PMS1: President's Forgotten Wife

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 10: IMAGE OF NOTHINGNESS

FAST. Jade was running fast as if she was chasing someone—or someone is chasing after her. She just went straight down the road until a shadow caught her eyes. Her pace became faster until a blinding light surrounded her. And the next thing she knew, she was already falling from a building. The place is white and nothing but white. She can feel herself falling deep until she felt cold water hugged her skin, taking her back to where she was lying.

Jade caught her breath as her eyes opened. She was already dripping wet, and she's shivering already.

When Jade tried to move her body, her brows furrowed as her eyes landed on the blanket wrapped around her body. And everything that happened before she drifted off to sleep came back in her head, making her smile absentmindedly.

Her almost daydreaming state was immediately interrupted when her eyes landed on the single sofa just a few steps away from her. She saw Eisen sleeping peacefully on it like it was the most comfortable position he could come up with despite his injury.

"Eisen?" she called for his attention to wake him up, but Eisen seemed to be occupied with his dreams, neglecting all disturbances from the surroundings.

"Eisen?" Jade called out for the second time, and Eisen made small movements, indicating that he was disturbed from his sleep. "Eisen. Go back to your room. You'll hurt your body if you sleep that way."

"Hmm?" the young man moved from a different position and slowly opened his eyes. "Jade. You're awake. I'm not daydreaming. Are you okay?" the first thing she saw from Eisen's tired yet handsome face is a worried look. Does her condition worry him? No. If Jade can punch her inner thought, she would do it because she hated expecting or overthinking a lot. She's sure the young man will never worry about her because she still hated him, and he despises her so much.

"I'm sorry if I failed to make you breakfast at the right time. Do you want me to prepare something for you?"

"I ate some egg sandwich and milk. I saw your notebook and read the medicines to take for the day. So, you don't have to force yourself to get up if you can't." Jade did not know why her heart suddenly pounded at what he said. It was as if Eisen's word released new electricity that flows right from her heart, and it suddenly accompanied the movement of her blood, giving a strange feeling to her system. Is it right for Jade to feel this way?

Of course not! It's because she's just the President's fake wife.

"I can do it. Just go back to your room first, and I'll prepare you food." Jade stood up to head to the kitchen while still holding her belly. "So, just sit back there, and I'll cook a delicious meal for you." if the young man had not taken care of her, she might have passed out on the floor.

"Jade." it was as if her hand was scorched when she felt a warm palm suddenly pulled her wrist. As if time stopped spinning as electricity flowed slowly through her body.

What is happening to her?

Just a few days! Is this how she should feel about things? But Jade shook that feeling off because she's sure it was all because of her period—nothing else. "I don't want this to happen again—"

She quickly pulled her hand away from Eisen. Jade could not meet his gaze, and she does not know why. "It will never happen again, I promise," she replied and continued walking until he stopped in front of the table.

"—because from now on, I want you to tell me if you are in pain." what? Jade did not know how to respond to what the young man said. Why would he concern himself with her suffering or anything related to her? Didn't he just curse at her before?

"Take a rest after cleaning and preparing. I'm already starving, and I can't cook food. I'm also sure you're hungry." He sounded so concern that it confuses Jade's thought. She didn't know what has gotten into Eisen, but she decided not to overthink it.

"Eisen?"

"Hmm?" when their eyes met, Jade almost held her breath when she saw the young man's enticing blue eyes. His eyes were like a vast blue ocean where its color is about to lose its sparkle. It was like an ocean during a storm where a boat was about to sink.

The depth of this ocean was still undetermined, making her wonder how a sinking ship could go more in-depth or how far it can go. It was tantalizing. Like his eyes could cast a spell on anyone and pull them through its current. That's the reason why she's scared to stare at it for too long. Because the longer she looks at it, the deeper she could be caged by his gaze.

She was about to open her mouth to ask him, but she forgot what she was planning to ask Eisen earlier. Hence, she immediately looked for something to cover up her embarrassment until her eyes landed on the coffee table, where an object immediately caught her attention.

"What are you doing on the laptop? Where'd you get that laptop?" she pointed out at the table and asked out of curiosity after noticing a laptop on top of the coffee table.

