PMS1: President's Forgotten Wife

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 16: REMEMBERING REGRET

LATER Jade finished doing the dishes, and she silently rested for a minute on the chair near to where she's standing. Her knees wobbled, and she can't correctly stand any longer. Anytime soon, she'll fall to the floor, so before that happens, she seeks support from the table and slowly sat on the chair.

She failed to take in the right amount of air as her thumping heart continued to destroy the courage she's been building up. Jade wanted to be free from the pain she was feeling, but it was impossible to happen after Eisen reminded her of the real reason as to why she became a caregiver.

Lucky enough, Eisen was already inside his room. She was thinking about dealing with the gentleman's unsolicited affectionate action only messed up with Jade's mind. If Eisen didn't leave, he could've seen her give in to her weakness. She needs to clear out her head, and the only way to do it is to stop thinking about everything that was bothering her peaceful life.

The gentleman's touch still lingers on her skin, and she started to miss his skin against hers. Jade wanted him near her. But that was impossible to happen. Everything about Eisen and her is impossible to happen.

When Jade finally calmed down, she immediately stood up and straightened her shirt before finalizing her work in the kitchen to shrug her thoughts away. After cleaning, she absentmindedly walked towards her bedroom. Only then did she realized that she was inside her room when she closed the door behind her.

"What am I even doing here?" Jade grunted in anger and was about to leave when her attention fixated on the mirror and beheld her face carefully.

Jade's hand seemed to have its own life and immediately touched her burning cheek. His finger calmly traces Eisen's finger that stroke her earlier. A feeling rose inside her as familiarity enveloped her heart. Jade wasn't able to stop herself but to feel sad about it. The real reason why she became a caregiver? It was because of his father. Yes, her father was her inspiration in becoming a caregiver.

[FLASHBACK]

Jade was entering college, and her parents didn't stop supporting her. They sent her to a University she wanted to study in, and lucky enough, she passed the entrance exam.

Leaving her parents wasn't her option from the start, but wanting to study hard and become a student that her parents could be proud of someday made her push to be someone who aims to reach for greatness and make a change. Being poor is not a hindrance to success.

Jade's parents provided the money for her graduating year and her college after that. Jade even helped to work in the rice fields to earn money. She wanted to be a great example to her brothers to do it, that they will be successful someday.

However, being a fourth-year high school was easy for others, but it was never easy for Jade. She struggled much; studying on weekdays, working on weekends, tutoring during her free time, and budgeting her money every month. But that was something that never took her down. Every night, she had to think about her future and what she should do to shape it and come true.

Jade wanted nothing more but to repay her parents' complex works. But the willingness to strive harder and pursue her dreams made her unable to attend to her father's well-being. Her father grew ill without a member of the family to notice it. With research and defense going on, Jade wasn't able to pay attention at all. Her mother was always out every day, and her brothers were still young when she was halfway from graduating.

Until their batch's three days recollection happened, Jade had no choice but to go. Before she left, Jade wasn't able to say goodbye to her father. If she could've waited for her father to come home before she left, she could've heard her father's voice before he finally left.

After three days, Jade was happy to come home after buying some gifts from the beach where they stayed. Keychains dangle on her fingers as she joyfully jumps around, humming her favorite song of their recollection, a worship song that inspired her to work harder even more.

However, curiosity painted Jade's face when she entertained the idea that something was happening outside of their home. Everything wasn't clear to her, but as she slowly approached their house entrance, everything became vivid right before her.

There were chairs and long tables in front of their house. Jade wanted to think that her family and relatives arrived to celebrate with her for graduating as the top student of their class, but tears absentmindedly rushed down her cheeks.

And when she saw her mom wearing a white shirt, only then did her world stopped turning when she finally proved that they were not preparing for her graduation, but because her father already left her without even saying goodbye.

[FLASHBACK]

"What is wrong with you, Jade?" Jade immediately wiped her tears away as she chuckled at how pitiful she looked in front of the mirror,

"Stop being a drama queen and keep on moving, okay?" however, tears didn't stop from flowing like an endless river.

Everything felt so raw and so new to her. she can't stop blaming herself for what happened to her father. Jade still wonders, 'if she didn't focus too much on her study, would she be able to see how his father suffered so much? If she didn't leave that day, would she be able to save her father? Will something change at all?'

"Stop being sad, okay? Dad will get angry if he sees you sad. So you should be happy. You should keep on smiling!" Jade preached to herself and immediately organized herself before taking a deep breath, still staring back at her reflection. She can do it. She can.

Jade then walked out of her room and directly went to see Eisen in his room. As soon as she entered his chambers, she saw how Eisen deeply stared outside as if thinking about something hard to guess. However, his deep thoughts were interrupted when he seemed to notice her presence.

The moment Eisen looked in her direction, Jade wasn't able to avoid his gaze. Their eyes locked onto each other like it was the only thing they could do—to stare at each other mysteriously and longingly. Jade turned her gaze away from the gentlemen and lightly cleared her throat before diverting her attention at the floor.

"Please tell me I didn't disturb you?" She asked and immediately approached his bed. Eisen turned to her, and Jade could feel his eyes delicately raking at her body, but she decided to shrug the thought off.

"Are you all right?" the young man worriedly asked, not taking his blue eyes off of her. Jade smiled and nodded.

"I'm okay. Everything is fine," Jade is fine even though she was repeatedly hurting because of the past.

__________

TAKING a nap is not enough for Jade to collect all the energy she needed for work. However, taking a nap is not included in her schedule for the day. She's like a restaurant with no available seats as of the moment, and there is no time to slack.

