Azalea blooms

"How could you do this to me!" A woman's yelling echoed through the room, followed by shattering of objects. 

"How hard is it to keep yourself in your pants? You want me to accept your bastard's daughter. Fine, let me also go out and get knocked out by some stranger…you can also accept that kid, right?!" The voice continued, with sobs in between. The disheartened bitterness was clear in her voice. 

"Alice!" Finally, a man's voice thundered. 

***

Azalea gasped, sitting up straight. Her body was wide awakened from the strange dream. Her body was covered in cold sweats. It's been a long time since she had those nightmares. Strange how it returns. 

Azalea finally glanced at her surroundings. It was not her room. Startled, Azalea instantly got up checking her clothes, only to find pastel pink silk pajamas. These were not her clothes ... What happened? Memories from the other day filled her mind.

***

After they sat down in the restaurant to eat, Aunty Lee soon brought their order. She put down a dark red broth with thin noodles in front of Azalea while giving Adam a transparent chicken broth. 

Adam was puzzled seeing their different orders. From nowhere he was ineligible for spicy food. Then why that order? Azalea caught a glimpse of his curious look and looked up from her food, "Ashy told me that spicy food is not good for injuries." She explained. 

"Here, try this." Azalea quickly put a tea egg in his bowl before returning to her food. A soft smile appeared on his lips as he took a bite of the egg she gave him and ate the herbal soup. 

After finishing their meal, Azalea forcefully took the keys of his car feeling guilty for making a sick person drive all along. "You should rest. Let me drive." 

"No way, I am going to let my wife drive on the very first day of our marriage." Adam refuted, taking back the keys from her hands and holding her hand.

Azalea glared, pissed by his actions. "Fine, I am not going to go with you." She declared, trying to walk off. 

Having no chance, Adam sighed in defeat handing over the car keys to her. Azalea smiled, excitedly grabbing the key and sitting in the driver's seat. Adam was still scared of her driving skills. His mother-in-law warned him long back, how big of a rash driver she was. She doesn't drive below 100 and Adam just prayed his blissful and hopefully long marriage life doesn't come to an end because he can't say no to his wife.

Adam still sat in the passenger seat, "You sure you can drive? Do you have a driving license?" He questioned trying to be polite. 

"Last time when I had an accident, Ashton said I did." Azalea calmly responded. 

Adam stared at her, regretting his decision. He could see his whole married life dissipate into thin air. "....A-accident? What do you mean by accident ..." 

"Oh that…My friends and I had a rash driving competition on the remote mountain and ended up crashing into a boulder. It was not my fault if you were wondering. A stupid raccoon appeared on the road out of nowhere." Azalea explained briefly, starting the car. 

"Let me drive! I don't trust you with wheels!" Adam refuted, after hearing her story. She was not eligible to drive. Anything but that. He still wishes to live long enough to see her sleeping face every morning, see how she acts when she gets jealous, how she shows love and care, them having kids, watching them grow up, find their loved one, and then grow old…Not dying on the very day they just started their married life. 

"Oops! Too late. Don't worry, I will drive slowly." Azalea exclaimed, driving off. 

Adam put on her seatbelt, praying nothing goes wrong. Seeing his scared look, made Azalea want to play more with him. An evil smirk appeared on her lips, as she pressed on the accelerator. Every time the speed reached over sixty, Adam's heart bursts out of his chest. 

"Where do you want to be dropped?" Azalea questioned, taking a glance in between her driving. 

"Look ahead. Let's go to your house first to pack up your things." Adam answered, holding onto the steering wheel. 

With stunned eyes, Azalea stared at him, "What do you mean pack my things?" She inquired. 

"To move in with me. Are you planning to stay alone after marriage?" Adam's brows furrowed, as his clear face scrunched up like wrinkled clothes. 

Azalea remained quiet, looking ahead. He was not wrong. She didn't even think of that part. It seems unnecessary to shift. Her house was comfortable enough. "Why don't you shift with me? I still have university to attend and my place is closest." Azalea came up with an excuse. 

"First, my place is closer. Second, your house barely has a place for another person. Unless you are planning to stick to me like glue…" Adam smirked, closing the distance between them. 

Azalea pressed the brake, causing the car to screech to halt. Astonished by how close they were, Azalea pulled away as the churning feeling inside her stomach grew. 

"W-what are you doing?" Her voice trembled, staring at his face. Flustered by the sudden closeness. 

"Just asking you a question." Adam went back to his original place, seeing her disturbed face. 

Azalea averted her gaze, clearing her throat, " Stop saying nonsense. I am fine in my house." Azalea refuted, focusing on driving.

"First, let's go to this address, then you decide what you want," Adam spoke, putting an address on the GPS. 

Azalea didn't refute and agreed to drive to the address he gave. Surprisingly the house was not that far from her residence, it was even closer to her University than her actual house he said. Even being so close to the university, the ambiance was quiet and peaceful. A two-storey house, built on top of a small hill. 

The high white walls that surrounded the house, and a blue gate with a hanging arch, somehow reminded her of her childhood house in Greece. Even the Bougainvillea that bloomed at the hanging arch in front of the house. The red blooms had blossomed in abundance was a sight. 

"Already awestruck? You have not even seen the inside yet." Adam wrapped his arm around her waist, showing her way inside.

Azalea didn't refute, as soon as she entered, she saw the garden. Azalea plants were planted on each side of the driveway. 

"Why are there so many Azalea plants?" Azalea inquired, glancing at Adam. Her heart was pounding as she refused to accept the answer her brain gave. 

"Because my wife's name is Azalea," Adam replied, placing a soft peck on her temple. 

Like the deepest shade of scarlet rhododendron, her cheeks flushed up. Trying to keep her calm face. Adam didn't tease her any further and took her straight inside. 

Nothing extravagant as she expected from someone like Adam Shen instead it was just spacious and comfortable. 

"Now say, isn't it perfect for newlyweds?" Adam inquired, showing her to the living room. 

"Not bad. But still not moving in with you." Azalea smiled, tucking him away and walking out. 

Puzzled by her answer, Adam looked at Azalea as she walked out of the house, like a puppy following its owner he followed her, "Why not?" 

"Because I prefer staying alone," Azalea remarked, leaving the house.