Axel’s upper lip was stained with the remnants of the milk he drank as he ate the cookies Melinda baked for Bella. Bella’s electric blue eyes were glaring daggers at Axel to which he only faced with a sheepish smile. The poor guy was hungry and so Melinda went to the kitchen to get him some food. If his stomach hadn’t rumbled, he would have endured his hunger ‘til morning.
“Why did you tell her that?” Bella asked, her eyes fuming mad as she sat down the couch beside Axel. “Couldn’t you think of a better excuse?”
“C’mon, princess,” he groaned as he faced her. “She gave me the idea when I couldn’t think of one. What else could I do?”
“Deny it as you think of a more reasonable one?” Bella said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Just stick to it. After two nights, just tell her we broke up or something. Tell her I got ran over by a truck or fell on a cliff,” he said calmly as he chewed on the last piece of cookie. “Old people believe in teenage love, so she’ll probably be sad for a few days. Don’t worry, though, she’ll get over it eventually.” He smiled confidently as the last chunk of cookie disappeared into his mouth.
“Wipe your lips or I’ll wipe your face off the earth.”
“Woah, woah, easy princess,” Axel moved away from her as he held his hands out defensively. “I’m wiping it, alright? If you’re mad, just hit the pillow and imagine it as me. No need to go all berserk on me.”
Just as Bella was about to hit him in a not-so-playful way, the door opened and it revealed Melinda who had a plate full of food on one hand and a glass of juice on the other. How she opened the door? Bella and Axel would love to know, too. Melinda was a short, chubby woman in her late sixties. She could no longer carry things exceeding the weight of ten kilos, but she certainly could open a door even with her hands full. Now, that’s a rare skill.
“Look at you two lovebirds,” Melinda said as she handed the plate over to Axel. “Don’t you worry. Your secret is safe with me. Just promise you won’t do anything to young lady, Axel.”
“What? No, of course I won’t do anything.”Axel laughed nervously. “What could I possibly do to her? I pinky promise you, nana.” Axel held out his pinky finger and locked it with Milanda’s wrinkled one.
Bella rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you rest now, nana?” Bella suggested as she took the glass of juice from Melinda’s hand. “It’s late. You have to rest now.”
“Alright, alright.” She chuckled. “I’ll bring you more food tomorrow,” she told Axel as he escorted her towards the door. “Good night, you two.”
“Good night, nana,” they both whispered to Melinda and she finally descended down the stairs with a happy smile on her face.
Bella firmly locked the door behind her. As soon as Melinda left, her flaring glares at Axel came back. “It’s all because you didn’t lock the door.”
“Yes, yes, it’s all my fault,” he said dismissively and flumped himself on the couch. “Close your eyes and it’ll be just a bad dream by morning. Good night, princess.”
Bella sighed and just turned off the lights and went to bed. There was nothing she could do. What was done was done and no one could bring that back. Bella just prayed that Melinda would forget everything by morning. What could have happened that made Bella so anxious and mad?
When Melinda suddenly walked into Bella’s room unannounced, she saw a man’s back whose head was down. Bella, on the other hand, was lying on the bed and her head was not seen from where Melinda stood. From her point of view, it looked like Axel was kissing Bella. To add up to that, the lights were off; so, what else could she have thought was happening? A stunning young lady and a handsome young man were alone in a dim room, both on the bed while the glowing star stickers above gave off a romantic atmosphere. It was impossible for a married woman in her sixties to not think of anything going on between the two teenagers.
“What are you two doing?”
Both of their heads jerked towards the door upon hearing her voice. Bella quickly got up from lying on the bed and Axel stood up, both were startled at Melinda’s sudden appearance. Their startled actions added up to Melinda’s guess. She was startled herself and did not notice that her mouth was opened agape as she stared at the young man standing sheepishly beside Bella. Her head turned to the young lady as she slowly closed the door with her free hand.
“Who is he?” she asked Bella, still overwhelmed in surprise.
“Oh, hi,” the young man muttered nervously. “I’m Axel Jay Beethoven, her new roommate.”
“Roommate?” she repeated in disbelief. “There are plenty of vacant rooms upstairs and downstairs, too. Why must you share a room with Bella?”
“Well, um…” Axel thought of an excuse, but he just couldn’t come up with a reasonable one. Bella couldn’t tell her the truth either.
“Are you two dating?” Melinda asked, voicing her guess. “Bella, is he your boyfriend?”
“What? Dating? Boyfriend?” Bella was surprised and frowned upon hearing what Melinda said. As she was about to deny her nana’s accusations, a hand was thrown on her shoulders.
“Bella, babe, don’t you deny it.” Axel winked his eye at her meaningfully as he placed an arm on her shoulder, pulling her closer to him. “You always deny it when someone asks if I’m your boyfriend. Are you ashamed of me?”
“What are you talking about?” Bella whispered and furrowed her brows at him as she tried to get out of his grasp. However, Axel continued to act as he firmly placed his arm around her shoulders.
“Don’t be upset, young man,” Melinda suddenly said. “Bella must be adjusting to your relationship. Don’t worry. When she gets used to it, she will eventually show you how proud she is for having you.”
Axel didn’t expect that from Melinda at all. He thought she would be suspicious for a while and then eventually believe them. He never thought she would easily fall for his acting, not that he didn’t like it. His trick actually worked more than he thought it would.
“I hope she would,” he replied, feigning sadness as he lowered his head.
“Bella is a little aloof and distant at first, but once she opens up to you, she could be the sweetest ever.”
“That’s enough, nana,” Bella interrupted.
“You didn’t tell your fathers, did you? Is this the real reason why you rejected Seth Morgan?”
“Nana, I –”
“Don’t worry, young lady.” Melinda patted her on the shoulder. “I won’t say a word to your fathers.”
“Well that’s easy,” Axel whispered in Bella’s ear and she only elbowed him on his side, shutting him up. Axel grunted in pain as he held his rib. A low rumbling sound followed and Axel smiled sheepishly. It was his stomach rumbling in hunger.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were hungry?” Bella scolded him, trying her best to sound concerned. “Nana, could you please get him some food from dinner?”
Melinda nodded joyously. “Sure, I’ll get him some downstairs. See, young man? She was worried about you. You just wait and she’ll eventually say she loves you.”
Bella faked a smile as she escorted Melinda towards the door. When her nana was out of sight, she turned to face Axel. Her face was serious and eyes were firing in fury.
No, Melinda was wrong. Bella would not be loving the sight of Axel anytime soon, unless the sight of him was covered in blood by her own beating. However, if it weren’t for Axel’s lie, Melinda would have known the truth. That would have been worse. Perhaps, both of them dating in an instant was better than both of them being outlaws hiding in the alpha’s home.
They had no choice but to pretend as lovers. Otherwise, they would break Melinda’s gullible kind heart. They just had to endure it for two nights. How hard could that be?