CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Red Wine — Leon hoisted her up, carrying her in a bridal style. It startled Agnes; she let out a small gasp and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her body leaned on his. It was hot, comfortably hot. Like the temperature of hot bats near volcanoes, or just warm water for a bath. The coldness of the basement seeped through her body during the time that she was lying there, unconscious. But after the contact with her and Leon’s body, wiped the coldness away. Like the first sun ray after winter, his warmth spreads to her skin, penetrating her bone. The comfortable feeling of warmth made Agnes sleepy. She leaned even more onto him, trying to absorb more heat. She placed her face against his neck and nuzzled there. A familiar scent of cool mint hit her nose, and it sent her mind into a frenzy. Her body relaxed, and her firm, iron grip on his neck also softened. She was in the middle of consciousness and unconsciousness when a finger tapped on her nose gently. “Agnes
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Hold Me — Leon went down to confirm that everything in the place is clean and neat, he checked her room and saw that the dirt was finally gone. The maids were making their final clean-up, spraying disinfectant and a solution that removes the stench of blood. Seeing that the room was cleaned thoroughly, he gave a satisfied nod before giving a last instruction. He went back to the room. As he was reaching for the knob, he heard a bang inside the room and something breaking on the floor. He raised a brow before turning the knob and pushing the door open. His brows shot up, even more, when he saw what was happening. It was his wife, sitting on the floor with the bedside table also on the floor. The bottle of wine was broken, and the shards were scattered across the room, and the red, bloody-like liquid of the wine stained the white marbled flooring of his room. His wife seems to hear him enter, she looked at him over her shoulder. “Leon,” she called out. “I, I th
CHAPTER SIXTEEN A Friend. A Friend? — Agnes was speechless for a while, she stared at the unknown man with her mouth slightly hanging open. No one talked either, the surrounding was quiet and they could almost hear the crickets’ chirps outside. “A friend?” She suddenly asked. “You are his friend?” It might be because he noticed her doubt, the man Robert his name, laughed briefly and wore his hat again. “Indeed, that, I am. Why? Is it something you found hard to understand?” “Yes—no! I mean…” Agnes bit her lips, not wanting to proceed to ask because she will surely sound even ruder. “I’m sorry.” She doesn’t know what was funny, but the man started to laugh again. He flicked his hand to show that he wasn’t bothered by it. “It’s fine, it’s fine! I get that a lot. This man—your husband doesn’t really look like someone who has friends.” “Don’t destroy my image to my wife, Robert,” Leon warned, but Agnes was shocked to see a small smile on his lips. “Sorry about that!” Agnes didn
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: A Peculiar Man “That man?” She can’t help but echo his words, her heart thumping loudly, almost deafening her. Does he know? It sounds like he knows about him. “...” She paused, then thought how embarrassing her thoughts were. Of course, he knows him, he is his friend after all. He knew Leon more than she knows him. They probably spent more time together with him, and he saw Leon when he was still a teen. She and Leon just met. Leon exited before they met. He met more people before they laid their eyes on each other. Somehow, the thought made her sad. Like a cold gust of wind blowing inside her, it was freezing. Thinking up to here, her eyes were cast downwards. Agnes thinks that the man noticed the air around her was different. She can feel him, peer, at her curiously. She also took a secretive glance. His eyes were squinted, something swimming in them, but before she can notice it, his emotions were covered as soon as his lips met the cup of tea. “Yes,”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: A Seed of Doubt --- Agnes started avoiding him after that because they haven’t crossed paths even for once---except for breakfasts, lunch, and dinners---she thought that she finally mastered the art of ninjas. She told this to Leon, only to be laughed at by him. “What are you laughing at?” She asked, her cheeks puffed with airs. They were already in their room, preparing to retire for the night when she remembered those thoughts. So, she shared it with him, she thought her would praise her, but the man laughed at her instead. She doesn’t even know what was funny. “My wife is adorable.” He suddenly stated, wrecking her brain. “W-what are you even saying…” She can feel her face heating up, she slid down to the covers. “Now, now.” Her husband tried fishing her up again. “Don’t hide. Let me see your face.” “No!” She refused, gripping the sheets tighter. “You will only laugh at me…” “I won’t.” He suddenly stopped pulling, instead, he was caressing her head, sooth
CHAPTER NINETEEN:We’ve been told to notBelieve the words of a serpent.But are all the words theySay are lies?…Who is lying?---A maid approached them and laid down the snack and drinks on the table between them, her movements were fast, almost pouring everything on the table, and left the area as if her butt was on fire.As soon as she left, Agnes began to think about what Robert said to him, and they were shrouded in silence. Robert did not say anything and just took a glass of juice as if he was giving her permission to think.Agnes ignored him and began thinking.Fake?The word echoed inside her mind, bouncing in her ear canals. She could not understand his words. What is he talking about? What thing? What was fake?Is he perhaps talking about…?“Yes,” as if to confirm her thoughts, Robert’s
CHAPTER TWENTY:Getting The CourageTo Face a Sleeping Tiger---“Leon!” Agnes greeted happily to her husband that just gotten off from his car. She bobbed up and down as she descends the stairs, eager to arrive by his side immediately.Every maid she passes by bows their head before her, Agnes ignored them all and pounced at her husband. The man did not fail to catch her, holding her waist for a better grasp, not letting her fall to the ground. Like they were in an open sea, she grasps his arms tightly, holding to them as if she was about to drown.“Welcome back!” She cast a wide, bright smile at the man, staring deeply at his big, black eyes.Leon stared back, his eyes curving into small crescent slits, his orbs almost hidden behind that warm smile. He spoke, his voice still low as ever, like a breeze of winter. “Good evening to you too, my wife. I’
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONETest the WatersTo Test the Waters---He stared at her for the longest time he had ever done. His black eyes stared at her like forever. Agnes felt her heart thumping fast, wondering what she did wrong…Time had slowed down as if the clock deliberately dragged its hands snail-paced.Agnes pinched her fingers, waiting for his answer nervously. Robert glanced at the two secretly before hiding his smile with a cup of coffee. It was silent, the maids were not accustomed to this silence since days ago, so they can’t help their eyes but also took a secretive peek at the two.“… Why?” Finally, words came out of his mouth, like a sharp knife cutting through a thick blanket of awkward silence. At his voice, some people that stood in the corners flinched, but they were quick in hiding their emotions, keeping them in check.“Why? Uh…” Agnes reached a dead end, forgetting that he might ask why would she like to call them. Typically, you would not ask why your partner wants to