Back to the Liao's residence…

Rika set her laptop on the living area. "The bedroom is too lonely." She muttered, sighing as she preferred staying in the said area of the house. Moreover, at the very least, she could welcome her husband once he arrives… if he would arrive.

​​

As Rika turned on her laptop, she sassed convincing herself to see the brighter outlook. "Riks, no need to be sad about it. Your husband is saving lives. Be thankful that he's not cheating at the very least." However, she rolled her eyes at her last remarks.

"As if that is the only basis to ruin the marriage." She sighed heavily, fanning herself before forcing the side of her lips upward. "Distraction." She stated, clearing her throat as she watched her laptop brightened up.

Immediately, Rika clicked on her email and saw tons of files from Abigail. One after another, Rika narrowed her eyes as she scrolled through the scripts that were sent to her. "Organize as always." She murmured, noticing that Abigail separate the scripts by their genre.

Rika automatically skipped the romance genre as she had starred on too many of them. If she was going to come back, she wanted something different. A role she never did before; a challenge that would occupy her mind from the melancholic days.

"Hmm…" She hummed, sighing as she opened up a script which she immediately closed just by reading half of the plot. "Not going to happen, Manager Abi." She clicked her tongue, shaking her head sideways.

Apparently, the first script she read was about a female serial killer. The script given to her was that serial killer role and not some investigator to solve the mystery. "My husband saves life while his wife will act as a psycho, duh?" She rolled her eyes once again, opted to read the next script.

Sure, the role was something she never did before. Abigail must' have had thought that it was a good role for her comeback, although a little scandalous, she trusted Rika's talent. However, Rika as a devoted wife felt that it didn't fit her taste.

Especially, Jaime had been busy saving lives at the cost of neglecting his own marriage. How could she throw shades by taking lives for fun even if it just a role? She might be a heavily upset by being neglected by her husband, but that didn't mean she already lost her love towards him.

She wouldn't be sad if she doesn't love him anymore; it was the opposite. She was in love and still madly in love with Jaime that it ripped her heart apart at times like this. Regardless, Rika decided to stay and give him more love despite the lack of affection in return.

Just as Rika was busy reading the next script after trashing another one, her phone rang. Glancing to her left side where her phone was resting, her brows knitted seeing Eli's number on the screen. "Why is he calling?" She wondered, sprawling her arms to reach for the phone.

"Hello, Superstar." The second the line connected, Rika greeted. She rested her back on the sofa as she stretched her legs under the small table.

*SILENCE*

What answered Rika was silence from the phone, causing her right eyebrow to arch. "What is it?" She asked, sensing the thick dilemma from the other end of the line.

The next second, she heard a heavy sigh. "I guess that's my cue to stop myself from teasing you for fun." Rika sighed, sensing that Eli called not because he was bored from living his life the fullest but seemed to be in great dilemma.

"How are you and Jaime?" After a while, Rika finally heard Eli's gloomy voice.

"Not any better than you and Mika." She shrugged, tilting her head back until the back of her head rested on the sofa's seat cushion. "At least, not as worse than you and Mika." She added, failing to resist on dissing Eli and ex-lover's relationship.

Not long after Rika tied the knot with Jaime, Eli found his 'love of his life', or what he claimed. Although Eli had been in numerous relationship which was supported by his fans, he never truly disclosed the information.

However, with Mika, Eli had flexed her all the time. Still, Lexi and Rika didn't quite like the woman's arrogant personality. Why? Mika demanded him to stay away from the two of them. Well, not that they didn't understand because the said lady was bashed by EliXi shippers and ElRika shippers.

Indeed, those fans were still hopeful despite that Lexi and Rika were already married. Still, out of gut feeling and unknown reason, Rika and Lexi didn't like Eli's girlfriend. They tried; it was just that Mika's personality was different.

"I beg to disagree. There's no US." From the other end of the line, Eli corrected as he frowned.

"Bitter." Rika teased, chuckling as she shrugged her shoulders. "Told you she's bad news, yet you're still drinking after six months."

"Oh, for Pete's sake! I'm not drinking because of her, okay?" Annoyed, Eli argued aggressively.

