॥The Wrong One॥

Vodia’s conviction resounded in her ears as she continued to look at him. Her heart going out to the man who loved her, who had finally told her.

But something told her that she couldn’t tell him what he wanted to hear. She had to trust herself.

Slowly, she lay her head back down onto Vodia’s chest, her upper body moving with each and every breath he took, the fast thumping of his heart sang a lullaby as she felt completely safe.

A small smile graced her lips as her eyes fluttered closed.

She just had to trust herself.

॥The Wrong One॥

The next morning, Vodia woke up to find himself still settled snugly under Kayana, but he had to struggle to hold in his laugh, incase he woke her.

At some point throughout the night she had adjusted herself so she was straddling his waist, her arms underneath his shirt and circling his lower waist. Her head was tilted upwards, so as she breathed out, her breath fanned his face and he wrinkled his nose.

But he couldn’t be happier.

Circling his own arms around her, he continued to stare at her beautiful and not proper face. He was glad that she was finally being herself.

He didn’t have time for the doubts that continued to linger on his mind, this was day one of the last three days he would have with her. And he’d be damned if he was going to waste it. He was surely going to give her an experience she’d never forget.

Bracing himself, her securely wrapped an arm around her, and turned, so they both fell on the floor, his body protecting hers from the hard floor. The fall did what he wanted it to do, and she awoke with a start, her hair dancing in a birds nest above her as the longer tendrils brushed his bared chest.

Her eyes flitted around the room and her mouth hung open as her sleepy brain registered that there was no murderer in the house and it was instead the shaking man underneath her.

Slapping her arm on his open chest, she glared at him.

“Vodia! Why’d you do that?” In her state of rage, she hadn’t noticed that she had practically yelled at him. Though it seemed that neither did a laughing Vodia.

Kayana watched Vodia laugh, one of those real, eyes smiling and teeth showing laughs that came from deep within him and she was mesmerised. She knew he was a handsome man, but today she had gotten proof.

Once he had calmed down, she resumed her angry stance again, sitting up and crossing her arms. Vodia pulled his arms back behind his head and stared at her morning face, a smile on his own.

“Well?”

Kayana’s lip had pouted out so deliciously that Vodia couldn’t help but reach up and tap it, grinning all the while.

“Time to get up beautiful.” And with that, he bent his upper body up so that he was directly in front of Kayana, wrapping his arms around her as soon as he saw that she noticed that she was sitting on top of him. He rolled over, so that she was under him, then leant forward and kissed her nose.

“Be ready in half an hour.” And then he was off. A few moments she heard the shower turn on. What was going on with him today?

Standing up, Kayana made her way to the kitchen and getting the tea ready, a habit that was so deeply engrained into her that there was no chance that she would ever give it up.

Soon enough she heard Vodia’s footsteps padding down the hallway and when he came into view, she knew that he was simply teasing her. Why else would he come out looking like he did?

He was still in the process of buttoning up the cuffs of his light blue shirt, tucked into his black dress pants with a grey tie tied loosely swung over his shoulder. His hair still glistened from the shower and he was now rolling up the sleeves.

Kayana stared as he smirked at her, an expression she had never seen on his face.

As he came to stop in front of her, he arched an eyebrow as he leaned against the counter.

And now Kayana was sure he was playing with her.

Picking up his mug of tea, she swung her hips as she came to stop in front of him, her small form fitting right into his bigger one, as she grabbed one of his hands and wrapped around hers as she slowly let go of the mug.

She turned around, smiling as she saw him stumble to grasp the cup before it smashing to the floor. Walking away slowly, she shut the door quietly behind her and leant onto it. She didn’t know what just happened, but she was enjoying it very much.

Shaking her head, she walked into the adjoining bathroom belatedly realising that she had skipped to turn on the warm water. Stepping into the shower, Kayana thought of how she could get used to this.  

॥The Wrong One॥

“Kayana.”

Before she had a chance to turn around herself, her arm was caught, and she was swung back into Vodia.

“Today, and for the next two days, we will act like a proper couple.” She noticed him taking a gulp, and her hand went to rest on his chest. “As real husband and wife.” She saw his perfect façade break a little and she saw true anguish swimming in his eyes before it was hidden again.

