Intense Lover

Chapter One

While driving, Ethan saw the flower he was looking for. He didn't see it at the other flower shop earlier so he was relieved to see it here. He first parked and got out of the car and went inside the flower shop.

"How much?" Ethan pointed to a bouquet of tulips. The bouquet has ten red-orange tulips, and also ten yellow tulips with a cloudy pink color. It is about nineteen inches tall. He was smiling looking at the bouquet, he couldn't help it. He couldn't tear his eyes away and he couldn't take back his smile looking upon it.

"5,699 pesos, Sir."

"I'll take it."

At the same time as he took the flower, the old memories of him and Angeline visited him. Wherein he first saw Angeline wearing her newly sewn uniform, when they were so stressed out of their studies that they thought being in love was a waste of time.

They were both medical students and freshmen at that time. They don't have the same courses so they only meet once in a while especially since their university is quite big. A coincidence was the only thing that could have made them meet. Maybe they bumped into each other in the hallway but they were too busy to notice each other. They only met because of Ethan's friend, who is his wife's friend too, apparently. That's where their love story started and continued.

He couldn't forbear his huge smile from forming. When he was still in high school, he couldn't stop questioning himself about his sexuality, but because of his wife he loves so much, he couldn't question it anymore, he was certain of his identity. He only fell for a man one time and this could not compare to the many times he fell for his wife, Angeline. It doesn't matter what happened to him in the past when he is happy just thinking of the present together with his wife.

After he bought the flower, he drove again to a bakery shop that was his wife's favorite. Hamelyn's, this bakery shop is too far away and they are the only ones that have the cake that Ethan wants to buy. Their cakes also sell out quickly here, which explains how delicious their creations are and why customers are always in demand. And fearing that Ethan would run out, he just ordered on Hamelyn's online website and all he had to do was pick it up now.

It was too far but he didn't really care. Because it is more important for him to buy Angeline's favorite vanilla cake, buy the cake that made them close in college. It plays a huge part in their love story. He hates the vanilla flavor, but because of Angeline, he grows to like it. The cake is one of their good memories so no matter how many kilometers away, he will still buy it, no matter what.

Last year, and last, last year, they couldn't celebrate their anniversary because Angeline had a business trip, so Ethan wanted them to celebrate it now, especially since it's their tenth anniversary today, this day is more special to him and he is sure that it's also special to Angeline.

They don't have children as they both don't want children and prefer to spend more time with each other. They are also afraid that they might not be able to give the child proper attention as they are both always busy with their jobs. Other than that, Ethan wants to invest in his work first because of his other plans, he wants to be a radiologist for a long time now. He was getting old, and he wanted to study again, but if something comes, he will not give up the responsibility of being a father and he can just give up his dream first. He loves Angeline so much, how could he not love someone that was made out of their love? He is ready to sacrifice everything for his wife whom he loves so much.

It was almost five o'clock so Ethan didn't waste his time. He still needs to cook Angeline's favorite foods. But, clearly, he doesn't have time anymore. 'I can just cook it with her then,' Ethan thought. 'I'm sure it would be romantic.'

"What will you write, sir?" asked the woman with a name tag on her left chest that read Hamelyn.

"To my one and only beautiful wife, Angeline," Ethan said sweetly and the woman also smiled.

She felt jealous of the stranger's wife and thought to herself when will this happen to her or will it even happen in this life? She just desperately wishes it will happen in her next life as she is certain it won't happen to her in this lifetime.

After she wrote Ethan's order on top of the cake, he gave the cake that was already inside the black box to Ethan while smiling and saying, "Have a good evening, Sir."

Ethan also returned a sweet smile to the woman. A deep dimple appeared on his cheek. The woman became even more jealous and wanted to ask the wife of the ravishing, drop-dead, gorgeous man in front of her what her ritual was every night to have a man like him and if maybe she could share it with a desperate woman like her.

Ethan took the cake box from the woman's hand and said, "Have a good evening to you too."

The woman just nodded with a smile and looked at the handsome Ethan who came out of their bakeshop.

