Come Closer

Chapter 14

Lyena and Nathan were sprawled on the sofa in the living room. They were bored. When Noah, Ryan and Adrian were at home, there were many things they could be occupied in. But, when there were only two of them, there was not much to do. They took turns in cooking meals. They ate together, watched movies together and got bored together. When James went to work, Lyena watched dramas on the television. When he came home, they would clean the mansion sometimes, as the maids were given a vacation for Christmas, or would just talk about some random things. This went on for a week. They were sick of their daily routine.

“Lyena, what should we do?” James asked, looking at Lyena.

“I don’t know. You say something.”

“Why aren’t those idiots home yet? They should be here by now. I can’t stay like this forever.” James whined.

“What about we play a game? It would eat time at least.” Lyena suggested.

“Play a game?” James asked, scrunching his nose. “Sleeping seems better.”

“Oh come on! If you sleep, then I’m all alone here to be bored. It is not gonna happen.” Lyena said.

“Then sleep with me”

Lyena took a cushion and threw it at James’s face. “Shut up i***t. I might kill you if you kept on talking shit.” She said.

“I’m sorry I’m sorry.” James said laughing, covering his face with another cushion as Lyena sent another cushion at his face. “Ok Ok. What should we play?” James asked as he wanted to escape from the cushion bombs. “You suggest” Lyena said. “What about monopoly?” James asked. “Nah, not interested.” Lyena said.

“Catch me if you can?”

“No.”

“Chess?”

“Too boring.”

“What about we play a game on the computer?”

“No, I’m not into those. Can’t you suggest at least one interesting game?”

“Then, hide and seek?”

A huge smile spread on Lyena’s face. “Well THAT is fun to play.” She got up from the sofa. “Come, let’s play rock paper scissors to decide who seeks first.” She said as she pulled James’s hand to make him stand.

“OK count to hundred” Lyena said as she won the ‘paper scissor rocks’.

“Isn’t it too long? There is so much space here in the mansion. I’ll count to fifty” James said. “Ok then. Get started” Lyena said. “Remember, if found, the one who comes first here wins. And if not, the one who is hiding should come here first if they want to win” she explained the rules to James. “No need of reminding me. I know this game” James said. “Alright. Imma go hide now!” Lyena said as James turned around to count.

“Where should I hide?” She asked herself. She ran from one room to another. “He knows all the places here. I should find a good hiding place.” She muttered as she was searching for a place to hide. “FIFTY! I AM COMING LYENA!” Lyena heard James’s loud voice.

She ran into the walk-in closet she could see in a room and closed the door silently. The room was dark. The only light which could be seen was the dim sunlight of the evening that came through the gaps between the thick curtains. The closet was darker as it was closed. Lyena hadn’t turned the lights on as she didn’t want James to have a clue.

She waited, and waited, to hear James’s footsteps pass the room. But, not a single sound was there to be heard. She felt a shiver run down her spine, caused by the gloomy atmosphere of the room. All the ghosts and vampires and devils she had seen in the movies she watched, came to her mind. She felt a presence near her. Her mind started to race driven by the fear of ghosts in her mind. She clutched the sides of her dress as she breathed deeply. She opened her eyes wide as she peeked outside the closet a little. There was nothing. She heaved a sigh and touched the door knob of the closet to step outside.

“Aaaaarrrgggghhhh!” Lyena screamed as the door opened suddenly.

“HAAAAAAAA! WHY ON EARTH ARE YOU SCREAMING?” James shouted as he jumped back, scared from Lyena’s scream. Lyena placed her hand above her heart. “Oh you scared me! Can’t you make any sound when you walk around?” Lyena asked James embarrassed as she got scared because of nothing.

“It’s hide and seek! Why would I make any sound when I want to win?” James said. “Anyways, you lose. Now go and count” he said.

“Guess you have forgotten the rules!” Lyena shouted as she started to run to the living room where they started the game. James realized he was about to lose, a little later. He ran after her and went to the living room before her. “Now count” he said.

The game went on for a few rounds. Now it was James’s turn to seek. He was searching for Lyena for some time but still he could not find Lyena. When he was about to enter a room, he heard something fall on the ground. He quickly turned around to see Lyena giving him an awkward smile. “Hey!” She waved and turned towards the living room to run. James ran after her and caught her by her wrist.

“You can’t hold me! That’s cheating” Lyena said as she tried to get away from James’s grasp.

“I don’t care, I am not losing this time.” James said as he pulled Lyena back.

They pushed and pulled each other to go before the other. No one could go forward because of the struggle. “Let me go!” James said as he pushed Lyena back.

“You let me go!” Lyena replied as she jerked James’s hand off her wrist. She had taken one step forward when James caught her and lifted her up.

“James put me down!” Lyena shouted, twisting in James’s grip.

“No, if I can’t win, we both lose” James said.

“No, I am going to win” Lyena said.

“Dream on!” James said as he placed Lyena on the sofa and began tickling her. They both were laughing.

“James…stop! I…can’t… breathe!” Lyena said between giggles.

“Say that I am the winner, then I’ll let you go” James said.

“Never!”

James shrugged. “You chose this way” James said and again tickled Lyena.

“Wait! Wait! Stop! Alright you win!” Lyena said as she couldn’t breathe from all the tickling. James stopped as soon as she said those words. Lyena took a deep breath. That was when they both realized which position they were in. Lyena froze as she saw that James was hovering over her and was pinning her hands down on the sofa in order to keep her in place. She met James’s eyes and gulped as she saw that James had realized the situation too. James stared into Lyena’s eyes and slowly started to lean closer to her face. When Lyena’s breath hit his face, he came to reality and hurriedly stood up from the sofa.

“I am sorry Lyena” he said as he scratched the back of his neck, looking down. Lyena also stood up. Her face was flushed red. “It’s alright.” She said without meeting his eyes. “Enough of this game now. Let’s eat something. I’m hungry.” James said as the atmosphere got awkward by the growing silence between them. “Come, let’s order something today” James said as he took out his phone.