Tears, An Apology And A Kiss

When he got back, Nicolette was already preparing to sleep. But very uncharacteristically, she was carrying his blanket to the master bedroom. What was going on? Did she take his words seriously and now thinking of sharing the bed? It felt very much possible that this was the case to Vance, especially after how she had whispered in his ear just then.

There are an inexplicable happiness bubbling inside him. Well, that would rather be a step forward to them. As he thought about it, Nicolette came out of the room gently closing the door. When she turned around she looked completely awkward and Vance's hopes raised higher. She must be feeling shy.

"You have your bed back. Sorry, I really was mean," she gave him a tight polite smile.

"No, it's alright," Vance said quickly.

"Good night," she wished but out of his expectations she marched towards the study room.

"Where are you going?" he asked behind her.

"Didn't you get me an airbed? I'll use it."

"No." Vance was resolute. Why were they going back to the first day of marriage? He want going to allow such ridiculousness.

"What?"

"Why are we even sleeping separately?"

Silence engulfed them. Things just seemed to happen without them being aware.

"A lot of things do not need to be explicitly told to be understood. I very well know your intentions." Nicolette said, her words a little ambiguous.

"What intentions?"

"You had a girlfriend. What did you want me to be? The uncultured woman who broke up the lovers?"

Vance was stunned. She was right.

As he kept standing rooting, Nicolette started speaking again. "I really did not want a marriage like this," her voice cracked. "But what choice did you leave me? This had to be fake because you had a girlfriend.

"What's more? You even told me you wanted to try." Tears spilled out of her bright eyes. "When you said that, all you intended to try was just how to be with your girlfriend. This marriage had to be fake for your sake!"

"We broke up long ago," Vance stumbled on the words unsteadily. He was afraid. They were not his intentions at all. Had she not said she would rather keep her time to herself, would he have even spoke a girlfriend's name in front of her?

Nicolette wiped away her tears and laughed, "I got to know. Clara told me. And she said she did not want you to know that I met her.

"Why? You thought if I knew you started a new relationship, I'd accuse you?

"Or since then you did not have a girlfriend so now you are thinking about me?" Nicolette spoke giving him enough time to talk, but Vance said nothing.

"Say something," she said.

Vance remained silent.

Nicolette sighed, "Just don't say anything. I'm sorry if I spoke too much. After all, I was the stubborn one. I thought," her voice lowered further, "I thought I would just marry who ever they think is correct."

When she was at the door of the study room however, Vance stopped her. It wasn't the right thing to say at this point but he asked her, "Then why would you say you'd not be married at all if it was not for your mom and dad?"

She turned to him. "After these many days, you should already know that I am a selfish person. Like I said before, I would rather not put my time and effort into adjusting with you. Right, I could have just complained about you having a girlfriend right after marriage. Why do you think I did not?

"Because, my parents did not need to feel guilty towards me. And also because, you said you would not interfere much, that was rather better considering everything, wasn't it?" Nicolette answered the question herself.

"Nicolette," Vance looked at her straight in the eye, "Believe me, I did not really think of all this."

"It's not your fault, I had a chance to reject after you've told me everything. Good night," she said as she walked inside.

"Please, I have things to say to you too."

"Fine," Nicolette said standing in the doorway.

"I only met that woman two times after marriage and one of those times was to break up… I really was not serious about her. She asked me out and I went. I," Nicolette was again giving him that judgmental gaze that he hated so much. It was making speaking difficult for him.

"I have no feelings for her and there's nothing between us." Nicolette leaned on the door frame and gestured him to continue.

Vance took a deep breath, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," her careless attitude was back again. Vance had second thoughts that he might have imagined those tears.

"I want you to forgive me."

Nicolette's gaze held slight amusement. "Okay."

"Can you give this a little more thought?" Vance asked her seriously. There was a trace of anger in his eyes.

"I did." Nicolette said, once again as careless as she seemed.

After a pause Vance walked three steps forward and entered the study room as Nicolette gave him way. As he expected, he found her pillow and blanket.

He bent and picked them up.

"Put that back," he pointed at the airbed that was spread out to a much deadpanned Nicolette. This development was out of her expectation so she was dumbfounded.

"No need, give them back," she reached to the items in his hands.

"Aren't you selfish? Don't you want the bed?"

"Oh, you want to sleep here?"

"Then I would not need you to put that back; put it away," he smiled politely.

"Come," inviting her, Vance proceeded into the bedroom.

"Look, just because you want a girlfriend and I seem convenient, you can't just," Nicolette pulled on her blanket but she was interrupted.

"Shut that! I am not looking for a girlfriend. I won't be looking for a girlfriend, alright? I didn't even know your mind was on that. I myself forgot I had a girlfriend until she called after more than half a month. And all other girlfriends I had before, I did not care much about them, mom, dad or Jean don't even know about them. No one has ever come to my place nor did anyone ever sleep on my bed." A second later he continued, "Nor did I ever sleep with anyone."

Nicolette was a little flustered, "Stop talking so much."

"Didn't you say you're selfish?" Here I am, with no past real relationships.

"What?"

"I thought I'd let you know."

"What?"

Was she pretending like she didn't understand? Fine, let her be, Vance thought. He walked into the bed room and put the things on one side of the bed.

Nicolette still stood in the hallway between without moving. Vance went back to her and held her wrist. He paused and looked at her. She did not look at him though and just let him drag her around. He made her sit on side of the bed and he knelt down before her.

Holding her two palms in his he said, "I thought I understood everything, I thought it was you that did not want to give us a chance. I'm really sorry. Starting from now, I will try my best, okay?"

"Get up."

Seeing him still in his position she was irritated, "Yesterday I asked you to not go out of your way for me. I really can't do the same for you."

Vance chuckled at her seriousness. "You really are selfish, aren't you? All you should do is just don't speak when you don't want to."

Nicolette remained silent for a while. "You will get upset and I will feel guilty later," only then did she look at his face, "Please."

Vance smiled. Was she still going through her teenage angst? "I was upset because I did not like you faking your actions. Don't do that again."

Few minutes later, there was a "hmm" from her Vance gently kissed her forehead. She blushed little and lied down on the bed. Vance occupied the other side. That night they slept together though they maintained a safe distance.