The following morning, I woke up earlier than I usually did. The reason, I was beyond famished and second, I needed to find a source of income if I wanted to get new clothes for myself. I had left all my credit cards and phone in the camp and the cash I managed to carry, I used it to rent a room the previous night. Pacing up and down, I was wondering where I should start when my tummy rumbled for the third time.
"Hang in there, mate. I'll find something delicious for you," I rubbed it gently, then left the room for the kitchen.
"Nothing edible in here. Such a big for nothing house, just like the owner... Hmm, what should I cook?" I was contemplating staring at the fridge filled with only vegetables and meat. The only problem is I hated cooking, or rather sucked in it. "I miss my home... Waaah! I want to go home." I squatted holding my tummy which was growling terribly, burying my face on my knees.
"Miss, are you okay?" It was cutie pie.
"Of course not. Do I look okay to you?" I murmured feigning sadness, not daring to look at him because I knew apart from my cooking skills, my acting sucked even more.
"Should I call Sir?"
"Nooo!" I stood up abruptly. "I mean don't disturb him for such minor things. Am just a little... a little hungry." I pursed my lips my eyes getting watery. Mwahaha! I guess I wasn't really that bad in acting. I should consider getting into the entertainment industry, I thought but immediately came back to the current situation.
"I'll make something right away, Miss." I nodded trying as much not to giggle, as I followed him behind. "Miss, could you please wait outside?" He asked after he almost bumped into me.
I shook my head but then thought about something. "If only you call me by my name." I blinked my eyes cutely with anticipation.
I could see he wanted to refuse but I looked aside in disappointment which was actually not, but my sharp eyes were still on him. He was struggling to say a word which made me almost laugh out loudly.
"I don't... know your name, Miss."
I frowned and then face palmed my forehead. How could forget to introduce myself? Maybe that was the reason cutie pie was yet to like me. Smiling widely due to the discovery, I extended my hand to him.
"Hi, cutie p..."
"It's Luke, Miss."
"Whatever... Alright, Luke. My pretty name is Ravenna and my loved ones call me Venna. But since you are an exception, why don't you call me Vee, or maybe Ven, how about..."
"I don't have time for this, Miss Ravenna." He turned away from me and focused on his work.
"Just get done with this 'Miss' thing. Ravenna is fine. But since I said I'll leave once you say my name I won't go back on my word. You are lucky am famished or else I would have done the unimaginable. Like making you my food..." I was walking away shouting on the top of my voice and only stopped when I got to the living room, because of those pair of eyes that were glaring at me warningly.
"Good morning, Sir." I greeted, faking a smile before taking a seat beside the man on the couch, but very far away.
"Morning too, Vee, or should I use Ven?"
It took a few seconds for me to register what he was saying and looked at him stupefied. "Were you eavesdropping on our conversation? How shameless! Ptch!"
He looked back at me with a lazy look before replying, "You are too loud."
"No, I wasn't! You were eavesdropping."
"Whatever. I don't have time to argue with you." With that, his attention went back to his laptop, typing something.
"Huh! Neither do I... Ice cube," I murmured and looked away from him. I could feel his dangerous glare on me but I acted nonchalant my eyes focused on now the television. "Who watches such boring news." I grabbed the remote and started scrolling all through the channels, until I landed on a Chinese serial, The Untamed, which I had watched countless times but never had enough of it. "What a nice way to beginning the day. My favourite boyfriends, Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo are the only one who knows how to keep me happy."
"Reduce the volume, am working on something here."
Couldn't this man let me do something in peace. Not ready to spoil my good mood, I reduced the volume and continued to watch it happily. But the devil would not let me rest.
"Lower." I slowly turned my head to look at him did not say a word. I took a deep breath before standing up, then walked towards the screen with the remote. I reduced the volume to the lowest level then sat on the floor, in front of the television. Did he think he could outsmart me? Dream on, Ice cube.
I did not know for how long I had sat there. My eyes were glued on the television as I watched my favourite scene, where the male lead's sister is stabbed protecting the male lead, as I listened to the theme song, which was my favourite. Tears were on my eyes as I waited for my favourite stanza of the song but then, the screen went dark.
"Bloody hell! What just hap..." Alaric happened. My words dried when my sight fell on the man who was standing at the main switch, looking at me provokingly.
"You are disturbing me with your frequent sniffs."
"Turn it on!" I gritted my teeth glaring at him warningly.
"No."
"Don't test my patience! I'll break your TV."
"Go ahead." He started walking back to the sofa.
I stood up but missed my steps because of my sweaty feet and immediately sort something to support myself but ended up falling down followed by whatever I was holding on to.
"Shit! My back is broken." I hissed in pain then glanced at the thing I had broken. My eyes almost popped out and I blinked once, twice, thrice to make sure I was not hallucinating.
Before I could even react, I figure squatted in front of me with a not so friendly smile then rubbed my cheek with his index finger slowly and gently, before saying coldly. "How are you going to repay for breaking my television?"