected him every single time.
His hand gently brushed her hair.
"I love you too."
And he meant it.
More than she knew.
---
An hour later, they were finally ready for work.
Cael adjusted the sleeves of his polo.
Meanwhile, AZ checked her bag three separate times.
"Phone?"
"Check."
"Wallet?"
"Check."
"ID?"
"Check."
"Keys?"
AZ froze.
Cael laughed.
"You forgot them."
"I hate you."
"No, you don't."
She grabbed the keys from the table.
Then pointed at him.
"One day I'll become responsible."
"I'll believe it when I see it."
"You have no faith in me."
"I have experience."
AZ rolled her eyes.
But she was smiling.
As always.
Together, they left the apartment.
Neither of them noticed the black luxury sedan parked across the street.
Neither of them noticed the man sitting inside.
Watching.
Waiting.
Observing.
For an entire year, he had searched for Ariana Zane Villacruz.
The missing heiress.
The daughter of one of the most powerful businessmen in the country.
And finally...
The search was over.
Inside the car, the silver-haired man stared at the photograph in his hand.
Then at the young woman laughing beside Michael Navarro.
Or rather...
Cael.
The name she always called him.
The old man sighed.
Because he knew something they didn't.
Very soon, the peaceful life they had built together would be tested.
And when that happened...
Love alone might not be enough.
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