"Some kinds of stuff that you don't need to know. I'm going to my room." He answered coldly, bringing him back to his usual self as he wants back to his wheelchair; Jade voluntarily supported him. If he was weirdly sincere earlier, he was beginning to be the monster he was before.

"Thank you ... Thank you for taking care—" Jade uttered as Eisen controlled his wheelchair towards his room. Jade wasn't sure if she should be happy because Eisen, the self-proclaimed monster, took care of her, or she should be angry because he's turning into a 'full of hot air' guy that always gets into her nerves.

And as soon as he reaches the door, he stopped and looked towards her.

"Don't thank me. I helped you because I can't let you die in front of me while you haven't experienced all the pain I felt. You owe the devil big time now,"

She hoped. Jade hoped they would have a good connection starting from today. She hoped that it would change the way he looked at her. But he just hoped on nothing.

__________

JADE did not stop herself from staring at nothingness. There is too much trouble in her mind right now, and she does not know what to prioritize. Maybe, if she were just in the hospital, her co-workers would make fun of her again, especially Brent, because of her 'steel gray pensive eyes' that they love to give emphasize because of her deep thinking. But Jade is very grateful because they are not by her side right now.

She is currently sitting on the floor while soaking her feet in the swimming pool. Jade does not care about the cold breeze; The pool is glowing because of the lights located inside, enough for her to see where she's going. Jade looked at her wristwatch, and it reads 10 PM. She wanted to sweat to forget the stress she felt for a while. She tried to jog around, but because it's already dark and not in the mood to move around, she ended up not doing anything at all.

"This period is killing me!" Jade complained. "I wish I could swim in this crystal clear pool. Urgh!" she frowned as her eyes darted on the crystal clear water, kicking her feet against it. Jade couldn't help but think of how pompous this house is for only two people living in it.

The location of the pool is exquisite because it is facing the sea. Whenever Jade's menstrual period arrives, many things temps her, such as coconut foods, mangoes, or anything sour. She is not afraid of the elders' beliefs, but there is nothing wrong with believing in it. Also, she grew up believing in those beliefs.

Jade spent a few more minutes before she decided to enter the house. She no longer bothered to adjust her pajamas while walking straight to her room.

When Jade got there, she turned the aircon off, hoping to sleep well; even though the young man's words are still lurking on her head, she can't help but expect that everything would be okay.

However, there she is, drowning herself with the pain of hoping for something hopeless until it hurts.

__________

IT HAS been two weeks since she had her menstrual period. And Jade hasn't been in good communication with Eisen for two weeks. She just cooks what he eats in the morning, afternoon, and noon. She also made sure that he can take medicine at the right time. Eisen has been an obedient patient for two weeks and a silent one too. She also bathes him and helps him get changed. It was just a patient-caregiver relationship that at least made her do her job correctly, without making Eisen mad or something. Somehow her life was quiet for two weeks.

"Your brother will come and visit you today," Jade informed Eisen, who is currently sitting in his wheelchair and looking far away, wanting to make a conversation with him.

Two weeks without talking to anyone was so disgusting. Jade felt that her saliva was sour because there is no one that she could speak to other than Eisen.

"He didn't inform me about it," his cold tone remained intact while not taking his eyes off the food served in front of him.

Jade is irritated because Eisen's been giving her cold shoulders, which is a good thing; however, she couldn't know if Eisen has any progress regarding his memories. And if he does, Jade is sure that the young man would not tell her anything at all.

"It's because I am your caregiver, so your family members intend to inform me first so that I could prepare for their arrival. Besides, Lewis told me that he'd inform you. I didn't know he didn't inform you at all," she replied while preparing for his medicine. Jade handed it to him, which he immediately obliged to take it. After that, silence prevailed between them.

"By the way, do you remember anything?" she asked without inhibition as Eisen placed the empty glass of water back into the table, still looking outside the house.

"You don't need to know," He replied without any affection. Being his usual coldhearted, snob man, Jade doesn't think the young man's behavior will ever change even though Jade did not say that she still hoped that it would be okay for her to deal with him.