"Next life," she whispered to herself, and couldn't hide the envy in her eyes.

As Ethan was driving he couldn't stop looking at the flowers and cake that sat beside him. He couldn't help but get excited and nervous at the same time. He repeatedly thought of scenarios to which Angeline gave him a different reaction every scenario that he thought of. He was excited, it has been a while since he saw Angeline and it has also been a while since they had time to do romance.

"I hope Angeline likes it," he said to himself. He was getting closer and closer to the building where Angeline worked and he felt even more nervous. He wanted to surprise her so he didn't say anything to her, he didn't call her or text her. Angeline didn't know he was coming.

He parked in the parking lot. He was just inside the car when he saw a familiar woman. His eyes widened for a second before he smiled. He wasn't sure if it was her because it was far away and his eyes weren't good, to begin with even when he was young, but he knows the shape of Angeline's body and her tall and very shiny hair. He always held her waist and combed her hair so he had a strong feeling that it was Angeline.

"Angeline—" He was about to get out of the car when he saw someone together with Angeline. His smile quickly disappeared.

Like a scenario in their college, Angeline was smiling while her cheeks blushed, and looked up at the man who was also as tall as Ethan. He wears a suit and glasses. He had the vibe of a rich CEO. Ethan hadn't seen him before but he was strangely familiar like someone described him to him before, he thought of Angeline describing his boss. Yes, he wasn't just familiar, he is the man he thought it would be.

The man was holding Angeline's waist and fixing her hair. They are very closely stuck to each other. Ethan frowned. It's obvious what's happening, but for Ethan, it's not. He asked himself questions over and over again. He couldn't understand what he was seeing no matter how hard he tried.

He didn't know why, or how, but he managed to move his body and get out of the car. He remained standing and looked at the two sweetly smiling at each other. Only the blind and stupid do not know what is happening between the two and if a passerby passes by even she/he would think that the two of them have some sort of relationship, and not just any relationship. Ethan wasn't stupid. Ethan started walking. Every time he took a step he felt like there was a stone inside his shoes. A heavy stone in every part of his body. His whole body was very heavy. His heart was in pain, he wanted to cry at this very moment, but he didn't. He might be wrong, maybe he is only being dramatic and they are only friends that are very close to each other. After all, Angeline has been working with his boss for eight years and eight years was a long time.

He didn't want to continue because of fear but also because of fear he was able to continue. As he got closer and closer, what he could see became clearer. He was right, it was Angeline... but who was she with? Is that really her boss? And why the hell are they so close to each other? The two were surprised when they heard footsteps approaching them and quickly separated themselves from each other for fear that someone would see them. But they were immediately confronted by what they feared.

"Angeline." Angeline's chest seemed to fall when she heard her name in a familiar voice. It was a long time before she was able to look at the man who had called her.

"E-Ethan…" Angeline's reaction gave Ethan a pang in his chest. If Angeline thought that she could hide what she was doing to Ethan, she could have known how to act. It was written all over her face that she did something horrible.

" I want an explanation, Angeline." Ethan's voice was cold and trembling. His eyes showed what he was feeling right now. Ethan wanted to say a lot but he only mentioned five words to Angeline. He wanted to get angry and yell at her but all he let out was a cold and trembling voice. His emotions are slowly failing him.

"E-Ethan, w-why are you here? Y-You should have messaged me first… I-I didn't know you were coming." Ethan just looked at Angeline. He didn't feel like answering Angeline's question. Ethan turned his gaze to the man and as if the man felt Ethan's cold gaze, he looked at Ethan.

"W-We can explain—" Angeline looked at the man next to her and gave him a look. He stopped the man next to him from speaking. Angeline sighed before she looked at Ethan for a moment and quickly looked away when she quickly felt guilt looking at the sadness in Ethan's eyes.

"A-At home… let's talk at home, E-Ethan. W-Where's the car?" she asked and looked around waiting for Ethan's answer but she didn't hear anything.

