Chapter 31: Freedom 3
The familiar scent of a homemade dish cooking in the kitchen wafted in the air.
Holden felt transported back in time as he took a deep inhale of chicken stewing in tomato, plantains, potatoes, carrots, and corncobs.
"Excuse me?" Holden spoke, startling the lady whose back was facing him as she stirred the pot on the stove. "Oh, Manang Juliet. It's you."
The voice was familiar, but it still spooked Manang Juliet. She dropped the ladle in the pot of stew that she was preparing.
"Oh, look at you. It's Young Master Holden. Grab a seat. The stew is almost ready."
Holden responded with a small smile. He grew up under the care and guidance of Manang Juliet.
The lady could retire if she wanted to, but it seemed as if she made a pledge to herself to render her service to the Knight family until her death.
It's not that Holden was against it, but the old lady looked as if she had been denying herself a vacation.
"So that's why I didn't see you in East Village," Holden stated. East Village was the neighborhood where the Knights owned a ten-bedroom mansion.
"Yes, Young Master. I have been here since morning."
"Who let you in?"
Manang Juliet swallowed hard, her grip on the ladle tightened. She didn't want to lie, so she said who literally let her in the elevator car that would take her to the penthouse suite.
"The guard," she whispered.
Seeing Holden flash a smile, looking convinced with her answer, Manang Juliet went on and finished preparing the meal, however, just as she was about to serve him a plate, Holden excused himself and informed her he already ate would be retiring for the night.
Once Holden's shadow was no longer in sight, Manang Juliet's hand shakily dipped in her apron's pocket. She quickly dialed Lotus's number and informed her about her dilemma.
"But, Madam, how would they meet if they're always hiding inside their bedroom?"
"WHAAAAT?"
Manang Juliet nodded her head as if Lotus could see her. "Well, the Young Madam never left her bedroom all day. I thought she would go outside to buy the curtain she was looking for all morning, but a delivery guy came and handed me the curtain she purchased online this afternoon instead."
Manang Juliet was worried. She has nothing against Stellar cooped up in her bedroom, but if Holden would also coop up in his bedroom, then what were the odds of them chancing upon each other in this confined space?
"Aiyooo. Stop stressing over it, Manang Juliet. Que sera, sera."
"Eh?"
"What will be, will be."
…
Monday arrived quicker than Stellar wanted it to be. She dragged her body to the ensuite after waking up for the tenth time that morning.
It was a good thing that her alarm would go off every minute, leaving her no chance to snooze back to sleep.
When she was still staying in the Cross mansion, Stellar didn't heavily rely on her alarm clock.
Things changed, however, when she moved out and had to count on herself for waking up in the morning.
Although she had Manang Juliet who would surely wake her up, she still wanted to train herself in getting up early despite the fact that she stayed up late until midnight last night, gobbling up an erotica novel she chanced upon on her reading app.
Yes, Stellar obsessed over her romance novels. It was her crack that she couldn't stop herself from sniffing every night before bedtime.
She used those stories to teleport herself in a world where she could feel a sense of belongingness as she empathized with the characters.
After all, in their circle, nobody dared to date her for years. She was starting to wonder if she was truly unpleasant to look at until Beau came and made her feel loved and beautiful, but in the end chose to break her heart.
Believe it or not, Stellar was still a virgin. Or was she still one if Beau already probed a finger inside her months ago?
Would it count if he used more than one finger? But the act didn't pop her cherry… or maybe it did, and she just didn't know?
How would she know when all she could remember was coming hard on his hand, drenching it with her juices?
Stellar felt her cheeks burned at the memory. Scoffing at her reflection in the mirror whilst brushing her teeth, she rolled her eyes.
Nope.
Even if scientifically she was no longer a virgin, in Stellar's heart she still was as long as she never shared that special moment of connecting on a deeper level when two bodies and two souls become one.
...
After prepping herself for the day, she then found herself in the kitchen, with another plate of sandwich sitting on the counter.
