Morning came at the Walsh Villa.
Doctor Go made another round of check-up for Laurice before making a few additions to her diet and finally clearing her off.
"Make sure not to skip meals and sleep, young miss. Take regular vitamins to boost your immune system and try to avoid stress as much as possible." He reminded.
"I shall do as you say doc, thank you very much." Laurice shook the doctor's hand before sending him off.
'As if i can avoid stress. But i can't trouble any more people.'
She grumbled inwardly and sighed.
Sid was observing her the whole time he can roughly guess what she was thinking. He was quite amused by her. The woman actually kept apologising to him and his servants the entire morning for the said inconveniece she has caused. He kept silent the whole duration as he watched her personally made an apology to each of his people who come near her. Every one of them was surprised how humble she was and they unconsciously ended up chatting with her forgetting to a certain degree that they have actually been unconsciously upsetting the young master of the household. The poor staff felt the cold stare from inside the room and did not want stay any longer for feeling somehow unjustly oppressed. Laurice on the other hand seems to have enjoyed having conversations with them so she did not let them off right away.
'Young miss, please stop terrorizing us any more. The young master is already fuming mad.' They could only pray that Laurice shall stop speaking with them already and excuse all of them immediately.
A certain little young master who seems to have been deserted somehow was also getting jealous waiting for a very long time at the side lines.
He could not take it any longer. 'These thieves!'
"Hmp!" Louie harrumphed.
All of them was frightened they excused themselves all at once the instant they heard the disgruntled little voice from around the corner.
'Even the little young master is protesting!'
When only the three of them remained inside the room, the little one took a hundred and eighty and turned back into an obedient looking child.
"Mommy!" He grumbled. He touched his mother's forehead and ask if she was feeling alright.
Laurice felt touched she charges towards him and hugged him ever so tightly. 'So soft and cuddly!'
"Let's go make breakfast, sweetie." She said.
Sid frowned. He likes the idea of her cooking them breakfast but she was still looking somewhat pale.
"You don't have to do that Laurice. You need to rest."
"I am well. I've been lying in bed for hours i worry i might strain my muscles all the more."
'It's suffocating here young master.' She pleaded inwardly, her eyes begging him. She was not used to being pampered this way at all as she pretty much does her own chores. She also prefers staying ouside instead of enclosed spaces except when she's working on her crafts.
'Well, she could pretty much work anywhere any way.'
Laurice thought that they were rather conversing naturally since last night she was getting a bit comfortable around him.
"Then let's go out for a bit. Don't think about cooking anymore."
Sid could not resist those eyes but he would rather not let her work in the kitchen to tire herself else she might run another fever. Also, that painting across the dining hall is still hanging in there, she might get upset again.
Recalling the matter, Sid was hesitating if he should ask her about it or not. He was really curious about her. Curious about the painting. It appears she recognized the painting and was somehow bothered by it. Mustering the courage, he finally asked her.
"Ahm, the painting ..." He uttered. He was actually getting quite nervous himself. He was afraid he might say something that could upset her that would make her want to leave right away. He absolutely did not want to offend her. Not now or else she might fall ill again. He doesn't want to see her in that same state. It somehow breaks his heart. He realized that his defenses towards this woman in particular is crumbling down.
This was rather another first for Sid. He was never too cautious about anything else before. But it appears that towards this woman, he was unsure of what to do or what to say, afraid she might be disappointed.
There was an ominous silence in the air right after he spoke.
Laurice appeared to be glaring at him for a second then heaved a long sigh.
"That was mine." She said.
Sid was shocked. He did not anticipate that at all. He knew she was an Arts Graduate but he did not expect that she was also into painting. And a skilled painter at that. Amusement flashed acrossed his eyes. Then his gaze turned deeper.
He stared at her with his deep-set eyes.
"Yours?" He asked.
Now he was even more curious to know more.
"Yes, it was my painting." Laurice confirmed.
"Will you get rid of it for me?" She asked oh so non-chalantly.
"I'll pay for both." She added.
She meant both the painting and the labor for dismantling.
'She wasn't even asking. She was more likely ordering him to dispose the painting himself. Why?'
He was somehow anxious to hear her answer. He was even more afraid of actually asking her but he wanted to know. He needed to know why she wanted to destroy her own painting. Why it upsets her to the point of falling ill. He knows he has no right to meddle with her issues but he somehow wanted to share her burden. He was getting selfish and shameless for his own good but he really do want to understand her. Atleast a part of her.
"Why?" He finally mustered the courage to ask.
Laurice looked gloomy now. Her eyes turned dull in an instant, like the vast ocean, unperceptible, cold and distant. Sid doesn't like what he's seing. The very sight of her squeezed his heart.
He heaved a sigh.
After a long pause, Laurice tried to calm her nerves to not affect her mood anymore and also heaved a long sigh.
She smiled. It was a bitter smile. Sid frowned. He was seing a part of her from yesterday. That sullen part of her that was starting to bother the he*l out of him.
Suddenly, Laurice walked towards him and did something unexpected.
...
Laurice was looking quite confused at the frustrated man before her as if he was the one in grave pain. Her mind is a mess because of him. It seems this man was really worried about her. She was already having complicated emotions towards this stranger. She did not want to delve deeper into the issue, but the man remained undaunted. She needs to do something.
She crossed the distance between them without averting her eyes. There was a tinge of solace in them now.
Laurice stood in front of the man and pressed the creased on his forehead and lightly gave him a pat on his head.
Sid did not notice that he was actually holding his breath the whole time. Then he gasped for air when he was about to fall short of breath. His eyes turned into narrow slits. This woman in front of him seems to be coaxing him instead. It was supposed to be the other way around.
His lips twitched.
Laurice: " ... "
'It doesn't seem to be effective. He's still annoyed.'
Laurice sighed and said, "Let's talk about it over coffee outside."
If she stayed longer in the room with this man, she might really do something that she might regret in the end.
'Something dangerous. Or perhaps something passionate. Just to pacify this man's curiousity.'