Another morning

"The human world is a boring place with boring people doing boring things."- Ryuk(Death Note)

- - -

The morning sun shone in the 'demon lord's' mansion, accompanied by a chorus of chirping birds. But Celine's nose was too busy picking up the scent of a delicious aroma wafting through the halls.

She jumped from her bed and bolted towards the source like a cheetah chasing a gazelle...

And found herself staring at a table bursting with culinary wonders and desserts that would make angels drool. Her taste buds trembled with excitement, but before she could pop a bread roll into her mouth, she heard Sir Garlic's irritated throat-clearing.

"What are you doing up so early?" he grumbled, eyeing her up and down like an angry schoolteacher.

Celine was caught in the act...

His emerald green eyes scanned her body that was wrapped in nothing but his shirt and boxers that made her like a pint-sized gangster.

He NEVER lends his clothes to anyone... But that 'once-up-on-a-time-he-will-do-it' was today and onwards.

'God is unpredictable.'

"Eating?" she replied, batting her eyelids like a southern belle on the prowl...

The fact that the strong aroma of homemade food woke her up made Mr. Alarm snort with jealousy.

"This is only mine. So back off and let me eat my breakfast peacefully." Sir Garlic made it clear that these goodies belonged to him, and him alone.

He sat gracefully on the chair and picked up his spoon making himself ready to eat then, he scoffed down the garlicky shrimp.

"Eh? Where is mine?" She questioned with wide eyes. She felt the monster inside her small yet elastic stomach grumble out of starvation and protest.

"Go cook for yourself. I am not your babysitter," he warned her to go whip up her grub instead of relying on him like a baby bird waiting to be fed.

But Celine couldn't resist the temptation of the shrimp. She watched him savor each bite, making her stomach growl like a greedy lion. Her eyes bulged like a cartoon character as she begged for a piece of his breakfast.

"Please let me try just one bite," she pleaded, her heart racing with anticipation.

But Gabriel the Great wouldn't budge.

She stared longingly at the plate of succulent shrimp and thick, creamy garlic sauce—so close, yet so far away. Suddenly, she reached a decision. She would do whatever it took to claim her prize.

"Not happening. I said go and cook for yourself."

The shrimp looks very delicious. Even the aroma only drives someone crazy to taste it. And here he is, sipping it and licking his wet lips calmly.

It's take it or leave it after all! And Celine made up her mind to take it at all costs!

"Then I should go and cook. I am starving." She said standing up.

Gabriel was satisfied! He saw how much she tried to win him! Hahaha In your dreams! Should he make her suffer more?

"Did you even take a bath?"

Celine froze. Her face turned red as a tomato. She is MAD!

"Yeah, I forgot. I am going to bathe. Have fun with your breakfast."

Gabriel narrowed his eyes as he watched her small figure take the stairs to the washroom. He wasn't that fool not to notice how calm she was despite her affection for food.

What is she planning now? What could be going through her mind?

He didn't have to be a professor to understand it. Right when he was examining the situation as a detective, a scream brought him back to earth...

"Ah!"

'Did she fall?!' Out of shock, he ran to the bathroom to find... nothing. She wasn't there. Then where is she?

... Oh shit!

When he ran back to where he was eating, an empty table welcomed him. This little brat!

He tried to find her (I mean his food), but there was no trace of her or his food. He even looked under the table, in the fridge, pulled the drawer... But she ain't nowhere.

"Fuck." He cursed under his breath when he realized that the time was ticking fast and it wouldn't be long until he would be late.

As if God heard him curse, he brought him his food along with the rat who stole it...

"Oh my! Water! Please water... Ah, I am burning!" She came running to him. Her eyes were tearing and her nose was red as a tomato.

Reminder; Gabriel likes extra-mega-spicy food. Thanks to the pepper and other spicy things he added to his food, she is fuming as hell!

She deserves it! He thought.

Celine calmed down a bit after drinking water. But her nose was still red. And her cheeks were no exception. She was ashamed of what she did...

"Are you fine?" Gabriel questioned and a clear amusement could be heard in his voice.

Well, he is satisfied. He won the battle!

"Yes." Head down, Her watery chocolate eyes were fixed on her fingers as she continued to play with them.

"Well then, I should get on." He was already dressed up, ready to leave. "I am sure I will be late if I stay any longer." he checked his expensive wristwatch.

"You will gonna be fine alone." He even doesn't trust his own words. "If something is amiss, just tell to the guards."

"Okay." She said still avoiding eye contact. "Oh wait Garlic. What about my parents... and friends? They need to know I am doing fine." she seemed concerned.

After a sigh, Gabriel reached for her phone and handed it to her, "Then tell them you are with your boyfriend and he is treating you well."

'Humph! As if!' her inside demon roared.

She nodded her head, pressing her lips into a thin line. Exactly the expression that shows she is about to lie.

After the phone rang for a little while, her mother picked it up with a loud yell, her ear barely escaped from smashing,

"OH MY GOD! JOHN ITS OUR DAUGHTER!"

Then her father followed,

"What?! Let me speak to her!"

Pinching the bridge of her nose, she made herself ready to lie to them.

"Hey, Mom and Dad."

"Jesus Celine! I was about to die of fright!" her mother's worried tone made her hate herself.

"Jessi, please calm down. You are making our daughter worry." Her dad's voice was calm and soothing but she could tell he was also concerned.

"I am alright. No need to worry, Mom." she forced the words to come out of her lips.

"Where are you now, sweetie? I will come over." her mom inquired.

"I told you I am fine. I am with someone who cares for me." Her eyes glimpsed at Garbiel. 

"Daughter, is the news true?" her mom sounded doubtful.