She took a pause, sizing it up with narrowed eyes. She had a feeling that she could find another slice of pickle inside, and true enough, there it was. As usual, she removed it and dropped it on the plate.
After wiping her fingers clean, she flipped her bag open and dug up a sticky note and pen. She had to leave a note for Manang Juliet to avoid pickles at all costs.
Sticking the note on the plate, she finished her meal and grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulders.
She was left with an hour's worth to arrive at Kosmos on time.
On her elevator ride, she tried to book a cab using a shared-ride app and blindly stepped out of the elevator car when the automated speaker on the lift spoke 'Ground Floor. Ground Floor,' until she hit a firm chest.
"Always look where you're going, Star."
"Yes, Holden," she subconsciously responded upon hearing the word of caution using the familiar name.
Nobody calls her Star, except Holden.
What the F?
Holden?
In the flesh?
Halting in her tracks, her head looked up and she squealed when her eyes met Holden's. He was now standing beside the elevator doors to let other people in.
He was wearing a white running shirt which was now sticking on the ridges of his abs thanks to his sweat.
Stellar didn't bother to trail her eyes down south because she didn't want to be plagued all day with thoughts of the bulge that she would definitely notice if she did.
Planting his hand above Stellar's head, Holden said, "Cancel your ride. Let me drive you to work."
Stellar didn't have to be told. She canceled her transaction the moment she saw Holden. Holden always drove her around whenever he was in town, so free ride it was!
While stuck in traffic, Stellar shifted in her seat and her mouth was agape as she examined Holden.
"What are the odds of us living in the same building? And why? Why are you not in the seminary?"
Briefly, Holden glanced at Stellar and smiled at her. He then trained his eyes back on the road where it was bumper to bumper. "I had another calling to pursue."
"So…? You're no longer continuing with priesthood?"
Holden nodded his head, validating Stellar's question. Both of her hands flew to her mouth to prevent any flies from entering it.
"Woooow. Welcome to the outside world, Holden." Stellar clapped her hands. "What about Aki? What did he say about your decision?"
"He already knew I was leaving a year ago, so he was a bit prepared for it."
Studying Holden's side profile, Stellar noticed how Holden looked calmer that morning compared to the other times that they were together.
There was an air of acceptance swirling around him as if he was at peace with his decision.
Good for him, Stellar mused.
Before she knew it, they arrived at her destination. She was a step away from the car when a thought bubbled up in her head, so she quickly knocked on the window and Holden rolled it down for her.
Slightly dipping her head inside, she asked, "Are you free tonight? Let's invite Cooper and some of my friends later for a housewarming party."
"Mmm," Holden agreed. "What time are you clocking out? I can pick you up later."
Stellar paused. An internal battle brewed in her head.
If he would pick her up, Aster might see them. They were lucky because Stellar insisted to be dropped off at the management entrance where only a few people had a pass to enter.
But Holden was no longer in the seminary, so what's the problem in that?
However, since Aster wasn't aware of it yet, Stellar decided it was best if she wouldn't be seen with Holden for the meantime.
"It's okay. I'll just meet you in the lobby later." She sunk her arm deeper inside the car, her pinky finger poked out for Holden to take.
Once the car was driving away, Stellar remained rooted in her spot waving goodbye.
When the car was out of sight, Stellar excitedly sent a message to Yanyan, inviting her for a housewarming party.
Back in Gotham Tower, the ding in the elevator informed Manang Juliet that Holden was home.
She greeted him with a smile, and her eyes never left him as he crossed from the entryway to the living room, and then walked towards the kitchen's direction.
For a split second, Manang Juliet's eyes darted to the plate sitting on the counter.
Holden, who sensed the unusual attention Manang Juliet was giving him, saw her eyeing the plate.
Walking towards it, he asked, "Has Cooper left already?" He then reached out for the purple sticky note on the plate and read it aloud.
[ Please skip on the pickles next time. <3 ]
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