"I'm good, thanks," she replied.
Ryan nodded and closed the door behind him softly before entering the bedroom fully.
He moved forward with his footsteps soft on the plush carpet, "I came to grab some clothes, to take a bath," Ryan explained, opening the dresser drawer and pulling out a stack of fresh clothes. "And to remind you to eat," he added, picking up the clothes.
Aria raised an eyebrow, amused with her brow arching up elegantly. "You think I'd forget to eat?" She chuckled, while Ryan grinned. "With you, I never know. You get lost in your thoughts sometimes." His voice was laced with teasing, but his eyes held concern at her behavior.
Aria playfully rolled her eyes. "I do not." Her voice was infused with a manner of mock.
Ryan laughed, loudly."Oh, really?" He raised an eyebrow,
Aria's cheeks flushed slightly, a delicate red color spreading across her skin. "Hey don't, lecture me." She said defensive.
Ryan's smile softened, with his back still facing Aria, moving clothes out of the dresser."I'm just teasing. But seriously, you need to take care of yourself, especially with those injuries"
"I know. Thanks," Aria replied and Ryan turned to face her, "Good," He walked over to the bed with some of the clothes, he had picked out clutched in his hand, and dropped them beside Aria.
Next, he picked up Aria's backpack, lying open on the bed, the contents neatly organized. Ryan rummaged through the bag and he pulled out a canned food with a bottle of water, handing them to Aria with a gentle smile.
"Now, eat, while I go take a bath. You need your strength back." He instructed, nodding towards the food, encouraging.
Aria took the offerings with her good hand, their fingers brushing against eachother, the touch sending a spark of warmth all over the place.
Ryan's eyes lingered on hers, before he picked up the clothes and he turned to leave. "Call me if you need anything," he reminded, his voice floating over his shoulder and he left.
Aria opened the canned food slowly, the seal breaking with a faint pop, she lifted the edge, and hee stomach growled in anticipation.
Gazing down at the food, Aria scooped up the first bite and she lifted the food to her lips. She chewed the food slowly and between her little bites, Aria began to hear the sound of running water from the bathroom.
While she ate, her thoughts drifted to Ryan's unwavering support, his kindness, and care. His presence made her feel safe and with each passing moment, Aria felt her strength returning.
Her thoughts also moved to Samuel, she had only known him for two days but she can say he has a playful character but was loyal.
As Aria finished her food, she set the empty can aside, feeling grateful and content. She leaned back against the pillows, listening to the sound of the running water from the bathroom.
Aria let her eyelids drift shut. The soothing sound brought calm and a brief respite from the weight of their survival in the underground bunker.
Her mind began to wander to the tasks ahead. She hasn't forgotten that they still needed soil for planting those traditional crops, a crucial step in sustaining their underground haven but that meant venturing above the ground.
The biggest logistics of the mission would be for them to plan the safest time to open that iron door. She began to visualize their plan ahead but Ryan's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Feeling better?" he asked, entering the room.
Aria opened her eyes to find Ryan standing in the bedroom doorway, a towel casually slung over his broad shoulder. His dark hair was damp and tousled from the shower, with a few strands clinging to his forehead, framing his chiseled features.
He was fully clothed in a black shirt that accumulated his strong physique, the fabric hugging his muscles in all the right places. The dark trousers fit him perfectly, emphasizing his long legs and athletic build.
She didn't even hear or know when the bedroom door had opened. Ryan's sudden appearance startled her, but his warm, reassuring smile put her at ease.
"How are you feeling?" Ryan asked again, entering the room more. Aria smiled back at ryan. "Better," she replied and Ryan nodded. "Good. We'll tackle the soil issue soon."
Aria looked at Ryan, curious at how he knew what she had been thinking but she didn't put to much thought to it because it might be luck, knowing he'd been thinking along the same lines.
Her gaze drifted over Ryan's outfit, appreciating the way the black shirt brought out the brightness of his eyes. "You're dressed already?"
Ryan chuckled like a gentle stream. "Yeah, I figured it's better to dress at the bathroom than here, don't want to risk fallen jaws" he said and Aria laughed softly "Considerate of you, although I don't see what's jaw dropping." she teased with mischief as she gazed at Ryan's ruggedly handsome face.
Ryan gasped, dramatically clutching his chest as if he was deeply wounded, his eyes wide with fake shock. "How dare you!" he exclaimed, "With all my physique," he declared, flexing his arms to showcase his biceps.
Aria's gaze drifted to his muscular arms, and she couldn't help but smile at his theatrics.
"And my chiseled features," Ryan continued, striking a pose to highlight his sharp jawline, cheekbones, and dark eyes.
Aria chuckled, her shoulders shaking with amusement. "And my irresistible charm?" Ryan asked, raising an eyebrow
Aria burst into laughter, the sound filling the room "Irresistible charm?" she repeated and Ryan nodded, his expression unchanging.
"Yes, it's a well-documented fact," he declared. Aria's laughter grew louder and Ryan joined in, his deep chuckles blending with hers.
Finally, their laughter subsided, leaving them to some silence but when they looked at each other again, their laughter started in tenfold. Aria was taken aback by the unrestrained joy radiating from Ryan face.
She was breathless, her sides aching from the relentless laughter. She hadn't known Ryan had this side, this carefree and playful personality that made her heart skip a beat. It was a new face of him, one that she adores.
In her mind, Aria ticked off another green flag. This was the kind of connection she craved, laughter, playfulness, and unconditional acceptance.