“Please let me have this.”

All Kayana could do, was nod, and she felt the weight lift of Vodia as he ducked his head into her neck, his prickly skin brushing her soft cheeks.

A deep breath, and she then saw the perfect Vodia again, his white teeth on display as he intertwined his fingers with hers.

“Time to go.”

Pulling her after him, Vodia strode out the door, a giggling Kayana stumbling after him.

“Where are we going?”

Looking over his shoulder, Vodia tapped his free hand to her nose and winked.

Getting to the elevators, Vodia pressed the button lightly, gazing at a bouncing Kayana.

As they exited the building, Vodia’s car was already waiting, the engine purring like a wild cat waiting for its prey. Catching the flying keys, he opened Kayana’s door, shutting it gently then proceeding to his side.

Pulling out from the driveway he noticed Kayana’s fingers pulling at each other and he reached his own hand over, stopping the activity.

She glanced down at his hand, encasing his larger one in both of hers.

“I feel like a little girl.” Kayana giggled quietly, her eyes twinkling with adventure. “Although I never did get to go out like this.”

Vodia’s heart went out again to Kayana, to a girl who never got to experience her life. He stroked her palm with his enclosed hands and smiled at her. “You’ll enjoy today. I promise.”

Soon enough, Vodia had pulled up to an amusement park and the look on Kayana’s face made it worth it.

“Really?”

All Vodia had to do was nod and Kayana was out the door before Vodia even had a chance to open his. Chuckling lightly to himself he locked the car, both his hands in his pocket as he followed his beautiful and overexcited wife to the ticket booth.

“Two adult tickets please.” Vodia spoke over Kayana’s head as she stood right in front of him.

“That’s a hundred and twenty thanks love.” The lady behind the window said, her gum snapping every time she opened her mouth.

Vodia tried not to let his annoyance show as he exchanged his money for the tickets and steered Kayana through the gates of the Pot of Gold.

“Wow.” Kayana breathed as she inhaled the sweet smells of the cotton candy machines and felt the heat of the fast food court. The whirring of a rollercoaster above her head had her clutching her hair and bumping in Vodia.

A laugh bubbled out of her as she spun around, taking in the colourful sights, the sky high signs and crowds of people enveloping her, and this time she didn’t feel afraid.

Her eyes settled on Vodia, who simply stood there, his hands dug into his pocket as he gazed at her. Leaning forward, she grabbed his arm and pulled. She felt his hands change its position until their fingers were intertwined once again and without looking back she smiled.

Her eyes found a ride called the Snake Charmer and she made her way towards it and in her eagerness she didn’t realise the slight resistance put up by Vodia.

Vodia felt a slight nudge on his arm, and he realised that Kayana was staring up at him. He tilted his head then realised they had already made their way to the front. As it was still early morning, there were very few people going for the big rides.

Straightening his shoulders, Vodia gave the bored looking man two tickets and guided Kayana to their cart.

Settling in the seats, Vodia grabbed the metal bar that rested in his lap, holding it in a vice-like grip, which he only realised when Kayana’s own soft hands settled on top of his, giving him a reassuring squeeze.

He turned to her, smiling slightly, but turned back as soon as the cart jerked to a start.

Please please don’t let this be like last time Vodia mentally pleaded with himself. The last time he was on one of these, he… He couldn’t even think about it.

The snake of carts came to a creaky stop at the top of the tracks and Vodia had to remind himself not to look down. His foot tapped nervously as he waited for the inevitable drop. Why’d he think this was a good idea?

॥The Wrong One॥

“Vodia, I got you some water.”

With Vodia’s head between his legs he could only barely see the swish of Kayana’s skirt in front of him.

He heard Kayana’s shoes twist on the concrete as she kneeled next to him, her soft hands rubbing circles on his back.

“And I brought you another paper bag.”

Vodia winced as another wave of nausea hit him. He never anticipated that he’d have to go on the rides as well. But he should of. And now what would Kayana think of him?

Groaning, he sat upright, leaning back onto the bench as his fingers wrapped around the cool plastic bottle that Kayana held out to him. Immediately, he pressed the coolness onto his sticky forehead, sighing at the relief it brought his pounding head.

