Chapter 1 Hello, Kenzo

~PRPLOGUE~ The usual noise along the school corridors erupted as soon as the bell rang for the last period of the day. Students hurriedly gathered their belongings and rushed out of the classrooms, excited for the upcoming weekend. The chatter and laughter filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere as they eagerly made plans for their well-deserved break.

Some students were discussing their plans to go to the movies, while others were excitedly hand-signed about the trips they were going on with their secret couples. The anticipation of the weekend was palpable as friends exchanged high-fives and shared stories from the week. The energy in the hallway was contagious, and even the teachers couldn't help but smile at the enthusiasm radiating from their students.

Stella, a teacher of the eighth-grade class, watched her students run along with excitement while she locked her room. "See you on Monday!" she called out to them.

"Hey, good luck!" A co-teacher tapped her shoulder, and she nodded in return.

Stella made her way towards the exit, her mind already filled with plans for the weekend ahead. As she stepped outside into the crisp autumn air, she could not help but look forward to the special night she had prepared for Dein, her long-time boyfriend.

She marched to her car and drove to the bank to deposit a good amount of five hundred thousand pesos, or approximately nine thousand dollars.

Back to her car, she exhaled before typing Dein a message that she would be waiting for him in the hotel lobby. She couldn't wait to see the look on Dein's face when he found out about the surprise she had in store for him. Without a smile on her face, she hit send and began the drive to the hotel.

Every step she took as she approached the reception desk felt heavier than the last. Five receptionists lined up at the desk but she stopped in front of the woman with a warm smile. She breathed deeply and forced a smile before saying, "Hi."

***

"Miss Thiffey Stella Del Mundo, presidential suite, right?" the receptionist asked while smiling beautifully at me.

I grinned bitterly. I looked down in dismay to keep my tears from rolling down my face. "You do have an angelic face," I sighed sadly.

"Excuse me? What did you say?" she asked nervously, and her facial expression suddenly changed.

I shook my head, then lifted my gaze back to her with a smile.

"Nothing. Hm, yes, that's right," I answered, then let out a deep sigh.

"Alright. How would you like to pay..."

I didn't let her finish speaking. I handed her the cash to pay.

"I received five hundred thousand pesos for two nights in the presidential suite and all the services included. Here is your key card, Ma'am. Thank you for choosing our hotel. Have a nice stay!"

"Thank you." My voice broke as I nervously reached for the key card.

I had to leave immediately, or my tears wouldn't wait for a second.

Fortunately, my boyfriend came.

"Love?" he nervously called to me.

I quickly turned to my boyfriend.

My grip on the key card tightened, and I was not surprised to see that he was looking at the receptionist.

"Dein?" sighed the receptionist.

How could this be more interesting? I really meant to check in here. Maybe my talent was to hurt myself.

"You know her, Love?" I asked politely, even though I felt like I was going to explode.

Dein looked at me, and I immediately saw the answer, even though he didn't answer my question.

"Love, not here. Let's go to our room," Dein pleaded.

I saw the receptionist leave the front desk and walk towards us. Her colleagues tried to stop her, but it seemed that even she had a lot of questions.

Her angelic face immediately turned into a war freak.

"Dein, we need to talk," said the receptionist.

"Hina, not now. Didn't I say that today is the day for my girlfriend?" Dein said calmly.

I got chills when I heard the name Hina. So, she is Hina.

"No! I told you, it's important!" she tried. "You have been ignoring me for several weeks. You are not responding to any of my calls and messages."

"We will talk, but not here, not now," Dein replied to Hina.

He tried to hold my hand, but I slapped his hand away.

"No, Dein! It's now or never! " Hina desperately begged.

"Please, Hina!" Dein pleaded.

"Dein, please hear me out.

I was surprised by what was happening. But I couldn't stand this girl anymore. She was not in any way shy about what she was doing.

After all, I should be the one who is enraged here, but I respect workplace etiquette. But this Hina doesn't seem to care.

"Look, he already said not now, didn't he? Don't you understand? You should be ashamed of yourself. Stop insisting now," I interrupted. I can't keep quiet anymore.

"Don't you dare speak when you are not asked?" Hina stopped me.

Wow! She is something. I shouldn't have cried for her.

"I can't believe it," I said. My eyes widened while my eyebrows furrowed. I'm annoyed. "I have all the rights to speak whenever I want, girl! He's my boyfriend, and you're just a stray girl that my boyfriend had sex with because he was bored."

People around me gasped at the heated situation.

The other receptionists started calling for management.

I knew that at any moment there would be people who would stop us, so I would end this.

I'm kind, but I'm more than evil when I'm treated badly.

"Go away, Hina," Dein said, noticing my heated emotions.

We have been talking about this Hina issue for months, and I have done nothing but understand.

"No, don't Dein. Please!" Hina begged.

"What do you really need from Dein? Speak up!" I finally asked to wrap things up.

From a distance, I could see a group of men approaching us.

"Faster! You wouldn't want me to lose my temper here!" I said again. This time, I am ready to explode.

"I'm pregnant!" Hina said directly.

Everything went silent for a moment.

"Pregnant?" I whispered as I looked at Dein.

My heart was beating in my head; I felt like beating up someone.

"Thiff. Go to our room first. I'll follow," Dein begged as the group of men finally got to surround us for control.

"Shit, you didn't even deny it!" I uttered in dismay. Every word is full of pain, so I chose to just walk away.

My whole body was numb, and every step was very heavy.

I pressed the elevator button and went to the presidential suite. Entering the suite, I dropped my bag and stared out the huge glass window.

