"Why are you silent? You're not interested?" Edwin asked searchingly.
Aneska glanced at the man, finished her work, and then tidied up the medical equipment she was using.
Edwin got up and sat facing Aneska. The man waited while fixing the buttons on his shirt while Aneska turned her back to Edwin.
"Are you serious?" Aneska asked without turning around.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Nothing. I'm just a little doubtful," admitted Aneska without changing her position with her back to Edwin.
“Why are you hesitating?”
This time there was no answer from Aneska who became increasingly silent and Edwin did not force her to explain. But, the man moved slowly, getting closer to the girl.
“Is it because of my previous explanation, or because of what I said before?” Edwin asked gently.
Edwin's attitude changed drastically, which made Aneska doubt. But apart from that, there were other doubts within Aneska.
"Yes," answered Aneska briefly.
Edwin didn't say anything,- and remained silent as if he was thinking about what he should say or do.
“Your attitude suddenly changed. You rejected my presence at first, and offered a deal.”
Edwin asked Aneska to act as his girlfriend when his mother came home with Chery, for which reason Aneska did not know.
“But, you suddenly said that,- I am your lover, and acted beyond my expectations. You know, it's like you're playing with me," said Aneska quietly.
Once again, Edwin fell silent listening to Aneska's words.
“That's why I doubt it. Are your feelings real or are you just pretending to make your mother happy?" Aneska asked but didn't expect an answer and didn't look back at all.
What would Edwin say? An honest expression of the feelings he is currently experiencing, or dodging it by giving various excuses? Edwin didn't tell Aneska that Alendra had made the girl his wife, but it seemed like Aneska knew. Only, they were suddenly caught in an unexpected change. Edwin's cold attitude and rejection of Aneska's presence suddenly changed to accepting her wholeheartedly and being gentle. This of course made Aneska confused.
"I don't want to be trapped in a relationship just to be played with," said Aneska firmly as she got up from her seat and walked away from Edwin who was silent.
Aneska's words were enough to slowly pierce Edwin's heart. The girl told her about Edwin's change in attitude and the man's treatment of her. So it is not surprising that Aneska showed rejection and doubt towards Edwin.
However, there was a strange feeling in Edwin's heart, slowly rising, pulsing rapidly in his veins. Pain suddenly disturbed Edwin's heart as he absorbed every word Aneska said, making Edwin remember memories that left scars, and flashbacks of memories in his brain which then triggered various feelings. Edwin was silent, trying to control him like he always did, that was the reason Edwin rejected Chery, or any woman who wanted to have a relationship with him. This is because Edwin is still trapped in his painful past.
Suddenly Edwin got out of bed,- and took big steps toward Aneska who was standing near the window after putting away the girl's secret box, and in one movement, Edwin approached Aneska's tiny body from behind. Of course, this surprised Aneska.
"What are you doing? Let me go!" The girl struggled after a while, trying to avoid Edwin's arm that was wrapped around her waist. However, the more Aneska tried to break away, the tighter Edwin's embrace became.
"Aneska," The voice whispered right in Aneska's ear.
A hot breath hit Aneska's hair-strewn nape.
"Just leave me like this for a moment," asked Edwin quietly.
Sensing something strange in Edwin's voice, Aneska slowly stopped moving her hands to free herself.
Even though she was shocked, Aneska allowed Edwin to analyze what happened. She exhaled quickly as if she were in pain, and Aneska could feel her heart beating fast, Edwin's hands were tightly wrapped around Aneska's body, making the girl feel something strange even more. The girl's forehead furrowed deeply as if she felt something was wrong.
Aneska tried to turn to face Edwin without letting go of his hug. As soon as he turned around, Aneska could see the man's face with his eyes closed and cold sweat.
“It's okay, I'm here. Calm down," said the girl.
Edwin muttered incoherently, reminding Aneska of the night Edwin took Aneska hostage, and finally fell asleep sitting in Edwin's room.
After the man calmed down a bit, Aneska took him to the sofa and sat there, but Edwin looked tired.
"I'll get you some water," said Aneska, immediately getting up from her seat and leaving the room.
Edwin's eyes closed, taking a deep breath. The man leaned his head on the sofa.
“Does it have to be like this, that nightmare?” Edwin thought, bored with himself.
But, there is a difference today. Usually, Edwin doesn't care, venting the memories that arise on something heavier, like practicing boxing, or other things like breaking bottles, catching a ball with a stick, and so on. But now, Edwin can calm down more quickly just by venting in his arms.
“Is someone's presence important?” Edwin asked the white ceiling of Aneska's room.
Not long after, Aneska returned with a glass of water in her hand,- and then gave the glass to Edwin, who immediately drank until half was left.
"Are you okay?" Aneska asked while probing.
Edwin only answered with a nod. Everything was fine, and the man closed his eyes again.
"I want to sleep for a while," said Edwin.
"Then you should move to bed," suggested Aneska.
"No need. "Unless you want to sleep with me," answered Edwin.
"No. Don't be crazy," answered Aneska irritably.
The man chuckled, and fell silent again, calming himself.
Aneska waited, watching Edwin's silence, analyzing the change in the man's attitude, asking herself what was the meaning of everything that suddenly happened. While accompanying him, Aneska's thoughts returned to her arrival at the Zeelar mansion, to marry off the family's son as collateral. Aneska, who doesn't know anything about her adoptive parents' problems, is of course confused. But then, Aneska intends to find the truth behind the suffering of her father, mother, and siblings first.
But, can Edwin help? However, it looks like Aneska won't tell Edwin about that now. It took a lot of time and energy for Aneska to be ready to face everything. Therefore, Aneska considered becoming Edwin's lover,- and forgot the opportunity to leave the large, heavily guarded house.
Can Aneska survive and find the truth that Aneska has been looking for? But maybe it's not that easy. Unexpected situations and problems are bound to arise.
“Whatever it is, I will find it!” Aneska confirmed in her heart with a cold, determined gaze fixed on Edwin.