part 2

I blinked as a ray of sunlight came through the window. My eyes not yet fully open, my right hand reached for the gadget on the nightstand, fingering it lightly to see the time.

When the flat black object was successfully grasped in my hand, I saw that it was exactly 6:15 am. It was still too early for me to get up. I usually set my alarm for 7 am, then head out to help prepare Gavin's family breakfast.

I opened my eyes wide as I realized that my bottom was in a lot of pain. I bit my lower lip, and my memory reflexively rewound. Last night wasn't a dream. Gavin's warm caress was still there. He really came for me and filled my night with warmth. It was not like before that I thought that what Gavin had done last night was a dream.

But what if it was just a dream?

I turned my head slowly to confirm who was sleeping beside me. For a moment, I rounded my eyes to stare at the man who was still asleep under the blanket with a shady face. I shook my head, unable to believe what the man was doing. 

"Adam," I whispered in a choked voice.

The man seemed to blink his eyes. Seeing who the woman sitting in front of him was, who was none other than me, Adam reflexively sat down, and he was surprised to realize he was not wearing a single thread of clothing like me.

"Mahira, what have we done?" asked Adam, looking confused.

I didn't answer, busy covering my body with a white blanket.

I was silent; my body felt weak instantly. No words came out of my mouth because my tongue felt so numb looking at Adam, who was topless in front of me. I scratched my head, which was not itchy; my hair was getting messy. I felt frustrated and couldn't think clearly about anything. "What the hell is going on? I don't know either."

"Mahira, you must remember something, right? Can you explain everything to me? I really don't remember anything. I didn't go straight home last night because I was invited by my office friends to a bar to celebrate one of our friend's birthdays. I remember that I had a drink there, but after that, I don't remember anything anymore other than I felt calm that night," Adam explained. 

Adam's face was no less panicked. I could catch the honesty in Adam's eyes. I was sure Adam hadn't done this on purpose. But is it really true that he doesn't remember anything about what we did together last night?

I picked up the panties and bra that had fallen on the floor. I hastily put on a T-shirt to cover my body, which was still frozen and unable to digest everything. "Are you sure you don't remember anything?" I asked, facing Adam with an intense gaze. 

Adam nodded. "I really don't. What have I done to you? Or what have we done? I'm sorry if this is all my fault, but can you explain everything now?" Adam asked with a pleading face. 

"Better put your clothes on first before I explain everything. I'm afraid Gavin will come home and see us," I said quickly.

"Gavin's staying over again? He's not coming home. You can tell me everything in peace," Adam said quite forcefully.

I turned my head to the window to face Adam, who was putting on his clothes that he had brutally taken off last night. I remembered so well how the previous night, the two of us were lovingly united, and I felt spoiled by a man who turned out not to be my husband. I grabbed my hair lightly; I felt guilty about last night. 

"Shit, what did I do?" 

A touch on both my shoulders made me startle and reflexively turn around to look at Adam, who was standing near me. "Mahira, will you tell me what happened last night? It would help if you didn't keep it to yourself. I'm sure it was my fault, so don't hesitate to tell me." Adam said gently.

He was always like that. Adam never once messed with me. "Last night, you came to my room, opened the door, and took off my clothes, and you took off yours. We both enjoyed the night without me knowing that you were Adam. The lights were off so that I couldn't catch your reflection very well. I thought you were Gavin; I couldn't hear your sighs and whispers very well either. I might have. It felt different that night. But I didn't think much of it because, damn it, I enjoyed what you did to me," I said honestly. 

Adam was silent, and so was I. We faced each other in the room, remembering the sin we had committed. 

"Mahira," Adam whispered. "I'm really sorry. Last night I was really drunk, so I entered your room accidentally. I really didn't mean to. Mahira, please don't hate me." 

I nodded my head as if I had run out of energy for my brother-in-law's behavior. True, Adam was my brother-in-law, and the two of us were not supposed to be in contact with each other, even if it was in the same room.

Adam caught the anxiety on my face. My tears were clearly visible in my eyes. He wanted to wipe them away, but there was no way he could take another chance after stealing what didn't belong to him last night. 

"Yeah, we're both wrong anyway," I said weakly and couldn't fully blame Adam.

Not knowing how we should explain all this, I felt scared now. But the only way out now was to forget what had happened. "I forgive you, but can you forget everything that happened? You can, can't you, act as if we were never in the same room and put each other together?" I asked reassuringly.

Adam nodded. "I'll forget everything, Mahira, although I'm sure that night was the best night I've ever known," Adam replied with an obvious smile.

I paused. I then looked into Adam's eyes. "After you leave this room, please erase all your memories of this night or morning. Pretend we haven't met today, and don't make any suspicious moves. We agreed to this." I held out my hand in front of Adam. 

Adam took it, shaking my hand as proof that we were going to forget what had happened that night.

"Mahira!" called a voice from outside. "Mahira!" the man shouted again when he didn't hear my reply from inside.

I rounded my eyes as I heard the call of a very familiar voice. Gavin! Yes, it was Gavin, and now his steps were getting closer to the room.

"It's bad! Gavin's here," I called out in panic.