"Are you feeling better?" Alec passed her a tissue.
Blowing her nose, Mimi nodded her head.
"Do you need another tissue?"
She shook her head. Alec's brows furrowed as he watched her blow her nose with an unreadable expression.
"Do you want anything to eat?"
These words seemed to trigger a response as Mimi's silent gaze finally flickered to him with a sparkling expression.
"What food do we have?" Mimi sniffled.
"Ah..." Alec awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Well, nothing for now. Not until Tobias comes back from the store."
Mimi looked at her brother with a blank stare. As if she were looking at a deceased person.
"Then why would you mention it if there's no food?" She pouted with a wrongful expression.
Alec was at a loss for words. It seemed the girl's mood compared to before worsen. When it came to food, there was no joking around. Just in time to break the gloomy atmosphere, the two heard the sound of the door open.
"Alec quick, how do I look?" Mimi leaned her face close, her eyes widening.
Alec stared at his sister's appearance. Her face was red and blotchy, eyes bloodshot, and eyelids puffy. To be frank, she looked as if she had just cried her eyes out. However, Alec knew she was looking for a compliment, so he just smiled.
"Beautiful as always."
Mimi raised a hand and smacked her brother in the arm.
"Ow! What was that for?" Alec clutched his arm with a deep frown.
"Lying doesn't give you any bonus points, big brother." Mimi's eyes flicker with tease before she smiles softly. "But thank you for trying."
Hopping off the bed, Mimi walked into the living room leaving Alec alone to stare at her figure with a shock. Walking in to see Tobias setting the groceries on the counter, she ran into his arms and buried her face into his chest.
"Toby, I'm hungry again!" Mimi's soft voice spoke into his chest.
Not at all surprised by her affectionate actions, Tobias chuckled and stroked her head. When he saw Alec walking out of the bedroom, he gave him a faint nod. Alec looked back at him and smiled, his eyes on the loving couple in front of him.
...
After enjoying an early dinner together, Alec went home after ensuring Mimi was all right. Cleaning the dishes in the kitchen, Mimi wore her big yellow rubber gloves, focused on the task before her. At that moment, Tobias's arms came around her, one hand taking the dish in her hand, while the other wrapped around her waist. Feeling the heat of his body at her back, Mimi relaxed and leaned back a little.
"Let me clean them." His deep, low voice said softly beside her ear.
Mimi shook her head and pulled the dish out of his hand. "It's fine, I'm already doing it. You cooked, it's only fair I clean."
"Oh? So you know about fairness?" She could hear the tease in his tone.
Mimi raised her head a little with a pout, "Hey, I'm always fair."
Tobias hummed a deep sound and leaned down to kiss the top of her head softly. Mimi huffed and continued to scrub the dishes clean. Chuckling, Tobias braced his hand on the counter, imprisoning her as he watched her clean silently.
She could feel his dark, heated eyes on the back of her neck specifically.
A long exhale of air blew over her hair. "About what happened before...Do you want to talk to someone? Like a professional?"
Mimi's movements paused for a moment before she shrugs her shoulders softly. "I don't think that's necessary. I know what works well for me. I studied enough to know I can handle it with just some time and patience."
Tobias nodded as he gently buried his head in her hair and inhaled.
"Tomorrow...do you want to go somewhere with me?"
Curious, Mimi shifted her head to the side a little to see his expression. She was surprised to note a slight flush in his ears.
"Where?" Mimi's brows raised curiously after seeing his rare flustered expression.
Tobias back away a little and cleared his throat. "That's a surprise."
Pressing her lips together, Mimi huffed. "Very well. I will hold you to it to make the wait worthwhile."
Tobias laughed a deep sound and nodded his head. "I promise it will be."
...
The following day, early in the afternoon, Mimi sat on a bench staring at her phone. The neck-length strands of her hair were tied in a half twist, and her petite figure dressed in a dusty blue puff sleeve mini dress. People passing by couldn't help but glance at the charming girl sitting on the bench.
However, only those who passed were able to perceive the lewd and high-pitched sounds coming from the girl's phone.
Such a lovely and innocent looking girl was watching porn in broad daylight! Not to mention at a public park!
Mimi paid no mind to the numerous stares or troubled glances in her direction. She was far too focused on the intense poses in the video.
Huh, she never knew someone could bend their back that way without breaking it.
While Mimi was distracted by the obscene video, a shadow hovered over her. When she looked up, her lips curled into a dazzling smile.
"Toby!" She stood up from the bench and tenderly bound her arms around his waist.
Tobias smiled and moved to take something from his pocket when he paused to a certain sound coming from below. Glancing down, he stared intensely at the phone in the girl's hand. When he took the phone, his entire body froze in place. Mimi glanced at him and tilted her head.
She looked at the content on the screen only to realize the video was still playing. The volume on high.
"Ah, while I was waiting for you I got a little bored and decided to watch something to entertain myself."
Tobias raised an eyebrow.
Entertain herself?
He looked back down at the erotic film playing on her phone and quickly turned it off. He cleared his throat.
"Let's go."
Not finding anything wrong with her actions just now, Mimi nodded her head with a bright smile. After leaving the park, Tobias drove her to a very well established restaurant. From what Mimi read in an article, it was exceptionally popular these days. However, she skimmed through that part and skipped to the food.
It served French food, one of her favorites!
Entering the restaurant, Tobias, as usual, pulled out a seat for her before he sat down across from her. Deciding her order, Mimi took the time to look around.
From her seat, she had a view of the entrance, only couples came and left. She let herself soak in the ambient music for a few moments, and drinking in the scented air. From the chandelier, silk curtains, and polished clean floors, it was easy to tell the service here was expensive.
"My, my, this is quite a fancy place, Toby." Propping her chin with her palms, she fluttered her eyes. "Why the sudden change in scenery?"
They usually went to a small diner or café and ordered burgers, pizza, and muffins - the usual. Tobias looked a little tense in his seat as he glanced up from his menu. He cleared his throat.
"I..." Just as he spoke, the waiter arrived to take their order.
From when they ordered and their meals finally arrived, Mimi never knew what Tobias wanted to say. Leaving the restaurant, Mimi breathed in the fresh and crisp night air.
"That was so delicious!" She sighed with content.
Turning her head to look at Tobias, she saw him in the process of shedding his coat.
"Why are you taking your coat off? Are you warm?" Mimi blinked her eyes curiously.
Tobias's movements froze. Even his fingers felt rather stiff from all the tension in him. After a while, he casually removed his coat and folded it on his arm.
"Yes, I'm a little warm." He said just as a cool gust of wind blew past them.
Mimi giggled and wrapped an arm around his.
"Well, if you get cold again, you can lean on me." Mimi played coy and leaned into the man's chest looking up into his handsome face.
Tobias smiles warmly at Mimi while keeping her securely by his side as they walked back to his car. When they arrived back at her apartment, Mimi took out her keys to unlock her door only to feel a certain pair of eyes still on her.
Shifting her head, she saw Tobias standing stiffly by her door as if waiting for something. Mimi's brows furrowed.
"Is something wrong?"
Tobias opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. After a few seconds of composing himself, he asked in his low, deep voice: "Did...Did you enjoy our date?"
Mimi blinked. Then, she blinked again and tilted her head.
"Date?"