ANAGRAM

ANAGRAM Chapter 3

Now that Maida has offered to share the bed with him, Rip is over the moon, but he is keeping it cool just so as to make her think that he's not liking it. Maida still seems indecisive.

"Look, Maida, if you are not going to be comfortable, then I'd rather sleep on the mat," he suggests with an obvious performative concern.

"it's ok Rip, we shall manage..the problem is , the bed is...kinda small for the both of us!"she replies, hinting at a discomfort.

Rip has something in mind. He seems to be calculating something.

"(to himself) Yes Maida, I am aware of the bed's size..it will be a pleasure to feel your warmth for the first time tonight..."

He continues to display a subtle smirk but immediately ends it when Maida's eyes meet his.

" You are right! the bed is indeed small, but don't worry, we will keep pillows between us, " he mischievously offers.

Now the two awkwardly lay down, and soon Maida switches into reverse sleeping. Rip is disappointed.

"(to himself) No Maida, No! tonight is the night! You can't go away from me like that....come on Rip do something!"

Rip slyly walks out of the room as Maida seems lost in thoughts and comes back after a minute or two with a jug of water at hand. He seems to be coughing intensely, and this has Maida worry. She immediately runs to his aid, patting his back and trying to help him drink some water.

"What's gotten into you Rip, are you ok?" she asks worriedly.

"it's nothing, Maida...(coughing) I will be alright. "

In the process of Rip's cough, the water from the jug spills onto the blanket, but Maida is too busy to notice. After a long struggle, Rip ceases to cough, and Maida is relieved.

"What had happened to you Rip, are you ok now?" she asks worriedly.

" Come on Maida, it's nothing serious, i must have just chocked on water, this is common when whatever you are eating or drinking enters through the trachea instead of the oesophagus, so coughing is a way of making it come out you see" he explains, confirming the spilled water's spot on the blanket.

"ok then, but just let me know if you are not ok please...mmmmh and by the way, when did you get out, I mean you could have told me , I would have gotten the water, what was the need to walk out now knowing very well it's cold and you have no jamper on Rip !" she says whining.

" Oh, madam, your mind must have been stuck somewhere! who's the lucky person who is getting all this attention, huh?" he teases.

"(gets up) Oh, come on, Rip, it's nothing like that... In fact, that's out of the question!( pulls the blanket) What the hell, Rip the blanket is wet!" she shouts in shock.

" Jeez! The water must have spilled , f**k!"

" Relax Rip, it's not a big deal, we'll just get another one...(realises) ooh shoo! "

"What now?"

"Rip, the rest of the blankets are in mom's room!"

The two are perplexed, trying to put two and two together. It then unexpectedly starts to rain.

"Oh No!" both say in unison.

"Is this a game!" she wonders.

" This is insane Maida!"

" This is a cursed day!" she adds, making him raise a brow.

As Maida whines in silence, there is a party in Rip's heart. He feels like jumping up and down with joy.

"Maida it's getting cold, let's just use a bedsheet, it's not like we have any other choice!!" he cleverly offers .

"(trembling) Rip is the AC on?" she enquires curiously.

"Of course not Maida, unless we are planning to die tonight!" he quickly replies.

The room is now unbearably chilly. Maida, who is on her light PJs, is tremendously trembling, her teeth chatter vigorously. Rip notices the goosebumps on her skin and he scrutinises her entire body, holding his gaze at her breasts, whose n*****s have already hardened. He slowly moves closer to her, still holding his gaze. He removes his t-shirt, revealing his rock-hard, yet perfectly defined abs. He covers Her from behind. She slowly looks back, only for her cheeck to meet with his lips, then she immediately withdraws.He leads her towards the bed, and she naively follows and soon they both end up pressing their bodies together, the heat of his skin merges with hers in the soft silence between them. Maida is completely enveloped by his frame. Her behind is nicely aimed at his manhood, and his right hand is slightly below her chest.

"(to himself) I can't believe I have finally gotten the chance to hold you this way Maida! our bodies merging this way ...this is the best feeling ever!"

"why's all this happening ?(closes eyes as if in pleasure)," she says to herself, still glued to his body, then she tries to separate her body from his, as discomfort kicked in.

Rip is trying to make his way beyond, but he pauses for a second after realising she's not comfortable and immediately lifts his upper body.

" I will make some tea for you Maida", he whispers in her ears as he leaves. Maida is left questioning herself.

"What's going on...what almost happened... why is Rip suddenly acting as if he's in love with me? He would have told me if that's the case right, maybe I'm just over-thinking!"

Rip walks in with two cups of tea, distracting her and hands one to her. She takes several sips before pausing, and their eyes meet, and then she immediately looks away.

"Hey, you ok? why did you stop? doesn't it taste good?(shakes her head) go on, it will reduce the cold, " he encourages.

Both take sips in silence, each in their own thoughts. Maida looks at him, but her vision seems blurred. He seems like a silhouette. She struggles to make a clear picture of him, and when she finally does, a new image is in front of her. She slowly puts her cup down. She's mesmerised. She makes her way to him and seductively sits on his laps. Rip is trying to figure out who this new girl is.

