॥The Wrong One॥ 

The next morning Kayana woke up alone in her bed, the feeling of loneliness that settled within her shocked her as she had never before had that reaction to waking up alone.

Extending her hand to her left, she realised that that side of the bed remained untouched, a fact that brought a frown on Kayana’s face and she understood why.

It meant that Vodia hadn’t stayed with her.

What Kayana didn’t understand was why it had such a deep effect on her. She had only woken up with him once before. And it was the best morning ever, a voice inside her reminded her, but Kayana chose to pay no attention to it. She couldn’t get used to having Vodia around, especially not since she still hadn’t decided where her heart lay 

Staring at the ceiling, Kayana was appalled she hadn’t jumped out of the bed at the crack of dawn. If her parents could see her now they would be so upset. She giggled gleefully at that, Vodia had helped her become her own person 

Stretching, Kayana only just noticed the howling winds outside her window, the raindrops beating on the glass. Mesmorised, she swung her legs over the side of the bed, standing up and immediately falling backwards as a grunt sounded from below her. Looking down, she realised that Vodia hadn’t left her, he had simply been a gentleman.

Guility, Kayana took in the fact that he was still in his suit, while she was fully changed. He also seemed to have been sleeping on the ground rather than on a blanket or mattress.

Kayana didn’t know what she was doing, but she decided to do it anyway. Picking up her pillow, she threw it at Vodia’s sleeping form, his carelessness about himself frustrating her. Why must he always want the best for her, but disregarded his own wellbeing?

As she looked away, searching for another pillow, she felt a heavy weight push her down on her back, Vodia having made the effort to get up off the floor. But he didn’t seem to be awake. Slowly lying down, Vodia had Kayana laying across her bed too, half under his heavier frame, their legs tangled. Due to their position, Kayana was higher up than Vodia, and his head only reached her neck. Cuddling closer, Vodia wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him, rubbing his nose on her neck which only served to tickle Kayana, his stubble with the same purpose on her exposed shoulder.

Kayana froze. But not for the reasons she thought it would be. Infact, Kayana found that she thoroughly enjoyed the new position she was in. It seemed that she had simply frozen out of habit rather than need. Willing herself to calm down, she slowly curled into Vodia, one of her hands coming up to rest on his shoulder, her fingers reaching into the hair at the nape of his neck. She knew she must look a sight, but she didn’t want to move. She didn’t care about propriety at the moment. This man was her husband 

And at that moment, something clicked.

Kayana finally knew.

Empowered by her epiphany, Kayana laughed merrily, leaning down, she lifted Vodia’s face up to hers, surprising him by a kiss instigated by her. Kayana felt Vodia move along with her, his body truly awake. He shifted himself up so he was at same height as Kayana, and rolled onto his back so that Kayana lay on top of him. Kayana’s hands shifted, both going inbetween them, but she was far from pushing him away. Instead, Kayana grabbed his shirt, the material scrunching between her fingers. She knew.

Laying his head back down, Vodia pulled Kayana with him, her forehead resting on his own.

“Goodmorning Sweetheart.” He murmured, his eyes still closed for fear of all this being a dream.

Kayana sighed. She could get used to waking up to this. Just being in his arms felt right 

“Goodmorning.” She leaned up to kiss him again. With her new revelation she found she was also experiencing things differently. And now, she wanted to experience everything differently. With Vodia 

Vodia tighteneded his grip before opening his eyes, willing it to not be a dream. His morning was definitely good.

His eyes made contact with green ones, and Kayana smile at the shock that was so apparent in his.

Very quickly though, the shock turned into mischief and before Kayana knew it, she was being flipped once more, so that Vodia hovered over her. Kissing her nose, Vodia winked before retreating and walking into the bathroom. Moments later Kayana heard the shower turn on, and she felt her flaming cheeks return to their tan colour.

What just happened? She had thought Vodia would have wanted to spend more time with her, and with her newly discovered feelings, she really wanted show him what had changed.

Shaking her head, Kayana went about making the bed then heading to the kitchen to switch on the kettle. Tying her hair into a loose plait down her back, she opened the curtains in the living room, the large windows showing the weather outside. Most people would hate the rain, the feeling of getting wet and pelted with the harder drops, but this was her element. Kayana loved it.

Opening the sliding door, Kayana slipped outside, careful not to let any rain inside onto the floor. That would be a bigger mess to clean up than what she was about to do. The rain seemed to freeze everything it blew past, but for Kayana, she barely felt the cold.

Reaching out, she felt the tips of her fingers get drenched in the water. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember when the last time she danced in the rain was. She couldn’t. What she could recall though, was her mother scolding her for being so irresponsible for being caught out in the rain. Real ladies don’t play in rain, she had said. Kayana was six.

