"Where were you?" He questioned.

Without looking at him, I said, "At...the...the cafe..."

He hummed in response said nothing else for which I was grateful and at the same time not because I liked hearing him speak especially if he is talking to me normally, not yelling at me or something.

I guess we won't be having any conversation...

I sighed softly as we both sat on the threshold waiting for someone to come and fix the lock.

I could have used my phone to pass the time but I was too embarrassed to since he saw me staring at his picture.

He must hate me even more now.

What must he be thinking? That I stare at his pictures like a creep all day long?

But still, I couldn't help but look at his side profile hoping I was subtle at it. He was resting his head back on the door, his eyes closed, a frown etched on his forehead, his jawline on which I wanted to run my finger on. My eyes trailed down to his throat, to his Adam's apple.

Gradually, my thoughts started to go a little wild, my cheeks warming up so I quickly shook my head to clear my head.

And then his head tilted towards me, he half opened his eyes. "What?"

Why the hell does this always happens with me?!

"N-n-nothing." I stammered.

He looked bored. "You want to say something?"

I shook my head. "N-no."

He let out an exasperated sigh and rolled his eyes. "You know...a picture lasts longer." Then he lifted his head completely and his tone turned sarcastic. "Oh, wait. You already have my picture. Or should I say pictures?"

My eyes widened, if I wasn't blushing earlier, I was now. "It's not w-what you think! I...I...was..."

He deadpanned. "I know exactly what it is. You don't need to give excuses."

My breath hitched. He knows about my feelings?

Before I could defend myself, my stomach decided that it was a very awesome time to growl loudly since I didn't have dinner yet.

Someone please shoot me right now. Please.

I was quick to look away, pressing my palm against my stomach hoping it won't growl again.

"Did you not have dinner?"

"No..."

"Why? You couldn't have eaten something at the cafe? What were you doing there if you didn't eat?" He shot questions at me and I didn't know how to reply to them.

"I...wanted to...cook something...for dinner... that's why..." And my stomach growled again. Oh, for fuck's sake!

I heard him mutter. "You've got to be kidding me."

"I'm sorry." I mumbled.

He stood up and folded his arms across his chest. "Come on."

"Huh?"

He jerked his head towards his car parked outside. "I am buying you some food. Now get up."

Surprised, I got up slowly and started to follow him towards his car. A black Aston Martin DB11 was parked right there and I almost gasp at its beauty.

He unlocked it and gestured me to sit inside. Hesitantly, I sat on the passenger's seat. Before starting the engine, he flung an exasperated look to me. "Seatbelt."

"Oh..." I started to put on the seatbelt but since my hands were trembling, I fumbled with it for some time.

He noticed my problem and shifting closer, leaned in making me pause completely, the belt dropping from my hand.

Instead, he grabbed it himself, by now his face was too close to me that I could hear him breathing softly. And if I leaned a little closer, my lips would touch the corner of his mouth easily but I removed that thought from my head before I could get any ideas.

He put on the seatbelt for me and when I thought he would shift back, he faced me completely, placing one of his palm on the window while the other resting on the headrest above me.

Leaning even more closer so that the tip of his nose brushed mine, he stared at me intensely. "Don't even think of uttering a word about Harlow to my parents. Understood?" Oh, he was refering to what happened this morning.

"Since they seem to love you so much, don't go on and tell them everything." He added.

They love me? I wouldn't be so sure of that. They hardly know me, why will they love me?

His eyes narrowed when I didn't say anything so I whispered softly, "I won't."

His lips curled up into a slight smirk and he put his lips near my ear, for a second his lips brushed my ear gently. Just for a second. "Good girl", he said in a whisper which sounded a little husky.

And all the blood in my body rushed south.

And then finally, he shifted back and revving the engine, drove away.

I sat like a statue the whole ride still comprehending what exactly happened. Is he doing all this deliberately? To trouble me?

"You want fast food or some proper food?"

Fast food will cost him much less than some proper food. And there's no way I am going to waste his money.

"Fast food."

Minutes later, we were at a MC Donald's drive thru and I told him my order making sure I didn't order anything much expensive.

Later, my mouth watered at the sight of the Mc spicy chicken burger and normal fries but I realised he didn't buy anything for himself.

