Seventh Chapter

By morning, the maids came back to the mansion. The shock on their faces when they saw the pile of rubbish that littered everywhere made me feel terrible. They were suffering for the mess a bunch of reckless young adults created, but then again they were paid heavily for it. Undoubtedly, Rain was also compensating them, heavily, to keep their mouths shut.

As I walked around the house, trying to render as much help as I could to the maids, my mind traveled far and wide. Actually, not far at all, it was within the mansion, dwelling on the actions of the night before. I was torn between myself, struggling between regret and satisfaction. Kissing Rain was almost heavenly. His lips were soft and he knew how to work his hands around my body. He treated my body as if he knew it like the back of his palm. I was completely lost in the moment, yielding to his trap, until I instantly got a wave of guilt that rushed over me. That was when I pulled away.

I ran, like a coward, out of his room. Of course not literally, but I could tell he was stunned. He said nothing to me until I left. All through the night, I beat myself up, barely getting enough sleep. I twisted and turned on the bed, trying to comfort myself in the slightest way, but nothing worked. I regretted leaving him hanging, but I also regretted kissing him in the first place. However, I also didn't regret kissing him. It went on for about five minutes but it was the best five minutes that I had experienced since his mother threatened to fire me. I was a mess. My thoughts were a complete mess.

“Raya," hearing my name behind me stopped every thinking process I was going through. I knew who it was.

“What are you doing?" I heard again.

I looked down at my hands as if I also wanted to know what I was doing. I was picking up empty party cups from the floors and tables, throwing them into a big garbage bag in my right hand.

I slowly turned to meet his disapproving gaze. “Cleaning up?" My high-pitched tone at the end made it sound more of a question than an answer

“We have maids for that,"

His gravelly tone and judgy eyes said of how disgusted he was. Although I wasn't sure why he felt that way. Was it because I was cleaning or because I was doing their job? I couldn't tell and I was definitely not going to ask.

He shifted his gaze to the garbage bag in my hand before looking back at me. “We have maids for that.” he repeated slowly and sternly.

Knowing that I didn't have an opinion or a choice, I let the bag go. It dropped to the floor with a faint thump. "Good,” he cooed.

With a face that was not so tensed up, he flashed the car keys before me. "Let's go get some breakfast.”

I answered with a quiet nod, making my way through a pile of trash. I felt a little bad for leaving abruptly but like he insinuated, it was their job anyway.

****

It was a silent drive to the small café that he took me to. It was not so small, but it was beautiful, also having private corners which I really loved. It felt like one of those places you take a book to, quietly sipping your drink while flipping through the pages of your favorite book. The moment the doors open, the wonderful smell of baking pastries attacks your nostrils. It's the most widely accepted attack in the world, one I wanted to go through everyday.

When we walked in, a very pretty waitress gave Rain a bright, broad grin. After giving her a small nod, she left behind the counter and made her way to the left side of the building. We trailed at some distance behind her, heading for the end of the path we were on. I then noticed a small private booth towards the end, strangely looking out of bounds with a big green tape stretching from one end to the other. She got there before us, tearing one end of the tape off before folding it up.

She then stood by its side, maintaining the same grin as before. She looked way too beautiful to be a waitress. Probably a model. “Thank you Vixy” Rain whispered when we got close.

He moved aside, letting me enter the booth first, before sitting across from me. “What'll you have today, Rain?" she waited until we were both seated before asking. Her voice was gentle and sweet. A voice befitting of her good looks.

"Everything on the breakfast menu, Vixy," he muttered as he ran his fingers through his hair.

I stared at him, lost in every way he moved. He was effortlessly attractive. His beauty was almost not unreal. While I stared, I noticed his broken lip from the fight of the night before. It didn't make any sense, but he looked so good with an injury. I wasn't even paying attention to any conversation he was having with the pretty waitress, until she had walked away and he locked eyes with me. I immediately looked away shyly.

“How are you today?" his voice was calm, resting his back on the back of the couch-like booth.

“I should be asking you," I mumbled, trying to avoid his gaze but failing.

“How are you?" I asked. “And your lip?" I added.

His finger went to the corner of his mouth, gently grazing the wound that had now dried up. “You tell me, Raya,” I heard him say.

Holding my eyes, he leaned in, resting his elbows on the table. "Does it look okay?"

His low tone sounded seductive. I couldn't tell if he was doing it on purpose, or if my head was doing it for me. I stared at him, his lips, and then back at him, unable to bring my lips to love.

“Maybe you place your lips on them and see for yourself," he went on, his timbre tone sending signals to my body.

I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came through. His look became more intense and his lips broke into a small smile. To my rescue, the waitress came to our table with our breakfast. I let go of my breath. I didn't even know I held it. While Vixy placed everything before us, his eyes casually found mine, taunting me with his good looks. He knew what he was doing and he was having fun.

When Vixy was done, she gave him the bill before leaving. Everything on the table smelt amazing, from the coffee, to the croissants to the muffins. I couldn't wait to dig in, and I didn't wait. I dug in, momentarily forgetting Rain was sitting across from me.

I was halfway through my croissant when I heard him clear his throat. “So Raya," he whispered, taking a sip from his coffee.

I looked up at him with a moving mouth. “Yes?" I mumbled.

“Since my parents are away, what do you say we go for that hiking we spoke about?" he kept his puzzling eyes on me, obviously expecting a response.

"It's the perfect way to know more about each other.” he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

I slowly stopped chewing, placing the croissant back on the plate, as I tried to think of the right answer. I didn't know what was wrong or right anymore, it was all jumbled up in my head. Everything was either going right or completely wrong this weekend, and I couldn't tell which it was.

“Sure," I uttered with a shrug after a short moment of silence.

We had kissed already, what could be worse than that? I was simply going to have fun and avoid being in enabling situations with him. Plus it was hiking, we were going to be disgusting and sweaty.

“I'll love to," I added with a smile.