A determined smile lit up Kayana’s face as she took one step, then another and another until she stood in the middle of their deck, the rain falling all around her. Her hair became soaked as soon as she stood still her clothes stuck to her figure, but Kayana was happy. She felt as if the gods were finally giving her their blessings to be happy. Twirling around, Kayana felt the rain wash away her unhappiness. From being used as a pawn in her fathers games to becoming the property of another. With Vodia, it wasn’t like that, and she knew she was lucky. To have met, and married, a man who loved her more than he loved himself, enough to sacrifice his happiness for hers.

At some point Kayana knew her tears began to mix in with the rain flowing down her face but she continued her show around the deck, feeling completely free. This was why she loved Winter, because it stood for everything that she never had. Confidence, like the wind, to be herself. Freedom, like the rain, to go where she wanted. And coldness, like the temperature, to understand that some people will never really care.

Kayana found peace.

Little did she know, for she had yet to open her eyes, that Vodia had stood in the open door, a towel ready as he watched her dance, feeling her contentment in such a long time. Infact, he was pretty sure this was the first that he had seen her with such abandon. And he loved it.

Turning to face him, Kayana gestured with one hand, inviting him outside, but Vodia refused, his head shaking lightly as a smile still played on his lips. Kayana gestured slightly more forcefully but Vodia remained in the safety of their room. Stepping forward, Kayana frowned and pointed to the ground making Vodia’s smile grow at her frustration with him. Still, he shook his head, refusing to get wet once again. Instead, he extended the towel forward, hoping Kayana would come back inside. The last thing he wanted was for her to get ill.

Kayana’s frown turned into a smile as she quickly glided over, grabbing Vodia by the wrist and pulling him into the midst of the raindrops falling all around them. The advantage of shock was on her side as Vodia stumbled forward, she knew she wouldn’t have been able to pull him forward on her own strength.

Kayana giggled freely as the shock registered on his face and his while shirt became see through, clinging to the large expanse of his chest. Vodia smiled when he saw the complete bliss on her face, because of him. He wished she could see that he would always make her happy, he would always have her best interest at heart. He was hers.

Pulling her closer, Vodia held her right hand hand higher, his left on her waist and he twirled them around the spacious area. He was never one for having a deck as his family had never really utilised it, but just this once, he was grateful that the hotel had been close to being over booked and this was the last room left. The sound of their laughs, mixing in the air and being blown away by the wind calmed them. Here, they were just husband and wife, no rules, no regulations for them to have to follow. Here, they were both who they wanted to be.

A feeling of pride swelled in Vodia’s chest as he realised that he was one she was showing herself to, the very same girl who couldn’t look him in the eye a few weeks ago. He was proud of her accomplishments. Soon, they energy left them, and they meet in the middle, each using the other as support as they remained intertwined in one another. Kayana’s head was on his shoulders as Vodia rested his atop her own. They continued swaying to a melody in their heads, the storm around them making it near impossible to hum it out loud.

Lifting her head, Kayana felt that this was the time to tell him, to let him know her decision. That she knew where her happiness lay. As she opened her mouth to speak, she was immediately quietened by a sneeze that rattled Vodia’s frame. Listening closer, she realised that he was sniffling, and another sneeze made its way out.

Lifting her hand to his cheek, she watched him as he pulled an arm up to wipe his face, a sheepish smile greeting her under all the water.

Laughing, she pulled out of his grip, intertwining their fingers together and leading him back inside. Retrieving the towel he had dropped on the floor on his way, she proceeded to rub his hair dry despite his numerous protests.

“Vodia, go have a warm shower while I make some tea for you. You’re going to get sick.” Kayana scolded lightly, the amusement lacing her voice. She was glad that he had come outside with her, it just made her feel more like her decision was the right one 

“But,” Vodia’s excuse was cut short as Kayana gave him a stern look. Leaning around him, she grabbed the remote for the heater and switched it on. Hopefully it’d be warm by the time he came back out.

“Go.” As Kayana went to step away, Vodia grabbed her wrist, pulling her back to him and kissed her. He felt Kayana respond more freely than before, rivalling their kiss from this morning.

Although Vodia wished he could continue this, he had to break away, sneezing again to his left. Kayana answered with a melodic laugh as she twisted out of his grip.

“Go have a shower Vodia, your tea will be ready.”

Vodia stood up, grinning and rubbing his head with the towel. Walking into their bedroom, he felt another sneeze coming on.

He was ready for their second day together.

 ॥The Wrong One॥