Meanwhile, Feliz started get busy at the kitchen. Linden then approach her.
"Is there anything I can do?" he asks.
"Are you going to help me cook?" Feliz asks, as she put all the ingredient out.
"If I could help, I wanted to." Linden said.
"Then help me washes the salad." Feliz said.
Both then started cooking together. As Feliz cooking and seasoning the food, Linden was cutting the onion clumsily and also preparing the ingredient. Feliz then taste the food.
"How is it?" Linden asks. Feliz only raise both her shoulder. She then took a spoonful of the food as she reaches Linden.
"Taste it."
Linden then silently eat it. Tasting it.
"So, how was it?" she asks.
Linden nods his head. "It's tasty."
Hearing that, Feliz also nods her head as she focus back on cooking.
40 minutes later, they finishes cooking. Feliz and Linden then sit down at the dining room. It was just a simple dishes, cabbage cooked with tofu, slice meat with black pepper and corn soup.
"Would you like to say grace?" Feliz asks. Hearing that, Linden eyes lashes shook. Seemingly to be shock. Feliz only looks at him, waiting for his answer.
"(Cough) Err…no, you may do it." Linden said.
Feliz didn't linger at all, as she closes her eyes and say grace. Linden quietly wait for her. Both then start to eat. Silently.
Though, both are quite. The atmosphere didn't feel awkward nor tense. Instead, it feel peaceful and harmonises. As both finishes eating, they started cleaning the kitchen. Linden who was washing the dishes, took a peek on Feliz. Looking at her from behind, Linden seem to think that having a wife like her is not bad after all. With that thought, Linden smile as he then carries the pan with a still hot oil in it. Suddenly with a slip of hand, some of the oil got into his shirt.
"Argh!"
Feliz was wiping the table at the dining room when she heard a painful groan. She rushes toward the kitchen, as she saw Linden shirt was stained with a cooking oil. From the previous used cooking oil.
"I was distracted." Linden stated.
"Take off your shirt." Feliz said.
"What? No! Argh!" Linden said, panic but grunt in pain when he moves.
Feliz unfazed, reaches Linden and started unbutton his shirt.
Pak!
Linden slap away Feliz hands. Feliz didn't react but stare at him. Linden frown in displeased with mix guilt and in pain. However, Feliz still didn't move away from him.
"Your body will scalded worse, if you don't treat it faster." Feliz stated. Linden then painfully get up as he walk away from the kitchen. Feliz didn't follow him. She just clean the messes at the kitchen.
While waiting for Linden, Feliz silently looks at the view from the veranda. It was a little bit windy considered that it was on a highest floor. The view was beautiful, however it didn't captivated Feliz at all, as she was staring in an empty space in her mind.
Linden then appears from behind. Felix sense his present as she turn to him. She saw him change into a robe with a black pants.
"How's your injury?" Feliz ask.
"I already treated it. You don't have to bother." He said.
Feliz nodded her head. Both then quietly lean on the sofa while in their own thought.
"It's been awhile, I get to eat a home meal. Moreover, I enjoyed it." Linden said.
Both was silent for a while as Feliz then speak;
"It's been a while, that I get to cook for someone else…"
Hearing that, Linden look toward her.
"For about 5 years, you're the first to eat my cooking." She said.
Linden was quiet as he only observe Feliz. Her quietness, her indifferent expression this time...couldn't hide the sadness that shows in her eyes. As he took his time to intently look at the woman beside him, he saw the red mark on her delicate hand. Linden recall how he slap her hand away when she tries to unbutton his shirt. He furrow his brow seeing it.
"I'm sorry I hit you just now."
Feliz follow Linden sight as she realized how bright the redness on her hand. It should feel sting by looking it. But strangely, Feliz didn't feel anything at all.
"Don't worry, it doesn't hurt."
Hearing that, Linden didn't refute. He somehow believe her, despite the redness on her hand. He slowly open up his palm in front of her. Feliz look at his hand then toward him, wondering what he meant by that. Then Linden gesture his eyes for her hand to put on his hand. Seeing that, Feliz reaches his hand. As their hands slowly intertwined.
Both look toward their connected hand, silently. Linden smile seeing it. He doesn't feel repulsed by it. He slowly pull their hand to his lap, as his other hand gently fondle her hand. Seeing his action, Feliz look at him.
"Are you uncomfortable by this?" Linden suddenly asks, while his eyes still on their connected hand, fondling her hand.
"No." Understand his question. Feliz answered. Indeed, this gesture though it's too intimate while ironically they are husband and wife to-be, still they are considered strangers toward each other. As there's a lot of things that they didn't know about each other. But strangely, she doesn't feel uncomfortable or trouble by it.
Hearing her answer, Linden felt pleased. Somehow, recalling how he despise physical touch, the ability to touch someone without feeling nauseous and uncomfortable make him feel like a normal person. Again, a thought came to his mind. He want to see his limit on this. How far can he go?
Linden then look at Feliz. As he observe her face closely. Feliz silently take his gaze on her without any problem.
"Feliz…I'm sorry…but."
"I need to test something…if you feel uncomfortable…..with what I'm gonna do. Please tell me." Linden adds.
Feliz only nodded her head.
Linden then silently let go of her hand. As both his hands slowly reaches her face. His palm finally touches her smooth and cold cheeks. He thought himself; I don't feel repulse at all. Linden then stroke her cheeks. Feliz only stare at Linden, seemingly took in his expression as if she didn't want to miss any of it. Linden stops his stroke as he met her gaze.
"Do you feel uncomfortable?" he ask again.
Feliz shake her head.
Linden smile hearing that. His thumb slowly trail down to her lips.
'So smooth.' Linden thought.
He lightly stroke it, as he look at it for a long time, contemplating about something.
"Can I kiss you?" he asks. Feliz eyes lashes tremble a little when she heard his question. Still, she nodded. Seeing her reply, Linden try to relax himself as he approach her lip. Feliz closes her eyes and clutches both her hands. Slowly, he also closes his eyes. Their lips almost touch, when Linden stops his track. An image started reformed in his mind. He started to recall something in his mind. A voice. The one that he doesn't want to hear to. His very own nightmare. As his eyes closes, both his hand tremble. His heart became erratic. His breathing become uneven. As he try to force himself, a sweat slowly form down on his forehead. When a wicked almost obsessive voice whispers to his ear;
'You're mine.'
Suddenly he broke away from Feliz. Linden took a big air as he slowly tries to breathe. Feliz open her eyes saw his state.
Linden tries to calm himself.
He curse himself; I was being hasty. He thought he's getting better. But it seem that he needs to take things slowly. He can't force himself. So this is his limits.
"I'm sorry…" he said, then abruptly left Feliz from the sofa.