Last,Desire & Fading Mind

Like their first anniversary, their fifth one ends in the same way, without finishing dessert. Hand in hand, Nanette and Valdi leave the restaurant, their fingers intertwined, their hearts beating in sync. The soft glow of the hotel corridor lights guides them to their room, where Valdi wordlessly shuts the door behind them.

Before Nanette can say a word, Valdi sweeps her up into his arms, carrying her effortlessly to the king-sized bed. The dim lighting casts a golden hue on her skin as she looks up at him, surprised. This isn’t like him. Valdi has always been a tender lover, full of quiet adoration, but tonight, there’s something different in his eyes, a hunger, a desperation. Maybe it’s his way of apologizing. Maybe it’s guilt. Maybe it’s love. Or all three.

She barely has time to process it before his lips claim hers, urgent and heated. His hands roam her body, possessive yet reverent, as if he’s afraid she might slip away. Nanette lets herself be consumed by him, responding to his roughness with a passion that surprises even her. His touch, his movements, everything is raw, unfiltered, and for the first time in their marriage, they make love like two people starved for each other, not just as husband and wife, but as something more primal, more desperate.

When they finally collapse into each other, their breathing ragged, their bodies damp with sweat, Valdi tightens his arms around her, pressing his lips against her forehead.

“I love you,” he whispers, his voice thick with emotion. “And I’m sorry.”

Nanette runs her fingers through his hair, a small smile playing on her lips. “Are you apologizing for forgetting our anniversary or for playing rough?”

Valdi lifts his head slightly, chuckling, but before he can answer, Nanette continues, “Because if it’s the second one, you don’t need to. I liked it. It was… different. Maybe we should do it more often.”

Valdi lets out a deep breath, shaking his head with amusement. “I’m apologizing for both. But I have to admit, I liked it too.” He nuzzles into her neck, inhaling her scent as they lie in comfortable silence, limbs tangled together.

a while, he murmurs, “Is Viona staying with my mom?”

Nanette nods. “She’s spending the weekend there. It’s just us for the next two days.”

Valdi hums in satisfaction, running his fingers along her bare shoulder.

“Sounds perfect.”

Nanette hesitates for a moment before speaking. “Next week, I’m going to Malaysia for the Southeast Asian Economic Symposium. Mrs. Ike and I are representing my college.”

Valdi props himself up on one elbow, looking down at her. “Which city?”

"Kuala Lumpur. Why?”

Valdi twirls a strand of her hair around his finger, lost in thought. “I was just wondering if you’d run into Valdo.”

Nanette blinks. “Your brother?” She furrows her brows. “I almost forgot you even had a brother. I’ve never met him not when we were dating, not even after we got married.”

Valdi sighs. “He’s in Penang. When we got married, he had just started his security business, and his first big gig was protecting Andy Lau during his concert tour. He couldn’t come back, but he felt bad, so he gave us that Club Med honeymoon package in Pattaya.”

Nanette shakes her head. “I would’ve preferred my brother-in-law to actually be at our wedding instead of sending us a gift.”

Valdi chuckles. “Trust me, he wanted to be there. But that concert put his company on the map. Since then, he’s been the go-to guy for celebrity security in Asia.”

" Is he married?” Nanette asks, genuinely curious.

“Not even close. Two years ago, when he visited, he said he didn’t have time for relationships.” Valdi pauses. “Come to think of it, where were you when he came?”

Nanette lets out an exasperated sigh. “Seriously, Valdi? You don’t remember? I was on a cruise with my parents, my sisters and the kids.”

Valdi frowns. “Oh. Right.”

Nanette tilts her head. “Are you okay? Lately, you’ve been forgetting a lot.”

He forces a smile. “Just stress from work.”

She studies his face for a moment but decides to let it go. Instead, she sits up, stretching lazily. “I’m taking a shower. Can you grab my lingerie from the suitcase?”

Valdi nods, watching as she disappears into the bathroom. He gets up, pulling her suitcase onto the bed, and inputs the combination….Their wedding date. The lock clicks open, but as he stares into the suitcase, confusion washes over him.

What did she ask for again? His mind blanks.

A strange unease settles in his chest. He can’t even remember the exact words she used. He knows she asked for something, but for the life of him, he can’t recall what. His hands clench into fists as frustration wells up inside him.

“Dear, where’s my lingerie?” Nanette calls from the bathroom.

Valdi quickly grabs the first set he sees. a red lace piece and walks to the bathroom. As he pushes the door open slightly, he catches a glimpse of her, wrapped in a towel, her skin glistening.

He smirks. “You know, there’s no need for towels between us.”

Nanette laughs. “Maybe tomorrow. Tonight, I just want to sleep.”

Valdi watches her retreat to the bed, and as he steps into the shower, his thoughts return to his memory lapses. It’s not normal, he realizes.

Forgetting small things is one thing, but not remembering their anniversary, not recalling conversations from mere minutes ago it’s unsettling.

He turns off the water abruptly and grabs his phone, quickly typing a message to Lucas, his high school best friend and a neurologist.

Lucas, I need to see you. When are you available?

Almost immediately, a read receipt appears, followed by a reply.

Next week. I’m at a seminar in Bali right now.

Valdi exhales sharply. That means he’ll have to wait until Nanette is in Malaysia.

Okay

He puts his phone away and steps out of the bathroom, drying off as he watches Nanette, already curled up in bed, her breathing steady.

He climbs in beside her, pulling her close, pressing a lingering kiss to her temple. For now, he pushes his worries aside. He still has two days to make things up to her.

Tomorrow, he’ll take her shopping, buy her that diamond necklace he saw last week. Anything to make her happy.

But deep down, the unease lingers.

What’s happening to him?

And what if this is only the beginning?