--
A paused.
Solanne felt her heart drop the moment those words left her mouth. That was something she didn't expect. She really can't control her mouth sometimes.
Yael tilted his head; he raised his right brow as he eyed her. His eyes were asking, at the same time accusing. How could he even do that? Was this a talent of an actor? They can give gazes like this?
"Do you have a problem with that?"
"Ah…" Solanne was speechless. She bit her tongue. What to say? That was definitely rude of her, but then, he was the one who started it with his constant glare.
So childish…. Yet, Solanne felt like she was being challenged. Or it's just her feeling.
Besides…
She's contemplating making an excuse or just pushing the matters aside and acting like she didn't hear him.
As she weighs her decision, and in the end, she tries to brush his question off and heads to the kitchen. She could feel on her back that Yael was glaring at her, yet she continued what she was doing.
She's hungry, and some noodles would be the best right now.
Grabbing two noodles on the kitchen shelves and an egg from the fridge, she bent down to find a small pot in which she could cook these noodles.
As soon as she found the small pot, she smiled. However, when she put the pot on the stove, Yael commented. "Those foods are not yours."
She was feeling irritated. Yael's voice was irritating at the moment.
Solanne rolled her eyes but continued to ignore him. She had asked the owner already. She's free to do whatever she wants with these foods.
She filled the pot with water…
"Are you really that insensitive regarding other people's food?"
Solanne was irritated down to her core; she could feel something burning but still ignored him. The sound of the television was running in the background, making it less awkward for them. But Solanne really wants him to disappear right now. It was even much better when he was texting his manager to pick him up.
When the water boiled and she opened the noodles, she said, "You really had no class after all."
That was the last straw! Solanne tried to control her anger, yet she failed. She was irritated down to her core, and at the moment, she felt like she wanted to strangle the life out of him, but that would be a crime. Hence, she tried to control her anger.
Solanne slammed the noodles on the counter hard enough to break them as she turned, glaring at him. "What's your problem?" She asked in an irritated and angry tone.
Yael just shrugged, acting like it was not his problem and that he was right. "Just saying, those are not yours-"
"Can you shut up?" Solanne butted in as she leaned on the kitchen counter.
"These noodles are not yours, too, right? Besides, before you make those comments, why not do some research and ask the owner about the rules of this cabin?" Solanne knew she was also at fault in this situation but was too prideful to admit that. This actor slash idol is just irritating.
"Haven't you heard the news? It's a total lockdown, and there's no food available! How will you eat? Do you have a packed lunch Or something? It is good for you, but I do not have one. So, the kind owner told me to help myself with these as they were intended for her guest. Now? What?"
A paused.
The atmosphere was heavy.
Solanne chest was moving up and down as she said those words. The sound from the television is still running.
"If that's the case, why didn't you say so?" Yael frowned. "So annoying," Yael murmured before standing up and marching through his bedroom as if nothing happened. The cat was even more confused as she almost fell on Yael's lap as he stood so quickly.
That was so rude of him, she thought.
"Brat." Solanne rolled her eyes before turning around, disappointed as she saw her noodles almost crushed like a powder. She Couldn't waste the food, so she put the crushed noodles in the pot, hoping it would still taste the same.
The happiness she was feeling earlier disappeared. She even imagined strangling that actor slash idol.
She should have prayed that a miracle would happen and his so-called manager would appear out of nowhere to pick him up. Solanne prefers to be alone anyway.
She was always alone. She always prefers it that way.
As she waited for the noodles to cook, she opened the fridge to look for some kimchi. Her eyes scrutinized every corner of the refrigerator, and just at the bottom left, she saw a red container with a label, 'kimchi.' Her heart almost jumped joyfully, forgetting her argument with that idol and actor.
She transferred the noodles to the bowl, put some kimchi on the tiny saucer she got, and happily walked to the living room. She kissed the two cats, lying on the couch, cozy in their sleep, as she happily switched the channel, looking for some movies she could watch as she ate.
Sitting on the carpet floor, she felt the soft breeze of cold air from the window. It felt cool and pleasant to feel her feelings and heart lifted.
It's almost summer, Solanne mumbled. She didn't have any particular season she liked, but she loved the sun more. Especially when the sky is so blue, without any clouds.
