About That Night

LXXV. we’ll make it

Olivia

I had done many things in life at my age but most of them were not really breaking the rules of my own will of trying to be good as often as I could. I’ve always tried my best to be good and responsible but last night was just way out of hand. I realized I had gotten out of my comfort zone and experienced what it felt like to break the rules even just for once. It was fun. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel bad for some reason. I enjoyed it but not the consequence which was this hangover.

The cold shower felt so nice but that did not ease my throbbing head. It was still pounding. I had been in the shower for almost an hour just trying to cool down my mood. And the moment I got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my body, I headed out of the bathroom right away, eager to take an aspirin for the hangover. I just wanted it to go away.

Drink some more and be hungover again.

I sighed, registering the sarcasm of my inner self. The events last night were blurry to me. The dream I just had was still in my mind. I didn’t want to forget that dream but I wanted to remember what happened after we enjoyed the champagne and whiskey last night. It was so frustrating because I couldn’t recall.

Giving up, I walked out of the bathroom to find no Storm in my bedroom. He was probably downstairs. I suddenly missed him. Damn. Something was definitely wrong with me. It had been just an hour and I was already missing him. Sighing, I pushed him at the back of my mind and walked into my closet. While checking my wardrobe for something comfortable to wear, I unwrapped the towel from my body.

“Nice view.”

“AHHHHH!!!!!!”

I hurriedly picked up the towel on the floor with shaking hands and wrapped it around me again. My mouth couldn’t stop swearing as I securely wrapped the towel around my body. I was breathing hard and with a clenched jaw, I angrily turned around and glared at the man who was not even fazed by my fury.

What the heck is he doing here?

“Get out.” I gritted my teeth as I pointed at the door.

“I’m just about to. Take aspirin for your headache.” He pursed his lips and gestured to my vanity.

There was really a tablet of aspirin on a saucer and a glass of water on my vanity desk. When I looked at him, he held his hands up in surrender and tiptoed his way out of my closet. When the door finally closed behind him, I exhaled heavily and shook my head. He almost gave me a heart attack there.

He’s seen you naked.

I know.

And you don’t have a problem with it?

I prefer not to think about it.

Cool.

“Damn you, Jackson Storm Butler.” I groaned. The headache just got worse. I wanted to run after him and pull at his hair or anything just to get back at him and teach him a goddamn lesson. He didn’t seem to understand what privacy was.

I angrily snatched a shirt from a drawer and denim shorts. I changed into them after getting into a pair of underwear, of course. My hair was wet. I didn’t bother to blow dry them. I was so harsh to my hair while I was combing it. I didn’t bother spraying a mist like I usually did every morning after I took a shower and just popped the aspirin into my mouth. I gulped it down with water before finally exiting my closet.

“Breakfast in bed. For you, my queen.”

That was what greeted me when I stood outside my closet. The mighty annoying Jackson Storm Butler was sitting cross-legged on the middle of my bed with that crazy smile on his face. A tray of breakfast was right before him on a small bed table. My stomach almost grumbled at the sight of avocado toast but I was not feeling well yet.

“I’m not hungry.” It was an honest statement from me.

“You need to eat.” He sternly said.

I curled up on the other side of the bed on my pillow and pulled the blanket over my head. “I don’t feel like eating.” My voice was muffled against the blanket.

“You won’t get better if you keep being so stubborn. Please. Just eat.” He scolded me. Yup, he sounded like Dad.

Sighing, I pushed the blanket away and sat up in bed. My shoulders were slumped and I refused to look at him. I was afraid if we lock eyes, we would think about what just happened in the closet. Just the thought of it made my cheeks feel hot. I couldn’t help blushing.

Damn. He’s seen me bare from behind.

You wonder what he thinks of your bum?

No, not at all. I don’t want to think of it.

“Please.” He softly requested.

That was it. I scooted closer to the food and beside him. Aside from the avocado toast, there was also a plate of cooked ham and bacon, a glass of milk and water. It was so thoughtful of him. Why was I so mad at him? I should be grateful, right? It was so thoughtful of him to stay throughout the night and take care of me. Realizing that, I felt guilty for being so angry over nothing really.

“Thank you,” I mumbled.

“For what?” He asked.

I took a deep breath and sighed. “For this?” I sounded unsure but I hoped he got what I meant to say.

“The food?”

I nodded without looking at him. “And everything this morning.” I picked up the toast and was just about to take a bite of it when what he said next made me put want to put it back down.

“Everything? Including what happened in the closet?”

That was it. I glared at him. He had that signature smirk playing on his lips. He looked amused while I was fuming. He just had to bring it up and lose my appetite.

“I was just kidding.” He laughed. “Come on. Eat now. I’m already full.”

The last statement seemed to have another reason and meaning because I knew he hadn’t had breakfast yet. He was clearly having fun of it. From the look on his face, he couldn’t seem to forget about it. Instead of making it so much of a big deal, I chose to let go of it and just went on with the breakfast.

“You made this?” I asked in surprise after taking a bite of the toast. He knew I loved avocados and eggs in the morning.

“Who else? Your parents are still at my house. Mom called me, telling me that they had tons of drinks last night and got wasted. They didn’t risk to drive here because they were so drunk.” He explained.

“I see.” I wasn’t surprised anymore when I knew Mom and Dad were so drunk. They just had drinks occasionally. The moment they had alcohol, it would be so hard to refuse another glass. Maybe, I got that trait from them.

“We have classes today.” He reminded me.

“I know,” I said with my mouth full.

“We’re skipping classes today?”

I nodded. “My head is throbbing. I’ll just take the day off. If you don’t want to be absent, you can go to school today.”

“No. I’ll stay here.” He answered right away.

I looked at him and raised a brow.

“What?” He frowned. “I’m staying here with you. You can’t ask me to go without you.” With that, he picked up the other toast and started eating. See? I knew what he was talking about when he bluffed he was already full. My mind was not that dirty. I just knew the meaning behind his words.

“Fine. But you’ll be bored with me.” I warned.

“Time is not boring with you.” He argued.

“You and your words, Jackson Storm Butler.” I shook my head but I was smiling.

“It’s true.” He chuckled. “I’d rather stay here with you.”

I suddenly felt a kiss on my cheek. My hand stopped mid-air when I was just about to finish the last bite of the toast. I couldn’t help looking at him and smiled.

“Jeez.” He shook his head, smiling. “You were just mad at me a while ago.”

“I’m not mad at you. Or maybe, I was.”

“Come on. It’s not like I won’t be able to see you naked in the future.” He sounded serious when he said that.

I fell speechless.

Does that mean he’s going to marry me someday?

Maybe.

“I don’t know what to say.” I honestly told him and finish my toast. I drank the milk he prepared and I was already satisfied.

“You don’t have to say anything. Soon, you’ll say yes to be your boyfriend. Someday, you’ll say yes and I’ll be your husband. There’s no need to rush things. We’ll get there.”

I couldn’t explain the feeling in my heart as he said those words to me. I was so full of emotions at the moment. Overwhelmed, I was.

Looking at him in the eyes, I saw the sincerity. I saw he wanted it too. And so, I couldn’t help saying this to him.

“We’ll make it.”