**ROSEANA**
"Is it safe for you to eat this?"
I snatched the instant noodles from Damon, who had been reading the packaging earlier. I am organizing our groceries—mine and Macy’s. I put it in the cabinet so it doesn't spread around the kitchen and so cockroaches and mice don't eat it.
My fake husband, who until now hasn't left, even though I have asked him several times to leave, is still here. He acted like he didn't hear anything. He is not even affected by what I say.
"Whose apartment is this?" I heard him inquire again. He has been asking me questions for a while now, but I ignore him. He is trying to have a conversation with me but to no avail.
I heard him come out of the kitchen. Perhaps he was too tired to speak. That's more in my favor. I can't move properly when I know he's around me. I feel like his eyes are always following my every move. I am assuming yes.
I looked at the time on my cellphone. It is almost eleven in the afternoon already. I am lucky that Macy is not here. She can't see Damon. I don't know how I'm going to weave lies again so that Damon's and my relationship won't be revealed, although the rumors that my neighbors might spread are already a problem for me. For some of the people who saw us together, probably one or two of them will talk about it until it reaches Macy as to what happened this morning. I should think about what I will excuse her from.
Come to think of it. Damon was the one who said that no one should know about our relationship, but he was the one who risked what we were hiding. What if someone recognized us at the grocery store earlier? sure that it will lead to rumors. Even now that we are seen together, people are already asking, What's the thing about us? What if someone he knows sees us?
I shook my head. Sometimes I'm really confused about Damon. I don't know what was going through his mind.
"Roseana, who are you staying with?" I almost jumped from where I was standing when I heard Damon's serious voice, demanding an answer. I didn't realize he was back in the kitchen. I was so preoccupied with my thoughts that I didn't hear him approaching me.
He is standing close to me, perhaps four feet from me. Here it is again—the loud beating of my heart. Despite the distance between us, I feel that we are very close to each other.
"What else does this man want?" Why is he so angry? Earlier, he was in a good mood when he left me here in the kitchen. Is he bipolar, or does he just get irritated quickly?
He glared at me, and my brows furrowed at his reaction. Look at this man. He has the guts to be angry with me. I guess he forgot that he was in my territory. He should be the one adjusting because he is not at his house.
"Don't make me repeat my question." His voice was daring.
"Why do you care?" I asked instead of answering his question. I couldn’t continue what I was doing.
His eyes darkened at my answer, but I didn't care. I'm used to Damon's dealings. If he thinks he can scare me like other people, then he is wrong. I have learned from what he does. He puts everything through it in anger. Hasn't he heard of gentle conversation? He needs to learn to control his anger.
"I'm still angry, Roseana. Stop testing my patience," he said.
I felt fear in the way he spoke. His voice was calm while talking to me, but I knew he was just controlling himself. Maybe if it was someone else, he would have shouted already.
I put my hand on my waist and looked at him boldly. I meet his glaring eyes. "So what?" I asked.
"Should I be scared? Should I cry just because you're angry? What is it to me if you are angry? I don't care," I added.
He didn't need to remind me that his ascension was short, because I had known that for a long time. His patience is the opposite of his height.
Veins appeared in his arm due to the tight grip of his hand. For a moment, I was worried that he might just punch me suddenly. I took a step back.
Damon saw what I did. He gasped for air. He was stunned when he saw the fear in my eyes. I was surprised when he hit the sink hard with his clenched fist. It made a loud sound.
I closed my eyes tightly. I took a step away from him again. He looked at the ceiling. His mouth was hanging open while he was gasping for air. When he returned his eyes to my direction again, it was calmer, although I knew he was still angry.
"I will not hurt you, Roseana. Come here, love," he said softly.
I would like to contradict what he said. He said he wouldn't hurt me, but he already has. He might not have hurt me physically, but he did emotionally. He was not aware, but he broke my heart when all I did was trust him not to inflict pain on me.
I didn't move. I remained standing where I was and did not follow his wishes. I just looked at him. I watched him try to calm himself down.
After a few minutes, he slowly walked toward me. I remained alert. Although I was nervous about what he might do to me, I remained in my place. I don't know why or in what way, but it's like someone is pushing me; someone is whispering to me that Damon won't hurt me and that he won't lay a hand on me.
"Damon..." I gasped loudly as he held me close to him. He buried his face in the hollow of my neck, sniffing my scent. My hand got suspended in the air because of what he did. I didn't wander right away. I was like a statue, hugged by his huge frame.
"I told you. I will not hurt you," he said while not removing his face from my neck. His voice was assuring.
"Damon, let go." My voice was weak when I said that, as were my knees.
I opened my mouth to gasp for air. I'm not breathing because I'm so tense. This was the first time, after weeks of being away from him, that I felt his embrace. Nothing has changed. He still felt warm and comforting. It is strange. Why did I feel so safe in his arms? Why do I feel peaceful whenever his arms are wrapped around me? I forget my worries whenever he holds me like this.
"No," he muttered like a kid. I can imagine him pouting his reddish lips, sulking like a three-year-old kid.
I sigh. I let him hug me. My hand went down her broad back while the other one gently ran through her hair. I just noticed that he was sweating. His back was wet, and even his hair was wet with sweat.
I forgot that he is not used to not having air conditioning. I thought it was fine with him. because he didn't seem to mind the hot weather earlier. I never heard him complain, either.
I tenderly weave my fingers through his strands as I lovingly comb his hair, a habit that I developed when he started sleeping beside me. Damon loves me touching his hair.
"You are sweating a lot." My voice is calm. My mood calmed down completely. I am delicately combing his hair with my fingers.
"It's too hot here in your apartment." He sounded like a child reporting to his mother. I laughed at what he said.
It's not that hot in the apartment. He's just not used to not having air conditioning. Macy's apartment only has a small electric fan because we are saving on the electric bill.
"Let go of me; you will sweat even more if you are very close to me." It's almost impossible for air to pass between us. He is holding me tightly, closer to him.
He groaned.
"No."
"Go home, Roseana. I am fetching you, so come with me."
I could not speak as I heard his pleading voice. When I heard his sad voice, I almost agreed to his wish. I was temporarily hypnotized by his soft voice.
"I can't sleep well because of missing you. Let's go home."
I remained silent. I stopped moving my fingers in his hair. I was about to lower my hand to my side when he took it and brought it back to his head.
"If you don't want to go home to my condo, I can just live here. Anywhere, as long as you're with me."