I struggled to open my eyes and saw Ravi sitting beside my bed in a daze. Was it a dream again? I rubbed my eyes. This time, it was indeed him.
"It's seven thirty." Ravi looked at his watch.
I suddenly perked up. I immediately got off the bed and ran to the bathroom. I closed the door with a bang and took a quick shower. After I wrapped a towel around myself and went to the dressing room, Ravi was still sitting on my bed.
"Can you leave my room? I need to change."
"This is my house." Ravi raised his chin.
"Yes. This is your home. I'm your woman and this towel is yours." I shrugged. "But I'm going to change. Can you excuse yourself?" I rolled my eyes.
"Fine." Ravi closed his eyes.
With my back to Ravi, I untied the towel and put on my pants. I pulled the strap of my bra over my shoulder, but even with both hands, I couldn't tie the hook of my bra.
Suddenly, I felt Ravi standing behind me, because I could smell the faint musky scent on him. He held both ends of my bra with both hands and skillfully hung the hook.
"When did you open your eyes?" I didn't turn around.
"I was watching the whole time."
I put on my top and turned around. Ravi was still standing there.
"Let's go." I walked around him and braided my hair as I walked outside.
I walked in front and went downstairs to the dining room, where Maria had already prepared breakfast. Before taking a seat, I picked up a cup of hot chocolate and tilted my head back as I sipped it.
"Are you thirsty or hungry?" Ravi asked as he walked down the last two steps.
I glanced back at him. There was a strange look in his eyes, like an adult seeing through a child's little trick. A thought occurred to me, and I put my cup down warily. I swallowed the last of my hot chocolate. "I'm thirsty. But it tastes like shit." I wiped my mouth with my napkin and prepared to leave.
Ravi pressed my shoulder and told me to sit.
"It will take at least four hours. You'd better eat some more." Ravi walked around to the opposite side of the dining table and sat down. "We have ten minutes."
As I ate the salad in the bowl, Ravi cut a small piece of butter with the butter knife and scraped it on the toast he had made. He handed the buttered toast to me. I said, "Thank you," and took a bite.
We finished breakfast in ten minutes. Ravi led me to the car. Normally, Ravi drove a black limousine in and out. Today, Ravi drove a silver-gray sports car. I sat in the passenger seat with my sunglasses on while enjoying the sunshine. I had to admit, Ravi looked good while driving. I peeked at him from the edge of my sunglasses. His profile was chiseled, his mustache was shaved, and his arms were muscular.
"Don't peek at me," Ravi said suddenly.
"I didn't. You were the one watching me."
"You look beautiful in your clothes."
"Thanks."
"You look beautiful even without your clothes on too," he said flirtatiously without any expression. How did he manage to say that with a poker face? I glanced at him but didn't respond.
"I will ask you three questions and you can only answer with yes or no," Ravi said.
"Then can I ask you three questions too?"
"Yes. One, do you love your mother?"
"Yes."
"Two, are you afraid of me?"
Actually, before yesterday, I was afraid of him, but after that dream, I didn't feel afraid of him anymore.
"No," I replied confidently.
"Third, have you ever lied to me?"
Was he referring to me secretly drinking the hot chocolate? That didn't count.
"No."
"My turn." I had an idea and said, "Can I get my phone back?"
"Okay."
I clenched my fists with happiness. I remembered asking Ravi if he had entered my room at dinner yesterday. He didn't answer me directly. This was a good opportunity.
"Did you come to my room yesterday afternoon?"
"Yes."
That wasn't a dream? He had been here, and he had kissed my forehead. I tried to remember what had happened yesterday afternoon. I couldn't fathom his motives or my own feelings. And that piano was his mother's piano. Why had he given it to me?
"Has your mother passed away?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry."
"She passed away three years ago. I moved out to live alone back then."
"She must have loved you very much, so you kept her piano."
"Yes. She loved to play that piece, and I loved it, although I didn't know the name of that piece until yesterday."
"That is my favorite piece too. It's really beautiful. I fell in love with it the first time I heard it. It took me a long time to learn."
"You're a good girl. I mean, you like to go to school, you like to read books, and you're willing to work hard to practice the piano."
"I like being in school."
"Why?"
"Because I don't have to stay home."
"So you requested continuing to go to school to avoid me?"
"… I mean…"
"I guess you're still afraid of me."
"No, I'm not afraid of you."
I felt the car slow down. There was a red light ahead, so our car stopped at the intersection.
"Look me in the eye," Ravi said while removing his sunglasses.
I turned my head and looked at Ravi. His eyes looked so clear and bright. Carefully, he took off my sunglasses and placed them on the console while touching my face with one hand. He looked at me gently, sometimes into my eyes, sometimes at my nose and lips. Instantly, I felt myself blush, because Ravi's face moved closer and closer, and my heart raced.