"Uh.. I took the liberty to dry your hair without asking you first.. I'm sorry.", she suddenly became formal. She was fidgeting.
Aubrey gazed at her for a long while, he didn't say a thing. Of course, he couldn't. But she was so cute he was dying. Sometimes she acted daring and in control, sometimes she was easily flustered and cute. He wondered how she was able to survive being a doctor if she was this careless.
But he didn't have any idea that she was only careless when it came to him. Even Lucy herself hadn't known her actual personality around men until she met Aubrey.
Aubrey smiled a little, it was a sign for she didn't need to worry about anything. He took a memo pad and wrote with a blue pen.
(I don't mind. You can do whatever you like.)
Unfortunately for Aubrey, she took it very differently. She was having some cheeky and nasty thoughts for the 'you can do whatever you like' part. Lucy slapped her face in front of him. Telling herself to mind her own manners. Aubrey widened his eyes. What was she doing? That seemed to hurt. Her face was red now because of the slapping.
He got up from sitting on the bedside to walk towards the girl, his hand touched the surface of her smooth skin. Her skin was warm and it felt nice to the touch. His cold fingertips were engulfed in gradual warmness. He asked whether she was alright. Not in words but in body language.
".. I'm alright.", Lucy's face turned redder. She was not a middle schooler anymore!
Aubrey was not convinced, but he just kept quiet.
"Aubrey?", she faced him. He was quite tall. But Lucy was taller than any woman around her age. And they were just nine centimeters apart.
Aubrey faced her.
"I'm sorry about Olivia. She's just thick-headed sometimes.", Lucy said.
Aubrey just nodded.
"She's my best friend who's been with me for more than ten years. She's someone to be trusted, don't worry.", Lucy tried to make Aubrey feel better. She knew how wary he was towards Olivia. That shameless woman just barged in other people's house like she owned the place.
"And I.. uh.. I lied to her that you're my b- boyfriend!", she choked upon blurting out the truth.
Lucy didn't want to have secrets when it comes to Aubrey. She realized how sensitive he was. If she was to lie, it would make his trust for her vanish. He was able to believe in Lucy in a short amount of time, but if it was taken for granted, it could also make his trust for her disappear very quickly too. She didn't want that.
She looked at Aubrey. Trying to guess his feeling. Will he find it outrageous to lie about their relationship? But she had no choice.
Aubrey was still processing the input, he found it hard to believe what Lucy had said. Boyfriend? His stoned-face look made Lucy sweat in anxiety. Then he took a pen to write something down.
(As long as it could help me with staying here then it's fine, I guess.)
'I guess?', Lucy was a bit sad. She thought she was the only one who think too much about it.
But her sadness didn't stay for long when she saw him covering his own face with his palm. What? She took a step closer, trying to sneak a peek.
'Could it be that he's shy?', she came to a conclusion. And she smiled cheekily.
"Oh, I'm going to be late today. There's an event I have to attend. Will you please take care of the house when I'm gone?", Lucy spoke to Aubrey.
(Alright.)
"Thanks Aubrey. Now let's go eat.", she immediately took his hand in her hand and she dragged him outside.
The day went faster and they were immersed in brief talks and some counselling session. Lucy got to know many things regarding Aubrey. For example, his age when he experienced the traumatize situation: eight.
So the timeline was 17 years. People involved in the past: his parents. His relationship with the perpetrator: he didn't answer, but she had a clue that it was someone close to him. Someone he didn't expect the betrayal from..
She had wanted to ask him what exactly happened, but her professionalism wouldn't allow her to do it. As a psychologist, she need to abide by one important rule. To give the patient as many time as they want, until they are ready to go beyond the line. A support was what she needed to give to Aubrey.
The next question was to find some clue within upper social circle. She was about to ask him something regarding his family name. There were a lot of Lee family out there. But not many which were powerful and wealthy at the same time.
She wanted to know his family's history so that she could dig some news or rumours on it. It was mostly helpful in order to find the source of what exactly happened 17 years ago.
But her question came on hold when she noticed the time. She barely had two hours left to get ready for the ball. And Min mansion was an hour from here!
"Oh no! I'm going to be late!", she jumped from the seat, took some energy to run upstairs and disappeared in her room.
Aubrey sighed in relief. Having a talk about his past was not something he fancied. If he was to choose, he would rather not talk about it anymore. But Lucy said if he tried not to mention it, then the painful memories will stay buried inside, which would haunt him forever. But he didn't want that.
•••
An hour later, Lucy strode down the staircase with a brand new look. A dark green dress hugged her figure tightly and it made her body seemed like a mermaid in fairytale, with her assets sparkled to the fullest. From her hips up to her waist then to her chest.
She was gorgeous. The V neck did nothing but enhanced her beauty more. With the thin straps tied in ribbon on her shoulder, making it looked almost like an off-shoulder dress. Her hair was styled in a side-part, where her bare shoulder was covered with her hair.
"I'm not going to make it..!", she shrieked in frantic. Her purse was in her right arm, while her heels were in her left hand.
Lucy stopped her feet when her eyes reached the living room. Where Aubrey was taking a long time gazing at her. Was there something on her face?
"Why? Do I have something on my face?", she asked. Too dense to figure it out.
Aubrey shook his head. He coughed a little to distract himself. If he could talk, he would tell her how beautiful she really was.
"Is that so..", Lucy was feeling a bit down. Why didn't he compliment the poor girl? Was she not beautiful?
Wait. Lucy was never the type to receive such fluttering words form others. Why did she care so much about it?
"Then, I'll be on my way. Goodbye!", she managed to cover her nervousness and she immediately went to the door but was stopped when a hand grabbed her from behind.
She turned around, still having the same throbbing feelings inside her. A note was given to her, and she took it silently.
(Have a nice day and be careful while driving.)
Lucy's heart became warm. She suddenly felt that his kind words were more important than being complimented on.
'This is enough..' , she thought to herself. It was more than enough. Her mood brighten up drastically. And she happily waved him goodbye.