Chapter 06 – I'll do anything you ask me to
I'll do anything for you, whatever you want me to. You know I will do.
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It was their TV night, in which they both would stay up late and watch whatever that's on the TV.
He shouldn't have said yes to her that day. But somehow she is quite the manipulator. That damn schedule.
He couldn't take it anymore and turned to her, "Could you change the channel?"
She stopped chewing her popcorn and turned to him, "You forgot to say please." She said in a sing song tune.
He rolled his eyes at her, "Please?" He tried mimicking her voice to mock her.
She giggled, "Oh, a nice one. That's the closest one you got so far."
"Right, now change the channel?"
She raised an eyebrow at him.
He grumbled, "Please?"
She just stared at him, eyebrow raised and popped a popcorn into her mouth. Then she turned her attention back to the TV, "No."
"Why not?" He protested.
Without turning to him she replied, "Because I don't feel like watching 22 men running around a field chasing a ball. Besides, it's my turn tonight. Remember the schedule you and I had agreed on?"
I knew she's gonna bring that up eventually. Why the heck did I did say yes to whatever she asked me to? Great, we're not even in a relationship and I'm whipped.
He sighed and took another swig from his soda can. He remained silent and tried to enjoy the rest of the TV night. His jaw felt a little numb and he unconsciously rubbed it.
"Does it still hurt?"
He thought it was the TV at first, but then realized it was the commercials. So he slowly shifted his eyes at her, and was taken by the sight of her.
She was staring at him with a cute pout and a rather sensual pose. How does she even make a simple pose so…so hot? And why do I always find her so irresistible?
He swallowed hard. "What?"
"Your jaw. Does it still hurt?" she whispered, her tone concerned.
"Not so much as this morning." He licked his lips.
Her lips slightly parted as she continues to stare at him in silence.
"Nice punch by the way. Knock me out completely. Can't decide whether I should be impressed or embarrassed getting KO by a girl." He laughed a little.
Few seconds later, she broke out into laughter. Her head thrown backwards as her laughter continues. "Yeah, you kinda deserve it anyway." She struggled to say through her laughter.
"Yeah, yeah. Laugh all you want. I'm getting another soda." Slowly he got up from the couch and into the kitchen. He grabbed another soda from the fridge and was about to walk back to the living room, when a thought occurred to him.
He slowly turned back into the kitchen.
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"Here. For you." He handed her a pink mug.
"What's this?"
"Your favourite drink."
"Coffee? Wow, thanks." He watched intently as she sipped her drink and purr in satisfaction.
"You make the greatest coffee ever, Alex." He sat down on the couch as she took another sip. No Lacus, I just make coffee the way you want them.
"You are not afraid if I put poison in it?" He grinned at her.
She stuck out her tongue at him, "Then it shall be my last really good cup of coffee and I'm satisfied at that."
"You are that easy to be please?"
"Occasionally, if it's done by the right person. Thanks again, Alex."
"Uh-huh. It's the least I could do after –" He didn't dare to finish his words. He didn't dare to look at her.
She on the other hand, didn't say anything at all. Instead, took another sip from her mug.
For the next half an hour, he sat watching the TV while sipping his soda several times. She was also doing the same, though he noticed her attention was fixed more onto the coffee more than the TV. The show had finished and the credits roll, but still he remained as he were. He merely enjoyed the moment with her.
"Alex?"
"Yeah?" When she didn't answer, he shifted his vision to her. She looks like she wants about to tell him her secret but is hesitant to do so.
"I'm…," She took a deep breath as she met his gaze equally; "I'm leaving."
He almost choked his soda. "You're what?"
"I'm leaving. It's –"
"You're…leaving? Why? Is it because I cross the boundary line? Is it because…" he struggled to say the next words, "-I kissed you last night?"
She let out a small gasped, and stared intensely at him.
He stared back at her. Trying to get her tell him the real reason she's leaving. "Just because of one kiss and that's it? You're leaving me?"
