Chapter 4
1116 Words
He wore a simple white t-shirt, casual cardigan shorts, and sneakers. Effortlessly handsome.
“You bake?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes, it’s what I’ve been busy with lately.”
He nodded as if impressed. “I’ll help you.”
She hesitated. But declining might seem rude. And anyway, this was a perfect opportunity. He pushed her cart as they walked, their bodies occasionally brushing.
She could smell his cologne—subtle, masculine.
A smile almost escaped her lips, but she caught herself.
No.
**Rule Number One: Take revenge.**
That reminder grounded her again.
She kept herself busy browsing. She even asked him to accompany her to the women's section. She needed to buy pads—she was running low, and her period was coming soon.
While she compared brands, she caught Khalid picking up a pack of Whisper pads. Her eyes widened.
“W-What are you doing?” she asked.
He looked genuinely confused. “I’m buying these for you. So you won’t run out.”
She just stared at him, dumbfounded.
*What the heck?*
“Are you serious?” she asked in disbelief. She had money—she didn’t need anyone to buy her sanitary products. Sure, he was richer than her—he owned a well-known restaurant—but still.
“Yep. So, you want to pick or should I?”
“No thanks, I have money,” she replied with a forced smile.
“Think of it as a treat,” he said.
She frowned. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because you’re my friend,” he said with a grin.
Friend.
A painful throb pulsed in her chest.
*Is that all she’d ever be? Just a friend?*
“I’ll refuse…”
“But I insist.”
She let out a breath. “Okay, okay, okay…”
Even though butterflies danced in her stomach, she didn’t show it. She had a mission. She repeated it to herself silently.
**Rule Number One.**
---
At the counter, her groceries totaled over ₱4,000. She reached into her bag for her credit card—but Khalid stopped her.
“I’ll pay,” he said with a smile.
“No, Khalid. I have money.”
“Consider it a treat.”
“But this is too much. These are my groceries—I’ll pay for them.”
“It’s fine. Just cook me dinner in return.”
Her mouth fell open. Was he serious?
“Y-You’re serious?”
“Yes,” he smiled again.
She had no choice but to give in. Fine. It would save her money anyway. He handed his credit card to the cashier like it was nothing.
---
By the time they got back to her condo, it was nearly 4 p.m. As expected, Khalid came up with her.
She didn’t know how she let that happen.
Maybe she was just being polite.
Or maybe… maybe she was letting the plan begin.
“Your condo’s really nice,” he said, looking around appreciatively.
She smiled and made her way to the kitchen. He followed, placing the bags gently on the counter.
“George recommended this unit,” she said. “He also did the interior. That’s why it looks good.”
He smiled and took a seat as she began unpacking.
“So, what do you want me to cook?”
“Hmm… I’m kinda tired of Thai food. Maybe something Filipino?”
“Yeah! Nice!” she replied, quickly diving into the groceries.
“Wait, I’ll research something,” he said, pulling out his phone from his pocket.
She just let him be, watching from the corner of her eye as he scrolled.
Suddenly, he shouted like an excited kid. “Ooh! I want this one!”
She turned to look at him and raised a brow.
“I-I want to try this… adobong egg!” he said, showing her a photo on his screen.
She noticed he had searched “list of egg dishes.”
She almost laughed.
Of course he timed it with the eggs they bought.
“I know how to make that,” she said, smiling.
“Seriously? I wanna try it!”
“Alright, I’ll start prepping.”
She turned to wash the pan, but when she glanced back, he was already chopping onions and garlic.
“Hey! What are you doing?” she asked, rushing over to take the knife from him.
But he pulled it away with a grin. “I’m helping, so it’ll go faster. And don’t worry—I own a restaurant, remember?”
Right.
She almost forgot.
Suddenly, she felt embarrassed. She hoped he didn’t think she doubted his skills.
“When you’re done chopping, let me know. I’ll boil the eggs,” she said, heading to the stove.
She placed the eggs in a small pot and lit the burner. In another pan, she melted a cube of butter. When he handed her the chopped ingredients, she tossed them into the sizzling pan, filling the room with a delicious aroma.
Pepper. Seasoning. Oyster sauce. A touch of soy sauce. A splash of vinegar. One green chili for that extra kick.
Now this was comfort food.
And the first step to revenge.
Or maybe…
Something else.
---
“I really like it—no, I should say... I really love it. I really enjoyed it. Thank you so much for the delicious dinner, Zai.”
They were already outside her condo. It was around eight in the evening, and Khalid had decided to head home.
She actually felt hesitant to let him leave—something inside her was holding her back—but it would be crazy if she insisted on him staying.
She smiled. “You're always welcome. And thank you, too. I actually feel a bit embarrassed because you paid for my groceries, even though I had money.”
“Don’t mind it... It’s just a small amount. So... let’s do this again sometime?”
She nodded. “Yes, let’s do this again.”
“Good night, Zai,” Khalid said with a smile.
“Good night, Khalid... Sweet dreams.”
She calmed herself. There was a strange sense of sadness watching him walk away.
“Take care,” she added. He responded with a smile before stepping into his car.
Once he was gone, she let out a deep breath and smiled—her heart quietly celebrating.
Another box checked in her plan. The revenge was beginning to unfold.
If anyone saw her at that moment, they’d probably think she was losing her mind—smiling to herself like that.
“I’ll do everything... everything to make you fall in love with me.”
---
- Writer
