~10~

"You fall in love with the little things about someone like the way their laughter sound and the way their smile forms."

***

"How can she not call after kissing me like this?" Cyrus said, pacing around the room with his phone in hands, waiting for a call or a message from Louise. "How can she take advantage of an innocent man like this and disappear?"

Peter dropped his pen, staring at his friend, dumbfounded by Cyrus's brazenness.

"Quiet!" Peter said, "Why don't you call her? She took advantage of you?" He shook his head in disbelief.

"I'll wait for her call," he said. "She'll call."

"Suit yourself, but keep it down; I am trying to write the report. Or James won't let me off."

Cyrus wanted to call Louise. But why didn't he? He was so used to her calling and texting him.

He continued to pace around the room for a few hours, waiting for at least a text from her.

Six to eight hours have passed, and he did not receive anything from Louise.

Cyrus was disheartened and depressing. He looked forward to her call or text each day. In any case, that day, she did not send him anything.

"Sit down and message her. I cannot work with your anxious breathing," Peter complained.

He decided to text her himself. After sending Louise a quick instant message, he lay down with the phone close by, expecting a quick reply.

Thirty minutes had passed, and there was nothing. Cyrus called Louise numerous times, but no one answered.

"She didn't answer?"

"No," Cyrus was disappointed and sad. Why was she ignoring him?

~~~

Louise got sick the night she went out with Cyrus. She didn't get out of bed since then and forgot where she threw her phone.

Her father and her aunt Diane came over a few times to take care of her. However, her father had to leave on a business trip and let his little sister take Louise's care.

Dianne left for school, convinced that her niece was feeling better.

"I am feeling better. Really," Louise had told her.

She didn't want Diane to miss the exams.

Kate was pregnant, so she did not give her a call.

Louise considered calling Cyrus; however, she assumed that he'd be in school, teaching.

Had she told Claude, her grandparents would have taken the first flight from France to come and take care of her.

She didn't want to bother anyone. She thought that her cold would subside after sleeping for a day. She took some Ibuprofen and laid in bed.

Diane came in the afternoon and helped her shower.

"Do you want to eat something?"

"I want to sleep. Everything tastes awful. Have you seen my phone? I want to text Cyrus," Louise said and got under the covers.

"You didn't have it on you. I don't know where you threw it this time."

"If you see him at school. Tell him I am away."

"I don't have his class," Diane said. "Niece? Niece?"

~~~

"Cyrus..."

"Leave me alone," he said. Cyrus's mood got worse on the second day Louise did not contact him.

If something had happened to Louise, she would have contacted Kate, nothing happened. He concluded.

She's ignoring me.'

"What's wrong with him?" Kate asked.

"Louise didn't call him. Two days, straight," Peter said.

"Oh! Your sweetheart was sick."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" He asked, suddenly up to his feet.

Kate and Peter snickered.

Kate observed him, carefully handing him a bag with medicine and food. "Drive my car. Her address is in there. She might be in bed. I will send you the code."

"His mood is suddenly better," Peter teased.

"She worked faster than I thought," Kate laughed.

"You're missing out," Peter said. "It took effect long ago."

"For real?"

Peter nodded.

Cyrus didn't bother asking them. He only wanted to see Louise.

"Aren't you going with me?" Cyrus asked, ignoring whatever they said. They were teasing him. He knew that.

"I am not feeling too good," Kate lied.

Diane had caller her earlier, saying that Louise was not feeling well and needed someone to care for her.

Kate told her friend that she was going over, but Louise insisted that she felt better after taking some Ibuprofen and only wanted some food.

"Alright! I'll take care of her," he said.