Whenever Solanne was under that kind of weather, she felt anything could be possible. And that miracles will happen. She felt like she was a bird with wings having endless possibilities, and she loved it that way.
After changing the channels a few times, Solanne settled on some random drama playing the channel.
Romance, she considered it once. Yet, looking at what she went through in the past years, It's better to be alone. Grabbing a chopstick full of noodles, she looked at the screen. She saw a familiar face.
Gentle eyes and a soft smile. Solanne stared at the TV. Her whole attention was focused on him, Yael. His face was full of affection, as if the heroine in the movie was the only person that mattered in this world.
Yael…
Solanne was mesmerized for a bit. Her lips curled up, 'he can make that kind of expression?' She mused.
At the moment, Solanne was amused as she found the drama in front of her entertaining.
He looks so desperately in love in the movie; now, looking at that, that brat really is something. Is this what they call talent? Or he's someone who works hard.
It's not her business. She was angry at him a moment ago, but seeing this side of him, Solanne Can't help but forget all her anger and annoyance.
He's indeed one of a kind.
Now that she recall, her dear actor and idol is on a break.
The news said that after a major project, he decided to break for a year and focus more on himself. Was this the reason he's here? Vacation? But plenty of rooms and inns are much more decent than this cabin.
Not trying to delve into this further, she enjoyed the noodles and the movie before her. A few minutes had passed, and she noticed that one of the cats was on her lap, sleeping.
It took a moment for Solanne to feel contented and secretly wished that her life would continue to be like this. Yet she knew that she was asking for too much.
Heaving her breath, she closed her eyes momentarily, leaning on the sofa. She can hear the two cats purring as they sleep from a distance. She felt her whole body relaxing and drifting to sleep at that moment. She was satisfied. Even the noodles were crushed, and there's a pandemic, this slow life…
Solanne felt satisfied for once that her tensed body relaxed.
She fell asleep at that moment. On the sofa, with the cats and the TV running in the background.
--
Solanne woke up and realized that the TV was turned off and the cats were nowhere to be found. Perhaps they're outside playing. Grabbing her phone, she looked at the time; it was almost six in the morning. The sun was already up, painting the sky with its yellow and orange colors.
Solannne couldn't help but take a picture because this was a rare sight, mainly as she lived in a city where everything was high and the sky was always dark.
As she opened the windows, she saw the two cats playing outside beside the trees and the grass. Solanne took the time to look around as she leaned on the window.
She was in the province, outside the city, where there were trees and a few houses around, but they all looked unoccupied because of the lockdown. The other tourists like them may have found a way out.
Still living like this for a few months would not be wrong.
Turning around, she grabbed the dishes on the table and headed to the kitchen to see Yael making his breakfast. She tried to ignore him, but she Couldn't help but raise both of her brows when she saw him pouring some cereal.
So they have cereals,… she mused. The owner of the cabin was really thoughtful. As she was in a good mood, Solanne greeted him. "Good morning," and just like what she expected, There was no reply from him, and he didn't even turn around and look at her.
Solanne brushed it off and cleaned the dishes she used before making herself a coffee. As she waited for the water to boil, Solanne contemplated how to spend her day.
She could spend all day rotting on her bed or looking around. Since There were no people here besides them, there was no way that she could contact any viruses; hence, instead of rotting in this place, she decided to walk around.
When the water boiled, Solanne made some coffee and excited the kitchen while Yael was busy with his phone eating his cereal.
'what a busy life…' Solanne thought before walking outside the house; this time, she could feel the cold fresh air breeze, and she could even see some chicken walking around from a distance. Are they wild chickens, or someone owns them? She thought.
The first sip of coffee tasted so different. How to put it, it was relaxing simultaneously; it felt as if the warm feeling spreading on her chest was hugging her.
It's different. Everything was different. After all of this, should she consider living in the province? A Slow life. She had never thought of it before, but if ever… she wanted that.
--
Yael put down his phone from a distance when he saw Solanne smiling softly while sipping her coffee.
He paused for a moment. His face remained expressionless before he stood up and cleaned his dishes. He should not involve himself with someone like her. He thought.
--