If he wanted her presence no more, he could have simply signed the divorce paper. If she didn't accept Lewis's proposal, then everything would still be familiar to her, "But-" Jade stopped when the young man raised his face and met her gaze. She silenced herself and decided to focus her attention on what she's doing and leaving Eisen behind.

Eisen is one of those people who speak less but let you understand what he means just by looking at his facial expression. After that, Jade heard a squeaking sound, and when she turned her attention back to where Eisen is, he was already departing, maybe going to the living room.

In recent weeks, Jade has become more isolated every time she sees Eisen. Sometimes even if it is against her will to talk to the young man, she still needs to speak to him about his recovery, especially if he already remembers something about his forgotten past. But because Eisen is so conservative, he gets nothing out of it.

Instead of exhausting herself mentally, Jade decided to turn her attention back to washing dishes and cleaning the sink.

It is challenging to reprimand herself because she's used to doing her job correctly. Even if she is hungry, it is more vital for her to prioritize work than herself. She is used to it— to always put the welfare of others before her own.

Eisen was uneasy playing with the pen he was holding. He seemed nervous for no apparent reason. In the past few days, Eisen had memories, but Eisen could not figure out what or who they were. He saw it, but not clear enough for him to recognize. Emotions were present the moment he saw those blurred images, but those emotions are hard to distinguish whether it was something he should be happy about or not. It just messed up with his f****d-up mind and ruined his peace.

His eyes then landed on the woman who is busy cleaning the kitchen sink after placing the newly washed dishes on the shelves. She was humming a song that he's not familiar with and not interested to hear about it.

These past few days, he's been studying Jade as if he is checking her whole personality. He observed that she loves to play, whistle, or hum a piece of music when working. She loves to clean, leaving no spots behind. And all he could say is she's impressive in the cleaning department.

She is also good at cooking, and Eisen has nothing to say but the word exquisite! It was beyond his expectation when it comes to the cooking department. It also matters to him.

She is always on time to feed him, give him medicine, bathe him, and provide him with things he can do to entertain himself. If it is an exam, she can pass all the subjects—no wonder why he would marry a caregiver— because she's a hard-working woman.

She plays the part of a caregiver and as his wife. No. Scratch that. She is not his wife. Despite all her hard work and patience because of his trashy attitude, the sole reason why he's still giving her cold shoulders? That is, he can't even remember any of these things. Everything was all new to him, and he hated himself for being the only one not to remember anything at all.

No matter how hard he tried to remember what the girl was doing to him back then, he did not even get any blurred images. Nothing. He is sure that the woman he met then and the woman he is with now has changed a lot. He feels that. And he's confident with his instincts— His own feelings.

One proof is when Jade suddenly claimed his lips so that he can take medicine. It was a stupid move, but it gave Eisen a hint that something was different. No. Something was not right, like a jigsaw piece that was in the wrong place.

The kiss was supposed to help him remember; at least, that is what he thought and what he believed, but nothing. The strength of his heartbeat when that happened is too new to him. It was like a ball that the player harshly threw towards her and suddenly hit his face, but no matter how strong the ball's impact that hit on his face, it did not hurt him.

He admits that he is not angry with the woman because Eisen can't bother himself getting mad at her since he needs his mind to have clarity and peace. Cross his heart.

But he was angry with himself because he could not even remember his wife. Of course, he felt a pang of pain every time he saw her face, but in recent days, his appearance was not enough to dictate his feelings. He needs to remember whatever it takes, just to claim his life back.

This is his reality now. And all he could do now is try his best to remember everything he once had.

He dismissed his thoughts and looked out the window when he suddenly heard the whirring of an oncoming helicopter.

Eisen noticed that the wind around was slightly more substantial as the trees around the island seemed to be dancing because of the wind. He realized that the helicopter his brother was riding might have arrived and was going down to the island's helipad.

Eisen hoped his suspicion is correct because, by the time he found out that they were just conspiring to deceive him, he did not know how to save himself.

"Take me outside. I want to welcome my brother," he demanded. He wanted to see his brother now because he needs to find the truth about this. And he thought that only Lewis could help him clear out his mind.