Chapter 29 FRIENDS?
1460words
"Hahaha, dear, I am not really good with the gifts, you know. Andrew never celebrates his birthday so I have no idea about it." Ann tells me and I frown, looking at her curiously, "Why?"
"Oh… Since his parent died…" Ann stops taking a deep sigh, "That accident had shaken him up very badly from inside and out, so it's difficult for him now to blend among the people." Ann explains.
"Oh… I see." I say thoughtfully and Ann holds my hand, "I know Andrew has locked his room, just like his heart, but I am sure you would be able to find the key and unlock it." She says meaningfully and except for giving her a reassuring smile I could do nothing.
Yeah, that my so-called husband literally threatened me to never step into his room and neither ask for any right on him. And when he never shows up himself how am I going to find that key that belongs to his heart, huh.
Too messed up situation, but you already know about this, Tess. You knew this marriage is not going to be easy and you have to give all of yourself to it.
Sigh, I start to put my attention on my dinner as I begin to eat.
After dinner, I go up to the terrace to practice my French sentences, after all, today I had been very much absent-minded in the class.
"Quel est ton nom?"
"Je m'appelle Tessa Andrew."
"No… No… No… It should be Mrs. Tessa Andrew…"
"Je m'appelle Mme Tessa Andrew."
I keep repeating the sentence in a loud voice as I walk on the terrace and then suddenly someone's presence startles me, as I turn around and freeze.
BOOM
I drop my book as I look into the cold eyes of my husband. He bends down and just like a gentleman hands me back my book, "So, you have been learning French?" He asks casually as he takes out the cigarette case and pulls out one cigarette from it.
Does Andrew smoke? I didn't know this.
"Do you smoke?" I ask, a little bewildered by his sudden appearance.
"Yes, but don't tell Ann." He says quickly as he put the cigarette between his teeth and lights it up, wow, he looks so handsome while doing this. I stare at him mesmerized, and his voice comes again.
"So, why did you start learning French, do you like it?"
Oh, I blink my eyes and break my trance of admiring him, he has now sat on one of the flower beds, he is smoking with his legs crossed looking like a handsome mafia man.
Oh no… no… don't go there, Tess. Reply him…
"Ah…" I open my mouth and then close it forgetting what he had asked me before. His gaze points at my book and remembering the question I reply stuttering, "Oh French… Yeah… I thought you like it… I mean… You know French… So I thought maybe I should also know French… And it will make you happy too… Maybe I don't know…" I blurt out complete nonsense and smile embarrassedly.
F**k, hold yourself, Tess.
"How will your French learning makes me happy?" Andrew asks stunned, he sits straight waiting for my answer, his eyes looking at me with deep interest.
Tess, don't mess up this time.
"I… I thought that when we would go together out for any big gathering… I shouldn't disappoint you there from my less knowledge…" I say slowly and carefully, my eyes on the flower bed, I really can't look straight into his eyes, his appearance as always making me nervous.
I feel his body relaxing as he leans back again calmly, "You think too much…" He says and a circle of smoke covers his beautiful and handsome face.
I nod my head subconsciously and then start withdrawing my steps, after all, I have nothing to talk about with him, and also what if I piss him again?
It's better to quietly go back to my room instead of standing here and admiring his beauty.
"Where are you going?" He asks sharply, and I falter and finally stop my steps. "I… I am going back to my room.." I tell him nervously.
"Wait, there is something I need to talk about…" He says and my body starts to sweat with anxiousness, no, not more scolding, no way.
He beckoned me to come closer and gulping my saliva I did.
He pats the place beside him and just like an obedient pet I sit beside him, breathing heavily. "Tessy…" He calls my name and my heart drops making me weak all over, "I didn't want to be rude to you… It's just… please stay in your place and don't invade my personal space without my permission next time…"
He says softly to me, "I apologize for my rude behavior, I will be careful next time, we can stay normally under one roof without expecting anything from each other, right?" he asks, his tone seems a little desperate.
My gaze is fixed on his long fingers that have dropped the cigarette now, his fingers are too long and his palm is huge, I wonder how would it look in mine.
"Tessy…" He urges and finally, I look up at his face.
"You mean we can live as friends?" I ask him just to make sure what I am thinking out of his words.
"Friend? Uhmmm… Yeah, I guess." He thinks for a moment and then replies, scratching his head with little nervousness. I wonder why he is nervous about making me his friend? What's the big deal?
"Great, then, I also apologize for my stupidity and next time I would be careful," I tell him and then stretch my hand for him to shake. "So, you do agree that you act stupidly sometimes." He says teasingly as he shakes my hand, before I can feel his warmth he quickly withdraws his hand from my grip.
I smile in disappointment but at least he is not pissed at me anymore.
He stands up like a king, dismissing our little conversation, "Ok then, I'll see you around." He tells me and then walks out of the terrace, I bend down and pick the little piece of his remaining cigarette and throw it in a dustbin.
After all, Ann doesn't know about his smoking habit yet, and what if any servant finds it and informs Ann about it.
I walk back to my room, feeling at peace for the first time, as I and my husband have gone on a truce. I hope this friend thing will work between us.
****
The next morning, as usual, the phone ring wakes me up.
RING… RING… RING…
"I am awake…" I tell hoarsely to Miss Celine. "Sir Andrew is out for running." She informs and I frown, "So?"
"You should join him too…" She says and I was going to refuse her immediately when she started to say the second half of her sentence, "Miss Swan has ordered you to join Andrew daily for the run."
F**k me, I went speechless. Well, Ann has ordered so who am I to refuse.
"Fine…" I scowl and then slam back the phone.
F**k, I am too sleepy…
Miss Celine walks in after five minutes, pulling away my blanket she walks to the wardrobe and brings me sweats. "Here…"
I look at her displeased and then reluctantly I walk to the washroom to change, keeping my hair into a high ponytail, I walk out, and Miss Celine frowns.
"Miss, haven't you washed your face?"
"It's cold.." I tell Miss Celine, pouting and rolling her eyes she pulls me back to the washroom. She force me to wash my face properly and then put some moisturizer cream on my face even a lip balm after she looks satisfied with my appearance and finally let me step out of the washroom.
So Bossy…
I groan unhappily as I follow her slowly, she takes me to the backyard and I frown as I look at the dark sky above me, the sun hasn't risen yet and there is mild humidity in the air. I yawn feeling sleepy and Miss Celine snaps, "Miss, wake up…"
"I am awake.." I groan unhappily.
"Sir Andrew is going to finish his run soon, go and join him." Miss Celine pushes me out in the backyard, and reluctantly, I walk towards my husband who is running without even noticing my pathetic presence at all.
