Hide and Seek IV- Contradicting

Lost in her own world, Aurelia continued to murmur. Simon proceeded to walk towards her with his brows still crinkled.

Why is it that he feels something like a dull pain in his chest? It's as if his heart suddenly dropped especially when he saw the girl's s whole appearance.

Her once rosy cheeks and lips had already lost their colors. Her pale face emphasizes her strained eyes that are red under. Like she didn't sleep or even blink for days. It also wanders around the room and can't seem to focus.

"Doctor," She said when she finally notices Simon in front of her. Her voice physically itches his ears by how rough it was. Her big unfocused eyes tried to catch his gaze as she grabbed the hem of his shirt. "Please, let me sleep. Let me sleep Doctor, let me sleep," She said in haste, her voice filled with desperation.

Simon is speechless again by the girl's action in front of him. He stared at Aurelia for a whole minute, thinking.

Is this another act?

'Just help her. She looks awful.' The kind voice said that he actually considered for a moment before the rough voice argued with a very harsh tone.

'No. Are you actually falling for her acts for the second time?' It said and he retracted his hand that's ready to pull up the poor girl on the ground, still staring at him.

"Stand up." Affected by the voices in his head, he hardly pulled Aurelia up after minutes of silently debating, grabbing her white as a sheet of an arm. She didn't say anything nor complained about how forceful he was. She just stared at him expectantly, hopeful even that makes him feel shameful.

For the first time.

"Can you walk?" Simon asked, she didn't answer and just stared at him like she didn't understand. When he returned the stare, he noticed that her eyes are looking at him but at the same time distant like a faraway look.

A look that feels to pass through your soul.

He didn't wait anymore for her answer because without a doubt she's so out of it.

He lifted her, bridal style and he walked out of the room. When they already outside of the white room, he saw how Aurelia's eyes started to close. A lone tear rolled both from her eyes as if shutting them stings and he couldn't comprehend why his heart ache at the sight.

Laying her down in the bed full of his own scent, he pushed aside the stray hair on her forehead and set her body in a comfortable position. He stared at her peaceful face that is now evenly breathing.

He didn't even know why he exhaled a sigh that lighten the heaviness in his chest that he didn't notice until now.

---

Simon stared at the girl that's quietly staring outside the window. The room is deafeningly silent that he can hear crickets outside.

Though he never, since he moved in this house, heard a cricket outside.

He paced about the room, somehow even if Aurelia is literally in arms-length far from him, her thoughts still miles away from here.

Running his fingers through his hair he sighed. What to do? He thought. Ever since she woke up at noon, she's been staring outside that window. The moon is now up and above its peak but she's still there.

"Aurelia," Sitting beside the girl, he called her name. She didn't answer nor move in her spot so he tapped her shoulders.

She ever so slowly move her head in his direction. But she didn't say something and just wait for him to talk.

He smiled at her, taming her unruly hair, he asked, "Are you hungry?" Letting the silence embrace them again, he waited for an answer.

"White," She said, after a while. Her voice is now smooth like always but still weak compared to before. "I don't want my food white." She clarified as her hands grasped his. It's incredulous how he feels a shock like a spark that ignited when their hands touched.

It's something that he believed he will never experience.

But he just did.

"Okay, no white food." He assured her and pulled her to him in an embrace as he lifts her. She just stared at nothingness while they're descending the stairs.

"Anything particular that you want?" Setting her up on the chair, he asked. Aurelia looks around the unfamiliar room but she shook her head as an answer.

"Where are we?" In a small voice, she questions instead. Simon put on the apron as he started to prepare the ingredients for a simple pasta recipe.

"Somewhere far away." He answered with finality in his tone. He didn't hear anything after that and the kitchen was engulfed with silence as he also quietly started to cook.

"Thank you for the food," Aurelia murmured when he finally served the pasta with a green paste that smells divine. A simple pesto.

Simon stayed quiet even if his heart actually jumps because of that simple 'thank you.

"Eat up." He said and Aurelia just nods her head once. They eat silently, though sometimes their eyes will 'accidentally' meet the whole time, there are no words exchanged.

"Do you want to play after this?" Simon asked when they just finished their meal and currently cleaning the table. A plate came crashing down the tiled floor as an answer.

"P-play?" Aurelia responds with a shakey question, her eyes big in fright. Simon didn't understand that instead of the usual satisfaction from what is a supposedly entertaining reaction, this time he felt sick in his stomach.

Like a stigma.

"Just, just play around. You know the normal play that the normal people do at home." What is that anyway? He thought as he stammeringly suggests.

He didn't know why he's suggesting it. He also didn't know why he's trying to entertain her like she's someone important.

Or maybe she is.

"W-what kind of play?" Aurelia asked, still skeptical but he just shrugged.

"I don't know, you choose," He said and the moment he did, he heard the voices again.

'Idiot, still trusting her.' The rough voice reprimanded him yet again and the kind voice is fast to rebut.

'She looks genuinely troubled and needs help.' The kind voice said and he can almost hear a snicker from the other voice.

'That's what you said the last time too but she just proved us the opposite. She's anything but genuine.' The rough voice mocked. He didn't want to believe it but all he can think about is how Aurelia deceived him again and again.

"S-Simon?" The soft hesitant voice of Aurelia pulled him out of the trance. He raised an eyebrow in her direction.

"Yeah?" Heaving a deep sigh, he asked. It takes all of his might to stop himself to burst and just shoved Aurelia by grabbing her neck for treating him like a joke.

That's right. She's unpredictably predictable.

The perfect epitome of contradiction.

"How about rock paper scissors?" She recommended as she fiddled with her fingers while looking at him through her lashes.

The most cliche moves to act cute.

But damn that it actually works.

"Rock paper scissors?" Wiping the sink clean, he faced her direction. Aurelia nodded her head and sheepishly scratched her neck.

"You know, the loser will then be painted with something on the face as a punishment. It's a shame tho I don't have my makeup here." She whispered the last part as though she just remembered. Simon arched a brow as he smirked.

"Okay," He nodded and clapped his hand once as he lifted his chin arrogantly and added, "Ready your face for the punishment then," teasingly, he purposely bumped his shoulders in her on the way to the dining table and Aurelia gasped in disbelief.

"You should save it for yourself, mister," She joked back and tapped her fingers on the table. She's silent for a while but then snapped her fingers as if she just got an idea.

"How about I blend a smoothie and that will be the paste for the punishment?" She suggested and Simon opens his arms, gesturing her to go ahead. She beamed at him with her lips pulled in a full stretch.

'See, she looks genuinely happy.' The nice voice said and he absentmindedly nodded his head while watching Aurelia's back on her, facing the fridge, she energetically looks for the ingredients.

'It's all just an act I tell you. She's all quiet earlier but look at her, now booming with energy. I bet she's planning something again.' The rough voice answered that made his forehead wrinkle. That's also right.

Is she already fine now?

What happened with the all-day staring in silence?

Is it all an act?

As he watched her rummage the cabinets, now probably searching for a blender, he wondered,

Just what she's up to?