"Miss Louisa, I'm sorry. Another time? We'll get together when I'm not so busy." Hearing the commander mention he had been busy all day, Kevin realized that he forgot to call Leena to tell her he had come back from the grassroots unit. He had decided to call her after his shower this morning, but he was too busy to remember it. Kevin wondered if she'd complain about this.
"Well, in this case, Kevin, I'll take a raincheck. And you can drop the 'miss' moniker! Call me Louisa!" Although Louisa was a little arrogant and imperious, she would become thoughtful when she was around a man she liked. So she didn't even let Kevin politely refuse her request.
Indeed! Kevin, you're not a stranger. You are both young people, so you should feel free to call her by name directly." The commander thought highly of Kevin and liked him very much, because he was as capable as Daisy.
Okay. Well, I have to leave now. Enjoy your time! I'll get you a birthday gift. Promise," Kevin said and stood up, wondering if Leena had taken good care of herself during these two days when he was away. He was desperate to get home and check on her. He realized she knew how to cook, but she still hadn't gotten used to a lot of things as a daughter born to a rich family.
Ah! So soon? Kevin, are you sure you can't stay for a while? Or, perhaps we could go together." Louisa wanted Kevin to go with her to the bar, which could also indicate that she was hitting on him.
"No. I think we're headed different ways. Commander, thanks for the nice time. Good night!" Kevin said and took his arm from Louisa's hand naturally. He was unaccustomed to the strong perfume smell that Louisa was wearing. It smelt good, but she put on far too much. It made it hard to breathe.
Um! Have a safe drive home. Louisa, see him out for me." The commander didn't persuade Kevin to stay, because he knew Kevin must be exhausted after a long journey from the grassroots unit last night. Moreover, he hadn't taken a break all day, so the commander understood how tired he must feel.
Got it. Kevin, let me walk you to the door!" Louisa said with a big sweet smile, because she thought her dad was giving her an opportunity for her and Kevin to be alone.
"Don't bother. I can see myself out. It's better for you to stay with your friends, Louisa! No, really, have fun!" Kevin declined the commander's proposal, then took his briefcase and rushed out. He didn't want to waste his time on this, so he was gone in a flash as if he were being chased by some predator.
Hey! Kevin, wait up!" Louisa didn't imagine that Kevin would leave so quickly, so she shouted out his name.
"Never mind. Just let him go. Stay here! Enjoy yourself! You don't see your friends as often as you should. I guess he has other things on his mind." The commander stopped Louisa when she was about to go after Kevin. This would help the young soldier immensely. Kevin zoomed home, preoccupied with what awaited him at his house. Not until then was he aware of a harsh fact: he would inevitably forget Leena's existence when he got busy with work. He didn't think this was a good habit at all.
Ten o'clock was the right time to start the night life for the people who haunted the clubs, but it was late for Leena, who had been waiting for Kevin the whole night. She laughed at herself and began to eat the cold food in front of her quietly. The good thing was it was still autumn, so cold food was not that hard to swallow for her. When the weather turned it was best to have hot dishes.
Did the food lose its flavor? Or was it too tasteless when eating alone? Leena just took a scant few bites then lost her appetite, not even attempting to touch her chopsticks again.
She thought she had to get used to this lifestyle. Otherwise, it would be very hard for her to endure the solitude in the days that followed. After all, this was just the beginning. She didn't think the man who didn't love her at all would spare her a second thought. He didn't even call her during his two-day absence, which made her realize that she was simply a wife by agreement for him, no feelings there at all.
Kevin stood at the door, hesitated for a second, then took out the key and opened the door. He was worried that a sudden knock at the door might frighten Leena. When he opened the door, he found her sitting there, looking beautiful but gloomy, which was totally different from the way she used to be. At least, in his eyes, she was a glamorous sunshine girl and she shouldn't have a sad look on her face.
"Why are you having dinner so late?" Kevin asked, glancing at his wrist to check the time. It was almost 11 o'clock. He wondered if she would eat her meals this late whenever he wasn't home.
