Chapter 35&36
🖤PHOENIX🖤
The drive home was the most awkward silence I had ever experienced. Rome wasn’t complaining as usual, and I found myself unable to say anything either.
I couldn’t help but wonder why he was so quiet. When we arrived home, he opened the car door for me, and I stretched a little, grateful for the opportunity to move.
“Careful,” he reminded me as I stepped out, and I hummed in response. Walking into the house with Rome behind me, the first person I saw was Romeo watching a movie in the living area.
“Phoenix,” he called out, standing up.
“Hi,” I replied curtly, walking past him.
“Are you okay?” he asked, concern evident in his voice.
“If she’s not, she would say it,” Rome interjected, rolling his eyes.
“Uhmm, maybe make a smoothie for me,” I said to Romeo, ignoring Rome’s scoff.
“How was the appointment with Jess?” Rome asked Romeo, surprising me. I didn’t know he had asked him to accompany her.
“She was just acting up. How did you keep up with her?” Romeo inquired. I sighed deeply, walking to my room. I really needed to use the bathroom.
After relieving myself, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I looked so different, like really different. Well, wh@ťěver.
Walking into my room, I was stunned to see Rome there.
“You should knock sometimes,” I chided, placing my hand on my chest. He remained silent, waiting for me to walk closer to him.
“So?” I prompted, taking a seat on my bed.
“I wanted to ask… I have some business parties coming up,” he began, making me nod in response.
“And it says to bring a date,” he continued.
Wait! Where is this headed?
“So?” I asked cautiously.
“It’s not like I’m asking you to be my date or wh@ťěver, but would you go as my date?” he finally asked, leaving me speechless.
Stunned by Rome’s unexpected request, I struggled to find the right words. My mind raced with questions: Was this just a casual invitation? Or did he mean something more?
“I… uh…” I stammered, unsure how to respond. Rome’s expression remained unreadable as he waited for my answer, adding to the pressure mounting inside me.
After what felt like an eternity, I managed to gather my thoughts. “I… I’d have to think about it,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
Rome nodded, seemingly understanding my hesitation. “Of course, take your time. It’s no big deal,” he said casually, though I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to his invitation than he let on.
As he left my room, I couldn’t help but wonder about the implications of his invitation. Was this just a friendly gesture, or did it signify something deeper? I had a lot to mull over before giving him an answer.
Or wait! It’s a business arrangement, right? So no strings attached, just business.
I heard a knock on my door, prompting me to stand up and answer it. It was Romeo, holding a smoothie in his hand.
“You’re so sweet,” I commented, taking the smoothie from him.
“Anytime,” he replied with a smile, lingering in the doorway.
“Anything else?” I asked, smiling back at him as I took a sip from the smoothie.
“Actually, there is,” he admitted.
“Come in,” I invited, opening the door wider for him.
Romeo was really the complete opposite of Rome. While Rome was quiet and serious, Romeo was playful and outgoing.
“I felt like since you’re a girl, you would understand,” he began, sighing.
“What’s wrong?” I inquired, concerned by his demeanor. He paused for a moment before continuing.
“So, there is or was this girl that I really like, and we dated, but… she mostly feels like I’m cheating because I’m handsome and hot,” he explained, a smile tugging at his lips.
“Yeah, true,” I acknowledged, understanding where he was coming from.
“But I’m not. I’m quite loyal,” he insisted.
“Quite?” I teased, raising an eyebrow at him.
“I was only watching a stripper dance at a club. It’s not bad, right?” he asked, seeking my opinion.
“Hmm, I’m not really the relationship type, but I think I would be quite pissed if my partner looked at other girls shaking their @zz at him,” I admitted.
“Yeah, but I don’t cheat, though. She’s too insecure most of the time, which is really annoying, but I do like her, though,” he confessed.
As Romeo poured out his relationship woes, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of sympathy and amusement. His candidness was refreshing, and his struggles with his girlfriend’s insecurity struck a chord with me.
“It sounds like you’re in a tough spot,” I remarked, offering him a reassuring smile.
“Yeah, it’s frustrating sometimes, but I guess that’s part of being in a relationship, right?” he replied, a hint of resignation in his tone.
“Communication is key,” I advised, echoing a sentiment I had heard countless times before.
Romeo nodded thoughtfully, seeming to consider my words. “You’re right. I’ll try talking to her again and see if we can work things out,” he said determinedly.
“Good luck,” I said sincerely, knowing that navigating the complexities of relationships was never easy.
“Thanks,” he said with a grateful smile before excusing himself to give me some privacy.
As I sipped on my smoothie, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Rome’s request was still hanging in the air.
But what if he asks Jess because I’m taking too long to accept his offer?
Oh, not on my watch!
I stood up, walking out of my room in a hurry and heading towards Rome’s room. To be honest, I had never entered before because of his strict orders, but I really needed to see him.
I took a turn into his corridor, knocking on his door, but there was no response. So, I cautiously opened the door, but he wasn’t in his room.
Where was he?
I walked further into his room, and I heard the sound of the shower stopping, causing me to freeze in my tracks.
The bathroom door opened, and Rome stepped out, clad only in a towel. I panicked at the sight, and in my shock, I screamed.
“Ahhh!” I shrieked loudly, and to my surprise, he screamed too, startled by my sudden outburst. His hands instinctively moved away from his towel, and it fell to the ground.
And then my eyes immediately went to… well, you know.
It was so… big!!!
~~NEO~~
Neo smiled when he saw Beatrix’s happiness. He loved seeing her happy. He had taken her to see the movie and also apologized for abruptly leaving last time.
“Did you enjoy it?” she asked him.
“I did, if you enjoyed it,” he replied with a smile, and she smiled back.
She took a sip from the smoothie they had bought before the movie.
“I think you got something on your lips,” he observed, causing her to wipe her mouth.
“Is it gone?” she inquired, looking at him with concern.
“Let me help,” he offered, moving closer to her. His hands brushed against the corners of her lips. Her lips looked so tempting, and he felt a strong desire to kiss them.
He didn’t even realize when he started touching her lips. He gulped hard, imagining how soft her lips would feel against his.
“Are you okay?” Beatrix asked, snapping him out of his thoughts. He quickly removed his hands from her lips.
“Yeah, yeah, sorry,” he stammered, letting out a nervous laugh.
“We should go,” Beatrix suggested, and Neo agreed, standing up.
They walked out of the cinema together.
“So, tell me about your job?” Beatrix prompted.
“My job?” he echoed, and she nodded.
“Modeling is very beautiful, especially when you get to try out new clothes and travel to different countries just to model,” he explained, making her smile.
“Do you enjoy it a lot?” she asked.
“Sometimes, but it can be tiring,” he admitted, and she nodded in understanding.
“I would love to be a model one day,” she confessed.
“You would make a perfect model,” he complimented her, causing her cheeks to almost hurt from smiling.
“Thanks,” she replied.
As they reached her house, he escorted her to her door.
“Take care,” he said, and she smiled.
“Thanks for today, I really appreciate it,” she expressed her gratitude.
“Anytime,” he replied.
She tiptoed, and what she did next shocked him.
She pecked him on his lips before darting into her house.
He felt like a high school kid again, blushing uncontrollably.
To be continued…