"Five hundred thousand? Five hundred thousand presidential suite for what? Celebrate his cheating? Wow!" I screamed before collapsing into a cry.

After three years of unbearable relationship, I had to put up with Dein not only because I loved him but also because we already had a child.

With so many failed relationships, I want a stable one. I was hoping for Dein to settle someday. I was hoping he'd change.

"Is he even capable of change?" I shouted, then got up and went to the bar and opened some wine.

I finished the wine in one drink. Then I took another and quickly drank it.

I heard the door open. "Thiffey?" Dein called.

I finished the wine and took another one.

"Now I know why you can't leave her; fuck with the angelic face! I am beautiful too! I said while walking closer to him, carrying the wine in my left hand.

"It's not like that, Thiffey!"

"So what? Tell me! For three years, I have been asking why you can't just choose me. Just me! Why can't you be satisfied with us, me and Vri?"

After saying that, I quickly finished the third bottle.

"Thiffey, stop drinking." Dein tried to pull it away from me, but I finished it anyway.

"You are so stupid, Dein! I miss you so much, do you know that? For a week, you ignored me just because I got angry because I asked why I had to understand your relationship with Hina without telling me the reason!"

"Sorry, Thiff! I love you! "

"Yes, I did witness how you love me by getting her pregnant," I said sarcastically, continuing to cry.

"Thiff, just let me fix everything about Hina."

"I'm tired, Dein. What else should be fixed? Let's just break up," I said.

He stopped and stared at me intently before kissing me.

I let go of the kiss and smiled bitterly. "You really think I'd be fine after sex, huh? How wimpy I become!"

I turned my back on him, and I slowly took off my clothes before going to the bathroom.

I turned on the shower and let my numb body get wet.

I could not feel a drop of water on my body.

Along with the flow of small beads of water on my face, my tears also continued to fall.

After a while, Dein came in and hugged me, then started kissing my neck. He slowly held me, caressing every part of my body. But I couldn't feel anything.

"Thiff, I love you," he whispered.

I turned and hugged him. "Let's just eat after this and go see Hina," I whispered.

I could see the surprise on Dein's face. He stopped kissing. I've made up my mind; I am going to break up with him.

"But... it can be done; I can go to her tomorrow," Dein said.

"She needs company now. Trust me, I know the feeling of being alone."

"Thank you very much, Thiff."

"For what else, and I chose to love you?"

After showering, I called a chef to cook for us, and then we ate.

"The food is delicious," said Dein.

"Yes," I answered shortly.

We were eating on the terrace of the hotel. We are only wearing robes because we just finished taking a bath.

"Your cooking is still better."

"Thank you," I said.

"Hm, after this, I'll check out while you organize your things," said Dein then took a bite of the steak.

"Ahm, I'll stay," I said calmly.

He looked at me. "But why? You'd be alone here."

"Well, Narih is not in our apartment either. She has a project in Cebu, so I'll just stay here. Five hundred thousand is not something you would just waste for a night."

He held my hand and said, "Ok. I'll just come back when I've settled the matter with Hina. When things are settled with Hina, let's get married."

My eyes widened.

I let go of his grip.

I am not happy.

Even though I longed for it for a long time, I couldn't see myself with him anymore.

"Ahm, just fix it first. I'll wait for you, ok?" I just said.

"Just one hour, and I'll be right back," he said.

I nodded in agreement.

It wasn't long before he said goodbye.

After he left, I put on a bikini and bathed in the infinity pool in the terrace suite.

If he comes back after one hour, I might believe that he will change, but if he doesn't, I will really give up.

After more than two hours, I leaned back on the sofa. I entered the living area a while ago because I was getting cold from swimming.

I've had four bottles of wine, but not even a single call came from Dein.

"Hey! Times-up self. Let go!" I said while looking up at the beautiful chandelier.

I'm done.

I picked up my cell phone and called Dani, one of my friends.

"Hello?" a man asked on the other line.

"Who are you? Where's Dani?"

It wasn't my friend who answered, but the man's voice on the other line brought a strange sense of relief.

"Ah, I don't know. I just answered in case of emergency.

I swallowed and let my tears fall.

"I'm tired of fighting," I said.

I'm already drunk, so I don't know what's going on in my mind.

I heard the man on the other line laugh. "Get a rest. Basic!"

I sat up straighter. "Wow, it's easy for you."

"Huh? Resting is not difficult. You just have to want rest. But...they say it's easier to rest when you're with someone. Do you want me to accompany you?"

I thought, then smiled sadly. "How much is one hour?"

Then I was surprised when he laughed out loud.

"Send me your location; I'll be there in less than an hour."

I laughed for less than an hour. I sent my location, though not even a single part of me believed he'd be coming.

"I have received it. I'm on my way!" he said, then hung up.

I turned on the karaoke and drank more just to pass the night.

I'm still looking at my phone, waiting for Dein to message me, but nothing.

I didn't realize how much time had passed; all I knew was that I was drowning in so much wine.

Until I stopped when the doorbell rang.

"Dein?"

I almost tripped on the way to the door.

He forgot to bring the keycard.

I opened the door, but it was not Dein.

"Hi," greeted a young man.

"Who are you?" I said while trying to open my eyes wider to check on him. "How did you know I was here?"

He laughed and blushed even more.

"Didn't I say less than an hour? Do you still want a companion?" he said, smiling at me.

On the other hand, I was really stunned. He looked too young. I may be hurt and desperate for someone to hold me in my weakest state, but I just can't go to jail.

"Does your mother know what you are doing?"

He blurted it out in laughter.

"I'm 20," he grinned. "Kenzo is my name, by the way."

I fell silent for a moment before uttering, "Well, hello, Kenzo!"