Chapter 5
Aff was awakened by the appetizing aroma of scrumptious home cooking wafting around the house. Last night, she had fallen asleep on the couch. As she sat up straight, she could see the full view of the rising sun from the same window where she had seen the sunset yesterday. Her mouth curved as she watches the sun rising, indicating that it is the beginning of a new day, a new hope. But her smile faded as the happenings last night came sinking into her again. She carefully ran her fingers on her soft lips as she remembered how Aum aggressively treated them.
As she was remembering what happened last night, Aff suddenly heard a hum and she was sure that it was coming from the kitchen. She immediately stood up and searched for the kitchen. The house wasn’t big enough and thanks to the smell of the delicious aroma, she hurriedly found the kitchen. By the stove, a woman was busy cooking. She added up seasonings in the casserole and continued stirring. For a moment, she took a spoon and took some of the almost cooked dish, tasting if it was just right. Satisfied with the taste, she decided to grab a plate so she can offer her special guest the food she just cooked. The woman turned around and saw Aff standing by the kitchen door. She gave Aff a pleasant smile and Aff responded a shy smile for she didn’t know who this lady is.
“Good morning, Khun Aff.” She greeted her with a voice that sounded almost musical to Aff’s ears. How did she know my name? Aff asked to herself.
“Khun Aff, just wait for me on the dining room. Your breakfast is almost ready.” She said delightfully to her but Aff was still looking at her quizzically. Instead of staring at the woman all morning, Aff just did as what she was told.
Just a couple of steps from the kitchen, Aff found herself sitting on the elegant dining room of the house. Although it was not relatively huge, it was still stunning. Another huge window was propped up on the dining room. The beautiful view of the ocean was once again present. The almost warm ocean breeze entered the room and Aff liked it. In a couple of minutes, the woman came to the room, holding a plate filled with food.
“Here’s your breakfast, Khun Aff. Enjoy!” She said in the same delightful tone of voice. The food was surely mouthwatering. Since she hadn’t had anything since last night, Aff was famished. Since she was not accustomed in eating alone, Aff asked the bubbly woman to join her on the dining room. As they were eating together, Aff asked a few questions. Piam, the woman she was having breakfast with, is the caretaker of the house.
She was almost the same age as her and had been working for Aum’s family since she was a girl. Her mother was Aum’s nanny when he was a boy and now, Aum wanted her to be the nanny of his future child. But for now, she will be attending to Aff’s needs.
“Would you like to have more, Khun Aff?” She asked her again as she saw that Aff’s plate was almost empty. Aff shyly shook her head. Piam took the dishes away but Aff insisted on helping her.
“Let me help you with that…” She said as she took the empty plate.
“No, no. Khun Aff. It’s not your job to wash the dishes. Khun Aum would fire me if he’ll find out that I’m letting you doing this.” Piam explained. Aff’s mind was filled once again with what had happened last night as Piam mentioned Aum’s name.
As Piam was washing the dishes, Aff stayed in the kitchen to ask more things, but this time it was about the house.
“Khun Aum doesn’t go here regularly?” She asked Piam. Piam, who was now drying the plates with a clean towel, shook her head.
“Then why did he build this house then if he doesn’t go here often?” She asked Piam again.
“My mother said, Khun Aum built this house as a gift for his first born child.” Piam explained. Before Aum and Ann got married, Aum decided to build a house by the ocean. The house would serve as a gift for their first born child. Aum wanted to keep the house as a secret until Ann gives birth. But in their situation right now, the house would forever remain as an untold secret to Ann.
“For his first child…” Aff whispered to herself. She came to a conclusion that Aum really wanted to have a child. He even built this house for his first born!
“Khun Aum is very desperate in having a kid. I think he is willing to trade everything he has just for him to have his own kid.” Piam told her with a hint of sympathy in her voice. For her, Aum was such a nice person, helping a lot of people in need. Having a good heart, why do the heavens doesn’t answer his prayers and give him the child he was longing to have? Now that Aff had entered his life, could she be the answer to his prayers?
As Aff digested all the things she had learned about Aum today, little by little, she was trying to forget about Aum’s actions towards her the other night. Since Aum was the one who gave the money for her mother’s surgery, she wanted to repay his kindness and wanted him to be happy. Aff took the telephone and dialed the number that Piam gave her. After a couple of rings, someone picked it up. It was a man. His voice sounded husky and at the same time, tired. Aff immediately recognized his voice. It was Aum’s. Her heart started to pound heavily again as his voice played on her ear.
“K-khun Aum. It’s Aff.” She said nervously.
Aum, who was on his office, was confused. He didn’t know why Aff called him.
“Do you have any problem, Aff?” He asked worriedly. Aum’s heart was pounding fast just like Aff’s. He was thinking that Aff might want to quit her job now. Aum doesn’t want that to happen. He wanted Aff to be the mother of his child, not any other woman.
“I-I just wanted to tell you that I’m ready.” Aff said nervously. Yes, she was now ready and willing to get pregnant with Aum.
---TBC---