"Don't let the tigress eat you," Peter shouted.

~~~

"Dad, you don't have to end your business to return," Louise said. "My fever went down. I will go to the hospital—yes, I know. Kate is coming over in a few minutes. Don't worry too much," she said and ended the call after her father told her to take care of herself.

Louise heard the front door open. She heard footsteps coming her way. Her family and Kate were the only people who knew the code to her house. Thinking that it was Kate, she laid still on the sofa, her hand hiding her face.

"Baby? I couldn't call Cyrus those days. Do you think he's mad?" She asked. "What did you bring?"

No answer. "Kate? She sat up and saw Cyrus standing next to her.

"Shit! What are you doing here?" Louise asked, moving away in surprise.

"I am not mad," Cyrus said.

"Kate, where is she?" Louise asked. Ah! Why didn't Kate tell me beforehand that he was bringing the food over?

"She isn't feeling well. You don't seem happy seeing me. Where's the kitchen?" He asked, feeling disappointed.

"No, no, I'm so happy—seeing you—I am suddenly feeling a lot better," she said, giving him her usual grin.

"You're such a sweet talker. How are you feeling? Why didn't you call me?"

"My father and aunt came. I am feeling better now, thanks. I thought you were in school."

"Are you sure?" He asked, touching her forehead. Louise flinched, stepping away from his touch. "You don't need me to take you to the hospital?"

"Don't do that!"

"What? I am worried about you."

"Exactly! I might—forget it," she said.

~~~

"You designed the house?" He asked, knowing that she was an architect.

"No, a gift from my grandfather," she said. A gift! How rich her grandfather was to gift her a house like this?

"Oh!" was all he said. "What about your parents?"

She paused. "My mother died a long time ago. Sixteen or seventeen years ago. My dad is alive and young."

"I am sorry I shouldn't have asked," he said, looking down. Cyrus wanted to ask about her grandfather, but he figured that it was not convenient to ask her about her family at that time.

"Don't fret it. You didn't know," Louise said, pulling out two plates from the cabinet. "Do you want to eat with me? Or do you have to go back?"

Did he have to go back? He wasn't going to do anything at home. "I'll take your silence as a yes then," she said, pushing a plate in front of him.

"It must have been hard, raising three children on your own. And you are still very young yourself."

"It was nothing special. Taking care of the kids is something I should do, as their older brother," he said.

"Not everyone would do the same."

"You don't have any siblings?"

"Mmh! I have an older and younger brother. You aren't going to see them often."

~~~

"I haven't watched Game of Thrones," Louise revealed.

"No way," Cyrus laughed. "What were you doing?"

"Let's watch it!" She said, setting up the TV she has not been using for a long time.

"You're right. I am missing out, "Louise said after watching the fifth episode.

Cyrus's eyes closed, his head slightly leaning on her shoulder. Louise sighed.

She got up and adjusted his body on the sofa comfortably. "Why do I love you so much?" She whispered, gently caressing his face. "I know you don't love me. Can you try to like me a little? That's all I am asking for right now."

~~~

When Cyrus woke up from his nap, the house was dark and quiet. As if he was the only person living there.

"You're awake. I am turning on the light, okay," Louise said. "Drink some water."

"Wait, let me adjust my eyes." He took the glass from her. "Thanks."

"Mm!"

"Sorry. I fell asleep. I will make it up to you next time," Cyrus said.

"Don't worry," she said, taking the glass.

"It's late. I am leaving—" Cyrus came to take care of Louise, but why did it feel like he was the one who got taken care of instead? "Are you feeling better? I told Kate I'd take care of you."

"I am fine. No more fever."

Cyrus nodded. He wanted Louise to tell him to stay but—

"Be careful; thanks for today," Louise said. She wanted to kiss Cyrus but restrained herself.

"Goodnight!" Cyrus said. He was confused as to why Louise wouldn't look at him. She seemed distant and cold. Has he done anything wrong?

They had a good time together. Why was Louise acting like this towards him?

"Did you forget something?" She asked. Her voice was cold but low.

"Yeah, I forgot to do this," he said, planting a soft kiss on her lips.

Louise smiled. She kissed him back. Her kiss was rough and felt like she had been waiting to kiss him for a long time. Louise craved his lips, his touch. Cyrus kissed her, just as hard.

She tried to— trying to suppress her feelings, her desires, but he—

Louise pushed him against the wall, her body tightly pressed against his. She wrapped her hands around his neck as his hands rested on her waist.

He pulled back. Louise opened her eyes, staring at him. What do I do with him? Should I even be doing this?

Cyrus leaned in for another kiss. He kissed her slow, gentle. The kiss was sweet and tender as if they poured all their feelings into it.

He slowed down and pulled away. Kissing Louise always left him breathless.

"Goodnight," Louise said, kissing him on the forehead.

"Mmh!" Cyrus smiled and gave her a quick kiss before leaving.