LOVE YOU, UNCLE

“Hey! Why are you smiling so mysteriously?” Denisa teased when she arrived at the office and saw Ghea sitting there daydreaming with a smile for no apparent reason. Denisa was convinced that something was going on with her friend.

“What’s it? Can’t stand seeing people happy.”

“What are you smiling about? It’s annoying! You’re daydreaming so early in the morning, disgusting!”

“Whatever!” Ghea retorted. “Who said I’m daydreaming disgustingly? I’m just happy.”

“Happy about what?” Denisa asked curiously. She pulled her chair closer, getting more comfortable to be near Ghea.

“Want to know, or want to know very much?”

“Ugh, so annoying! Just skip it. It’s not important why you’re happy or excited this morning. But, by the way, how was it yesterday evening?”

“What about it?” Ghea wondered. It was Denisa’s habit to ask a lot but not explain what she was getting at.

“Yesterday, how did you go home? Did Randy really pick you up?”

Ghea shook her head.

“I came home on my own yesterday. When I asked him why he was late to pick me up, he said he had to drop off Stella, the air freshener girl, at the pharmacy first. And because of that, he was late to pick me up.”

“Oh my,” Denisa exclaimed in disbelief. “So, you didn’t go home and have dinner with Randy because of some other girl’s nonsense? Wasn’t that deliberate?”

Ghea shrugged.

“I don’t know if it was deliberate or not. At first, I was really angry and annoyed with Randy. But he apologized, and last night he made up for it by taking me out for ice cream and treating me to seafood dinner.”

Denisa shook her head. It seemed that Ghea’s emotions were easily appeased by simply filling her stomach.

“But, in my opinion, you need to be careful with this Stella, Ghe. You heard the gossip from the procurement staff the other day, right? Stella is a longtime close partner of Randy. Everyone here, even ships your husband with that woman to be a match. Maybe she’s getting too big-headed. What if she can’t accept it and suddenly Randy marries you?”

Denisa seemed adept at provoking. She enjoyed making Ghea’s heart burn and, if possible, poisoned by her words.

“Oh, just let it be. Even if Stella tries hard, it won’t matter. Besides, from what I’ve seen, Uncle Randy is the faithful type.”

“Which guy can withstand or won’t be melted by constant teasing? Sure, you might not love your husband yet. But are you willing to let your dignity be trampled on by other women? If it were me, as soon as someone dared to disturb my husband, I would confront them immediately. And don’t expect to escape from my wrath!”

After hearing this statement, Ghea couldn’t help but think throughout the day. She kept asking herself whether she would be willing if her husband were harassed by another woman.

Furthermore, after delivering documents from Randy’s office, as she was leaving, she saw Stella entering her husband’s office. For some reason, Ghea impulsively decided to eavesdrop on what the two of them might be discussing.

“Ran, it turns out the tender from yesterday got approved. Acacia was selected to get this big project,” Stella said, making Randy, who was sitting, immediately smile.

“Congratulations. Your hard work once again paid off. I hope in the future, more big clients will use our services.”

Stella smiled broadly.

“That’s why, to celebrate this moment, I want to invite you to have lunch together. Besides, it’s been a long time since we had lunch together. What do you think? Do you agree?”

Behind the door, Ghea sighed. Seeing her husband about to respond, without much thought, she quickly entered without waiting to be invited.

“Darling…” Ghea called out deliberately. For heaven’s sake, she had never uttered that sacred word to her husband before. And of course, her recent call successfully surprised both Randy and Stella.

“Ghea? Why?”

Ghea didn’t answer immediately. Approaching, and for the first time also grabbing Randy’s wrist, as if asking him to get up from his seat.

“Darling… I’m really hungry. Let’s go have lunch now. My stomach hurts so much. It feels like it’s twisting.”

“Have you not had lunch yet?”

Ghea pouted playfully. Her behavior was truly different from usual.

“No. I deliberately waited for my handsome husband to finish work first.”

Again, Randy was taken aback. What kind of medicine did his wife take? Why did she talk so confusedly?

“Besides, didn’t you promise that if I wanted to eat, you would accompany me?” Ghea continued. “Come on, let’s go eat. My stomach really hurts. It feels like it’s twisting.”

Randy, who was genuinely worried, then got up. Grabbing his phone, he prepared to leave.

“Alright. Let’s eat now.” Then Randy shifted his focus to Stella, who had been standing still. There was a clear disappointment on her face.

“Stella, thanks for the previous invitation. But, I’m sorry, I can’t make it. I have to accompany my wife for lunch first. Next time, we can go eat together with others.”

Without waiting for Stella’s response, Randy then left, holding Ghea intimately, to leave his office. Even before completely leaving the room, Ghea glanced back. She purposely stuck out her tongue, mocking Stella for failing to invite her husband to lunch together.