"Then, why are you drinking now?" Without a second hesitation, Rika arched her right brow. Although she didn't have proof that he was under the influence of alcohol, she could tell as they were friends for a long time.

"Just…" His voice trailed off because Rika interrupted.

"Oh, wait! Let me grab a bottle of wine. I think I want to drink too, but drinking alone is a little sad — one minute!" Rika immediately assisted herself up from the floor, sprinting towards the their wine cellar.

"You always know how to ruin my moment…" Eli sighed, waiting for her to comeback so they could continue. While he does so, Eli glanced through the mirror of his balcony to see the residence's garden that was under construction.

"Back~!" After three minutes, Eli heard Rika's gleeful voice and the sound of a cork being opened. "So, why are you drinking?" She asked before placing the wine's bottleneck before her lips.

"You said one minute, but it took you more than that. Also, use wine glass — geez!" Eli nearly rolled his eyes, imagining Rika drinking directly from the bottle. It was a habit of her which Eli grown familiar with. Thus, despite not seeing her, he already guessed what she was doing.

"Hey, it's a special day, alright? It's my first wedding anniversary and my husband is not here! I plan to drink my sorrow away!" In contrast, of her supposed sad claims, her tone was rather lively with a slight combination of sarcasm. "How about you? What's the purpose of your tonight's drink?" She asked, raising her eyebrows as she waited for his response.

For a moment, the line was enveloped with nothing but utter silence. Yet, Rika was patient enough to wait for whatever words that would come out from his lips.

Not long after, Eli finally broke his silence. "Grandma had a heart attack days ago." He paused, sliding the balcony's door open before he went out.

"What? Really?" Surprised, Rika covered her lips by her palm. "Is Grandma okay? Gosh! Don't tell me…"

"No, she's not dead." Before she could have a funny conclusion, Eli immediately reassured her that his beloved grandmother was still alive, thankfully.

"Gosh… good grief." Rika sighed in relief, patting her chest as she calmed down. "So you're drinking because you thought you lost Grandma?"

"No." Without batting an eye, Eli answered.

"Huh? Then, why?" Puzzled, Rika knitted her brows together as she rubbed her chin. Knowing Eli was a grandmother's boy, it was understandable that he would be sad. Still, on a second thought, he would rather stay with his grandmother's side instead of drinking.

"I lied." As soon as Eli dropped that confession, he closed his eyes as another distressed sigh slip past his lips.

"Huh?"

"She wants me to marry and arranged a marriage for me." He clarified, causing Rika to almost choke Rika out of thin air.

"What?! You're getting married?!" Shocked by the incomplete news, Rika exclaimed with her eyes wide open. "Oh, Em Gee!" She stressed, blinking her widely opened eyes ever so slowly as she imagined Eli being in an arranged marriage.

"No." Eli shook his head, rubbing his palms against his face.

"Huh?" Confused again, Rika's face squeeze together. "Can you please finish the details in one go because I'm getting confused here?" Annoyed at this push and pull conclusion in her head, Rika sassed.

"Let me finish, okay? Apparently, I told her I'm dating someone and we're in a very serious relationship. Grandma thought, I'm still not over Mika, that's why. After all, she also doesn't like her." Eli summarized the problem in the shortest but most accurate as possible.

It took Rika minutes to process his last statements. When she absorbed the absurdity of the news, she gasped, momentarily forgetting her heartache. "You, WHAT?"

"I know."

"Gong Elliot!"

"Ughh… do you know a decent person whom I can date and maybe like for real? I don't know. To be honest, I'm going crazy too." Upon Rika's disappointed call, Eli sighed as he massage his temples. "Don't tell Ethan. He will rat me out to Grandma, or he will accidentally tell her." Eli said, scratching the back of his head.

"Gosh… why did you tell me and made me carry this burden with you?" Annoyed, Rika let out a deep exhale before chugging a mouthful of wine. "Fine! I'll see what I can do!" Regardless of her disappointment, she couldn't really leave him alone. They were friends, and Rika knew the situation must be more pressing that pushed him to lie.