I meticulously arranged the food on the table, ensuring each dish looked appetizing and inviting. Afterward, I stepped outside to check on him. He was seated on the couch, engrossed in a phone call.
"Yeah, hon, I'm... I'm caught up with work at the moment, and with the rain, I can't make the four-hour journey to the mansion," he explained. Unaware of my presence, I lingered by the kitchen door, silently observing. Hearing him lie, knowing I was somehow entangled in that falsehood, stirred a discomfort within me.
"Yeah, bye. Yes, love you too," he concluded the call, his gaze fixing on me as he uttered those three words. My heart raced at his words, my breath catching in my throat. I swallowed hard, trying to compose myself as he continued to stare at me intently.
"The food is ready," I informed him before retreating back into the kitchen. I briefly clasped my chest, attempting to quell the surge of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. This situation was undoubtedly not a wise choice, a realization that weighed heavily on my heart.
He entered the kitchen and gazed at the spread on the table. A gentle smile crept onto his face. "They look great," he complimented, to which I simply nodded in response.
Seating himself, he began to sample the dishes, his nods of approval reminiscent of a child savoring a delicious meal for the first time. "I've missed your cooking," he remarked, meeting my gaze briefly before returning his attention to the meal before him.
Curiosity piqued, I inquired, "How come you managed to travel two hours to be here but couldn't for four hours?" Taking a seat across from him, I observed his focus on the food.
Clearing his throat and swallowing a bite, he responded, "Because I wanted to see you."
His boldness in answering caught me off guard, prompting a cough, and he promptly rose from his seat, retrieving a pitcher of water from the fridge. Pouring a glass, he handed it to me. I accepted and took a sip.
Clearing my throat once more, I met his gaze directly, locking eyes with him. In that shared moment, his eyes bore into mine with an intensity that seemed to speak volumes, a silent exchange of emotions passing between us. The depth of his gaze hinted at unspoken words and feelings, creating a palpable tension in the air that lingered between us.
"Ahem, how's Ate?" I inquired, shifting my gaze away from him.
"She's the same," he replied simply, his tone indicating a reluctance to delve further.
Curiosity getting the better of me, I probed, "How did you meet my sister, by the way?"
"Hmm, we met in New York City. I was still a college student, and she was vacationing there with Caspian. She was checking out my school; perhaps she was considering it for Caspian's future education," he explained. A flood of memories rushed back as I recalled the time when my nephew and sister had visited New York.
"Ah, so you were in New York," I responded with a nod. "How did you two become a couple then?" I inquired further, prompting him to start coughing.
As he coughed, a mix of discomfort and reluctance seemed to flicker across his expression, hinting at a hidden story behind their relationship.
"I'm sorry, I can't answer that," he replied gently, his eyes locked with mine. I smiled and simply nodded.
"Okay, no problem," I responded, getting up from my seat as if to leave, but he caught my arm.
"She asked me out," he whispered almost inaudibly, but I caught his words clearly.
"And you accepted, knowing she's my sister?" I turned back to face him. He avoided meeting my gaze directly, his grip firm on my arm.
"No, I didn't know at that time," he confessed, shaking his head before finally looking up to meet my eyes.
"I see," I replied, trying to convey understanding without delving deeper into the situation. Sensing the tension, I decided not to press for more.
"Finish your meal and then please leave," I instructed him, gently removing his hand from my arm as I made my way out.
"I did love her, I swear. I tried. But—" he began, but I cut him off.
"No need to explain. Just finish your food," I interjected, suppressing the turmoil of emotions within me. "Please," I added, gazing at him with a plea in my eyes.
~~~~
After several months of courtship, I finally said yes to Wayne. It happened at the same mountain where he had first asked me out. Despite the fear of my aunt discovering our relationship, I took the risk and began dating him. Our love was like a hidden treasure, shrouded in secrecy. We kept it discreet, especially in public, where we appeared as mere friends. But in private, our bond was sweet and intimate.
"Love, happy first 30th day of dating," Wayne exclaimed, holding a beautifully decorated chocolate cake topped with cherries for two.
"30th day?" I questioned, a smile playing on my lips. Who even celebrates such milestones? I doubted many did. However, Wayne was consistent in making each day special, from the 10th to the 20th, all the way to the 30th.
"Yeah, let's celebrate every additional 10 days of being together," he proposed, planting a kiss on my cheek. We were at our secret haven, the camping site, where we could be ourselves without any judgment.
