Before yesterday’s turning point, their relationship was so good and pleasant that she thought there was no need to look back on what had happened. She just liked it the way things were. To be precise, she had never dreamed of his confession in the first place.
A stable but risky relationship. If she were to expect too much from a time-limited contractual relationship, he might end up avoiding her. However…
Noel said he likes me. He said he loves me.
All night long, Noel whispered to her of his affectionate confession every chance he got as if he was pouring out all the words he had been suppressing. His sweet voice was still vivid in her mind. The emotion from that time also remained fresh.
At the sight of him sleeping so soundly with his guard down, Irene looked at him with ease and gently gave him a peck on the cheek. He was so lovable that she could not help it.
Even after removing her lips, Irene took extra time to admire his handsomeness before getting up. She was going to wash up, but she could not get out of bed.
“Where are you going?”
“No, Noel? You weren’t sleeping?”
Irene turned to Noel, startled by the arm abruptly wrapped around her bare waist.
He opened his eyes and smiled endearingly at her. His dishevelled silver-grey hair made him more sensual.
“I’m not the insensitive kind of man to fall asleep with his beloved woman next to him.”
“Oh, that…”
Noel’s voice, the same gentle voice which uttered love confessions to her yesterday, was full of affection. However, she found the hand wrapped around her flat stomach more concerning. Suddenly, she felt a slight pinch at her lower body.
“I’m going to wash up….”
Feeling a tickling sensation down her stomach, Irene said timidly. Noel then glanced up at Irene. For some reason, Irene was embarrassed to meet his eyes, so she slyly averted his gaze.
“Shall we wash together?”
“P-pardon?!”
Stunned by the idea, Irene turned to look at him in disbelief. Only when their eyes met did Noel smile satisfactorily at her. Irene’s face reddened, belatedly realising Noel’s purpose. Yet, Noel asked again regardless.
“Don’t you like it?”
When he asked with an ‘abandoned puppy’ look, Irene was perplexed. He had never made such a face or pleaded earnestly like this before.
Noel has changed...!
How should she put it? He was strangely…provocative.
What should she do in this case? Irene’s mind was spinning.
Seeing Irene baffled, unable to deal with this situation, Noel struggled to hold back the laughter that was about to burst out.
She is flustered.
She was so cute that he wanted to keep seeing her contemplating how not to hurt his feelings. Yet, he decided to quit at this point. It was not a good habit to enjoy seeing someone in a difficult situation.
“I’m kidding. I won’t follow you because you will be uncomfortable.”
“That...are you, all right?”
“If it’s not all right, will you listen to me?”
“Oh, no! Not now…!”
“Haha!”
When he joked around, Irene’s reaction was so adorable that he burst into a fit of laughter. Realising that he was joking, abashed, Irene quickly ran into the bathroom. She felt like Noel’s laugh was still ringing in her ears once she got inside the bathroom.
“Hah…”
Irene sighed deeply, holding her quivering chest. She then washed through her body with the shower faucet and entered the tub. She occasionally glanced at the bathroom door, perturbed by the thought that Noel would open that door and come in at any moment.
But fortunately, that did not happen, and Irene gradually submerged herself below the water surface.
♔♔♔
After the bath, Irene noticed Noel was no longer in the room and assumed that he had also gone to wash up as well. After all, he was also sweaty and uncomfortable.
While Noel was away, Irene dried her hair and changed clothes with Louiselle’s help. Right after that, Irene pulled out the diary from a drawer and flopped into a chair. She flipped over to see the picture she had placed inside. Irene picked the picture up and closely scrutinised it.
“Rivena…”
Who was she?