"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dream"
-Dr.Seuss-
***
*Before The Scene*
Phoebe's P.O.V
I can feel the window inside the room gets pulled open by someone, and the ray of sun lights the whole room, causing my eyes to sense the difference of light and I slowly flutter my eyes open, to realize that someone is inside my room.
Is it the maid?
I push the blanket slightly and turn over to see a figure with black suit standing near my bed, and it takes me a few blinks to realize that it's Yuuto.
What is he doing here!?
I have to slightly grip myself together and try to cover my body with blanket, I mean I know I am not naked but the only thing on my skin is the underwear pant and a thin silk night gown.
"Good morning." He tries to smile and he approaches me, as if he doesn't get the hint that I rather be alone by myself right now.
"Morning..." I say in a rather cautious manner, I mean come on, I'm still sleepy and it's too early for anything, I slept at 1 A.M last night because I couldn't sleep at all. I need more.
Besides, can I just say that he ruins the cloudy feel of morning bed, because I am one of those people who believe that a bed at morning is the best for some reason.
But now is not the time to discuss that.
"What are you doing here?" I ask him. I get that this is his house, but I am still a woman no matter what and that means that he has to respect my privacy.
But can I really complain?
"I want to have breakfast with you today, and there is something I need to tell you."
He has a soft expression it almost makes me doesn't want to kick him out from this room. Almost.
"Well, sure, but please, can you get out first? I am not in a proper condition, if you know what I mean."
He seems to finally get the hint right now and thus, nod his head in approval. At least he is not totally dense, and that's good enough for me.
"Yes, of course, I'm sorry, it didn't cross my mind. I must appear to be so rude just now."
"No, it's okay, but please..."
"Sure, I'll leave you to get ready now." he makes his steps toward the door and he flashes me one more smile before getting out.
Not going to lie, a smile really suits his face, it makes him appear a lot nicer, it almost makes me forget who he really is.
Well, what am I thinking? Oh gosh.
I get out from the bed and just go to the shower to wash my body and brush my teeth. And as I look at myself in the mirror after shower, something hits me. I see my reflection in the mirror, and it makes me forget that this isn't supposed to be my reality.
Suddenly, I see Edgar's reflection in the mirror, and it's like I can hear him speaking.
I turn around to find no one there, and it makes me a bit frightened. Was it an illusion? And if it was, then I must be crazy.
I take a deep breath and try to hold myself together. Right, there must be something wrong with my mind to the point I hallucinate about him. But the real question is whether this comes out of fear, or out of something else?
Out of fear makes sense a lot more. I mean, what other possibilities are there?
I quickly get out from the bathroom and open the wardrobe to find a white one-piece dress and it looks very simple yet girly, so I decided to go for it, and I just let my natural wave hair loose and I'm pretty much done.
I already know where the dining room is, so I get out from my room and walk there by myself, only to find Yuuto and Izumi sitting in the dining table, as breakfast is being laid out on the table by the maids.
"Ah, Phoebe, please, take a seat."
I walk toward the table and pulls out the chair before sitting down in front of Yuuto. I look at Izumi who is sitting beside Yuuto and she definitely doesn't enjoy my presence here. I don't know why but I have a vibe that she doesn't really like me that much even though I have never done anything to her, but I'm just an outsider and it's better to ignore it.
As we are having breakfast, Yuuto opens up a conversation.
"So, what did you want to talk about last night?"
Right.
"Um, I guess first of all I should apologize for interrupting your meeting last night.".
"No, please, don't mind it, it's not your fault."
"Well, what I really want to talk about is about what happened at the gazebo. I am sorry for acting that way, I guess I overreacted a bit, and it may seem like I was offending you, but trust me, it was not my intention."
His face turns a bit serious for a moment, but then a smile appears on his face.
"No, it should be me who apologize to you, after all, I shouldn't have told you that side of me, I'm sorry if it becomes a burden to your mind. Now you may feel unsafe being here, but believe me, I or anyone here, won't hurt you, and if one of my men ever bother you, I would fire him just to make you feel safe."
"No, you don't have to go that far." I shake my head because the thought alone scares me. Like why would you do that for a stranger you barely know? It doesn't make any sense. But I really hope he is just kidding.
Izumi stares at him in an annoyed face and she murmurs something "Yuuto, Anata wa Baka." (Yuuto, you are an idiot)
But Yuuto doesn't seem to care and continue eating his meal so I assume it is nothing.
