Chapter 13: New Day


    The day after the wedding...


    Golden rays of sunlight shing through the window woke me up from my slumber. I checked the time


    from my digital rm clock and it''s already eight in the morning.


    As I got up in bed and walked to the bathroom, I recalled the happenings when we arrived at our


    wedding reception.


    * * *


    shback...


    "Best wishes for this wonderful journey as you build your new lives together." said of one of Daniel''s


    business friend in front of us.


    "Thank you, Mr Montero," Daniel said as he epted his hand.


    "Thank you." I smiled and also took his hand. I swear I could feel the numbness of my jaws from the


    non-stop smiling since we got out of the car.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, let us all raise our ss to these newlyweds. To their happiness and health.


    And may the good Lord teach them to stand together in everything thates their way. Cheers


    everyone!"


    "Cheers!"


    I also raised my ss and drink the white wine Daniel gave me earlier. And the moment I gulped the


    guests including his parents.


    "Kiss."


    My breath hitched when I saw my husband smirking at me.


    "Let''s us give them their wish, sweetheart," he said before capturing my lips not just for a quick kiss but


    a breathtaking kiss thatsts up to how many seconds.


    I closed my eyes with the intensity of his kiss and felt myself losing in the moment. I was still in dazed


    when he broke the kiss. He connected both of our foreheads as he wiped my lips with his thumb.


    "Aherm.." We both turned to the grinning Rian and Alex whose standing a few steps away from us.


    Daniel immediately distanced himself away from me.


    "Congrattions bro." Alex patted him on the shoulder as Rian took my hand and pulled me to the


    corner.


    "Congrattions." she''s grinning widely. "You know what, you really look good for each other."


    I rolled my eyes. "Rian, don''t forget that this is just an act."


    "I know but can you me me if I''m hoping that someday ''this deal'' will turn into reality?"


    "That''s not gonna happen."


    "Okay." she shrugged. "But still, I''ll pray for that to happen. I''ll be the first to be happy if that happens."


    she winked at me.


    "Silly woman!"


    ~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~°~~~~~~~


    "Sophia!"


    I was about to open the door to my room when I heard Daniel call my name. We just came back from


    our wedding reception and I can now feel the tiredness all over my body.


    "What?" I asked as my eyes drifting off because of drowsiness.


    "I hope you understand your role in this deal."


    I sighed and looked him straight in the eye.


    "Don''t worry I know about my role, so you don''t have to remind me again."


    "Good. And one more thing. I know my Mom has already exined it to you, but let me add


    something."


    I straightened my body. "And what is it?"


    "We are married only on the papers and nothing more, nothing less. We''re not friends or anything. The


    only thing holding us together is a piece of paper with our signature. You''re not allowed to ask or


    interfere with my personal life as I won''t ask anything about you. You can do whatever you want and I


    don''t care." he stepped closer to me. "If you''re going to go out or flirt with any guy, just make sure you


    don''t do it in public. I don''t want my name to be scandalized"


    I waited for his next words, but I heard none, so it''s time for me to ask.


    "Are you done?"


    I seriously asked crossing my arms over my chest. His eyes followed my gesture and I didn''t miss the


    slight hint of desire written on it.


    "My dear husband, as I said, I know my ce and I know my role. I will not ask anything about you or


    anything from you. I have my own life and also have my own problems. And as for our status, ''don''t


    worry'' because I will remember what you said, we''re not friends nor do we know each other inside this


    house. Now, if you''ll excuse me I''ll take my rest."


    I didn''t wait for his response. I opened the door and left him in the hallway. As soon as I saw the queen


    size bed, changing my clothes never came across my mind. I just removed my heels and climbed


    immediately on top of the bed.


    End of shback...


    * * *


    I''m drying my hair with a towel when I heard the ring of my phone from the bedside table. A smile crept


    onto my lips when I saw Craig''s name and picture on the screen.


    "Craig." I excitedly greet him on the other line.


    "Good morning Mrs Sophia Ysabelle Kelley. Ohh... what a beautiful name."


    I rolled my eyes. "Craig, don''t tell me you just called this morning to tease me?"


    "Hmm... just a little." and he chuckled. "So how was your ''first wedding night''?" he emphasized thest


    three words.


    "Tiring." I simply answered.


    "Huh? Oh my God! Did you do the deed?"


    "What? No! What are you talking about?" my eyes turned wide like saucers.


    "You said it was tiring."


    "Oh my gosh Craig, you are such a dirty-minded!"


    And heughed even more.


    "Just kidding! I know that will never happen even when you dream and fantasize your husband''s body."


    "Forgodsake! I would never do that!"


    "Haha... okay." he continued tough on the other line. "Anyway, I called to inform you that we have to


    start practising our dance steps for the internationalpetition next month. We only have three weeks


    to finalize all the steps."


    "Yeah, don''t worry we will use that remaining three weeks to practice. And that''s still long enough to


    memorize the steps."


    "Okay, so what are your ns for today? Are you going to stay at home or you''re going to the studio?"


    "Of course! What made you think that I will stay here and won''t go to work?"


    "Because you are in your honeymoon stage."


    I scrunched my face when I heard the word ''honeymoon''.


    "Oh goodness, Craig! Can you stop teasing me about those things?"


