chapter 3: A Distant Bond
1108 Words
"How long have you lived here?" His deep voice reached my ear.
I blinked a few times. He asked me a question. He was talking to me. My love for the first time in my life, said something to me.
His eyes were fixed ahead, the frown still visible on his face. And my mind was still busy comprehending what he said.
Finally, he glanced at me. The first time he looked at me.
He raised a brow and I realized I was staring at him.
Nice way to embarrass myself further.
"Huh?" That was all I could manage to come up with.
He rolled his eyes. "I asked how long have you lived here? This house."
"Um...I...um...I... I...guess forever...?" I stammered. "W-why...?"
He sighed and looked away once again and shrugged. "This place just seems vaguely familiar. As if I have been here before. Several times."
I don't think so. Why will he be here before?
"Oh..."
He hummed and once again silence descended upon us. Awkward silence.
Oh God, please get me out of this situation already.
No matter how much I tried not to think about that, my mind kept wandering off... thinking that he has a girlfriend then why would he agree to marry me?
Should I ask him about her?
No, I shouldn't. That's his life, he can do whatever he wants with it...but still, I am going to marry him and I have to know. Did he break up with her...? But wasn't he in love with her? Did he--
"Don't you have a girlfriend?" I blurted out, instantly regretting my words.
His head snapped to me, his eyes widening ever so slightly before he masked his surprise. "How do you know?"
Because I was stalking you.
No.
"Um...I..." I rubbed the back of my neck feeling embarrassed and tried coming up with a lie. "I... I... don't know... I was just asking you... whether you have a girlfriend or not..."
Please believe it.
He looked suspicious, his jaw clenched. "No. I don't." It seemed as if he forced those words out of him.
The relief that flooded through my body was something I could never describe. And I let out a deep breath.
So what if he doesn't have a girlfriend, that doesn't mean he will ever love you. You don't deserve him. The voice inside me made its appearance.
If I had any hope, it was no longer there.
"But I thought you did...I saw you with h--" I once again blurted out. What is wrong with me?!
He just glared at me, c*****g his head slightly while I lowered my gaze, not confident enough to make eye contact with him.
He took a step closer and my breath hitched. He leaned closer, his eyes blazing with rage as my eyes met his for a second. "Stay out of my business." He gritted his teeth and in a flash, he turned around and walked away from there.
How many times did I dream of this moment, how many times did I play it over and over again in my mind...
Me walking down the aisle and the man I love, standing at the altar, waiting for me.
Everything was the same, almost everything, except for my future husband who was staring at me with coldness in his eyes. It made my heart ache and tears welled up once again in my eyes. I was quick to blink them away before they cause any drama.
The wedding ceremony passed in a blur and I dreaded going back to his house, to be there all alone with him. He clearly didn't like me, not that I expected him to.
During the car ride back to his house he sat as far as he could from me in the backseat gazing out of the window in complete silence.
I wanted to talk to him, a normal conversation but I didn't want to annoy him so I kept my mouth shut but I couldn't help but look at him, the side of his face as his head was turned towards the window probably to avoid looking at me.
But that didn't stop me from staring at him like a creep. After all, I was in love with him and he was a beautiful man with a beautiful heart but not for me.
"Quit staring. It's irritating." His voice was cold and hard as he spoke, just for a split second he glanced at me before he started to stare out of the window again.
"Sorry." I mumbled and promptly averted my gaze not wanting to trouble him further.
The car soon halted at a huge and gorgeous house, like the ones we dream of. Exactly like those but it didn't matter to me as it was just another house to me, not a home that I have been searching for all these years. This was like a prison to me.
I was the first one to step out of the car and he stepped out next and I followed him silently as he walked to the house, his hands in his pockets and his shoulders tensed.
Earlier he had shown me to 'our' bedroom. I was surprised by that and seeing that expression on my face he was quick to explain.
"My parents made sure to get all the other rooms locked so that we both sleep in the same room." He looked exasperated by that and subtly rolled his eyes, not even bothering to glance at me.
Presently, I was in the bathroom wiping away my makeup and changing my dress into a pair of comfortable pajamas and a t-shirt.
I took a deep breath before stepping out of the bathroom. Standing shirtless and with only a pair of grey sweatpants, stood my husband in the middle of the room. Even though I have seen his shirtless pictures once or twice but looking at him, in reality, was completely different. His taut muscles, six packs, broad shoulders, veiny forearms, all of it made my throat dry up and a blush crawled up my neck.
I was snapped out of this trance when I heard him whisper something and I was surprised that he was even saying something to me but that surprise was soon replaced with the realization that he was not talking to me but was rather on an intense call.
Embarrassment flooded through me and at the same time his eyes narrowed down at me realizing I was staring at him once again and I lowered my gaze.
He exchanged a few more hushed words over the call before hanging up.
- Writer
