Chain Reaction (On Hold)

Chapter XIII

"Ana, hurry up, will you?" Complained Ken for the nth time.

"Sorry! I'm coming!" She shouted inside her room.

"You've said that a lot of times." He said.

"But this time it's real." She said opening the door, now he can clearly see her. She's so simple but still she's so beautiful. She's wearing a pretty floral sleeveless dress that's above the knee.

"Uhm, sorry. I had problem with my pants. So, I guess you don't mind if I wear a dress?" She asked. She actually felt conscious because Ken was looking at her.

"I don't mind at all. Let's go." He said without looking at Ana and headed down stairs.

"Psh. Wala man lang compliment." Ana whispered.

"Sus, Ana, you wish." She whispered to herself again. Yes, she's expecting that atleast he would compliment her. But it's not like she really prepared for it. She just wanted him to atleast notice her. But what she said about her pants was true.  She admits, there's a tinee tiny bit inside of her that wants him to tell her that she's pretty, just like the old times. But then again, she convinced herself that it's not like before. Well, as a matter of fact, they're like friends. Maybe there's no romance between them on how they treat each other, well, atleast they get to be together and that's what she's glad about. He's not cold to her or anything. Thank God for that. So yeah, it's like they're friends, it's better than nothing at all.. Pero may times na kinikilig pa rin si Ana kay Ken. Feeling teenager lang? Well, ganun talaga. Mahal niya e. Matutong makuntento.

"What, I don't get to ride my car?" She complained. She really misses driving. Ken always drives for her. She doesn't know why but it's okay. Kinikilig naman siya e.

"No. Ana. Get in my car." He said in a straight voice. Whenever she insists on driving, nawawala si Ken sa mood. Ana just sighed and rolled her eyes in frustration. What else can she do. She also thinks that Ken is demanding. Tsk. On the other hand, Ken doesn't want Ana driving anymore. Pa'no nalang kung mangyari yung nangyari dati? Yung muntik na siyang maaksidente? He can't take that. Even though he and his wife are very much different from what they were, of course he still cares about her and she's his responsibility. This is his way of making up what he should've done for the past 2 years. And besides, pa'no nalang siya mag-eexplain sa mga in-laws niya? He can't just say "hinaayan ko mag-drive, mapilit e." That would be inappropriate.

"Why are we here? I'm suprised. You know, guys don't usually bring girls to the mall. Well, because they hate shopping. Who are you and what did you do to Ken??" She said without even pausing. Gosh. This woman sure is a chatterbox sometimes.

"Ana, is it such a bad thing that I bring you here? And we're not going shopping if that's what you think. Now let's go grab some lunch first." Ken said while looking at her. This woman is out of her mind, why would I want to go shopping with her? Psh. It'll take her years. He thought. And the thought made him smirk.

Well, the sole reason why he brought her here was for her to familiarize herself with the mall, not that she's not. He still doesn't know how to tell her that it's them who owns the mall. He also wants her to give opinions about how the mall looks. He trusts his wife's judgements.

They went to a restaurant and ate there after that they just went around walking.

"Have you been here before?" He asked his wife. What a stupid question Ken! He thought, he gave himself a face palm in his mind.

"Seriously? Have I been living under a rock?' That's what she answered, sarcastically.

"Errr. I know that was a stupid question. Uhm. What do you think about it? I mean the mall. Is it appropriate for couples to go to and something like that. Does this mall have cool promos and stuff like that." He asked. He must have asked a lot. Tsk! Ken!

Really, Ken is so cute! She wanted to pinch his cheeks. Wait, did he say couples?? She had a slight feeling that he might ask her out. Pero Ana, do not assume. Assuming makes an ass of u and me. But she was wondering why he is asking about it, so weird. What? Does he own the mall? Nah. That would be silly.

"Whoa there! So many questions. Calm down. Hmm. I think it's very elegant. Which is nice. But, unfortunately, it's too dull inside. Ansarap sakalin nung may-ari. Di man lang inisip maglagay ng ibang colors. I mean haven't that person ever heard of color psychology? Well, I think that's a very good way to stimulate the minds of the people here. Plus the promos are cool. I'm cool with it. This mall is perfect, but like what I said. It's dull. I wonder, dull rin siguro may ari nito. Walang buhay. Tsk tsk tsk." She said again without pausing. And the last part she said, she was actually joking. Nga-nga nalang si Ken, masarap daw sakalin? And a dull and walang buhay person? What the? Tsk.

"Really? I want to hear your opinions." He said.

"You're weird." She said. Still wondering why he is asking those things. Maybe he just wants to test my judgements. Ana thought. "So, I think, the colors are not that vibrant. I mean you can still be elegant and lively at the same time..." And off she went explaining her opinions. Ken was actually glad she had a lot of it. Atleast, for the favor of his wife, he is willing to make some changes. Besides, it's for the better. They just kept walking around the mall.

"Oh my gosh. I can't believe you made me wait! That's so the uncoolest thing ever! Ugh." She said in the phone in her very maarte voice. So she hung up the phone. She was talking to her friend who didn't show up, because there came an emergency. They were suppose to go shopping together now she has no choice but to go alone. Super dyahe!

She was still grunting and flipping her long brown curly hair in frustration. When she saw something that made her stop.
What the? They're still together?! She said in her mind. After everything she has done? Huh. Tindi rin pala nila e. And si Ken naman, he'll come back here after how many years, pero he still came back to his wife? Gosh. That is one stubborn man.

Yep. She saw Ken and Ana together. She's really into Ken. She's willing to do everything to get him if it means bringing Ana down even more. Two years ago he suddenly disappeared, she actually really thought that she'll get her chance but it turned the other way around, it didn't go as planned. Damn it. And now that he's back, there's no one stopping her from getting him. If she has to ruin their relationship again. Oh well then, she will. Besides, Ana is so gullible and ruining them isn't really a hard task. She doesn't care kahit magmukha siyang kontrabida or a desperate bitch. What Brittany wants, Brittany gets.