In the morning…
Slowly, Arissa woke up from her sleep. Her body was drenched in sweat. She had just opened his eyes when he realized that her body was tightly cocooned in someone's arms and she couldn't move at all.
When she tried to free herself, the hug loosened a bit and finally, Arissa can see that it was Cristan that hugging her. Her eyes widened in shock, she never expects that Cristan would be in her bedroom and they were sleeping together on the same bed all night long!!
While she flabbergasted and her eyes fluttered a few times as her brain keeps trying to process the scene, Cristan slowly opened his eyes and yawned.
"You awake?"
For some reason, when Arissa saw his sleepy face, a series of memories of them when they were in Moonlight Lake a night before and the sensation of a kiss that he gave flashed through her mind. Then, Jose's attitude towards her….. yesterday….when she and he were at the amusement park…..
A tinge of red immediately appeared on her face and heat her cheeks instantly.
Quickly, Arissa released herself from Cristan's arms awkwardly. But, Cristan acted faster and swiftly caught her body again into his embrace then touched his forehead with the girl's forehead. He is sick worried that her fever hasn't subdued from last night.
Their faces are so close, Arissa even can feel the warmth of his breath at this proximity and her face turned red again. This time the color of her face is like a ripened tomato!! She also didn't dare to look at his face of his in front of her.
"Hmm… Arissa…"
A simple call from his lips but it made her heart pounding so hard and initially, she lifted her head and stared at him directly.
"Your temperature is way too warm. I think you should take another day off?" Cristan suggested her in a serious tone but Arissa quickly dodged her head and nimbly, freed herself once again.
"I… I'm fine. You don't have to worry about it…." Arisa murmured and replied to him nervously.
Let's say if she spends another 10 seconds in the same room with him, maybe she would lose control!
Quickly, she grabbed a dry towel and stormed into the bathroom, and let the cold water wash over her body. Trying to clear his hazy mind and swept all the dirty thoughts that swirled inside her brain before this morning!
She couldn't remember when she walked in and slept in her room last night! She also didn't remember why Cristan could be in the same bed with him? Her feeling right now… is indescribable. It's so complicated and hardly explain in words!
Although her logic always shouts to stay away from him, her heart told her to be the opposite. It's undeniable forced her to stay as close as possible to Cristan. Over and over again after that night when they spent time together at Moonlight Lake. Ever since Arissa had been tried hard to deny her feelings. Even when Jose appeared before her for the second time yesterday, but still, that strange feeling of hers towards him remains. What worse, it's getting stronger day by day.
What is it?
She doesn't know the answer either.
Arissa still can't get rid of the image of Cristan from her head.
"Oh my god…. What is wrong with me? "
Arissa murmured and cursing herself inwardly. The feeling that she is experiencing now, is totally weird to her. It was fun but it also drives her crazy. This is tearing apart all defenses and gradually, melts down the fortress deep inside her. To be honest, what kind of magic that Cristan use on her?
"Oh.. You've done it already...???"
Arissa had just finished taking shower when she turned her head and saw his shirtless body. A sight of a godlike-handsomeness that is endowed with perfect muscles with a towel slung over his waist. It successfully managed to make her face turn red at once in no minute! What's worse, the tantalizing sight of his naked torso is temptingly hot to her eyes and made her inner goddess drooled uncontrollably when she saw it. Arissa even didn't realize that blood suddenly gushed out from her nose at once!
PRUTTT!!
She's nosebleed!!
Oh my lord!
For the very first time in her life, she would never expect that she could have a nosebleed because of the godlike-handsomeness in front of her this morning!!
This… This can't be true…
Ok! She must go… NOW!
"I…I should go…" She stuttered and murmured. Turned her body away and rushed to the door in flash speed. Cristan hadn't finished his sentence when she said goodbye without even looking back at him at all.
"Bye, Cristan. I'll be going first. See you later…"
BLAMMM!!
"..............."
Cristan scratched his head because of her miraculous behavior this morning and shortly, he instructed an order to one of his guards.
"Follow the girl who just came out! Don't let her out of your sight!"