Even though she didn't want to look him straight in the eyes again, she couldn't help herself. It was as if time stopped for a moment when their eyes met. The surroundings got quieter. Angeline's chest tightened and she was having trouble breathing. Even though Ethan didn't say or do anything, she can feel and see in Ethan's eyes how much he is hurt now by what he saw and found out. He didn't need to shed tears to show it to Angeline.

Angeline quickly looked away from Ethan's eyes. Ethan had mixed emotions. He doesn't know what he should be feeling, anger? Sad? Dismayed? Betrayed? He didn't know what to do, he didn't know. He didn't know if this was even real. He was questioning himself if what was happening was real and not just a f**k up nightmare.

Angeline didn't speak again, she didn't wait for Ethan's answer and she didn't ask any more questions as she didn't want their eyes to meet again. She also felt that Ethan didn't want to talk. Angeline just looked at the man next to him and nodded. The man sighed and Angeline smiled and she nodded back. Ethan's chest ached, the scene earlier and the scene he was witnessing answered his questions.

"I'll call—"

"Vince…"

"Sorry."

His suspicions had been right.

He forced himself to hold back his tears. Ethan wanted to explode, to punch the man in front of him. He felt disrespected. His chest kept aching as if he had been stabbed again and again. He couldn't breathe as if oxygen was stolen from him. If only, it was just oxygen. His wife has been stolen from him.

–

The trip was quiet and they arrived quickly as Angeline's office is not far from their condo because that's what Ethan wanted so that her wife, Angeline, whom he loves very much, wouldn't have a hard time when traveling. Especially because the world is so dangerous today. He didn't want anything to happen.

The guard frowned when he saw the couple enter the building with a different aura, an aura he never saw before. The couple always acted in love, and it just saddened him that he might not witness what true love is in marriage. He forced himself to ignore it as it was not part of his job to interfere but he still couldn't help feeling disappointed. He is very jealous of the sweetness of their love, but it seems that he will never witness it ever again. It was like the feeling when he got the news that his favorite kpop group was disbanded. He knew it was over.

"Good evening, Ma'am, Sir," the guard greeted the two of them, and they gave back a forced smile.

Angeline kept walking behind Ethan and she just followed her husband. She didn't plan to walk next to her. She was especially nervous because Ethan was expressionless since they were in the car. No words were exchanged, it was so silent that she felt it was a punishment by Ethan.

He thought that they would fight before they arrived home, but Angeline was wrong. She is so perplexed about Ethan's behavior.

The elevator opened with a ding. Ethan was the first to get out of the elevator and Angeline followed him, still standing beside him like a caught criminal with her hands tightly tied to her back.

They were getting closer and closer to their condo when Angeline gained the courage to speak. "U-Uhmm, E-Ethan… Why are you still not asking me questions? I thought we were to talk."

And as if Ethan didn't hear anything, he still didn't say a word and just continued walking. He stopped suddenly which surprised Angeline and she was about to ask him when she realized that they were already there. She laughed to herself as she couldn't recognize the door where they lived. She has been away from home for two months and maybe it was almost three months. She lost count. Her excuse was that she was on a business trip, alone together with her boss, it wasn't just a business trip, of course. She was a horrible person, and she knows it.

She just saw Ethan again today after the 'business trip' this is what happens. She just stood still behind Ethan while her head was down and pinching her fingers. She was feeling restless and Ethan didn't even give her a single word. She took a deep breath and looked at Ethan's back. He watched Ethan insert the key into the doorknob.

"Seriously? It's really ours?" Angeline asked Ethan in disbelief. She was trembling as she held the key that was wrapped in the box earlier. The same box was now on the floor. If the guard saw them not picking up their trash they would surely be scolded, but who cares?

"Didn't I tell you that, I'll give you everything that you wanted, that you wish for, and this only steps one, Angeline," Ethan said with a big and sweet smile on his lips.

"T-Thank y-you so m-much, Ethan!" Angeline cried and pulled Ethan by the neck to kiss him on his lips.

Angeline heard the door open and was brought back to the present. She quickly withdrew her smile.

Ethan finally faced Angeline. Her words that she was rehearsing many times disappeared into thin air. "Ethan…" she could only utter the name of the man who she betrayed.