When Steve rides Monalisa in his car, he thinks it doesn't seem to be on her own. He even put on the seatbelt for her. He started his car. "Where are you going, Monalisa?" he asked the woman. Steve glanced at her. "What happened?" he asked again. He thinks there is a misunderstanding between the couple.
Monalisa fell into tears when she didn't get a response. Steve was perplexed. "Why?" Steve wonders. "What happened to you? Did your husband hurt you?" Steve believes the two are fighting.
Monalisa still didn't respond and then sobbed. Steve couldn't understand what was going on. Steve believes the two are fighting. "Why? What happened to you? Did your husband hurt you?"
Monalisa remained deafeningly quiet, as if her throat had been shut. She's been terrified of Archie up until now. She might not have survived today if she hadn't pushed him earlier.
Monalisa, I'll drive you to your house."
"No" she exclaims immediately.
Steve locked his gaze on Monalisa."Did you have an argument with your husband?"
They did fight because Archie was so envious. And it is envious of him. Monalisa nod."Please don't take me to our house; I don't want to go home first."
Steve looks at her, thinking this is his chance to get really close to her. She responds by saying he could take her anywhere. This is a significant chance for him. He can brought her to his place first to rest. If he took it to the hotel to rest, it would be unsightly. What if a friend of hers saw them and informed her husband? They may then quarrel much more.
Steve stopped the car on the side of the road first. "Why did you stop?" Monalisa asked.
"Look at me, Monalisa," he commanded.
Monalisa shook her head because he could see the bruise on her face because of Archie's strong slap on her last night.
At that moment, Steve reaches for Monalisa's face and touches it. He looked at her. "Steve, don't." Monalisa covered her face with her hand. But Steve also removed it.
"He hurt you, damn him! "Yeah, he's angry. He shouldn't hurt a woman. He caressed her pretty, blackened cheek."Women should not be harmed especially if you love!"
When Monalisa looks at him, she can say that Steve is lucky to have a woman who he will fall in love with. She can feel that he's kind because of his words. He knows how to treat a woman nicely.
Steve doesn't know where else to take Monalisa besides his house or the hotel."Is it okay for you to go to my home first, Monalisa?"
Monalisa nodded. If she stays at the boarding house where she worked at the restaurant, Archie will surely know right away.
They arrived at Steve's condo in less than half an hour. As they approached the elevator, Monalisa took a glance around. Because it is a fancy condominium, only the wealthy or those who own businesses are allowed to live here.
Steve opened the door when they arrived at his apartment. "Monalisa, come in. Feel at home, okay," Steve said, as though he had opened the door for his wife.
Monalisa walked in, nervous. She was embarrassed to see what was within. It's quite lovely, very clean, and very tidy. He's also rather attractive. He's flawless. Monalisa believes he is with someone else because his home is so lovely.
Steve took notice of Monalisa's unease and said, "Don't be timid, don't worry, there's no one else here, just us." Steve then walked to the kitchen to bring her some water.
Monalisa had been quiet earlier. But she became nervous when she realized they were the only ones here. She had just gone along because her thoughts was blank after what had transpired with Archie earlier. They're only two people. What if he's a nasty guy who hides it behind his excellent looks? What if it hurt her in some way? What happens if...? Monalisa, don't even consider it. "Just assume he's nice," her thinking advised.
When Steve approached her with water, Monalisa's thoughts were piqued. "Here, Monalisa." He give the glass with water to her.
"Thank you." He took what it gave him. and sip just a little bit.
"Have you eaten yet, Monalisa?"
She was truly starving. But she nodded to let him know she'd eaten, but her stomach betrayed her with a sound that sounded like a hint that the nice pets within were hungry as well.
Steve burst out laughing. "Your stomach can't lie, Monalisa!" Steve returned to the kitchen to see what could be prepared. He slid the cabinet open. There was tinned food available. He snatched up the ham and tuna. He opened yet another cupboard. He took the pasta with the intention of making carbonara.