    "I''ll try. What time are you going to the studio?"


    "I''ll just change my clothes and then I''ll leave."


    "Okay, see you."


    "See you, bye."


    After ending the call, I just changed into my ck sweatpants, gray tank top and white rubber shoes. I


    just covered my top with my cotton hoodie. We are now going to start rehearsing our piece for the


    I found Nanay Emily in the living room and she greeted me with a warm and motherly smile.


    "Good morning, Anak. How''s your sleep?"


    "Good morning Nanay. It''s fine, I actually woke upte today for work."


    "Where do you work?"


    "In a dance studio. I actually owned it and I''m a dance instructor." I answered with a smile.


    "Wow, that''s good to hear. Anyway, I made breakfast in the kitchen---"


    "Ahm... Nanay thank you, but I have to go."


    "Okay, just wait for me here and I''ll pack them for you. So if you''re hungry, you can eat them anytime."


    I felt so touched with what she said, and because of that, I couldn''t help myself from hugging her.


    "Thank you, Nanay Emily." I smiled at her when I pulled back. "I have never experienced such this thing


    in my life. The feeling of having someone taking care of you, packing your things, your food, telling you


    to take care before you leave and asking if how was your sleep when you wake up in the morning." I


    smiled bitterly.


    "Ohh... how about your mother?"


    I shook my head. "She left me when I was ten years old, and she never came back since then."


    She held my hands.


    "From now on, you have me, anak. You can consider me your mother, with or without a contract


    between you and Daniel or even if it ends. And don''t hesitate to ask me what you need and share what


    you feel."


    She wiped the first set of tears that ran down on my face.


    "I don''t know what the real story behind these tears of yours, but I''m just here and I''m willing to listen to


    you whenever you want it to share with me." and this time, she was the one who pulled me into a hug.


    I really wanted to stop the tears, but being in her arms, it''s really hard to control them. How I wish it''s


    my mom. I missed her. I really don''t know what''s her look right now. Does she still look young? Does


    she still remember me or does she still know me as her daughter?


    "Shhh.." she rubbed my back.


    And when I pulled back, I gave her an appreciative smile.


    "I''m sorry for the drama, Nanay," I said wiping my face.


    "It''s okay, Anak. Wait for me here, I''ll just pack some food."


    I smiled and nodded.


    She came back after a few minutes with two lunch boxes in her hands.


    "Whoah! That''s too much, Nanay." my eyes turned wide when she gave them to me.


    "It''s okay, share it with your friends or with your students."


    "Thank you so much, Nanay Emily." I kissed her cheek.


    "You''re wee. Be careful, anak."


    "I will Nanay."


    I was about to open the door when she called me again.


    "Oh, wait, I forgot something."


    I turned around and she got something from her pocket.


    "Your husband wanted me to give this to you." She took my left hand and put a ck credit card on it.


    "W-What is this?" I asked in a crunched eyebrows. "I mean, what am I gonna do with this?"


    She shrugged. "He wants you to use that when you need something to buy for yourself."


    "But I don''t need this. I''m not as rich as him, but I have my own money Nanay." I put it back on her


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    hand. "Just give it back to him and please tell him that I don''t need it."


    "But---"


    "Thank you Nanay, I have to go."


    I immediately opened the door and ran to the garage. I gulped when I saw his collection of the finest


    and expensive sports car... again. And then I looked at my Mini Cooper, it''s in avery matte metallic


    purple.


    Well, it''s not as expensive as his cars, but I love it. It''s my first car that I bought from winning my first


    US international dancepetition.


    I put the lunch boxes in the hood and took my keys inside my bag. But I was about to take the boxes


    again when a man wearing a white uniform suddenly appeared in front of me.


    "Good morning, Ma''am Sophia," he said in a loud voice which startled me and dropped my keys to the


    floor.


    "Forgodsake! Who are you?" I asked lifting my hand over my chest.


    "Hi, Ma''am Sophia, I''m Ricky and I am your personal driver," he said in a jolly tone.


    "What?" my eyes turned wide in shock. "Are you kidding me?" I chuckled when I realized what he said.


    "No Ma''am. From now on, I will be your personal driver."


    Iughed before my face turned serious and asked him again.


    "Ricky this is just my car, a mini Cooper. Now please exin to me, how can I get a driver if the driver


    is much bigger than my car?"


    He scratched the back of his head.


    "Ma''am, we''re not actually using your car. It''s the ck BMW---"


    "Wait! Wait! What are you talking about?"


    "It''s your husband''s order ma''am. I''m just following his instructions." He gave me an awkward smile.


    "Ahh... it''s his instruction, huh?"


    "Yes, ma''am."


    "Then listen to me very carefully," I said in a word for word so that he could hear it clearly. "And tell this


    to your boss. I don''t need a personal driver and especially I don''t need his damn car! Did you get it?" I


    raised my eyebrow.


    "But ma''am----"


    "Thank you, Ricky. Have a good day." I patted him on the shoulder before turning around and opening


    my car door.


    -''Huh! What happened to his ''we''re not friends or anything, you can do whatever you want and I don''t


    care''st night? Haha... then suddenly this morning he wants me to have his ck credit card? And oh


    God, a personal driver in his BMW? No way! It''s a big No!''-