Fated to Wed (English)

Chapter Fourteen

It had been a while since I took Tyrone to the park, and today felt like a good day for some fresh air. The sun was out, and a gentle breeze ruffled his hair as we walked toward the playground. Tyrone’s laughter was infectious, and I couldn’t help but smile as he ran ahead, his small feet padding quickly on the grass.

As I sat down on a bench, watching Tyrone play, a familiar voice called my name.

"Delilah?"

I looked up to see Marlon standing there, smiling warmly. His appearance hadn’t changed much since the last time we crossed paths—still handsome, with that easygoing charm I remembered from years ago.

“Marlon,” I greeted, feeling a bit of surprise. “Long time, no see.”

We exchanged small talk about life, catching up on everything we’d missed in each other’s lives. It felt good to talk to someone without the weight of tension or judgment. As we talked, though, my stomach betrayed me with a loud rumble.

Marlon paused mid-sentence and looked at me, raising an eyebrow before chuckling. “Hungry, I see.”

I felt my face heat up with embarrassment. “I—uh—I didn’t eat much before coming here.”

He laughed again, but not in a way that made me feel bad. It was light, playful. “Come on then, let’s grab some lunch. My treat.”

I hesitated. "Oh, no, I couldn’t…"

But Marlon waved me off before I could finish, insisting. “Consider it a reunion. Besides, when’s the last time you enjoyed a good meal at a restaurant?”

That comment hit home more than it should’ve. With everything going on, it had been forever since I did anything nice for myself. Reluctantly, I agreed, and soon we were walking to a nearby restaurant with Tyrone trailing along.

Sitting at the table with Marlon, I found myself relaxing more than I expected. We chatted easily over lunch, and every so often, Marlon would throw in a joke that had me laughing. I hadn’t realized how much I missed this—just talking, feeling light, like the world wasn’t pressing down on my shoulders for once.

As we ate dessert, a particularly rich chocolate cake, I overheard whispers from other tables. People were murmuring things like, “What a cute family,” and “They look perfect together.”

I glanced at Marlon, who had heard the comments too. He just smiled and shrugged it off, and I did the same. There was no point paying attention to idle gossip. I was just enjoying a nice meal with an old friend.

Then, out of nowhere, I felt someone’s hand grab my head and their lips crash into mine.

I jerked back, completely shocked. It was Theo.

“Sweet,” he said casually, wiping his lips as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. His eyes glimmered with a mischievous smile, but there was something darker behind it.

Marlon and I just stared at him, dumbfounded. I couldn’t even find the words to say anything. Meanwhile, Theo bent down and started playing with Tyrone as if everything was perfectly normal.

“There’s nothing wrong with kissing your wife,” Theo said, glancing back at us with a sharp edge in his voice. “But there’s definitely something wrong with having lunch with someone else’s wife.” His glare was directed squarely at Marlon, who gulped and nervously drank his water, clearly uncomfortable.

Before I could even respond, Theo turned and walked to another table where a few people were sitting. It was only then that I realized he was here for a business lunch with his clients.

That night, I couldn’t shake off the confrontation at the restaurant. As soon as we got home, I confronted Theo.

“What the hell was that, Theo?” I asked, crossing my arms, trying to keep my voice steady. “Why did you do that?”

Theo was calm, almost too calm, as he leaned against the kitchen counter. “Why were you eating with Marlon?”

I sighed, exasperated. “Because it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to enjoy a meal at a restaurant. Is that such a crime?”

Theo fell silent, his jaw tightening as if he was holding back something. He didn’t respond, but instead turned to rummage through the fridge, pulling out ingredients.

I watched him in confusion. “What are you doing?”

He didn’t answer. He just started cooking, moving around the kitchen with a silent determination that I hadn’t seen in him in a long time. I stood there, not knowing what else to do but watch as he chopped, stirred, and sautéed. Eventually, the savory smell of peanut sauce filled the room.

By the time he finished, I had grown tired and sat at the table, my eyelids heavy. I must’ve dozed off because the next thing I knew, I felt a gentle tap on my cheek.

“Delilah,” Theo’s voice broke through the fog of sleep.

I blinked and looked up. Theo was standing there with a plate in his hand. “Here,” he said, placing it in front of me.

On the plate was kare-kare, a Filipino stew with peanut sauce. The aroma was delicious, and I couldn’t remember the last time Theo had cooked for me. In fact, he hadn’t cooked for me since we were friends.

“Eat,” he urged.

I hesitated at first, then took a spoonful. It tasted good, rich and flavorful, but as I swallowed, I realized something was wrong. My chest tightened, and I struggled to breathe.

“It’s good,” I managed to say, but my voice was strained.

Theo’s expression darkened. “If you don’t like it, just say so,” he muttered, sounding offended.

“No, really, it’s good, but…” My words were cut off as I gasped for air. Everything spun around me, and before I knew it, the room tilted. The last thing I heard was the sound of my body hitting the floor, followed by Theo’s panicked voice calling my name. Then, everything went black.