Peaceful Times

Talia rolled around on the bed for sometime and still couldn't sleep. Just as she was about to pick up her phone to call Arthur, to find out where he is, she heard the door open and immediately covered herself and pretended to be asleep.

She was ashamed to face him.

She could hear her bedroom door opening and her heartbeat raced and she could hear his footsteps nearing her.

And then there was no sound but she could feel him standing close to her.

For a long time, he didn't do or say anything.

In that room filled with silence, one with her heart racing out of embarrassment hid under the duvet while the other worried one, stood beside her watching her.

Arthur purposefully came back late since he wanted to give her enough space to compose herself. He didn't know how long she'd talk to her doctor and he didn't want to disturb her.

He was slightly disappointed seeing her already in bed when he wanted to explain himself and apologise to her, but standing there he realised,

'This cutie is not actually sleeping, is she?'

Usually when she sleeps, her duvet will have an air hole with her cute little nose poking out. But now, she is wrapped inside her duvet like it's a sack. It would be highly uncomfortable to sleep that way. She should be really hot right now.

But why is she hiding? Does she not want to see me?

Arthur waited for her to come out but it seemed like she really didn't want to come out.

"Aren't you awake?" he squatted beside her and asked softly. He didn't want to wake her up in case she was actually sleeping.

Talia was feeling hot being covered inside the thick duvet. She stuck her head out of the duvet and looked at Arthur. With the soft lighting from outside falling on his gentle face, he looked more handsome and his eyes were twinkling like stars on a moonless night.

"So you were awake," his lips curved up gently and Talia could not help but admire his handsome face. The way the light fell on his face and the natural contours the shadows made in his face... He looked perfect.

This man must have been sculpted painstakingly meticulous by the Heavens!

While she was admiring the man, there was a roar heard in the room.

Darn. You. Stomach!

"You didn't eat dinner?" he asked and removed her covers. He thought by the way she stared at him that she is still not well but she is hungry it seems.

Being hungry is good!

"Come on out. Didn't you see the leftovers inside the fridge? Ah, I should have kept it out on the counter for you to see... I'll heat it up for you..."

Talia saw Arthur walking hurriedly towards the kitchen and closed her eyes that swirled with various emotions.

He has the perfect heart too! Where could one find a man like him?

" Hey Iris, are you coming? Or, do you not want the leftovers? Do you want to order something fresh?" he walked back to the bedroom after he put in the plate inside the microwave to heat it.

"It's..." Talia coughed since she felt her throat scratchy maybe because she'd been silent for so long.

"Fine. The leftovers are fine," she looked up at him now placing his hand over her forehead to check her temperature.

He is just too perfect!

"Good, you're not sick," he mumbled and walked out and Talia followed.

As she ate he sat in front of her without saying anything and warmed some milk for her as she finished eating.

Talia accepted it even though she felt full all the while staring at him. It seemed like he wanted to say something the whole time but he didn't till she went back to bed.

When she entered her room, he followed and stood by the door, fidgeting.

"Inside or outside?" she asked him and he blinked. She really found it odd that he can be manly at one time and yet change into a silly little boy another time. She loved spending time with him.

But it won't be for long! There are only days left!

She closed her eyes holding back those sad thoughts. It's better to enjoy the time they spend together.

She pointed the bed and said, "You go inside... I like sleeping near the door."

"Okay!" his face lit up immediately and he nodded his head like a boy who got permission to play outside in the puddle.

Arthur was definitely happy he was allowed on her bed after the thing he tried on her. He wanted to talk about it but couldn't find the words to express his thoughts without proving himself to be a fool.

He couldn't believe how she has become entirely different from some hours before. She looks entirely calm and collected now.

'How does that work? She was scared of me before and now she is not? Should I bring up what I did then? Will it make her anxiety attack return?'

He really couldn't understand. But he was happy for now he is allowed near her.

He hopped on the bed and watched her opening the drawer under her bed. She really had made this small space work out well for her.

She picked up a book and he could see it was some old romantic comedy by the cover. She always preferred to read books in hard copy than in a screen or even an audio book.

"So that's where you were keeping your books! I wondered why there are no bookshelves in you home," Arthur said as she sat comfortably on the bed, positioning her pillows and slipping inside the duvet.

Arthur sat beside her silently as she opened the book and it seemed like she was just starting the book. He didn't want to disturb her and picked up his phone to check his emails.

Man, he had a lot!

When he finished replying to the important ones and settled the other ones to be taken care of by Jordan, he found out it has already been a little more than an hour.

He stretched himself and yawned seeing her still reading the book. It was amazing the speed she reads. She has already been thorough at least hundred pages.

He leaned on her shoulders. He wanted to look at the book but her mounds were in the way. He wondered how she was able to read over that.

Well... To be honest, They weren't that much in the way to look at the book, but he was distracted by them.

'It's ivory slips today! Ivory really suits her skin more. And I can see those... cute little buttons... Uh! Why is she trying to kill me? '

'Can she be able to see her feet standing up without bending?' Another question popped in his mind.

"What's this book about?" he asked. He was a little bit surprised he wasn't being pushed away.

"Do you really want to know?" she asked and her tone said how skeptical she was.

"Um...not really," he answered truthfully. He truly didn't care.

"Aren't you sleepy? Why don't you sleep?" she asked closing the book and patted his cheek. Her actions seemed so natural as if they've been doing it all their life.

"Yeah," he didn't want to spoil her mood and lied on his back while she placed the book on the nightstand, switched off the light and lied on her side.

He saw her back facing him and wondered if he should really talk to her what he wanted to say.

Talia on the other hand could feel him suppressing something and wondered what he might say. She didn't want to hear anything and just want to spend the few days together peacefully.

Didn't they seem like a peaceful couple sometime before with her reading a book and him reading his emails sitting on the bed? Can't this continue..?

But will I be able to return to my old days after he leaves?

Everything has changed and will it be fine after I lose him forever?

Can I be happy seeing him getting over me and start a new life with another woman?

She felt like crying and even though she tried to stop her tears, they flowed naturally.

I really can't! But it should be done. He is such a perfect person and he cannot be bound to someone like me!

Arthur could not see her face and yet he could feel something odd seeing her hands moving to her face.

Could she be crying?

"Iris"

He hugged her back. He could not let her suffer. Talia's eyes widened by the sudden warmth engulfing her from the back. He surely was like a strong mountain.

"I'm sorry for what I did! I was not angry at you... I was jealous and that's why... I... I know its no excuse to act that way with you... I wanted to kill David and the way I saw you laughing with him combined with how you tried to protect him..."

He placed his head over her cheek and wiped her eyes, " I was...angry...I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hurt you... "

Talia could feel his heart beating like a drum on her back.

He thinks I was scared because of what he did? But... That's not the case... And... He was jealous? Jealous?

He took in a deep breath, " Ah, you smell so sweet! Your hair... " he already got distracted and his hands went around her waist.

"You thought I was protecting David?" Talia turned to look at him and he retracted his wandering hand.

"That's what I thought then... But you were trying to protect me. I can see that... " he said and in that dim light only the white of his eyes were visible and his bright teeth.

"Silly..." she didn't speak further.

"You forgive me then?" he asked seeing her silent.

Forgive him for what actually? I was the one who over reacted because of that hallucination!

"Do you love me that much...?" she asked and he was perplexed for a second.