"I want to start things over between us." Red breathed out, closing her eyes while Erich traced his fingers on the side of her face with his heart racing rapidly.
"Erich please." Red spoke inaudibly. Erich gently pushed her down on the bed and moved back, smiling, "Good night." He said and left her alone in the room to think about her words and thoughts.
She couldn't sleep at night, nothing made sense to her with millions of questions roaming her mind and the betrayal pricked a needle in her heart, she needed guidance but seemed like she was being manipulated by sympathy.
The next day, she woke up early and didn't find Erich next to her. He slept in the other room, She sighed, freshened up. Red readied up and looked at her dead eyes in the mirror.
"Smile, Red. You are going to start a new life today." She told herself. And who do you truly love? A question echoed in her mind and blended angst. She shook her head, forming a fake smile and walked out.
Red cooked breakfast for Erich and when he came, he was slightly surprised, "Oh, Morning." Red smiled.
You won't understand what I truly love, Red. He thought and came closer, "Morning, how are you?" He asked. "Trying to comprehend but leave it." She said,
They had breakfast and Red said, "There was another person beside Zach in the business department wasn't there?"
"Oh you remember Kenny as well?" He asked, laughing a little. "Yeah... What happened to him?" Red asked. "Oh, he came back to California and now I guess he is the director of a five-star hotel."
"Oh.. Nice." Red hummed, nodding. "By the way, how did you know about my mole?" Red asked. "Uh.. once Zach took us all to the beach. We were there... you wore a red bikini and it was clearly visible." Erich told her.
A blush of embarrassment crept upon her cheek because her mind never had this thought. "I am sorry. I.. I thought very bad things about you." Red whispered, ashamed. "It's okay. I won't blame you." He smiled. "Anyone could get wrong thoughts." He shrugged.
Red stared at him, wondering why he is so patient with her. "Why don't we go somewhere after work?" Red suggested with a nervous smile. "Sure, where do you want to go?" Erich asked. "Umm. Why don't we watch a movie?" She asked. "Cool." He smiled as they left for work.
In the evening Erich came and they went to watch a movie. It was quite unusual for them to spend time like a normal couple but Red wanted to give it a chance and tried sorting things out.
After watching the movie, they went to have dinner outside. Since Red hates fancy dinners so they just ate random street food, while getting to know each other.
"I still oppose this idea." Erich said, walking beside Red. "Why?" She asked. "Because you are not happy, Red." He said seriously. "But, there's nothing wrong with trying." Red reasoned. "Yeah but this won't work Red."
"Why Erich? Why are you saying this?" She asked, stopping and turning to him. "Because I care for your smiles and don't want to bury them under any pressure."
"I want this, Erich. Please." Red tried to persuade him and it worked, how could he defy her words?
This went for a few days where Red tried to mend their broken bond and a point reached where Erich actually wanted to melt in the allure but couldn't. He knows what he is doing.
Erich returned home late, when Red heard the sound of his car, she came down to greet him but her foot tripped and she fell, hurting her foot.
"Red, are you alright?" Erich asked worriedly, coming close to her. "Yeah, Just twisted my ankle." She winced in pain.
"Can you stand?" He asked. "Yeah.. barely." She said, getting up from his support. "Come on, you should take some rest." He said, helping her to reach their bedroom. He made her sit on the bed.
"I am fine." She smiled. "You sure?" He asked, concerned. "Yeah. It's okay. You go." Erich nodded.
He freshened up, had dinner and came back. "Are you sure you are fine?" He asked, sitting on the bed, scanning her.
"I will be okay if I apply something." Red said, using her phone. "So why haven't you?" He asked. "I couldn't find one." She replied. Erich sighed and got an ointment for her, he sat beside her. "It's fine, I will do it." Red said, sitting up and putting her hand over his.
Erich smiled, "Let me." He said. Red lowered her gaze and removed her hand slowly. Erich put his hand over her foot and applied the ointment gently. Rubbing his fingers over her skin, not daring to raise his gaze and meet hers, lips dried along with fluttering with loud heartbeats and mere temptation.
"Are you alright, Erich?" Red asked, noticing his harsh breath. He sealed his lips and nodded. "It's done." He said and was about to pull away but Red held his shirt, scooting close to him.
"R-Red?" He called her with a blush creeping upon his cheeks, knowing how obliviously she aroused him. "Erich..." Red murmured, leaning close to his face, moving her hand to his shoulder. Erich let out a shaky breath, startled by her demeanour. She moved closer with their faces too close while staring intensely at her.
Erich wrapped his hand around her neck, moving it to her hair. Their breaths filled the absence of sound, syncing their beats, following the deep gaze with slight distress. Red's lips parted, urging to take a step further in her married life.
"Red.." He spoke huskily, leaning down, his breath tangled with hers over their lips with minimum distance. He stared at her and continued, breathless, "If lust could eradicate distance... then most women would have the same status as you in my heart." Erich gripped her hairs and pulled them apart, getting away, giving her a cold look,
"I have told you Red. Don't touch me unless it's necessary." He said sternly, putting his in his trouser and curling them in a fist to contain himself and bursting heartbeat.
Red was astonished by his action, it took a few seconds to register what happened. Repulsed at herself she asked in a low tone, "Don't you want me?" gripping the duvets tightly, not daring to look at him.
"Red, that's the problem of my love. It loves the soul, I don't need a body." He said in an angered tone, rolling his eyes. "Then tell me how do you love?" Red asked, looking at him.
"Red what I seek is a source of solace which I have received by your smiles." He said. Erich sighed and rubbed his temples. "Stop it." He said, shaking his head and leaving her alone. Red bit her lips and slammed her hand on the bed, cursing.
She buried her face in the sheets, touching her lips while remembering the day she kissed Lucifer unforeseenly clearly out of the love she is trying to deny now. A tear rolled down her cheek, "Why can't I... forget him?" She asked herself in a broken tone. "Why is it all.. Ends with him?" She sobbed silently, shredding tears, wanting to control her overwhelming emotions but could as they flowed in the form of tears.
The next day, wanting to forget about last night, Red went to work, "Are you sure you can walk?" Erich asked. "Yeah. I am fine..." Red said, looking at her hands, "And yeah Red, can you go by yourself today? I have some errands." Erich smiled. "Erich.."
"Hmm?"
"I am sorry about last night." Red said. "It's okay. Don't worry about it." He smiled, patted her head and left for work. Red also left for work.