My eyes are closed
931 Words
The bathroom door opened slightly as Lena popped her head out, her face a bit red.
Ivan didn't turn around from the window, he just kept tapping on his phone and fixing his eyes on the van at once.
"Hey," she called out awkwardly, her voice now gentle. "Can you... can you pass me a pad? It's by the bedside."
Without saying a word, Ivan walked over, he saw a small drawer beside the bed and opened it. Honestly that was the first time he was seeing he was seeing a menstrual pad. He took one and handed it through the narrow gap in the door.
Lena snatched it quickly and shut the door. She unwrapped the pad, and finally took her time cleaning up.
"Huh... Ivan?” She called again.
"Yes?"
"Could you please get me a pant and a top?"
"Seriously?"
"Well... you... you're in my room." she starmered, "If you weren't here, I could freely walk around."
Ivan sighed and reluctantly went to her box. He took out an oversized grey hoodie and matching sweatpants. After what seemed like forever, he finally found her underwear.
"Here. My eyes are closed." He said, holding out everything.
"How can I trust your eyes are closed?"
"Trust me Lena, I'm not into these cheesy stuff." he replied, unbothered.
Lena slowly opened the door, she waved her hands in front of him just to be sure.
"Kindly take your things and get your hands out of my face!"
"If your eyes are actually closed how can you see me?"
"Can you just take your things and leave me the hell alone!"
Lena stared at him, reluctantly taking her things and closed the door.
When she finally stepped back out into the main room, the silence between them was instantly shattered by a loud growl from her stomach.
Lena cleared her throat, trying to ignore it. "I'm going down to the campus grocery store to get something to eat."
"You’re not stepping a single foot out of this room."
"Excuse me?" Lena snapped, her temper instantly flaring up again. "I'm starving, Ivan. You can't just keep me prisoner in my own room."
"There is a van down there, again but this time with two men who have been looking at your window for the last ten minutes," Ivan said, his voice deep.
He finally turned around, his blue eyes locking onto her. "I told you, my job is to keep you alive... so, sit down."
Lena crossed her arms, staring at him. "So what? We're just going to starve to death in here?"
Ivan didn't answer. He casually walked over to her mini-fridge and pulled it open. It was mostly empty, just a few water bottles and a plastic container her dad's chef had packed for her before she left last week.
"My fridge is mostly empty, it won't be restocked untill Saturday."
He ignored her, opening the container and inspecting the fresh raw chicken breasts, some vegetables, and spices.
Without asking for her permission, Ivan casually removed his white shirt, tossing it on the couch. Lena almost gasped at his chest and forearms.
'Holy f*ck! Is he from planet perfection? Damnnn!’
He grabbed a pan from her small kitchenette counter and turned on the hot plate.
Lena stood by her bed, completely stunned as she watched him.
The rugged, ex-military bodyguard who had just broken into her room last night was now casually chopping vegetables with total precision. He moved around her small kitchen area like he owned it, completely at ease.
Within ten minutes, the delicious aroma of seasoned chicken and garlic filled the entire dorm room. Lena’s mouth watered instantly, her stomach letting out another loud, embarrassing growl.
Ivan finished plating the food, sliding a neat portion onto a plate. He walked over and set it down on the drawer right next to her bed.
Lena looked at the steaming food, then up at his completely neutral face. She wanted to refuse it just to be stubborn, but her hunger won. She picked up the fork and took a bite. It was surprisingly good, better than her school's meal.
"You know how to cook?" she muttered, chewing slowly.
"Basic survival skill," Ivan replied smoothly. He didn't make a plate for himself. Instead, he just took a bottle of water, walked back over to the couch, and sat down.
He didn't take his eyes off her. As Lena sat on her bed eating, she could feel his intense, blue gaze tracking every single move of her fork. It wasn't a normal look; it was a dark, hyper-focused stare...
'OMG Lena! he's staring! I repeat, he's staring.'
' I think he likes you' 'Nahh! impossible' she quickly dismissed it..
But the way he was watching her eat felt deeply personal, almost possessive, like he was checking to make sure she was completely taken care of.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Lena asked, breaking the silence.
Ivan didn't blink. He just leaned his head back against the couch, his eyes still locked on her.
"I'm not important, what's important is you," he murmured.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, his thumb tapping the screen as he looked back toward the window.
"Why... why would you say something like that?" Lena asked, forcing herself to swallow. She didn't know why but somehow his words stirred something inside her.
Ivan didn't smile, or try to smirk like he always did. His face looking more serious.
"Have you ever....?" he paused, staring at nothing now.
"Have I ever what?" Lena pressed on.
- Writer
