MISTER EX

THE PAST

Frank lounged comfortably in the back of his luxurious limousine, stealing glances at Lea who sat beside him. He couldn't help but admire her striking features - the cute, slightly upturned nose, the alluring full lips that seemed almost too perfect for her delicate face. And oh, the memories of her using those lips to trail kisses down his body sent shivers down his spine. The way she used them to explore every inch of him was nothing short of intoxicating, leaving him craving more.

Too bad she had turned out to be a gold-digging liar. He found it difficult to believe she could change so much. How had she turned into such a fraud? He'd loved her. They dated for a year after returning from abroad.

In the dimly lit apartment one evening, he leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "This night, you belong to me."

With a passionate kiss, he swept her off her feet and gently laid her down on the bed. Despite her innocent demeanor, he was taken aback by her sensuality, only to discover she was still untouched. Shortly after, she'd move to his luxurious penthouse, where he showered her with his undivided love and attention.

While Lea, who was quietly sitting behind him, looking at the outside of the window, with her deepest thought, Frank was engaged to Miss Sarah Cacho, and he was happy to let her think that.

Her voice broke into his thoughts, "Frank, it's late. I have to get home. Please have your driver stop the car and let me go."

"Not until you agree to have lunch with me tomorrow," Frank said with a serious expression on his face.

"Fine, I will have lunch with you. Now stop the car."

Frank tapped the lock below the window, and his driver pulled the limo over to the curb. Before Frank Guzman could get out, she climbed past him and ran up the walkway to get home. He watched her disappear from his sight, until he told his driver to take him home.

Now Frank is going to check his mobile phone when he noticed that Lea had left her purse where she was sitting.

Lea ran up the stairs trying to calm herself before she walked into the tiny apartment of her sister-in-law.

"Are you alright?" Anne asked her right after she got in.

"Yes, It is just a tiring day, how's Andrei?"

"He has been sleeping for 10 minutes now watching a cartoon movie. I took him to your room. Come and let's have dinner". Anne invited her instead.

"Okay, I'll change first."

Lea unlocked and swung the door open. She found Andrei fast asleep, just like always. He clung to the pillow adorned with a picture of him being cradled by his loving mother, Lea.

"I love you so much, my love, and my life." Lea whispered to his ear and kissed his forehead. After that, she proceeded to the bathroom to clean herself and change clothes.

In the morning. Lea decided to wake up early and cook Andrei's favorite food. The experience they had with her old apartment unit may have caused trauma for her son. She is more careful now and wanted to observe Andrei more until he grew up.

"Mama..." Andrei scooted off the bed, his arms outstretched as he scampered toward her in his green cotton pajama.

"How's my boy?" She bent down to pick him up, breathing in his fresh baby powder scent.

He hugged her. "I love you, Mama. Auntie Anne said if I'm good, we can play in the big playground tomorrow", Andrei explained, and raised her arms to show her mother how big the place was.

"That will be so much fun. Come, let's eat breakfast."

He nodded. His mop of black curls bounced up and down, and a big smile formed on his bow lips. "Yes, Mama.."

After a while, Anne talked to Lea in the kitchen while Andrei was now playing with his toys in the living room.

"Are you okay? Is everything all right?"

"I'm okay, Anne.. Maybe I need some time to rest. Oh, by the way, there's a stew and homemade banana cake on the table."

"I smelled it when I came in." Anne smiled and got her cup of coffee.

Anne whispered, "I think it's good that we should try to have a little bonding in the park on the weekend? You need to refresh your mind."

"Thank you, Anne... You are always like an elder sister to me.." Lea told her, as if she was about to cry.

"Yeah I know.. " Anne smiled, and Lea walked to the living room to join her son. Using her hand, she gently scrubbed her son's head with black and curly hair. And now she has tried to teach her son how to arrange the alphabet words on a wooden board.

Watching them, a memory flashed to Anne.

At that time, Lea was six months pregnant with Andrei and was struggling financially with a low-paying job and no health insurance. Following a breakup, she found temporary accommodation by renting a room in a house. However, due to her inability to afford the rent any longer, the landlord requested that Lea vacate the room. Understanding the situation, Lea gathered her few belongings and left. With nowhere else to go, she found solace in a park located in the nearby village where she had previously resided. Overwhelmed with emotions, tears streamed down Lea's face as she sat there. Sensing her distress, Anne sat beside her and kindly offered Lea a tissue to wipe away her tears.

"Thank you," Lea sniffed.

"I've seen you around the neighborhood. Is everything all right?"

Lea found herself sharing the entire story with Anne before she even had a chance to fully comprehend it. She confided in Anne about the father of her baby, who had shown no interest in either her or the child, and the overwhelming feeling of having nowhere to turn. Anne, with great humility, extended her kindness by inviting Lea to stay in her apartment and providing her with a room. Once Lea's baby, Andrei, was born, Anne selflessly took on the responsibility of caring for him, allowing Lea the opportunity to return to her work.

They resided in a one-and-a-half-bedroom apartment situated on the fifth floor of a building that lacked an elevator. Andrei's bedroom was spacious enough to accommodate his bed and a dresser, while Lea slept on the pullout couch in the living room. It was common for Andrei to join her in sleeping on the couch many nights, as he longed for her presence. Despite knowing how much he missed her, Lea had to prioritize her work.

Anne never asked for financial assistance from Lea, who willingly contributed towards a portion of the rent and the cost of groceries. This arrangement helped alleviate some of the financial burden, showcasing the mutual support and understanding between the two individuals during their temporary stay in the apartment.

Upon arriving home one evening, Lea immediately headed to the kitchen to assist Anne with preparing dinner. However, before she could fully engage in the cooking process, a sudden knock at the door interrupted her. Setting down the dish on the kitchen table, she made her way to the entryway, curious about the unexpected visitor.

Standing on tiptoe, she cautiously peered through the peephole to catch a glimpse of Frank, who was waiting on the other side of the door.

"You...?" Surprisingly, Lea's voice trembled in front of him. "What are you doing here?"