“GOOD morning,” Yvonne greeted upon entering the kitchen.
Rohan, who was busy making breakfast, immediately glanced in her direction.
“Oh! You’re here,” he said as he turned his gaze back to the stove.
“Yeah.” She leaned against the counter, not too far from the stove, and watched him cook. “I don’t think I should keep doing nothing.”
“How’re you feeling?” He gave her a side-way glance.
“I’m feeling good now. Usually, dysmenorrhea only hits so bad during the first day, so… my life’s back to normal.” Yvonne pursed her lips while thinking if she should ask him what was on her mind at that moment.
And as though Rohan felt something was going on inside her head, he turned off the stove and turned to face her.
“What? Is there something you want to ask, Yvonne?”
Her eyes widened. “Nothing! I have nothing to ask.”
She knew Rohan didn’t buy it when his eyes turned narrow.
“Are you sure?”
Yvonne laughed faintly.
“What makes you think there’s something I’d like to—”
“Won’t you ask me if I stayed all night in your room and took care of you?”
She bit her lower lip. Yes, that was what she wanted to ask Rohan. Yvonne was dying to know if he did stay in her room all night, taking care of her. She fell asleep, and it was already morning when she woke up. Rohan wasn’t with her by the time she opened her eyes, but she had a strong feeling that he stayed with her.
Yvonne heaved a deep sigh.
“D-did you?”
“Hm,” Rohan responded, nodding consecutively. “I’m concerned enough after seeing you in that state yesterday. I thought you might need something, so I stayed. But then…” Rohan chuckled. “You just slept.”
“I… uhm… I’m sorry about that.”
“No, Yvonne, you shouldn’t be sorry,” he said, shaking his head. “There’s nothing wrong with that. Actually, I’m glad that you got a good night’s sleep.”
Rohan flashed a boyish smile that almost sent her straight to heaven.
“Thank you. I usually fall asleep a few minutes after taking a pill, but the cramps subsided even without it.” She smiled. “It must be the tea that you made for me.”
“I’m glad to hear it worked for you.” Rohan smiled back and gestured to the stool. “Why don’t you take a seat? I’m almost done here.”
“I’ll help you,” Yvonne said as she reached for the plates.
“Are you sure you—”
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure I can do minimal work. So, don’t worry, okay?”
She gave him a glance and found him grinning while staring at her. Yvonne immediately looked away when she felt her cheeks burning. Where was her will to seduce Rohan when she needed it the most? It looked like the tables had turned. Just a mere stare and her cheeks would burn.
Yvonne exhaled sharply to compose herself.
“What’s the matter?” Rohan asked worriedly.
“E-eh? Nothing. Another cramp.” Of course, it was a lie she had to tell. How could she tell him the truth, right?
He slowly shook his head. Yvonne almost flinched when he suddenly grabbed her by the wrist and took the plates away from him.
“Didn’t I tell you to sit down? You should’ve listened to me.” He ushered her to the stool on the other side of the kitchen counter. Rohan gently pushed her down to her seat. “Sit down here, okay?”
Yvonne did what she was told. She just sat there and watched him move around the kitchen. Soon, she and Rohan were enjoying the breakfast he had made. They were eating silently for a few minutes until she remembered she had something to tell Rohan.
“I almost forgot…” She turned her gaze on him. “I’m going out tomorrow.”
Rohan turned to her with furrowed brows. “Y-you’re leaving?”
“I’m coming back, Rohan.” She picked up her mug and took a sip. “I’m just going out to meet some friends.”
“Why?” he asked nonchalantly and resumed eating.
“Well, we’re going to celebrate something special tomorrow.”
“What’s the occasion then?”
“A birthday.”
“Ah, your friend’s birthday.” He nodded consecutively.
“Nope. Mine.”
Rohan turned to her with a deeper knot on his forehead.
“Your birthday’s in September. It’s still May.”
She was fluttered to know that he could still remember her birthday. Maybe there was a special spot for her in his heart for him to remember that.
“Well, we writers celebrate two birthdays. The real ones, and this thing we call a literary birthday. I’m going to celebrate my ninth literary birthday with my co-writers, so… can you please tell the caretaker to pick me up tomorrow morning and bring me back here by night—”
“You should be back before sunset.”
Yvonne’s eyes narrowed. “What? Are you giving me a curfew or what?”
“It’s not like I’m giving you a curfew, Yvonne. The caretaker can’t take you back later than sunset because his eyesight is failing due to old age. It would be dangerous for both of you to go boating when it’s already dark.”
Her shoulders dropped.
“It means we can no longer celebrate.”
“Eddie can pick you up early in the morning—”
“As if I can manage to be back before sunset,” she cut him off.
“Come back the next day then.”
“No,” Yvonne countered, shaking her head. If truth be told, she didn’t like his idea.
“Why?” He looked at her intently.
“Because I’m afraid that if I do that… you’ll have the chance to leave this place.”
Rohan folded his arms across his chest and looked at her intently as though he was reading her.
“But aren’t you the one leaving me here to spend time with your co-writers, Yvonne?” For some reason, his words seemed to strike her straight in the heart. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“Y-you were right, though,” she said afterward. Yvonne heaved a sigh. “Maybe I’ll just cancel my plans and stay here… with you.”
“Hey… I’m not telling you to cancel whatever plans you have. You’re free to do anything you want—”
“It’s fine.” She beamed. “I’m having second thoughts, anyway.”
“But your co-writers—”
“Don’t worry.” She waved her hand. “I’m pretty sure they’ve already forgotten that I told them a month ago to celebrate with me.”
“Yvonne… if you’re doing this just because of me—”
“I told you… it’s fine.” Yvonne patted Rohan’s cheek. But she immediately stopped when she felt something running up and down her spine.
“Still, I—”
“Rohan.” She pursed her lips.
He heaved a sigh and nodded his head afterward.
“All right. If that’s your decision, so be it. I just want you to know that—”
“Rest assured that I won’t blame you for anything.”
“That’s what I want to hear,” he countered with a smile.
Yvonne just laughed at that and resumed eating. She was the last to finish eating, so she volunteered to wash the dishes. Rohan left the kitchen after breakfast. She wasn’t sure what he was about to do, but she heard him talking to someone through the satellite phone in the living room. But she didn’t get to hear the rest of what he was saying because he went upstairs and took the phone with him. He must be hiding something from her.
“What could it be?” she wondered as she washed the dishes. “Is he calling the caretaker?” Yvonne cocked her head to the side.
But didn’t she tell him she wasn’t going to meet her co-writers anymore? Ah, whatever Rohan was up to, she had this strange feeling about it. And she didn’t know why…
She quickly finished washing the dishes and headed upstairs. But just when she was about to eavesdrop through Rohan’s door, it opened, and he emerged from the room.
“Yes?” he asked, looking at her with furrowed brows. “Is there anything I can help you with?”
“N-nothing.” Her eyes reverted to the satellite phone in his hand.
“Do you need this? Here.” Rohan handed it over to her.
Yvonne didn’t really need the satellite phone. However, she thought it was a good excuse, so she accepted it and headed to her room without a word. She quickly glanced over her shoulder before opening the door and saw him standing still, watching her.
She let out a sigh the moment she entered the bedroom and palmed her chest. Her heart was beating like crazy.