12 Chapter 12: Lightning

Arodelf was nudging me to woke up. My eyes quickly set on his eyes. They were happy and kind. What is happening?

"Ella. They delivered something to us." Arodelf's cheeks were all red and flustered. He was avoiding to look at what's neck down. He was already clothed. I was bare. The cloth didn't do much to cover me. My nakedness didn't bother me that much. He already saw everything that I have.

"What is it?"

"They said it was for you."

"For me?"

I took Arodelf's shirt on the bedside. It covered me down until my knees.

Arodelf did not acompany me downstairs. He just sat on the bed with a huge grin. I quickly got to the doorstep and there I saw a big box. I opened the box easily and took the styrofoam out. My eyes were beaming with joy. I saw a laptop, drawing tablet, a camera set, a gaming station and various gadgets I dreamed of. At the corner of the box was a note, "Dear Ms. Micella,

This is a gift from the government for being participative. Your husband will receive the same box after you've done your check-up. Please have a great day." When I was about to call out to Arodelf, he was already beside me. He couldn't contain his happiness.

"Let's go to the clinic for a check-up. I want you to get your box too. I would want to check these out along with you." I feel a warm sensation in my cheeks as I looked into his eyes.

He smiled gently and lifted the box for me. "Okay then." He placed the box in the entertainment room upstairs and gently placed the items in the coffee table.

"Whoa. These are super awesome." He quickly checked the gadgets I received. "These are high-end. Everything's first class."

He was more excited than me.

"Delf."

"Yes?"

"Nothing."

"What?"

"I haven't seen any of these since the war ended. I felt really amazed but fazed at the same time. I still feel that these are prohibited objects but I'm equally amazed. I haven't drawn seriosuly for years too."

Delf only smiled and tested out the camera that he got. Without my permission, he shoot me with the camera. I was a little embarassed. My hair is a mess and I was only wearing his shirt.

"Stop it." I was enraged but smiling.

He tapped something in the camera. He was laughing. In a few seconds, I heard my phone rang. I immediately ran to the bedroom to get it. When I saw the notification panel, it was something that Delf has sent. It was a picture. It was my picture. It did not occur to me that it was my image. For a second, I did not recognize my face and my body. They modified me so much that I failed even just for a second to recognize myself. Terror filled me. My stomach hurt. My tears began to fall.

Arodelf was at the doorstep. He was staring at me with sad eyes. He sat beside me and hugged me.

I whispered, "I didn't even recognized myself."

"I'm sorry too. Micella." He paused, "I like you a lot better now. How about me? Would you rather love me before or now?

'Before.' I thought. "Now." I exclaimed and hugged him tighter.

"Ella, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I was just amazed by your beauty and all. Your messy hair and your body covered by my clothes is just mindblowing. I know I could be blunt and straightforward but I don't want to hide anything from you."

I was silent and just hugged him there. "Do you want some food? Would you like me to prepare your breakfast?"

I felt his nod. He broke from my embrace.

I quickly got to the kitchen and prepared some toast and coffee. I fried some eggs and ham. I called him to go down and eat.

Arodelf already took a shower. His hair was a little bit wet. He sat on the dining chair and looked at my beautifully presented meal. He took a sip of coffee and lookee at me.

"This coffee is legit great. I mean. How did you come up with this?"

"It's all about temperature I guess. I worked at a coffee shop during my times as an Unpaired. All I can do are toasts and muffins and stuff that goes well with coffee and tea. I'm not good in cooking savory meals though." I sipped my own coffee and tried my butter toast.

"Can you teach me how to create a coffee like this one?"

"Of course. If we have some spare time after the check-up."

"Sure. Thanks." He smiled and the atmosphere around us grew awkward again.

I finished my meal first and head to the bathroom for a shower.

This is the first time that I'm going to examine the closet. It was huge. Blue daily dresses, white official dresses, memorial black suits and pants, red summer wears, gray rainy season wears, yellow event dresses, etc. All were color-coded and every accessory matches the clothes. The shoes were matching as well. They were all custom-made for my size. Everything is designed for me as if I was a rich woman.

I gazed at the mirror and saw my face. My face was thinner and plumper. My cheeks were blushing. My eyes were smaller. I wore make-up and applied some beauty products. I slipped on my blue dress and wore the matching shoe. Arodelf knocked on the closet door. He was waiting for me to finish. I opened the door and he stepped inside. He was a bit quiet. His deep eyes looked at me as if he was inspecting it. He got to his part of the closet and picked out a blue shirt the matched my dress. He wore a dark blue slacks and matching shoes.

I was watching in awe as he was getting in his clothes. He saw me looking at him and blushed.

"Why are you looking at me?" He asked as he was fixing his hair.

"I'm just looking. That's all."

"Okay? Never saw a handsome guy before?" He chuckled as he got out of the closet. He entered as I was about to speak and sat on the closet's sofa with me.

"Let's take a picture."

He took our picture and immediately set it as his wallpaper. He quickly sent it to me with a caption, 'Set this as your wallpaper too. It would really make me happy."

There was nothing romantic about it. I just really felt that we were just friends forced for procreation. I set the picture as my wallpaper. I looked at him expectantly searching for a reply.

"Ella, you look beautiful in that dress. You really look good in blue." He held my hand and rested it in his lap. I smiled, "You too Delf. You're dashing."

He chuckled a bit, "Let's go? Wait at the living room for a moment, I'll get the car. Okay?"

We went out of the room and down the stairs.

I sat on the sofa and waited for his cue. I checked my bag for the needed forms, cards, keys, phone and passes.

I heard the car's honk and went outside. I looked the door and hopped in the car. I quicky closed the door.

"Delf." I told him automatically.

"Yes?"

I kissed him on the cheeks and then on the lips. It was out of impulse.

Delf sighed, "I love you."

I replied, "I love you too."

I don't know if any of these words are real.