Does he not eat burgers?

I felt bad to eat without offering him as he drove us back to his house. So I extended the box of fries towards him.

"D-do you want...some...?"

He eyed the fries and then me and then back at the road. "No."

Disappointed, I placed the fries back on my lap and picked up the burger instead. "Burger?"

"No", he said coldly.

"Are you not hungry?"

"No." He only gave me short answers but he added a few seconds later. "I had dinner already." With Harlow. I added in my mind.

"Oh..." And I silently ate my burger.

.
.
.

I knew today would be good cause the first thing I saw on opening my eyes was Sorin's beautiful face, sleeping peacefully.

Usually he sleeps with his back towards me but this morning, he faced me.

My fingers itched to touch his face and slowly lifting my hand I brought it up to his cheeks but before I could touch his cheeks I realised what I was doing and quickly retracted my arm.

What if he had woken up and saw me touching him? He would have thought that I was taking advantage of him and then he might never ever share a room with me.

And it's wrong to touch him like that, without his permission, to touch him even though I know he hates me.

Fighting against my thoughts, I got up and took a shower before heading downstairs and making some breakfast.

I made french toast for breakfast and after plating them topped it with some berries and it looked so good that I even took a picture of it but my mood dampened on knowing that he won't even look at it.

It's okay...maybe one day he will pity me a little and eat some of it.

It's okay...

It's okay...

It's okay...

I heard him walking downstairs so I composed myself and tried putting on a small smile on my face.

Disappointment flooded through me when as usual he walked past the kitchen but then he stopped and turning around came inside the kitchen.

His eyes swept over the plates of French toast and he sighed and said in a gentle tone, "Don't bother to make breakfast. I already told you that."

With my eyes lowered and my fingers fiddling with each other, I spoke, "I can't do that..."

"Fine. Do whatever you want." He turned around to leave.

"Wait!" My mouth spoke before my mind could process.

He shot me an exasperated look over his shoulder. "What?"

"I have a question..." I murmered.

He turned around and glanced at his wrist watch. "I am getting late. Make it quick."

"Why didn't you...marry...Harlow...?" The question stayed suspended in the air. He just stared at me.

I have no idea why I asked that, he is not going to tell me.

I should apologise instead, he won't like that I am trying to pry into his private life--

"Our fathers were close friends." He told me and my head snapped up to him in astonishment. He stood there with his arms folded across his chest. "They started the company together but despite the love and care and support dad showered on him, he betrayed him in a way that made us almost bankrupt. Dad had to begin from scratch. Harlow and I are childhood friends but after what her father did, dad didn't approve of our relationship cause he believes that a cheater's daughter is also going to be a cheater."

That's kind of wrong of his dad to judge her like that. But I see his point of view too.

"Anything else?" He asked.

I shook my head. "That's it."

But an idea sparked in my head and added promptly, "One more thing."

He glanced at his wrist watch once again. "You have three minutes."

"Why don't you divorce me and marry Harlow instead...?"

"Did you not hear what I just said? My parents doesn't like her." And he rolled his eyes. "They like you instead."

I brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. "Oh...then...what if I start to create a bad image of myself infront of your parents...then they will...hate me...and...you can...d-divorce me...and marry her instead..."

He looked perplexed, completely and utterly. But was quick to mask his emotions and took a few steps towards me.

He doesn't need to come close everytime because being near him makes me go mad all sort of thoughts run through my mind. Thoughts which are illegal in my situation.

As I precaution, I took a step back and this continued untill my legs hit the kitchen countertop and he placed his hands on either side of me.

He whispered in my ear, "And why exactly do you want to do that?"

For your happiness. To see you happy, I would do anything.

Our close proximity was messing up with my brain making it difficult to form words. "I...I j-just..."

"You want to get rid of me?" His hot breath fanned my cheeks.

"Don't you too?" I shot back.

He tilted his head, smirking slightly. "Aren't you feisty?" My cheeks started to heat up.

"Y-you...you a-re... getting...late..." I managed to speak somehow.

"Right."

And before he pulled back, he made sure to whisper huskily in my ear, "I like the idea though."

And then he just left.

Chapter completion on: 28/4/22
Published on: 11/5/22