Monalisa thinks Steve will cook, which would be embarrassing if she just sat and waited to be called to eat. She stood up and followed Steve into the kitchen.
"Can I help you, Steve?" she asked.
Steve opens the refrigerator."It's okay, Monalisa. I can handle it. I'll just cook pasta. " Steve only put garlic and onion in the refrigerator to see if they were spoiled because he knew they had been in the refrigerator for a long time and they were already growing a bit. "Do you like pasta?"
Monalisa approached the table where Steve was standing. The two of them face each other. "Of course," she replied.
"Good, because this is the only thing that can be cooked. Maybe later we'll go to the grocery store."
Where are they going to shop for groceries? Is it like she's staying at his house already? and feeling like they're a real couple already.
"I'll help you." Monalisa offers her help to him.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, I also know how to cook pasta."
Steve smiles. "Really, hmmm. How about you cook so I can taste your cooking? I just think that it's delicious already."
Monalisa's previous misgivings about Steve had vanished. And she notices Steve's smile is genuine and devoid of any guile.
Now Monalisa laughed. It was nice to hear what he said. Steve stared at Monalisa. He believes his wife is still alive in her body."So beautiful," he said.
Monalisa became serious after hearing what Steve said. She was the only one in front of him, so she knew that what he said was beautiful was just for her. She bowed as she felt her cheek heat up.
Steve secretly smiled as he noticed the redness on Monalisa's cheek. He just let it go.
"Let's cook," he suggested.
Monalisa nodded as she agreed with what he said.
While Steve boiled the pasta, Monalisa cut the garlic and onion. After she finished cutting, she took the canned ham. It wasn't easy to open, so she tried to open it with a knife. Steve looked at it.
"Monalisa, no!" Steve quickly approached her from behind. He took the knife and held it. Monalisa's body stiffened because it looked like he had given her a back hug. "It's dangerous. Next time don't use a knife. Okay, use a can opener. It's safe."
Monalisa closes her eyes as she inhales the scent of his breath. The smell of his breath, oh my goodness. He didn't have Archie's breath. They don't have awful breath, but she notices a difference in the way they smell. Steve had a perfume-like scent to him. Archie smells like he just finished brushing his teeth.
Steve doesn't know if he's leaving behind Monalisa. Her heart dictated that she hugged it from behind so he did it."Sorry, Monalisa. I can't help it myself and my heart tells I want to hug you!"
There is still sanity left in Monalisa's mind. And that's not right. "The pasta you're cooking may have run out of water." She said, and quickly slipped away from Steve's embrace and went to the kitchen. Yeah, she needs to distance herself from Steve. If she doesn't do this, my gosh, maybe what Archie told her that she has a man will come true.
Steve made a snapping motion with his fingers while holding out his hands. When he feels strange about himself, he feels like this. To be okay, he must relish it.
While watching Monalisa cook, Steve smiles. Because of her, he felt that his house was coming back to life. He moved closer. He commented, "Hmm, it smells delicious and yummy."
"Taste it so you can say delicious." Monalisa took a spoon and put the sauce on it because it was hot. and brought it to Steve's mouth.
Steve ate it. "Hmmm, perfect!" for him. The sauce she made was delicious. But it's a little bit salty.
"Oh really?" Monalisa tasted it with Steve's leftovers. "Ahhh! You tricked me. It's so salty. What's perfect there? "
Steve was laughing. Monalisa got infected. They laughed together. For Steve, this is the most happy moment that has happened to him since his wife disappeared from the world. And Steve's wishes: that what happens right now is for a lifetime. And he thinks that the clock should have stopped turning at that moment. It is for them to be together for a long time.
That day, Monalisa temporarily forgot that there was an Archie in her life because of Steve. And she will admit to herself that she's having fun with Steve. Even though they had just met, she felt relieved to be with him.