My Ex Next Door

Brent was so shocked to see the picture of his sister next to his former gang boss. He picked up the pen and paper that fell on the floor and put it on the table.

"this is not a Photoshop, is it?" he asked with suspicious. Ken shook his head.

He clenched his chest, he could not believe that his sister who wore a diaper until she was seven was the ex-fiancee of his previous boss, and worst she left him,

Novie left a perfect man.

He took the phone and zoomed the picture.

"This is my sister. Oh my God! I will need to ask my mom if Novie has a twin. This couldn't be her she's a very simple woman" he stated

The man laughed by his words," it's her, I just don't know why she never mentioned me to her family" Ken took his phone back and locked it.

Brent lay both of his hand on his knee and massage it a slowly while thinking.

"she's my sister but did she threatened you to be her boyfriend?" his brows snapped together, confused.

Ken continued laughing, "no, so can you help me?"

Brent twitched his lips, "Yes, I will, but she's too ordinary for you and she's a dwarf, I can't picture her being your girlfriend" Brent exclaimed.

When Ken stood up, Brent's eyes followed him. The man took something out of the closet and handed it to him.

Brent stared at it, when ken opened it, his eyes widened.

"I've seen this before," he asked if he can touch it and Ken said ok while laughing, his reaction was too funny for him.

Brent narrowed his eyes and stared at it

"where have you seen it?" Ken asked.

Brent put the ring back and sighed, "her phone's wallpaper was a hand with an engagement ring. I thought she got from Google out of bitterness but I guess it's real" His words shock Ken, he sat next to Brent and the man moved away, giving him a space to sit.

When Ken put a hand on Brent's shoulder, the man stared at it and looked back at him.

(Wow. He really likes that mushroom woman) Brent stated inside.

"If she still has that picture as a wallpaper it means she still has feelings for me. Right?" ken asked.

Brent pressed his lips, " well. I am not really sure " he replied.

"why?" ken asked.

"she lost her phone while she's at the beach, and her phone's new wallpaper now has a picture of our previous cat" after saying those words, Brent saw the sadness in his boss eyes.

He thought of a way to cheer him up.

"Novie started writing her diary after she came back five years ago. Maybe you can read it to see if she wrote anything about you" he suggested.

The man went silent.

"I will not do that. It's her diary and I can't read it without her consent" Brent nodded, he had huge respect to Ken Chu as his former boss but knowing his soft side only ignited it.

"well, I can show you her childhood picture. Who knows, maybe your love for her will disappear once you saw her ugly side" Brent laughed and stood up

"I will go to my apartment, I have all the photo in there" then he walks to the door.

"Thank you, I appreciate that" Ken extended his hand to him, he accepted it and left the place.

Meanwhile, Ken sighed, he had never seen any of Novie's childhood photo and now that her brother is on his side; he had a good feeling that he will get her back in no time.

Thinking that he decided to take a shower. It's almost 5 in the afternoon. Soon it will be dinner and he doesn't have an idea of how he can eat.

He never cooked, clean, and he doesn't even know how to make a coffee and without a maid in his side, he's afraid that he will die first before he can have a chance to novie.

--

Novie was helping her mother to prepare the dinner when she suddenly thought of Ken.

(That man doesn't know how to cook) she worried, Ken grew up with maids around doing everything for him all he needed to do was to breathe.

She blows a sigh and sat on the chair opposite to her mother. Their rectangular table can fit in six people so the thought of inviting ken flash in her mind.

(No, I said I will move on which mean I should eat without thinking of him) she reminded herself.

"Angelo. Do you think the neighbor has eaten? he's too muscular to cook" her mother stated while serving the food to her father.

The man looked at Novie, "go to the neighbor and ask if he wants to join us to dinner" he ordered.

Novie widened her eyes, (hey I am trying to move on here people, stop pushing me to him) she wants to say those words but her parents don't know about her past relationship.

"what about Brent? He's a man I Don't think a girl going to a stranger house is appropriate" she pouted

Suddenly her mother hit her head, "Your father asked you to go to the neighbor house to ask him to eat not to sleep with him" Novie rolled her eyes and got up with a heavy foot.

She walks out of their house as slow as she can but the distance is too short.

While walking she tried to construct the sentence in her mind

(Ok Novie. You only need to knock and ask him if he wants to eat"

Her lips trembles, she bites it and tried to compose her body.

She finally reached the doorstep, the door was closed. She exhaled and shut her eyes

Before knocking she practices her line.

"Hi Ken, my father is asking if you want to join us for a dinner."

(Whoa that should be easy), she exclaimed inside.

She knocked twice, and the door opened,

(!!!)

Novie's eyes widened to see his broad chest right in front of her eyes when she lowered it to his abdomen, a silent gasp let out from her throat, she immediately turned her back after realizing that he only has a towel around him.

"I- towel, you have a towel" she stuttered.

The man chuckled and lay his arm on the door.

"Do you prefer to see me without a towel?" he teasingly said.

Novie covered her mouth of out embarrassment. She gulped and tried to compose herself.

" yes...what? No..." she blurted. ( oh my god! I am dead) she wants to slap herself for saying those words.

The man chuckled once again. "give me a minute" then Novie heard his footsteps leaving.

She turned around and saw him getting inside the room.

When he came out, he has a shirt and pants.

(Why does he needs to be this handsome?) she thought.

"what is it?" he asked and widened the door for her.

(Damn it! I totally forgot about the food) she curses after she forgot the main reason why she's here.

"My father is asking if you had eaten" she lowered her face, unable to meet his grey eyes.

"I tried to cook but I don't know how to start the stove " a small smile curved up her lips, she lifted her face and saw him scratching his hair like an embarrassed little boy.

"then... I guess you can join us. Brent is not here so you can have his portion."

She turned around without waiting for his response but she can feel him following her.