My Ex Next Door

In Ken's apartment…

Novie walks back and forth nervously in front of Ken who was sitting on the couch and watching TV, she tried to block his sight but the man didn't care that her whole body was shaking from the news he gave. When Ken suddenly laughed, she rested both hands on her hips and glared at him.

Seems like Ken was able to detect her presence, he sighed and turned off the television, when he tried to reach for her hand, Novie took a step back while her eyes were focused at him.

"What is it?" Ken asked in a dull tone, he leaned his back on the couch and put both legs on the center table.

Novie's expression turned sour, she slapped Ken's legs from the table that made it drop on the floor.

"I told you! Don't put your legs on the table" she slashed out and continued to walk back and forth, she has been nervous since earlier, and Ken told her that Daniella is coming but it's been almost two hours and the woman is still missing.

"Novie, you are making me dizzy. Please sit down or try to sleep" she looked at him who had his eyes following all of her movements but Novie could not sit back, her brain keeps on thinking why did Daniella hypnotize her brother.

"I can't sleep or sit ok? If you feel dizzy, then stop looking at me" she blurted and clenched both of her fists.

"But you don' want me to watch, what else can I do?" Ken brushed both hands on his face as he speaks.

"Make some coffee" she replied while looking at his phone, waiting for Daniella's message.

"But it's midnight, who drinks coffee at this time" Ken sighed and got up. When she saw him walking to the kitchen, she followed him while nibbling on her lower lips.

"When is she coming?" she nervously asked, if she remembered it right, it's been her tenth times asking him the same question.

Before answering, Ken sighed and closed the refrigerator after he took a bottle of water.

"Soon… Novie… soon" as he said those words, the doorbell rang. Ken who was drinking his water almost choke on it when he saw how swiftly Novie disappeared from the kitchen.

He wiped his lips and chuckled, "This woman sure knows how to run" he shook his head and walked to the living room, but the people he saw that was standing by the door was not Daniella, instead it was Novie's family.

He gulped and looked at the wall clock, and he was right, it is midnight which made him wonder why they came here at this hour.

"Good Evening, is there something wrong?" Ken spoke and asked them to sit.

No one replied to his question, suddenly the living room became quiet which made his heart skips a beat.

(Wait! They are not here to take Novie back, are they?) he asked himself.

In the other side, Novie was a little disappointed to see her parents instead of Daniella, she pouted while widening the door for her family.

"What are you doing here?" she asked as they all seated on the couch.

Angelo and Mary occupied the long couch while Brent seated on the single sofa opposite to them. Novie sat down on the single sofa similar to Brent while Ken sat on the armchair where she was sitting.

The couple waited for Novie's parent to speak but they just stared at them, weighing the situation.

"I don't know why you're all here but I am expecting Daniella to come by, so if there's something wrong please tell me now" Novie spoke in an anxious tone, all the ominous expression of the people around is making her feel jittery.

Angelo cleared his throat and looked at his wife before speaking.

"Novie, we have something to tell you" he started. Novie gulped repeatedly, she didn't like the tone her father was giving and based on all the dramas and novels she had been watching and reading, parents usually spoke like this when they're about to tell her that she's adopted or they don't want her for Ken.

Her face paled as she thought of that.

"Wait…" she put a hand in the air asking her father to stop.

"You're not here to tell me that you want me to leave Ken right?" her eyes went round as she stares at Ken.

" No… No…" Angelo replied while shaking his head vigorously.

Novie sighed in relief, "So… why are here? Don't tell me I am adopted?" her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Her father sighed and hardened his face which made her lips sealed.

"Novie, listen… You are not adopted and we are not going to ask you to leave Ken but what we are about to tell you is about your life… We have been keeping this for so long and I think now is the time for you to know the truth" her father spoke in a deep voice which made her knee trembles in nervous.

She gulped repeatedly and wait for him to continue.

"When your mom and I met, I was with someone else" her father started. Novie's lips parted a little in shock and before her father could continue, she interrupted him.

"So… mama is your mistress?" she asked in incredulity. Her father's expression turned blank. When he parted his lips to answer her question, Novie shook her head, uncertainty was painted all over her face.

"OMG! I can't believe this… So do I have like… a half brother or sister or some..." before she could continue, she saw a throw pillow flying towards her direction, she shut an eye and wait for it to land on her face but Ken catches it.

When her eyes opened, she saw her brother grinning.

"Let him talk and stop asking..." as Brent said those words, he throws one of the pillows to her direction and once again, ken catches it.

"I am sorry, but I can't let you hurt her" Ken put the pillow on the floor and ask Angelo to continue.

Meanwhile, Novie was mesmerized by Ken bravery, she stared at him with her eyes shining in delight.