"That's so cheesy, Wayne," I teased him.
"But we already agreed to call each other 'love,'" he protested, a slight pout forming on his face.
"Oh, come on, that's way too cheesy for me," I teased back, unable to contain my laughter at his adorable yet funny expression.
"I can't believe you," he huffed, feigning annoyance.
"Stop that," I scolded playfully, lightly swatting his arm.
We both chuckled at our own silliness.
"Love, I might not be this happy without you," he confessed, his eyes locked with mine, sincerity shining through.
"But what if we were to break up? I bet you'd be even happier with someone else," I remarked, a hint of insecurity creeping into my tone.
"I wouldn't be happy if it wasn't with you," he reassured me, his gaze unwavering, his words carrying a depth of feeling that washed away my doubts.
//////
"But you were happier, you idiot. You were even more sincere back then when you kissed her," I murmured to myself as I looked out the window. He had probably left already, since it had been two hours since I had locked myself in my room.
I sighed heavily, reflecting on the events that had just transpired. The way he had embraced me, the familiar flutter in my stomach - it was all too much. I had tried to suppress these feelings, knowing it was not something we should be entertaining.
Yet, deep down, I couldn't deny the longing I felt. The memory of his kiss, the sincerity in his actions - it had stirred something within me that I had thought was long buried.
I shook my head, trying to clear my mind. This was not the time for such thoughts. I needed to focus on moving forward, on being the stronger, more independent person I had worked so hard to become.
With a determined sigh, I turned away from the window and headed back to my room, ready to put this encounter behind me, no matter how difficult it might be.
....
Morning arrived, prompting me to rise early to return to work. I grabbed my towel and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower to freshen up before starting my day.
After changing clothes and applying light makeup, I stole one last glance at my reflection before leaving my room and heading to the kitchen for a quick coffee.
"What the hell?!" I snapped as I caught sight of Wayne shirtless, cooking in the kitchen.
“Why are you still here? And why aren't you wearing a shirt?” I demanded, frustration evident in my expression. He glanced at me briefly before refocusing on his cooking.
“It's hot in here, your AC isn't working,” he explained, gesturing towards the air conditioner while stirring the meal he was preparing.
“That's beside the point. You should have gone home,” I admonished him.
"Yeah, yeah, I will, Amara. I'll head home after serving you a proper breakfast. Just wait for this, it's almost done," he assured me, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes as he continued cooking.
This guy is unbelievable. He even has the audacity to sleep at his ex-girlfriend's house, soon to be his future sister-in-law's?
"Do you even realize what you're doing?" I questioned him, my frustration palpable. His actions were making it increasingly difficult for me to move on and threatened to strain my relationship with my sister.
"Of course I know what I'm doing, Amara," he replied softly, his eyes a stormy sea of conflicting emotions. His tousled hair hinted at a restless night, and the faint stubble on his jawline spoke of a mix of carelessness and intention. The way his gaze met mine, unwavering yet vulnerable, revealed a depth of understanding that belied his seemingly casual demeanor.
"Consider this an act of service from your brother-in-law," he continued, his voice tinged with a touch of remorse. "There's no need to feel guilty; I simply wanted to repay the favor of cooking dinner for me," he added, the sincerity in his eyes contrasting with the complexity of the situation.
I bit my lower lip and rolled my eyes, "Fine."
He couldn't hide his little smirk as he gestured towards the seat, "Take a seat then."
I rolled my eyes once more and sat down at the dining table. He carefully placed the serving of food he had cooked in front of me, and I gazed at its elegant presentation.
"How did you learn to cook?" I inquired as I began to eat.
"I learned in New York. I was living alone, so I had to," he responded, then reached over to wipe a stain from the corner of my lips, leaving me feeling a mix of surprise and warmth. His touch was gentle, but it sparked a flurry of emotions within me.
As his fingers brushed against my skin, a shiver ran down my spine, igniting a tingling sensation that seemed to linger long after his touch had retreated. The warmth of his fingertips on my cheek contrasted with the coolness of the room, creating a sensation that was both comforting and electrifying. In that moment, time seemed to slow down, as if the world around us had paused to witness this intimate exchange.
His eyes, locked with mine, held a depth of emotion that I couldn't quite decipher. There was a tenderness in his gaze, a silent understanding that transcended words. It was as if in that simple gesture of wiping away a stray crumb, he was revealing a side of himself that I had never fully seen before—a side that made my heart flutter and my thoughts swirl in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.