“Drink it please, you’re dehydrated. It’ll make you feel better.” 

Nodding once, Vodia unscrewed the cap and allowed the liquid to travel down his burning throat. 
Handing the bottle to Kayana, he noticed her smiling. He lifted an eyebrow at her.  

“Who knew the big bad Vodia couldn’t handle roller coasters.” She smiled impishly at him.

Furrowing his eyebrows, he scanned the swarm of people that were now walking around the park. It was about midday now, and there was a significant increase of people.

“I’m only teasing Vodia. It’s perfectly fine to not be perfect at everything.”  Kayana rested her palm against his upper arm, leaving a burning patch where she touched.

Vodia smirked, turning his head to look at her, “You think I’m perfect at everything?”

Kayana retracted her hand quickly, dropping her head to hide her blush. 
He loved that about her. Her innocence was one of the things that he’d miss the most.

Before the thoughts of Kayana leaving consumed him, Vodia jumped up and cleared his throat. “Time to go to the next one, come on.”

“I have a better idea.” And she took his hand, leading him to where the carnival games were. He knew she was doing this so he wouldn’t feel bad and he couldn’t help but love her that little bit more.

She grinned up at him, and pointed at a giant panda that was on one of the top shelves of a water shooting game. Vodia grinned back, reaching into his pocket to pull out his wallet.

“Sir, the rules of the game?”

“One dollar fifty cents for each round, your aim is to fill the balloon on top of the clowns head by aiming at his mouth. You have forty seconds.”

Nodding, Vodia handed him the correct change and took his position behind a water gun, sensing Kayana come up beside him, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

They made eye contact, and a feeling that Kayana would question in her own time passed between them.

“Go!”

Vodia aimed, and held down the trigger as if his life depended on it. What he wasn’t told was that the clown head would be moving.  By the time he realised this, there was only fifteen seconds left on the clock, and he had missed nearly half of the shots he had made. The balloon hadn’t even inflated.

Grumbling Vodia pulled out more change, setting up for another two rounds. Succeeding rounds ended up the same. With Vodia missing more and more. Frustrated, he pulled out another set of coins, and positioned himself behind the gun again.

Before the man could yell go again, Vodia heard the jingles of Kayana’s bangles and he felt her pull on his shirt.

Leaning down slightly to her ear, he was surprised when Kayana turned her head, making their lips come in contact.

“Get me that panda.” She whispered in his ear, before turning and moving away.

With a renewed dedication, Vodia gestured to begin.

“Go!”

Keeping his eyes on the clowns face, Vodia followed its movements with the stream of water.

A loud honk signified the end of his turn and Vodia looked up to see his balloon had been filled.

“Which prize would you like sir?”

“The Panda please.”

Grabbing the Panda, Vodia turned around and barely had enough time to register the blur of brown hair jump on him. He caught Kayana around the waist as she held the panda between them. Letting them down, Vodia kept his arms around her and he watched her smile giddily at the plush in her arms.  

“Thank you.” She smiled up at him and Vodia tried his very best to memorise the way the sun hit her face, and the colour of her hair as it shined from the rays. God he loved her.

He winked and kissed her on the forehead, releasing her waist and instead capturing her fingers with his.

“Now my lady, it’s time for dinner.”

॥The Wrong One॥

Pulling up in front of La Porsche, Vodia stepped out of the vehicle, passing the keys to his own car to the boy eagerly waiting to be of service and opened Kayana’s door. His hand automatically went out to the small of her back as he led her into one of the most prestigious restaurants in Balu.

“Reservations of two under the name of Lakin.”

The waiter looked down, consulting his book and Kayana could tell exactly when he found the name as his eyebrows shot up in surprise. He cleared his throat, rearranging his features into a pleasant mask.

“Right this way Mr and Mrs Lakin.”

Nodding, Vodia gestured for Kayana to go first and followed.

Vodia, really, just wanted to watch Kayana walk before him. Dressed in a floor length, sky blue dress, her heart shaped bodice hugged her tightly and she clutched the black shawl around her delicate shoulders.

Vodia himself was dressed to compliment rather than impress in a casual black tux and with a white shirt tucked into his pants. A black bow tie was around his neck, which, when looking at Kayana, he had to constantly loosen.

