“IS THIS your house?” Ken asked when Laurie stopped in front of an old-looking mahogany door. Its paint was fading and doesn’t look like a door where a woman lives. He sighed. This is far from the lifestyle that he gave to her before.

“Do you think we’ll stop here if it wasn’t my house?” Laurie asked sarcastically that made Ken’s brows furrowed.

He looked around the hallway and even noticed the busted lights on the ceiling. The whole pathway looked like the ones he watched in horror movies. There are also cobwebs on some corners, which only added an eerie feel to the place. Ken brushed his shoulders unwarily.

“Are you still afraid in the dark?” Laurie asked. She was suppressing a grin, and Ken sensed that she’s laughing out loud at him in her mind. “Don’t tell me that you’re still watching horror movies?”

Ken arched a brow. “I thought you’ve forgotten about me since that day?” he asked in a slow grin. He wished that Laurie would cool down her temper towards him and gave him a chance.

Laurie looked away and pretended she’s looking for her keys inside her bag. “Can you still take your pee longer? I couldn’t find my keys.”

“How will you find it in this dark hallway?” He took out his phone and opened his flashlight. “Here. I’ll give light to your world.”

Laurie didn’t answer. She found the keys under the piled things inside her bag and quickly inserted them into the doorknob. She opened the door, and the darkness welcomed them. Ken swallowed hard and scooted closer to Laurie as they stepped inside her house. Ken was still afraid in the dark, and his phobia got worse when Laurie left him.

“Could you open the lights?” he asked, sounded disturbed. “I-I can’t see the way.”

Laurie snorted. “You’re just afraid,” she said and swept him away. “Move away. The switches are here.” In a matter of seconds, the whole room lit up. “The toilet is around the corner, to the right side of the kitchen.”

Ken roamed his eyes in her house. There were a lot of indoor plants, which made the ambiance of the small space cooler. There’s one flat-screen TV hanging on the wall, a couch, a coffee table in the middle, and a small dining table in the kitchen. The door beside the TV must be her bedroom.

“So this is where you live…” he said and put his hands on his pockets as he turned to her. “You left the house I bought for you in Paris to live in a place like this?”

Laurie’s expression became dull. “I don’t want to talk about it, Ken,” she said and looked straight into his eyes. “It’s been years. I’ve moved on from you—”

“No, Laurie, no one’s going to move on between us,” he said, clenching his jaw. “Do you know why I went here to the Philippines?”

“Why are you acting as if you are the victim here, Ken?” Laurie snapped, her voice raised. “Let me remind you, Ken, it was you who committed infidelity. It was you who had another woman in our own bed—”

“Did you ever listen to my explanation, Laurie?” Ken asked, not taking his eyes off her. “Did you ever ask me why and waited for me to tell my side?”

“Is it important? I saw you in my own eyes, Ken!” Tears shone in the corner of her eyes. “You and your woman, naked in bed…” She clenched her jaw. “I know that you knew I have a million reasons to leave you, but I still chose to stay! But what did you do in return? You cheated on me! So, tell me, wasn’t it enough for me to leave you?”

Ken lowered his head. “Something happened in that day, Laurie—”

“I know,” Laurie cut off. “You were in a meeting with an investor, right? You even refused to answer my calls. But I understand because it’s work-related. What made me wonder was, why did you have to call me and tell me to meet you at our house?” She looked at him. “Was it planned, Ken?”

“No, Laurie,” he said immediately. He wanted to explain, but he couldn’t find the courage to start.

“Ken, you promised me that you’ll stop with your obsession. I even sacrificed myself for your adjustments, right? But what did you do? You chose to go further for that fucking obsession!” she shouted angrily and looked at him disgustingly. “I can’t believe I let you use my body for almost two years—”

“I told you, Laurie. Something happened that day! I-I just can’t refuse—”

“Dammit!” she screamed. “You ruined my trust to you, Ken…” Her voice cracked, and tears fell from her eyes. “That night, I told myself that I’ve come this far, so I will just stay by your side and wait for you to retrieve yourself, Ken... I was excited to say to you, but what did you do? You chose to be with another woman on our first wedding anniversary…”

“Laurie, I’m sorry…” Ken tried to hold her hand, but she pushed him away.

“I don’t need that sorry anymore, Ken,” she said in a stern voice as she wiped her tears. “I told you, I’ve moved on. I don’t care about you anymore or whatever you wanted to do in your life,” she smirked. “I am not the weak and soft Laurie that you met before, Ken.”

Ken studied her face. “Really?” He stepped closer to her. “You can resist me now, Laurie?” He brushed his fingers down her arm and stopped on her elbow. “I changed too, Laurie,” Ken whispered against her ear as he stepped even closer to her. “I changed when you left me…”

“Ken, stop—” Laurie stepped back, but Ken hooked his arm on her waist. “Stop this, Ken!”

“Why, Laurie? You’re afraid that you can’t resist me?” he asked and pulled her closer. When their lips were just an inch away from each other, Ken brushed his lips to her cheek and smelled her scent that didn’t change. “I missed your scent, Laurie…” he whispered and kissed her cheek down to her neck.

Laurie tried to push him, but Ken didn’t budge. “Ken…” She protested when he nipped on her neck and licked her skin. “Stop this, please…” she said and pushed him again. “Ken—”

“Why do I feel like you wanted me to continue?” he asked on top of her lips as his hand went down on her back and stayed on her hip. “Hmm, Laurie?”

Laurie’s wide eyes were focused on him as if shocked by everything that he’s doing. “W-why are you doing this, Ken?”

A smile formed on Ken’s lips. That’s what I wanted to hear from you… “I want you to yearn for me again, Laurie…” he said and pushed her towards the wall. “I want you to need me badly like the way you were before.” He whispered. “I want to hear you screamed my name again as I drove you crazy in bed. I want to see your flushed face as I gave you the satisfaction that you wanted, Laurie… I want you badly.”

Ken pinned her on the wall and ravished her half-open lips. Laurie wanted to protest, but Ken pressed his lips even harder until she surrendered and let him invade her fantasies again. 

***