Leo couldn't get away with the kiss made by Hailey. She was too defiant that she could kiss any guys like that. Leo wiped the corners of his mouth right when he came inside the bathroom. It was too disgusting.
He removed his necktie, threw it at the bathtub, and held onto the sides of the sink. Leo turned off the faucet once again, and washed his face. He even brushed his teeth.
Leo couldn't afford to let Zella smell some woman's perfume in his chest.
As soon as Leo stared at his reflection, he dreaded coming over to the party and meeting Hailey Tyran. She's too naughty to even scold at. Leo wiped his mouth, and went to the wardrobe.
Leo pulled on a white shirt, pajamas, and some furry slippers. Sighing, he blow dry his hair, before coming over to the master's bedroom, where Zella is sleeping peacefully. He opened the door, going inside in a split second, brushing the wet tangles of his hair, and stared at Zella.
The medicine worked. It's already 4 in the morning.
"I wished it's already 12 noon." The exhaustion sunk in. He threw the towel on the chair, prepped up to go in bed, and swept the comforter aside. Leo hoisted himself carefully at Zella's side while she's breathing peacefully. Even though he shook the bed, Zella wouldn't be able to know what's happening.
Leo sighed, clicking his tongue, and turned to his wife. Zella propped up her arm to rest her head, and she's facing his side. In the glow of the lamp, he observed her intricate physique. Leo would admit she's delicate and fine, just the right touch of beauty. There's no presence of wrinkles.
As Leo found himself mesmerized by her face, he turned to her side, and continued to watch her. What could be the reason for her to suffer with the conviction she didn't do herself? This is the only time Leo have seen a case like her.
He ran down the scenes for the past few days.
They became so distant with each other, Zella and him. For the past few days, she's avoiding a conversation. Zella doesn't have dinners at the table. She ordered the maids to deliver them upstairs. Leo found it uneasy for a while, but he let her.
If it makes her sleep at night, then go.
But look where she was right now. She's sleeping inside his bedroom, the supposed room they can spend with because of their fake marriage. Zella found herself in his comforters, and the doctors shot her veins to sleep.
"Why are you avoiding me?" Leo mumbled. Even if he asked a question, she couldn't hear him. He sighed, and reached out to her hair. But then, Leo withdrew it back. He doesn't have the right to do so.
Leo's heart raced fast.
"You don't have the right to ask, Leo." He laid flat on the back, turning to the ceiling, and letting out a sigh.
…
She felt the heat of the sun rays in her flawless legs. Zella slowly opened her eyes, clearing her throat, stretching her arms out, and noticed a man beside her. She withdrew her hands right away, seeing Leo sleeping peacefully. Zella turned to him, widening her eyes.
"When did…"
Leo shifted in his position, waking himself up, and instantly turned to his wife.
Zella, who just got woken up, met his drowsy eyes. Leo furrowed his eyebrows, close and rubbed his lids, and slurred, "You're awake."
He slid in closer to her, hooking his hands around her waist. Leo's conscious of what he's doing. He's just waiting for Zella to react, and it did the trick. Zella got sobered up, brushed off his hand from her waist, and got frustrated.
Leo tried to do it again, but she threatened, "Stop it."
Leo leaned his cheek on the pillow, turning to Zella, asking, "Why should I stop cuddling with my wife?"
Zella scoffed, turning to bedside table, and saw it's already 9 in the morning. She remembered sleeping that early last night, too. Zella felt well-rested after a few, exhausting days. Leo waited for her to answer.
Zella stood up, turning to the window, observing how the shadows of the trees danced with the wind. She's about to swing her legs down the bed, but Leo asked, "Why are you avoiding me?"
She halted abruptly. Zella didn't turn in his direction as he stood up, sitting closer to her. He stared at her hair, and clenched his jaw. Leo came back to that time at the dressing room, when she swept her hair aside and he put on her pearl necklace.
Even now, Leo got attracted by her neck. It's pulling him to stoop down and kiss every nook of it. But if only Zella gave him the permission to do so, he'd resist in every way he could.
Zella munched in her bottom lip, asking back, "Did you ever answer me honestly?"
It's that it again: being honest.
How could he say the truth when their relationship has been a lie in the first place?
Zella turned to Leo, sighing, "Did you ever show me who is the real you?"
Her gaze was full of fire, of rage, and of confusion.
"Last night I went here inside the bedroom without you. When I woke up, you're there already. I haven't had the proper sleep for the past few days, thinking about that night at the dressing room, at the restaurant, and even how you ignored me after the dance. If I'm your wife, you wouldn't act odd, aren't you?"
Leo's making her worry. He had to deal with it, or else, it will go out of hand.
"I'm not acting odd, Zella. I'm…"
Zella's stare was imminent. Leo stared at her bare face, her pale lips, and her sad eyes. The only thing he can do was to give her an assurance. Leo leaned in, filling in the gap, and sealed his lips to her.
Only then, he expected for her to respond. But no… she didn't do it.
She just sat there, frozen, as if questioning his kiss. She didn't even close her eyes and respond like the way she did at the dressing room. Leo separated, breathing. Zella felt his hot breath lingering in her lips.
Leo looked at her worried eyes, and planted a peck to her lips once again, asking, "Is this not enough?"
Zella turned down, pushing him gently, away from her. She wore her slippers, stood up from the bed, leaving Leo alone at the bed. Zella didn't even answer his question after a few moments. Leo gritted his teeth, asking, "What can I do for you to believe me?"
Zella retrieved her bathrobe by the rack.
"Answer me with words, not with a kiss."
Zella glimpsed at him for a split second, then turned to the door, and walked out, holding the bathrobe in one hand. Leo stared at the place from where she left at, and dropped his jaw.
This is getting serious than he expected to be.