Making a sound of distaste when Kayana went to pull out her own chair, Vodia jumped forward, sliding it out so Kayana could sit down. Pushing her chair in, he made his way around opposite her and sat down.

For a moment, Vodia was mesmerised by the candle light dancing across Kayana’s delicate features. Her eyes were sparkling, either from the light or the events of the day he didn’t know but she was beautiful. If Vodia had tried to ask Kayana, he wouldn’t have gotten an answer as she too was captivated by Vodia’s features. His hair was styled neatly, but still in abandon as its waves crashed to his shoulders.

“Wine?”

When neither of the two looked up, the waiter smiled. He couldn’t remember what it was like being in love, his heart having been broken numerous times. He shook his head, instead busying himself with pouring the guests with the finest wine they had, as instructed by Vodia himself.

“Beautiful.” Vodia whispered, and it broke the spell which had enveloped the couple.

“Menus?” The waiter smiled knowingly.

Blushing furiously,  Kayana thanked him and buried herself behind it.

Vodia was more composed, and smiled in thanks, glancing at the menu and taking a sip of his wine.

॥The Wrong One॥

The moonlight was the only light in front of Vodia and Kayana as they strolled, hand in hand down the sidewalk from the restaurant. He had already instructed the valet to bring their car to the end of street as Kayana had insisted they take a walk in the night air.

And Vodia was fine with that.

Pulling her close and wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he felt her hand go attentively around his waist, leaving a blazing trail.

Getting to the end, Vodia ushered Kayana across the road, making their way to the pier, the reason why the restaurant they had just been to had been one of the most expensive.

The moonlight glittered off the darkness of the sea, and the gentle crashing of the waves made for soothing background music as the two walked enveloped in each other.

Coming to the middle, Vodia stopped and leaned on the railing, staring out to sea, his hand fiddling with the object in his pocket. He could do it, but could he lose her in the process? Faster than he was already losing her? He rotated the box between his thumb and pointer finger, the soft velvet rubbing against his skin. Would he risk losing her all over again?

“Vodia?” Kayana’s palm cradled his cheek as she looked up at him, her cheeks a rosy pink from the busy restaurant, but her eyes sparkled with the glee.

“Yes?”

Her thumb rubbed his face lightly, before she pulled it back, instead burying her face in his chest.

 “Thank you. For everything that you are doing. Thank you.” Vodia opened his mouth to say something, but stopped when he felt his shirt dampening. “I know how hard it must be for you, with what everyone will say,” But Vodia wouldn’t hear anymore.

Grabbing her shoulders, he held her at arms length.

“Sweetheart, don’t you ever think that I care about what anyone thinks. Especially when it comes to your happiness,” Tears streamed down Kayana’s face as she felt the sincerity in his voice, the calmness washing over her. “I will do this over and over again, just to see you smile.”

Kayana’s lips upturned slightly, the smallest resemblance of a smile, but Vodia saw it, his finger going out to tap the corner of her lips. “Exactly like that.”

Kayana ducked her head, then something must’ve clicked for her, as she lifted it up again to gaze straight at Vodia, the man who risked everything for her.

“A million times over Kayana. I would do anything for you.”

But she still couldn’t say it. She couldn’t do anything without knowing where her feelings were.

So she did all she could. She hugged him, trying to convey all her love through her embrace.

But her question lingered in her mind, were her feelings in the past with Raian? Or the future with Vodia? 

“Sweetheart, don’t.”

Vodia placed his finger underneath Kayana’s chin, pulling her face up to look at him. At that moment, with the moonlight reflecting off her wet eyelashes, her cheeks rosy pink and her windswept hair, Vodia forgot everything he was going to say. He forgot about telling her that he was going to give up the deal. That he’d take her to see Raian right then and there if she had simply asked. But looking at her, he knew that it was too late. He was truly lost to her. If only she would see it.

॥The Wrong One॥

Authors Note ~~

Tell me what you think :)
Is Kayana being too harsh? Or is she doing the right thing? What would you do? 

Most importantly, who do you ship?

Remember, the end of the story is coming up, maybe your opinion may change the outcome ;). 

I appreciate all your comments and suggestions :)

Hugs, Shay