Chapter 11 Alice

Rico was about to go home when he saw someone familiar waiting outside his office. Rico's eyes widened in shock as he cannot believe who he was seeing. The woman waiting in front of his office turned to face him and when she saw him, she immediately waved her hand. "Rico...", she said with a soft smile. "A-Alice!", Rico was in shock and his bag fell on the ground. He ran towards the woman and hugged her instantly. "Where have you been?", Rico cried. "What's more important is… I'm back.", Alice smiled. They went inside a café to talk. ---- 'Mom… who is Rico's first love?", Dina probed curiously. These past few days Dina had been constantly asking questions about Rico. Her curiosity made Rico's mom happy. It just shows that Dina is quite interested in Rico lately. With this thought on her mind, she felt glad and was hoping that this interest would deepen and develop into a real romantic feeling. "Rico only had one girlfriend… it was his first love, Alice.", Rico's mom answered honestly. Alice? Her name sounded too childish, meant for nursery rhymes.,Dina commented on her mind. 'Rico and Alice became lovers ever since they were still high school. They are really commited with each other even during their college days. The foundation of their relationship is so sturdy that most of the people who knew them thought they would end up marrying together, even us. But Alice left Rico without telling why. It was too sudden… and even up to this day, we don't have any news from Alice.", Rico's mom added. "Maybe she was not able to tolerate his grumpiness anymore that's why she left.", Dina joked. Rico's mom just smiled because she was aware of Dina's tone somewhat hinted a little bit of insecurity. "Originally, Rico was not really grumpy, my child. He became like that when Alice left him. The truth is, Rico was a very warm and happy person towards everybody. But everything change, he began lifeless when Alice left him three years ago. That is why, we are truly happy when you agreed to marry him, my child. We believe that you will melt his cold heart and make it beat again.", Rico's mom happily said to Dina. Dina blushed which only made Rico's mom even happier. 'M-mom… of course stop hoping. It will never happen. I will never fall inlove with Rico because he is a bully AND he will never fall in love with me too. I will fight with him because he keeps on bullying me.", Dina was annoyed and hurriedly left before making herself be in a more embarrassing situation. Really… let's see…, Rico's mom thought while unable to hide her happy smile. --- 'I had anorexia nervosa, Rico. I don't want you to know at that time because I don't want you to worry with my embarrassing illness. I was slowly starving myself, making myself as thin as possible… making my self ugly to the point that I was almost killing myself for it. I don't know why I became like that. I don't want you to see my ugly situation and I made a choice…I need to hide and make myself healthy again for you. I went to America to find cure of this illness.", Alice explaine. Rico was shock, it never crossed his mind that Alice was suffering so much and he wasn't there to be with her. He looked at her, it was evident that his former lover had successfully combated against her illness. Although it has been three years already, Alice is still pretty. She looks thinner than she was the last time he could remember of her, you can still see her beauty. Alice's hair is now short, it is just up to her neck unlike before it was beyond her waist, like Dina's. There are few obvious changes but she is still the same Alice he once loved before… and he is happy to see her. 'Why? I would have had supported you, Alice. Our relationship is not that shallow.", Rico said in a low voice, his tone seems sad as if he missed the opportunity to show and prove his love for her. 'My illness is no joke, Rico… It was embarrassing and I was afraid. What if I died? It would have been good to hate me so that you can move on with your life easily… despite all, one of the reasons why I was able to fight my illness and did my best to overcome it was because of your promise. I healed myself because of you Rico, because your promise to me had become my strength to face my illness.",Alice said with full of emotions. Rico was taken aback and fell silent. 'But…", Rico sadly said and showed his hands to Alice. Alice was shocked to see that Rico is already an ring on his ring finger. "You are wearing a ring… is it a wedding…", Alice sadly commented as her voice broke, she was giving all her strength to stop her tears from falling. Rico nodded to confirm as her voice trailed of and not continuing what she was about to say. "I am married now, Alice.", Rico said with a sad tone. There was a hint of regret in his voice and he needs to tell the truth to Alice. Alice had become emotional, her smile faded away and was not able to hold back her tears. "I… I held on to your promise, Rico… You promised me that I will be the only woman you will marry becauseI am the only one you love.", Alice as if blaming Rico of her broken heart today. She keeps on crying while staring directly at Rico's eyes as if asking him why. "That was my intentions, Alice. You are the only one. And my marriage with another girl… is not like what you are thinking, Alice.", Rico frankly said and went on to tell the situation between him and Dina and why they end up getting married. "You are the only woman I loved, Alice.", Rico truthfully says. "I love you so much, Rico!", Alice emotionally exclaimed and went on to kiss Rico on his lips. Rico was so shock and immediately avoided Alice. Alice was confused why Rico avoided her. Rico noticed Alice's reaction of his sudden avoidance. He doesn't even know why he had done it too. Alice is the woman he loves and he just shunned her. "I am sorry, Alice. I was just surprised.", Rico humbly said. 'It's okay, Rico… atleast, base on your reaction, it seems that you are not used to kissing. That means it has been a long time since you have kissed someone that's why it made you feel uncomfortable. I am the only woman you have kissed, right?",Alice smiled mischievously as if remembering their sensual moments together. Rico wasn't able to answer Alice and felt guilty… because he kissed Dina willingly during their wedding. "I want to visit mom and dad… I mean, YOUR mom and dad, Rico.", Alice eventually broke their silence. Rico felt as if he was poured with cold water but he is fully aware there is nothing he could do but to agree because he can never say no to Alice. "O- Okay.", Rico agreed hesitantly. "I'm home!", Rico notified everyone when he arrived home. "RICO!---", Dina was excited to welcome Rico's arrival but she was surprised to see he was not alone. Rico is together with a pretty woman beside him. 'Hey, where's mom?", Rico acted like the usual to Dina. "She's in the kitchen, cooking our dinner.", Dina answered but her eyes are still locking into the pretty woman who arrived home with Rico. The pretty woman is also looking at Dina. Who is this woman?!, Dina wondered but she felt uneasy just by looking at her. Rico, as if he was able to read what's on Dina's mind began to speak. 'Oh Dina… by the way, this is Alice. Alice, Dina.", Rico introducing the two women with each other. Rico's words felt like thunder when Dina heard it. He said this woman is Alice! Rico's first love!, Dina was lost in her thoughts. She saw Alice reaching out her hand towards Dina to shake her hand. Alice look so gentle and dovelike, which only made Dina more annoyed. "Hello, Dina.", Alice simply greeted with a gentle smile on her face. Dina was displeased to see Alice's genuine smile. Her smile makes her even become prettier. Alice looks nice, prudent, and gentle. She is like an angel who is not capable of hurting even an ant… just like her exact opposite. Dina didn't receive her hand, she abided with the thought that she is the opposite of Rico's first love. If Alice is kind, well Dina is mean. Dina was irritated, she is so annoyed that she went to her room without welcoming Rico and his guest appropriately. She just left. "Hey Dina! That's rude!", Rico tried to reprimand Dina's unruly actions in front of Alice but Dina seems to heard nothing and continue to ignore them. "Alice, please understand Dina and don't get offended. That is Dina's usual behavior, sometimes even far worst than this.",Rico tried to explain to Alice. 'It's okay, Rico.", Alice answered Rico in a kind tone.