He didn't realize he was pinning her against the couch suddenly. He felt her stiffen, as if struggling not to flinch. He quickly let go of her when he was aware of what he did. "I – Sorry, didn't mean to…I didn't hurt you, didn't I?"
"It's ok. I'm fine, you just...surprised me. That's all." She rubbed the spot where his hands were gripping her a while ago. "And no, it has nothing to do about what happened last night."
"Yeah, well…sorry. I'm going to bed." He quickly got up and walked toward his bedroom.
If she is leaving him, then he won't stop her. He just didn't want to deal with it now. He didn't want to have to deal with this ever. Fine, just leave! Everybody does, so you are like the rest of them!
He could hear her footsteps behind him, as if she was following him. He felt a hard tug at his shoulder and found her standing in front of him, slightly panting.
"I don't want hear it. You want to leave? Then just –" his sentence was cut short.
She grabbed his t-shirt and shake him as she say each words, "Will you just stop acting like a child for once and listen to me! I'm not finished yet. I'm leaving but it's JUST FOR A WEEK!"
He blinked at her.
His eyes widen after his mind finish processing what she just said.
I am such an asshole.
He wants to smack himself in the head hard and buried himself someplace that no one will ever find him.
"I'm leaving but I'm coming back after a week. Now, I just want you to do a favour for me. Please take care of yourself when I'm away. And please, please take good care of the house. I don't want to come back and find fire-fighters around the house again. Can you do this for me?"
He gave her a timid nod. I'll do anything you ask me too.
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He was standing still in the living room. He looked around and sighed.
He decided to go to the kitchen. He pouted and sat down.
It's too quiet.
Something isn't right this morning. Something is missing.
Or to put it more accurately, someone is missing.
He sighed again as he stood up. He opened the freezer and started to make himself breakfast, which he failed to do miserably. He was mad at himself, and also her.
"At least make me breakfast before you leave!" he slammed his fist on the kitchen counter.
For the first time in three years, she was going to be away for not one, or two, or three days but for a week!
Why did she have to leave anyway? What is so important that she is away for the whole week?
One whole damn week! She was still here last night. But it seems that she had left very early this morning.
What is there to do in one week, without her? All alone by himself. He was feeling kind of hopeless whenever and wherever she was not around. He couldn't even make breakfast on his own. How could he possibly survive one week without her? She always makes breakfast for both of them, even when he doesn't ask her to. It's one of the reasons he purposely woke up late in the mornings. He always loves her cooking.
Sometimes he felt like he was taking advantage of her hospitality.
But he can't help it. She is such an excellent cook.
He looked around again and something caught his attention. A pair of mugs. One is blue, the other is pink. The pink one is obviously hers. He reached out and held both mugs in his hands. There were a couple of post-it-notes attached to her pink mug and one on his blue mug.
He read the ones on her mug first.
- There's omelette in the pan. Don't skip breakfast. –
- I don't want you destroying the kitchen so I've asked Dearka to deliver your breakfast and dinner until my return. –
- I don't want you starving yourself so if you're still hungry, there are some cup noodles in the one of the kitchen cabinets. P.S: I'll let this slide just this once. When I'm back, no more cup noodles for you. –
- I'll be back next week. Take care. Love, Lacus. -
She has a very nice handwriting and signature. He traced the word love and swallowed hard. He felt happy but soon it was replaced by dismay.
He brushed his feelings away and focused on the single post-it on his mug.
- I know you can make great coffee. So what are you waiting for? -
He snickered. Right, I can survive this one week.
…..Uh-huh.
Yeah, right. Who am I kidding? I miss her goddamn much already. And it's just been several hours since she left.
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Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
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A/N: Thank you for the encouraging reviews. It keeps the will in me to continue this story. Special thanks to IgNighted for reviewing every chapter. Your reviews brought this story back to life. Kudos!
I apologize for the long delay. Enjoy.