" Hey, you think you're the only one here with charm?" she giggles, nudging him lightly with her elbow, her fingers brushing his arm, then continues.

"I bet you have no idea how cute you look tonight," she teases, almost as if she can't quite believe how bold she is being, but can't stop herself either. She grabs his neck and looks at him straight in the eyes.

"Seriously... you have the most incredible eyes! woo! Boy, I think I am drowning...(whispers in his ears) You are the real intoxicant tonight!"

She gives him a lingering look, her gaze sweeping over his face with an approving smile. Rip is also mesmerised by her charm

"And your lips...wow... I just wish to kiss them night long!(giggles).

Rip is dumbfounded. it's like he no longer recognises who Maida is anymore.

"Ma... Maida, get a grip on yourself...(places her index on his lips)"

" Not today!...I can't stop myself anymore! I am done pretending that I feel nothing! you have no idea... how long I have yearned for this moment!"

Rip feels like a king on hearing Maida's words.

He recalls how he intentionally spiked Maida's cup of tea before.

"(to himself) I would never have known how you feel Maida, I did the right thing by spiking your tea, otherwise you would never have confessed how you feel for me!(smiles satisfactorily)"

" Hey! What are you thinking? ...(snaps) I know you are a good singer(hugs him). Please sing for me, I like your melodious voice, come on now! ...go on !" she orders in a sleepy tone.

" What, I can't believe she still remembers that I can sing! But how? I sang for her when she was only 8! Now this, this is what is call true love!"

He begins to hum to a tune they both recognise. Maida falls asleep in his arms. He carries her like a child and puts her to sleep , then he lays next to her, admiring her innocent baby like face.

"I am really sorry, Maida. I did this to you on purpose because I wanted to give you a special surprise! But you surprised me instead, and it is the best surprise ever! I will never forget this day ! You cunning girl, so you have been in love with me all these years, and you have never bothered to inform me? Anyway, I forgive you, the good thing is that it's mutual, now just wait and see how I confess my feelings to you! It will be a remarkable day for you! "

The morning comes .She is woken up by the rich, buttery aroma of scrambled eggs, her mind hazy and her body sinking into the softness of the mattress. The sunlight streams gently through the curtains, and for a moment, everything feels peaceful. She stretches, her eyes lazily scanning the empty room. Just then, her breath holds as fragments of the night before rushes back, vivid and undeniable. The warmth of his presence, the sound of his voice, the feel of him beside her, everything she told him—they all come crashing down like a tidal wave. Her heart begins to race as she sits up abruptly, the reality sinking in.

"What have I done! What will Rip think of me now? Oh no, no! I have to tell Rip the truth now! He has to know that I have feelings for someone else!"

She whispers in a trembling voice as guilt claws her heart. She sends a message and anxiously waits for a reply. Soon a girl walks into the room and she runs to hug her then they sit on the bed holding hands.

"But why would your parents do that?" she girl enquires curiously.

" I dunno girl! It's not making any sense, I can't help but think my parents didn't make all this happen!"

" But Maida, what if they think Rip and you are in love and decided to give you an alone time?"

"Doris! You sound like my enem! ( Pause) Wait...you are actually right! My mom usually acts strange whenever Rip is around but I have always turned a blind eye on! But she's My mom, she wouldn't do anything to hurt me...no, no, we are just over-thinking Doo!"

" Yea, a mother wouldn't do that... Now what?"

" I don't know, can you please come and stay here until they are back, I won't be at peace especially after what happened last night!" she whines.

" Maida I can't, especially after the case of AJ! My brothers are keeping a close watch, everywhere I go they follow, thinking I've gone to AJ!"

" Oh My goodness! I just dunno what to do honestly!" she whines.

" Look Maida, all this could be a misunderstanding, Rip is your childhood friend and maybe you should set clear boundaries for him since all this makes you so uncomfortable! After Last night, nothing will feel the same! Tell him you are in Love with an imaginary character!"

"( Side eye) Why would you call him imaginary?" she asks in annoyance.

" Because Maida...The two of you barely know each other! you have never met in person!"

" Even if that's the case, I have genuine feelings for him! And I don't care what anyone says, I will continue to love him...and so what if I have never met him, I will do so next month at his concert and I will book a VIP table just to get a closer look at him and I will not rest until I take a selfie with him...Maybe then you will believe me!" she explains as if possessed with a disease called love.

"Listen girlfriend...I believe that you love him dearly, but please note that he's a celebrity and chances of you meeting him and hold an actual conversation are minimal! You might see him yes, but it could be hard to get to talk to him...please consider my words and just give these boys a chance, you have been rejecting them because of him!" She advises.

"I hear you....but I am not giving up!"

Rip steps into the room, a tray in his hands, carefully balanced but clearly filled with affection. He's surprised to see Doris but she immediately takes her leave.The breakfast is arranged just so—scrambled eggs flanked by perfectly toasted bread, a small pot of jam beside it, and a steaming cup of coffee with a heart-shaped swirl of cream on top. His movements are slow and deliberate, as though each step is part of a quiet ritual to bring comfort and warmth. His eyes linger on her as he approaches, a soft smile tugging at his lips, and the way he holds the tray feels like he is offering more than just food. Maida is perplexed and rooted onto the bed.