Concentratedly staring at the man who was preparing their dinner. It had been days since the exchange between Astraea and Daniel occurred.
New supplies were discretely brought to them by Daniel that day. She was only aware of his visit to the actual Island when he signalled her for the last time specific coordinates on the walkie talkie.
Daniel claims he fully trusts Astraea, yet he had a habit of acting in his own affairs alone, even when it's supposed to be a team effort. Most of the time Astraea was annoyed at her cousin's insensitivity towards her feelings, not even pertaining to the thought that she would be the one going to do the explaining to Aziel. Forcing her to create another spontaneous-like fable with the aim of connecting every web of lie she had made.
Aziel seemingly went on with it when she told him to go out with her that day and before she could even explain why there was a bunch of supply boxes in sight she brought him in, he was already carrying one of them towards the villa.
Aziel knew the young woman sitting on one of the high chairs wasn't someone he could trust.
As much as she tried hard to answer him, he knew she wasn't telling the truth and there was no point in asking her. He sensed that she was tired of playing his game anyway, the game of push and pull. It wasn't fun anymore when she lost that stobburn fire in her grey eyes. She was distracted even since that day he saw her on her balcony talking to someone in her walkie-talkie.
The excuses she gave him about her phone and the service on this island was a clutter of mess. He was aware she didn't want him to contact anyone and she was desperate to the point she broke her own phone to do so.
He could've done something to get his answers. He could've threatened her or tortured her. He was in all aspects capable of doing so. But he chose not to.
Staying here on this isolated island with only the two of them arose profound emotions he had forgotten he was capable of feeling.
Paranoia and suspicious of every one has become part of his identity. Used to being always on guard with the people that surrounded him, as his environment trained him to do so, It was like second nature to him.
Here, he just felt calm. He had a routine. He would wake up - work out - cook breakfast - read some books - cook lunch - help her with the house chores and gardening - cook dinner, in mix with their occasional exchange of random conversation exchanges that led them to nowhere, most of the time. Most just led to more questions.
They did not want each other to know.
He took a glance at Astraea, who leaned her head on her palm as she waited for him to finish cooking their early dinner.
He'd established that killing her wouldn't benefit him. She was suspicious but she did not display a semblance of danger, she wasn't a threat. It had been weeks since he came here. She would have acted already if she had a dangerous motive against him.
Only time will tell who she is.
He was alive to this point. In acknowledgement to her, the least he could do was feed both of them. Grateful wasn't the exact word. He didn't want to be indebted to her or to anyone, as a matter of fact.
"Are you not done yet? I'm starving"
Turning his head towards the one voicing the complaint, he saw Astraea as she dramatically rested her head on the counter. She insisted on having dinner earlier today.
He sensed that she was beginning to grow comfortable with him. She was revealing sides he didn't expect she had. layers of her that made his guard unconsciously waver.
He would never admit it, but he never expected the tame, domesticated life would give him a peace of mind. His Uncle wasn't exactly someone who would send him to an unnamed, isolated island for a summer break.
"In a while"
Answering her while taking his time butter-basting the steak, he didn't notice the reason for his dilemma was beside him, her focus on the pan-filled herbs with a large portion-sized premium quality steak. The aroma of the steak wasn't the only flavor that dawdled his senses. Her perfume scented cheesecake and strawberries mixed with the aroma, childish yet it was comforting. His Uncle would never in the world take a look at this girl and bring her into this world of danger and bombs. She doesn't belong to his world.
"How are you so marvelous at cooking?"
Genuinely inquisitive about the roots of this guy. Aziel was full of talents, so she didn't understand why he had to choose such a path of destruction.
"I needed to need to eat."
Giving her an honest, straightforward answer, it was by his standards. He glanced at her as she puffed her face in annoyance. 'What's up with her? She was acting a tad extra childish today' . He wonders where such courage of hers came from. Aware who he was and what he was capable of she should at the very least have boundaries with how she acts in front of him.
"Do you know how annoying your answers are most of the time? Obviously, you needed to eat and to survive."
Astraea rolled her eyes, Aziel sensed her sarcastic tone from his back, yet he didn't know where the patience and tolerance came from. Surprisingly, no matter how out of character she acted in front of him, his calm composure remained. He was getting used to her mood swings.
He used to be a hotheaded mess, which wasn't even a month ago, like a bomb ready to explode at every trigger, but right now he felt too calm. His head was cool to the point it felt unnatural. He didn't even feel like playing his trap games with her.
"Living alone most of my life had me picking up life skills I needed to survive."
Done with the steak, he began plating it. Halving it into two equal portions for him and Astraea. Then scooping the already made mashed potato onto the plates, Astraea internally sighed in relief, which meant that the anxiety- calming drugs she'd been putting in his room humidifier mixed with the scented essential oil that she sterilized and cleaned everyday, was in fact working. She wasn't sure how it was going to work, but he was also too calm for her liking and she could only infer it was because of that. Hoping that he doesn't grow aware to it to soon.
"How long have you lived alone?"
Holding the two plates with his two hands, Aziel walked to the marbled bar table then put the plates down.
"Long enough that I've forgotten how it is to co-exist in a space like this, with a human being."
Astraea helped with wiping the utensils, then handing it to Aziel for placement. making sense of what Aziel has said with her imagination.
"Weren't you ever lonely?"
He didn't specify how long, but to be used to such loneliness, he must've been lonely for a long, long time to the point, it is only natural.
"I don't understand why people make a great deal of being lonely, when we all die alone."
Pity is not how she's supposed to feel towards this criminal, who has done heinous immoral acts, unforgivable by the law and heavens. Trauma does not validate vengeance or murder. Yet, she can't help but... pity him, people without the right love growing up has a difficult time learning compassion and love itself. She didn't want to psychoanalyse him but he probably had a chaotic, bloody childhood.
She was getting swayed, she felt a sense of foreboding that these feelings would grow or stir other emotions soon if she didn't blow its spark. She can't care for this man.
"They do say that no man is an Island. Mr Han"
Leaning with both her hands supporting her figure as she watched his back, his muscles flexing every time he moved. Wearing the clothes she had bought for him, he seemed very fond of dark colors, as she've observed.
"I'm doing well enough for myself."
Or as he believes he has been, he's survived this long, hasn't he?
"I guess it's all about one's mindset... Do you perhaps want some wine with the meal? Steak and wine is the classic combination afterall."
Standing upright, fixing her posture, Astraea crossed her arms. Aziel turned his upper body to see her directing a bright smile towards him.
It was the first time she'd offered him wine.
"Are you even at the age to drink some red wine?"
He asked in an attempt to taunt her. He was in a somewhat light mood today. In response, Astraea just gave a little laugh.
"You seem well enough to consume alcohol, Mr. Han. I may seem younger than how I look, but i'm actually I'm 22 years old."
22 years old. She was too young to be risking her life like this. Taking him in meant being involved in this incalculable, enduring lifelong vengeance. He altered his attention back to what he was doing.
"Then go ahead."
Giving her small nod.
"I'll be back in a short while, or do you perhaps prefer white whine, champagne?"
Everything needed to go right in this plan of hers. From changing her approach and testing his waters to offering him a drink
"Red wine would suffice."
Walking towards one of her baroque wine cabinets along the hallways.
"Have some faith in yourself, Astraea. All will be well."
Voicing out in a whisper that she could only hear. It wasn't just Aziel that had her tense and restless.
Today was the day she would meet the people she loved and hated the most.