Soon enough we finish our meal, and I am really glad that the problem between us is now solved.
***
"Yuuto, did you call for me?" It is now seven P.M and dinner is just over, but he is telling me to go to his bedroom because he has something he wants to tell me.
Gosh, I don't know why but it's making me really nervous.
I open the door and find him sitting on his bed, and the worst part is the way he displays himself. He is half naked and he is sitting with crossed leg, and when he notices my presence, he turns to face me and his gaze is a bit droopy, but it's not because he has slanted eyes, but because the way he moves his face and he looks so beautiful at the moment.
He has that sweetness and yet he still looks like a proper adult man with the right amount of masculinity. And it shows the mixture of his race clearly, A half Japanese half French man.
For a moment there, I think my heart stopped beating.
"Yes, please, come in."
I get inside his room and the silence is causing an awkwardness between us, but he is a good ice breaker and he is always the one to start the conversation first, like what he is doing right now.
"I want to have a little chat with you, if that is okay?"
I nod my head and take a seat on a chair in the corner of the room, and he flashes a small smile at me.
"When I first saw you, I thought you were a really crazy woman, jumping out in front of a bullet like that, it was one of the craziest thing I have ever seen, and believe me when I say that I have witnessed a lot of crazy things in my life."
"Somehow, I couldn't just leave you alone dying, it is weird because I usually don't care if a stranger I don't know die, but with you, I do, and when I first saw you laying in the bed at my house, I realize that there is something about you that feels so special, I don't know what it is, but it warms up something inside of me, and it makes me slightly hopeful of something I am unsure of."
I don't like where this is going.
"It's kind of a funny coincidence when I found out that you are French, and it instantly reminds me of my mother, or should I call her 'maman?' Right, I have never seen her in such a long time, I almost forget what she looks like, the only reminder I have about her is a few pictures my father kept."
"What happened to her?" This is a good distraction conversation and I better direct things this way.
"I do not know, but what I do know is she lives in Paris now, I was separated with her when I was very young, probably six or seven years old, and I was brought here to be raised as a heir, even though you can say I am an illegitimate child, a result of a quick affair, nothing, but a tool to inherit the family business, for my father was a traditional man and I was the only son he has, the rest of his family members are female and they live normal lives in different places, for they do not have to involve themselves in this dirty business."
I swear I can almost see tears in his eyes, but of course, he takes pride and try to not let them spill to his cheek.
"I'm sorry you have to tell me that." I really sympathize with him right now, and I never thought I would have this kind of deep conversation with him.
"No, it's my own decision."
"And then, when you opened your eyes, and began talking to me, I realize you created a feeling I thought I could never have."
"And what is it?" I speak sooner than my brain could process, and I immediately regret this decision.
"Love."
God, help me.
He seems to notice my face gets slightly paler and he shakes his head.
"No, please do not worry yourself over my feelings, it will probably go away soon, I guess I am grateful that I was able to know you and experience this feeling, even though it's only for a short moment."
"I'm sorry." that is the only sentence I could tell him. How sad.
"Your wound is fully closing up and I'm sure they will be healed in a matter of days, as promised, after you fully recover, I will help you go back to France. I am a man of my word, and I will fulfill my promise to you."
"Thank you, Yuuto, really..."
"No, I should be the one thanking you, you allowed me to feel love for a brief moment, and I won't let this feeling get too deep to the point I am unable to let you go, I know perhaps you already have a man figure that you love with all your heart, and you are a good woman who deserves to be loved by the right man."
I feel like crying. How can he be so kind? He is so selfless and it makes me feel bad for making him feel bad. He has been really good to me all the time and I repay it by causing unwanted sadness.
I hate this.
"But Phoebe, may I have one request from you?"
"What is it?" I say as I slowly wipe away the unshed tears with my pinky finger.
"Can I kiss you? Just once?"
The request takes me by surprise, but then the memory of all good things he have done to me rushes inside my brain and I simply couldn't say no.
"Okay, just one kiss."
He nods his head and I approach him, and I stand in front of him. He stands up from the bed and stare at me, his eyes showing honesty and what almost seems like desperation.
He slowly moves his hand to touch my cheek, and like a slow-motion movie, leans in closer and presses his lips into mine.
At the same moment, the door slams open.
From the corner of my eyes, I can see the familiar figure of the man I'm trying to run away from.
Edgar Romanov.
And he definitely doesn't look happy.