Oh! You're back. I shopped in the daytime and then had a nap, but overslept. So dinner really didn't get done until recently. Have you had dinner yet? If not, I'll heat them up again for you."
Her smile was always her most charming attribute The rest of her was lovely to be sure, but her smile could warm the coldest heart. She grinned quickly, despite having a completely spaced out and listless expression before Kevin arrived. She didn't want Kevin to feel her loneliness.
"I've already eaten. Set your alarm next time, then you won't miss mealtime. Thanks, though," Kevin said and thought his eyes had deceived him. A sunny and beautiful girl like Leena shouldn't have a gloomy look on her face.
"Got it. I'll be punctual next time," she promised, although it wasn't the truth. But she showed no unhappiness on her face and no tone of complaint.
"I'm sorry! I was too busy to call you. I get way too wrapped up in work sometimes," Kevin apologized sincerely, sitting opposite to Leena with his eyes gazing at her.
"It's okay. Your work is special. I understand. Besides, nothing happened at home, so you don't need to care about my feelings. Don't worry," Leena said without looking at him. His gaze stressed her out.
"Why do I hear a hint of anger in your voice?" Kevin asked, then took a look at the dishes on the table, picked up the chopsticks and took a bite. After tasting this cold food, he hesitated. It would taste better warmed up.
"Absolutely not. You're hearing things, Kevin. Now that you've had dinner, I think I should clean up the table." Leena grabbed the chopsticks from his hand eagerly, fearing that he would ask more questions about the cold food. Otherwise, she didn't know how to explain her feelings to him.
Kevin glanced at his hand in the air, then gave Leena the stink-eye. She hurried into the kitchen. He felt a little frustrated, but he didn't want to inquire more about it. He knew she didn't want him to know the real reason. Or she wouldn't get so flustered. Her tone was even, but you could see it in her eyes.
By the time Leena walked out of the kitchen in trepidation, she found Kevin was gone. She felt relieved but a little lost for this, standing there in a daze.
"Leena, Leena…" Kevin called her name when he found Leena standing there woodenly. His sudden absence was because he left his briefcase in the car and went downstairs to fetch it.
"Oh! Sorry. I was kind of spacing out. Are you going out again?" Leena asked wonderingly and frowned, looking at the briefcase in his hand. She thought, 'he just came back! Did he get a new work assignment just now? He barely had time to sit down!'
"No. I left my briefcase in the car, so I ran downstairs. What are you thinking about? So focused." Kevin asked and walked towards her to touch her forehead. He felt relieved when he made sure she had no fever.
"You...did you drink?" Actually what she wanted to ask was where the perfume smell on him came from.
"Yep. Good nose. I just had one, but you could still smell it," Kevin said and pinched her nose. He felt the faint flower scent from her more attractive after smelling the strong perfume on Louisa.
"Definitely. People say I have a dog nose. So I could smell it if you ate secretly." Leena said and thought, 'So he went out for drinks with a woman. I can tell from the perfume. Who was she? A friend or a confidant? It can't be the woman he loves, because Daisy never wears such a strong perfume.'
"Girl, do you think I'm the kind of man who mistreats his wife? Would I eat in private and let you smell the odor of yummy food all through the house?" Kevin said, then flicked her forehead and held her hand walking upstairs with her.
"It's hard to say. A bad guy would never have the words 'bad guy' written on his forehead," Leena said. She wanted to take her hand back, but she decided to quit after thinking about it for a second. She thought, 'we're a couple, aren't we? So a normal touch would be okay even if we don't love each other.'
"So, I'm the 'bad guy' you're talking about, right?" Kevin asked, tilting his head toward Leena, and thought, 'Being alone at home, this girl is still so optimistic. It seems I don't have to blame myself too much.'
"I didn't say that, but it's not my fault if you pigeonhole yourself as the 'bad guy'," Leena said with her pretty face flushed. She felt her heart beating faster when Kevin was holding her hand. However, at that moment she could never anticipate that she would weep a lot in the future because she never confronted him directly about the perfume.