Why I'm giving up—VII

Six months swiftly strolled by and it was another year in this hellish household for Kika.

Surprisingly, Luke kept to himself and barely caused mischief or acknowledged their existence. It was better than being violated and blatantly missing out on quality bonding time with his daughter but the large house and Kika's heart were aching and empty.

The faint intensity of the heat peeked into Luke's face as Kika drew the blinds for the sunlight to invade the room. Luke squirmed with a sour expression, eyes still taped shut and exquisitely shirtless. Kika swallowed.

Apparently, he didn't like—or rather any vampire on the face of the planet didn't like the annoying sunlight on their face in the morning. Despite being in their human conformations or not.

"Kika? What are you doing in my room?"

She rubbed her arms slightly. His loud voice had made her hairs stand on end. On normal occasions, he was the one who brought her in here. Either by force or by seduction. It never really dawned on her that she needed permission to be able to step in here. Now that she stopped to think about it, he had never stepped in her room either in past three years.

Not once. Neither did he have the intention to now.

"I...um..."

"Forget it, just tell me what you want and then see yourself out."

Kika sighed and removed her gaze from his upper body before it trailed any lower than he needed to.

"Breakfast will be ready soon and Bloom is at the table... waiting for you."

Luke looked disinterested. He inclined an eyebrow upwards, expressing the word "So?" and probably an additional question like "What has that got to do with me?"

"Would you mind joining us? ... Please?"

He yawned loudly, all the air escaped before his hand made it to his mouth to cover it.

"Fine. Now get out."

Kika nodded and walked towards the door. She tipped her head back to mention something that had skipped her mind.

"Oh, and we're having your favourite today."

He ignored her and walked straight into the shower. She took the hint and closed the door on her way out.

***

Bloom's eyes grew wide when Luke occupied a seat at the dining table.

"Good morning...Daddy."

His eyes were glued to his phone screen and he didn't bother to look up.

He usually comes down when they're done or he doesn't bother eating at home in the first place. Kika was the most astonished, she was also the happiest by his decision to join them because she was the one who made breakfast today.

Rhea was on her first day off in over fifteen months.

Kika served. Cheese in the omelette was Luke's favourite. Potatoes, zucchini, sautéed maize, vegetable salad, bacon, corn, homemade mini loaf bread, spinach potage and no breakfast is complete in Kika's dictionary without coffee. Surprisingly, Luke liked his light roast, with low acidity. Bloom, a hot chocolate instead.

Bloom ate hers with the grits in the omelette mixed with the potato zone. Just like she watched her Mum do it. It was fluorescent, carefully grown and packed with deliciousness.

"Is it good?"

Kika dared to ask when he dropped his phone after swallowing one spoonful. He didn't say anything. Bloom sipped loudly to get her mum's attention away from him. If she was reprimanded for bad table manners, the effect of being constantly ignored wouldn't sink so deep.

"I'd like another mini loaf."

He muttered while picking up his phone again. Kika beamed from the fresh rush of dopamine surging through her ingot brain.

She stood up to serve and almost dropped it after mistakenly taking a glance at his phone.

Mallory: type a body part and I'll send you a pic.

Luke: face

Mallory: really? You're no fun at all (bored emoji) fine...here (uploaded picture)

He didn't send a reply for a few minutes after viewing it. Kika suspected it was while he had dropped his phone down to eat.

Mallory: aren't you going to say I'm pretty?

Luke: I am, but later today...

Luke: in the bedroom

Mallory: (blushing emoji)

Mallory: You're still as raunchy as usual...what time are you coming over tonight?

Luke: why? you want to tell your other guys to lay low for one night?

Mallory: (pouting emoji)

Mallory: I told you, you're the only one I'm seeing right now.

Luke: Whatever

Luke: (typing...)

Luke looked up at Kika and the moisture building in her eyes. He glanced at the grill tongs, collected the mini loaf and continued eating like she wasn't there.

Kika took slow short steps back to her seat only after seeing his reply.

Luke: 8 o'clock. Your bed. What you wear doesn't matter.

No matter how loudly Bloom ate to incite a scolding, Kika couldn't hear it.

***

"...And the winner of this year's Pen-row award for the best author is...Clarissa Clooney!"

Kika blinked, adept in her thoughts.

"Kikan?"

Daneliya snapped her fingers in her closet friend and coworker's face.

"Hmmm?"

"There are only twenty-one Pen-row awards this year and seven winners are affiliated with our company."

"Oh..."

Kika stared blankly at the stage as the old lady collected the last and most esteemed award of the night. Kika had been nominated thrice but she only got the award for the best-selling book of the year. One million copies were purchased in less than six months. And that was just counting Octens, the capital. Asgard was an entire continent after all.

"Why aren't you screaming your lungs out? You've looked so much to this day. Our company is only three years old, we're the smallest and newest one here and the year some authors got nominated from Foxtöön, we bagged up seven awards. If this isn't a milestone, then I don't know what is."

Daneliya smirked feeling proud of her CEO bestie. She was second in command at Foxtöön.

"I'm sorry, Daneliya. I'm just thinking about something. Tell the employees to use the company card to celebrate tonight, I'm going home early."

Kika grabbed her purse and emptied the remains of her champagne flute into her mouth.

"Hey..."

Daneliya caught hold of her hand before she stood up. She had been sighing repeatedly all evening and staring blankly at the stage. She had worked so hard to get here but now that she made it, she's not even happy.

"You've been looking sullen all night and have been so absentminded even when our author's collected their awards. What's up with you?"

Kika looked at Daneliya, she seemed genuinely worried.

"I'm going to be fine. I just need some time to myself. See you at work on Monday."

She headed out with slow strides. Sighing, she pulled out her car keys as her car came into the view in the parking lot.

She needs to get home, make Bloom dinner, take a long bath and...

She paused.

...And Luke will be having fun in the arms of another woman tonight. She gritted her teeth and refused to cry.

"Ezmae!"

A female Titan materialized in front of her and paid obeisance.

"My husband isn't coming home tonight. Find out where he is and who he's with."