Jade was wiping the table when her eyes focused outside the room. The sun is shining brightly as the ocean glimmer in delight. But her eyes unconsciously find for something, or someone, she wished to see until Jade saw the young man who was currently on the terrace while reading a book that seemed to capture his interest.

If Jade could remember correctly, the book was sent by Lewis along with Eisen's other pieces of stuff inside the box. Jade wanted to call out for his attention but ended up shutting her mouth.

Jade didn't want to disturb Eisen's peaceful reading, so she decided to leave him be, indulged in the wonders of a book. She once hears Lewis told her once that that book was one of Eisen's abandonments. Jade once loved reading novels but focused on more complex works like what she's doing now.

And thinking about it, Jade enjoyed collecting books before but stopped when college life was just around the corner.

Jade smiled as she saw a warm smile slipped on the young man's lips. It's evident that Eisen is getting comfortable with what he's reading, and it's undeniable that Jade enjoys what he looked.

He seemed calm and problem-free. And Jade is getting the hang out of Eisen's soft side. Not that she missed arguing with him, but Eisen's sudden mood change made her very anxious with her feelings.

And this is not good for her.

She deliberately shook her head as she diverted her attention away from Eisen's smile—or face. Jade doesn't want to look at him because the longer she stared at the young man, the longer it is for her to forget about what happened earlier.

Eisen's touch still lingers on her body. His warmth even burns inside her. His eyes, his smile, his everything didn't stop bothering her mind. And she's growing mad for overthinking of him and only him—Eisen. She can't even stop herself from overthinking about him now!

So, instead of letting her thoughts about Eisen lingers on her long, she decided to make a healthy snack for both of them: Egg sandwiches and pure apple juice.

She paused for a moment to look at her cellphone on the table, finding out what time it was.

When Jade saw the time 9:30, she brought the snack to where the man is and placed the tray of snacks on the table beside where he is seated. "Snacks?"

"It smells delicious! it is making my stomach grumble, but I can't get enough of this book!"

"Well, you can't decline food when someone offered, right?" Jade slowly took the book away from Eisen's reach, making him pout. "Your call," and pointed at the sandwich deliciously posing on top of the plate where Jade put it.

"Why do I have to choose?" Eisen seemed to be enjoying the book but not allowing himself to starve is way better. Jade closed the book as Eisen smiled and grabbed a piece of the sandwich before savoring it. Jade then uninvitedly sat on the vacant seat next to Eisen and grew herself comfortable on it.

She was exhausted and sleepy. Jade needed more than a nap. But before she could let her eyelids fall into a total shut, she heard Eisen asked,

"Aren't you going to eat? Please don't tell me that you'll let me eat alone again." his voice sadly said while looking in Jade's direction.

Jade managed to pull up a smile while disregarding the fact about what happened earlier.

"I'm not hungry yet. Besides, the more sandwich for you, right?" what Jade needed is not food but enough rest. Not wanting for Eisen to trouble himself about her, she diverted the topic and pointed at the book that Eisen was reading earlier.

"You're almost done reading. I'm impressed! What are you reading anyway?" Jade grabbed the book and viewed the cover page where the book's title is "A Thousand Words?"

"The story is great! It's a must-read story! you need to try it sometimes." Eisen's words were almost unclear as he continued to chew on his sandwich while looking at the book that Jade is holding.

"What makes it so great that made a monster as you turn into an angel today?" Her remarks made Eisen smile. He continued to chew on his sandwich as he shifted his attention away from Jade. He was now looking at the ocean as Jade stared at him. "Aside from learning a lot from it, it also makes me regret one thing,"

__________

EISEN smiled at the ocean while finishing his sandwich. The book is tremendous and incomparable. He might be a few more leaves away before finishing it but getting to read it was unexplainable.

That was his reason for telling Jade that reading it made her regret one thing. "Aside from learning a lot from it, it also makes me regret one thing,"

"Ohh. This issue is scandalous, I supposed?" Jade jokingly uttered as she placed the book back on the table before looking at Eisen. "Come on, tell me. I'm listening,"

"Okay. But let me finish another sandwich and drink my juice before I tell you about it," Eisen grab the sandwich and rapidly bite and chew like a monster prepared to devour its prey.

It took a while longer for him to finish his snack before cleaning himself and watched the ocean waves slowly come ashore.

"The story is about Jack McCall, a literary agent who uses his "gift of gab" to get various book deals. Then a tree magically appears in his backyard. Then every word that Jack says, a leaf will fall off of the tree. even when he tries to destroy the tree, he ended up hurting himself." When Eisen turned his attention back to Jade, "And that is the reason why I ended up regretting all the hurtful words I've said to you in the past." he saw that Jade was already sound asleep.

"Jade? "He calls for her name so she could wake up and go sleep on her bed because the chair might be uncomfortable for her to sleep.

"Jade, don't sleep here," he repeated, but Jade already drifted off to sleep. So, Eisen remained seated in his position as he let Jade doze to her heart's content without taking his eyes off her.

Eisen delicately took the scattered baby hairs carried by the wind out of Jade's face. He was about to stop what he's doing when Jade made sudden movements; however, he can't stop himself from softly caressing her cheeks with his knuckles. Jade looked so calm and beautiful, and Eisen inwardly smiled.

But he decided to stop himself and ended up grabbing some pillows and blankets for Jade to use. So, he went inside the house and was about to enter Jade's room when something vibrated, causing him to stop.

Eisen decided to listen carefully and followed where the sound came from until he stopped in front of the table where a phone lies on top.

He picked up the phone using his left hand, and there he discovered that it was Jade's phone. But when he read the caller ID, he started to panic without even uttering a word.

Jade's mom is calling, and Eisen's decision is torn between accepting Jade's mom's call without even remembering her or he'll wake Jade up, who seemed to be tired from work.

What should he do now?