Chapter 39

Angel’s POV

My husband whirred the car all the way to our marital house. 

Having parked in the garage, he hopped out and I watched him through the windscreen as he strolled to my side, and held the door open for me. 

He proceeded to retrieve my luggage from the boot and followed my lead to the entrance. 

“Maybe I should run you a shower.” He offered politely, his voice having a soft touch to it. 

I arched one eyebrow, perplexed by his sudden change in attitude. 

“Sure!” I affirmed hesitantly, hoping the nonchalant energy he was exuding wouldn't deter me from going ahead with my plan.

My eyes ran from head to toe as he walked above me, up the stairs to our room. When the door opened, a malicious aroma of dust and sweat attacked my nose. I grimaced and used my fingers to block my nostrils.

“What is this smell?” I probed, my voice dying from the lack of oxygen intake. 

“Have you not been cleaning?” 

Ace sucked his lips and dropped his head. 

“You can't be a liar and a pig at the same time!” I barked. “When was the last time this room was cleaned?” I quizzed, feeling my blood boil as I noticed the bed was undone as well.

“Sorry!” He whispered, his eyes twinkling as he looked eye to eye with me. “Haven't really found the time.” 

I rolled my eyes. “You have time to lock living human beings inside coffins but you have no time to clean up after yourself, how unkempt!” 

My husband looked away, the effect of my words hitting on him like a meteor rock. He proceeded to throw my suitcase in the bed and unzipped it. My brain cells posed rhetorical questions, one after the other, but looking for the same answer. 

As if that wasn't enough, he picked out my dresses and hung them in the wardrobe. My right arm made its way over my left one, as my weight fell on the door frame. 

I watched Ace unpack my luggage carefully, and when he was done, he drove the suitcase to where it was supposed to be. 

“What are you doing?” I finally queried, getting more and more disturbed by his brand new approach. 

Rubbing his palms together, he raised his eyes at me, and responded.

“What? I'm just trying to clean up.” 

He bent down and removed the covers from the bed, looking like he knew what he was doing. Except he didn't.

“Have you seen my phone? I need to G****e how to use a washing machine.” He muttered, his face looking like that of a baby.

I kept mum for a few seconds, the mills running in my mind, and when they finally stopped, I sighed. 

“Come, I will show you.” 

He grinned the most genuine grin I had ever seen in him. Wait, I had never seen him grin. He rolled the sheets into a tiny ball and carried them on his shoulder. I noticed a well of sweat on his armpit, and frowned.

He followed me down the stairs to the laundry room. 

“Here, add them to the tub.” I ordered as I pulled open the tub, and waited for him to load it before pushing the lid to close.

“Add water and washing powder!” I continued, folding my hands. I stared at him cynically as his face ran around the whole body of the machine, looking for where he was supposed to add the ingredients. 

“Oh yeah!” He whispered joyfully, and performed what was expected of him.

“I thought you were supposed to know everything. How come you can't operate a washing machine?” I taunted him. “ Use the knob to select the length of the wash.” I motioned at the machine with my head, my eyes fixed on him. 

Watching him adhere without any fuss was pleasing to the eye, but challenging to the mind. I kept questioning myself what worn had gotten into his head lately. First he gave me his card to use however I wanted, then he picked me up from the airport, now he was cleaning at my demand. Who knew what else was on its way?

“What's next?” He wondered. 

“Drain the water when the cycle is complete. Then add water for the rinse cycle, drain it. Spin dry the clothes, and when they're ready, remove them and hang them to dry.” I yapped. 

He frowned with confusion. “You mean the sheets?” He quizzed. 

“Yeah. Isn't that obvious?” I snapped, making a disgusted face, before heading out, only to stop at the door, seeing he was getting settled in the laundry room. 

“How much time did you set for the machine?” 

“Uh, 25 minutes. I hope that's okay.” He explained. 

“It's alright. But you don't have to sit in the laundry room until 25 minutes is over.” “You can just set your alarm and go do other things.” 

Still struck with confusion, he nodded his head.

“Okay, I'll go clean the room, so you can rest. I guess I'll run the shower for you while at it. Or you’d prefer the bathtub?” He pondered, staring at me tenderly but fear-stricken.

“The…tub.” I stammered, and followed him upstairs. I changed into a towel while he ran the bathtub for me, and joined him in the bathroom. 

“Full of bubbles and scents. Hope you like it!” He yakked and walked out. I shook my head, then stepped into the bathtub cautiously, marking not to think about him anymore.

When I headed back into the room about half an hour later, it was spotless! He’d cleaned so well and scented the room with bubblegum to my liking. He’d even ironed my pink silk pyjamas for me, and laid them out on the bed.

“Ha!” I scoffed to myself, before bearing the fruits of his labour. I laid on my stomach along the bed like a log, and just when I was closing my eyes, he stepped into the room, sweating. 

“I’ve never seen you sweat that much. Are you that tired?” I pondered impulsively, my head half-buried into my hands, bent at the elbows. In fact, I could see him with one eye. 

He looked down at himself. “It's alright. Cleaning actually calms the mind.” He said to my surprise.

“Just come to bed!” I ordered and tilted my head to the other direction. 

“Oh no, I can't. I’ll just sleep in another room. I don't want to dirty the sheets.” My husband mumbled, unbothered. 

I widened my eyes, before tilting back to face him. 

“You can just hop under the shower, right?” 

He dropped his head, and spoke in a low voice.

“Isn't that energy-draining and time consuming? I haven't really found the time to keep up in the past three days.” He concluded with a sigh. 

I froze.