He took a deep breath and exhaled it, subconsciously, his mind flashed back to what happened last night and a smile appeared on his beautiful face. Soon, he walked into the bathroom.
........................
That day there isn't much work to do for Arissa at Fashion Blast. Apart from helping Jojo and Vika finalize a series of photoshoots with the junior models, Arissa only needs to sort out all data and thoroughly place them into several folders to be edited by the designer team.
But, as soon as, he saw his roommate's appearance in the office that morning. She spontaneously alerted and his body moved swiftly to avoid him as best as she could. In every location that Cristan is in, Arissa would try to dodge and avoid him as far as possible that she could. And, what makes it even worst for her day is….
Her unusual act wasn't escaped from Jojo and Vika's sight, who also accompanying Arissa that day and during their lunch break. Fortunately, Cristan is quite popular among the girls so even though, he is fully aware that Arissa is avoiding her that day, he has no problem finding someone to talk with. Especially from the junior models that admired him adorably.
"What is the hell wrong with you two?" Jojo asked confused.
His subconscious alarm alerted him that something serious had happened between them both. Hmm…. ?
But what is it?
As a number one gossipper in this fashion community, he always upfront for all the newest gossips and news of his colleagues. The only problem is..
If it related to Arissa, he would get nothing. Zilch. Nada.
And both of them, Arissa and Cristan, awkwardly, somehow, had made some kind of "unusual agreement" so they told him nothing at all…
Jojo's brow furrowed in deep thought and confusion when he observed that his best friend often stealing glances occasionally at Cristan that busy chatting along with the other models on the other side of the room.
A premonition seeped into his brain and a bulb flashed brilliantly inside his head.
Wait.. could it be….
"Arissa, could it..be… that…"
Jojo hasn't completed his question when suddenly, a loud voice called her name loudly.
"Arissa!!!"
A voice greeted Arissa and startled the three of them who are sitting in a cafeteria at lunch break. The man is waving his hands excitedly and half-running towards them. His chubby-childlike face beamed with a broad smile. On the other hand, he is holding a bouquet of lavender flowers.
"George!!" Arisa called him happily.
A distraction! Finally! Thank you, Universe…
God loves her!
George quickly joined their table and shortly, the four of them were involved in a nice conversation.
While Cristan observed the whole scene silently from afar. He no longer wanted to repeat the same incident as he did 2 days ago. Making "a fake rain" caused his girl to got a fever because of his stupid jealousy. Patience is a virtue. This time, he has to remain calm and restrain his emotions. Moreover, he also had assigned 2 of his 6 bodyguards to watch over Arissa constantly.
...........................
After a while, George handed over the bouquet that he is holding all along to Arissa while he smiles broadly and she accepted it happily.
For the next few days ahead, Arissa deliberately went home and left early without Cristan to the office. Surprisingly, George also pays a visit almost every day to Fashion Blast. As if he had memorized all of Arissa's schedules inside his head. And, not to forget, he also always carries the same bouquet.
At first, Arissa was pleased with all of the care and kindness that he showed upon her. Moreover, those flowers are come in handy and turned out very useful as the mosquito's repellent in the apartment. But, as time passed by, Arissa started to feel a bit uneasy and uncomfortable especially if George often called her after works or texted her unnecessary messages.
This incident was continued for the next 2 weeks until finally when she received another bouquet on the fourteenth day, she thanked him then took George to the cafeteria and decided to tell him the truth,
"You know what, George? You don't have to send me flowers every day. I'm very pleased with your all your kindness and attention but…
"Don't you think it's a little bit….. exaggerated?" Arissa smiled and narrowed her eyes at George while she mentioned "the last word".
Hearing her statement, George chuckled as he replied.
"Isn't it normal, Arissa?"
"Huh? What do you mean, George?"
Arissa raised her eyebrows in confusion when she heard his rhetorical question.
"I like you, Arissa. From the first time I saw you at our family's lavender plantation…"
At that moment, his gaze and voice sound very serious.
More precisely…
Like a wedding proposal.
............................