She knew what news her mom was talking about... The news that shocked the world.

The news that she was in a 'whirlwind romance' with Gabriel Davis.

... With the Demon lord.

The man who kidnapped her.

The man who made a deal with her.

The man who was standing next to her right now and listening to every word she spoke.

"Jessi, you know the news is fake-" her dad tried to say but Celine cut him off,

"It's true! The news is true, Dad. I am dating him and we love each other so much."

'Liar!'

She heard the loud silence on the other end of the line... She knew her parents were flabbergasted... She wished could tell them that she was just pretending like a temporary fiancee because of the money he offered.

But she couldn't tell them any of that.

Not after hearing about his sick mother... She must be cold-hearted if she refused to help.

'What a good girl... Of course, you couldn't refuse because of his money.'

Not after signing the contract.

She knew she had to lie to them.

... Lie to everyone.

... Lie to herself.

Gabriel snatched the phone from her hand and spoke into it.

"Hello, sir, madam it's me, Gabriel. No need to worry about her. She is safe with me." his confidence was loftier than his height.

He was also lying like it's a very natural thing to do.

As expected from an actor...

In her parent's case, the confusion was replaced by excitement and joy. They couldn't believe what they were hearing! The heavens must have answered their prayers!

"Good grief! Am I dreaming?!" her mom exclaimed, sounding ecstatic. "My Celine, my little lily-"

"My daughter I am so proud of you! You are finally a grownup woman!" her dad added sounding thrilled.

Celine felt a pang of guilt and sadness. She knew they were happy for the wrong reasons.

They didn't know what she agreed to do.

They didn't have a single idea about the truth.

... And it's better if they never did.

"hoho! We should meet our son-in-law, don't you think honey?" her mom, Jessica suggested eagerly.

"Yes little pie, I can't wait to see this young man of yours!" Celine's chocolate eyes dared to look at the demon lord if he heard what they said and it looked like he did.

He stood straight with a proud look on his face.

"W-we will think about it," she spoke before saying bye.

She turned to him, her hands resting on her curvy tiny waist... She looks frustrated and stressed.

"What are we going to do about this?"

"We will meet them. My mother is also waiting to see you," he stated simply, without a sting of emotion.

"It's not like we have another choice," he assured her.

It sounds like they were in this together... Like they were partners in crime.

But no.

They weren't.

They were enemies in war.

They were victims of a trap.

They were strangers in hell.

(At least that's what they think?)

***

The morning bird's melody also woke Asher from his deep slumber.

He opened his eyes slowly and the sight of the shining daylight jabbed his eyes. Unable to keep observing the sun, his gaze wandered around his surroundings. It took him a second to realize what happened last night.

So, he fell asleep in the garden.

Anyways, when he was about to get up from the grass he was sleeping on, he felt something stir beside him and his vision took in the face of his enemy who traumatized him.

She was hugging him like he was her fluffy toy.

"Hey! Wake up!" he tried to wake her.

Her hands were tightened around his midriff.

"Mm…" She moaned in her sleep and opened her eyes unhurriedly. After blinking several times, she shut her eyes again, tightening her grasp even more until he was out of breath.

How dare she sleep again? "I said wake up!" he let out shaking her. "Why the fuck are you sleeping here in the first place?!"

Finally, she opened her eyes when she felt something hard in her arms. Was she hugging something?

"Ah!" The look of shock was scripted on her sun-kissed face and pushed him in an instant after she learned what kind of situation she was in.

"I hope I was comfortable to sleep at, wasn't I?" he spoke grimacing at her.

Right. She never took a satisfying nap before. Even if it was cold outside, it was quite comfy and warm... also smooth. Until she dreamt of her mother hugging her... the sounds of her mom's heartbeat calming her down, putting her mind at ease... her warmth drowning her to a peaceful place... her lovely scent making her forget the cruel reality.

... But who thought the 'it' that was comfy, warm, and smooth would be her one and only savior, Sir Asher Davis?

Who thought the source of the lovely scent in her dreams would be him?   

Who thought it was his heartbeat that would calm her down?

While she was ashamed of the fact that she acted like the victim in this situation when it was Asher, a displeased voice brought her attention to him. "Why did you sleep here in the first place?"

"B-Because I was unnerved." She was darting everywhere but at him. "What if someone tried to kidnap me or hurt me?"

"Why would they kidnap a brainless idiot gorilla like you?" He sneered as he spoke. "It's not like they wanted a pet."

"What did I do wrong?" His words hurt her so much as if they were daggers stabbing her everywhere.

He started at her innocent amber eyes... She has some nerve to ask that question.

She took his first kiss away!!

"You know very well what you did, lady. Now go inside before I got pissed for real."

Her eyebrows were high to the sky in a questioning mode. "I still can't figure out what you are implying." Was it because she ran to his car yesterday? Is this why he is mad now? But she was intoxicated to think about what she was doing at that moment...

"Damn it, I would have killed you if I knew you were such a waste of time and space," he muttered loud enough until the words reached her ears.

Why was he harsh?

"I already apologized yesterday. I was drunk when I ran to your car. I was unable to learn about my actions."

Now, he knew she couldn't recall what she did. That's good then.

"Listen here, lady. I wait patiently until someone who cares to pick you up and take you home, arrives here. After that, we are strangers who never met before." he said with such enthusiasm and sentiment.

"Okay right, I get it." Bella never knew why he detested her like this.  

"Now, go inside." The annoyance was clear in his tone.

Well, he was wondering why he was stuck with this lady and yet, another morning came.

He hoped he would cut ties with her soon.

But dear God seemed he had prepared something delectable on his plate ...