Chapter 53&54
🖤PHOENIX 🖤
Rome’s gaze briefly intersected with mine, but it swiftly veered back to Jess, accompanied by a warm smile.
What in the world was happening? Why was she here? Rome never showed any interest in her before. And why were they sharing laughter as if they were old friends?
I moved past them slowly, feeling a pang of unease gnawing at me. Rome’s silence only added to my confusion. Was it because of the slap?
Finally reaching the refuge of my room, I collapsed onto the bed, feeling utterly drained. The events of today seemed to stretch on endlessly, and now, seeing Rome and that girl together, sharing laughs, only added to my weariness.
Rising from the bed, I approached the mirror, seeking solace in my reflection. Was Rome’s care genuine, or was I merely an afterthought in his high-class world?
As if in response to my silent musings, a gentle kick from the baby within me reminded me of the joy and innocence yet to come. Despite the uncertainties, I couldn’t help but smile, feeling a deep bond with this little life growing inside me.
But amidst the warmth of anticipation, doubts lingered. Did Rome Like me? But how would he, he is rich and I am not even up to his class, His apparent disregard for those less fortunate than him only fueled my uncertainty.
I drifted off to sleep, my mind still tangled in thoughts. Unaware that outside my room, Rome and that girl continued their conversation, oblivious to the turmoil within me.
~~
Sensing a presence in the room, I felt my head being gently lifted, followed by a soft pillow being placed beneath it, offering a comforting support.
I cautiously cracked my eyes open, allowing just a sliver of light to filter through, and caught a fleeting glimpse of Rome nearby. Instinctively, I shut my eyes once more, seeking refuge in the darkness.
A warm duvet enveloped me, cocooning me in its embrace, adding to the surreal atmosphere of the moment.
In the hush of the room, the only sound was the gentle rustle of fabric as Rome’s hands tenderly found their way to my face.
What in the world…?
His touch was gentle, almost reverent, as he traced the contours of my features with a delicate caress.
Alright, this is getting weird…
His fingertips then brushed against my lips, their light touch sending a shiver down my spine, a curious sensation coursing through me.
It felt… unusual…
I didn’tknow what he wanted to do next but I remained still, feigning sleep as his presence lingered nearby.
“I know you’re not sleeping,” his voice broke the silence, causing my eyes to snap open in astonishment. I stared at him in disbelief, utterly caught off guard, while he met my gaze with a knowing smirk.
“What—I…” I attempted to articulate, but my words stumbled out in a jumble of confusion.
“You’re beautiful,” his murmured compliment washed over me, drawing me closer to him.
What on earth…
This certainly wasn’t characteristic of Rome.
Or perhaps… was I trapped in the realm of dreams?
“You’re not dreaming, darling,” his reassuring words seemed to echo the very thoughts swirling within my mind.
Ah…
He smirked, a subtle glint of mischief dancing in his eyes, as he leaned in closer, his lips tantalizingly close to mine.
“I’ve been craving the taste of your lips,” he murmured, his voice low and husky, while his teeth grazed over his own lips in a manner that was undeniably captivating.
“Seriously?” I blurted out, my astonishment evident in my tone.
“Yes, absolutely. I like you,” he confessed, his words sending a rush of excitement coursing through me, while his lips continued to be tantalizingly close, his own biting intensifying.
“Are you sure, Rome?” I couldn’t help but ask, the thrill of anticipation building within me.
“Yes, I like you,” he reaffirmed, his lips inching closer to mine, the tension between us palpable.
“Kiss me, Rome,” I urged, my heart pounding with anticipation as I closed the distance between us.
“Kiss you?” he echoed, confusion flickering across his features, momentarily breaking the spell.
“Yeah, kiss me,” I confirmed, my voice barely above a whisper, my longing for his touch undeniable.
“Phoenix,” I heard him call out, his voice reaching me even though his lips remained still, a strange sensation washing over me.
This was becoming increasingly surreal, a nagging sense of unreality creeping into my consciousness.
Wait!! What was happening????
Oh, for heaven’s sake, don’t tell me this is a dream.
“Phoenix,” I heard my name again, and with a heavy sigh, I reluctantly opened my eyes to find Rome’s perplexed gaze fixed on me.
In the haze of grogginess, it took a moment for reality to sink in—this was a dream.
But why, out of all people, was I dreaming about Rome?
“Are you alright?” His voice sounded distant, filtered through the surreal atmosphere of the dream.
“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream’s hold on me.
His concern was palpable as he continued to watch me, his brow furrowing with worry.
“Because you were saying some strange things,” he remarked, his tone laced with curiosity and confusion.
“What kind?” I leaned in, eager to unravel the mystery of my subconscious ramblings. But his response was a hesitant murmur, “Never mind.”
Frustration gnawed at me as I attempted to piece together the fragments of the dream, only to find them slipping through my fingers like grains of sand.
“Dinner’s ready. Should I bring it here, or would you prefer to eat in the dining area?” Rome’s voice interrupted my thoughts, grounding me back to reality.
“I’ll eat downstairs,” I replied, the dream still lingering in the back of my mind as I watched him nod before retreating from the room.
As I lay there, pondering the bizarre nature of my dream, one question echoed in my mind—why Rome?
I used to fantasize about other charming suitors whisking me away with romantic gestures, not Rome!!!
~~
“And then she said, ‘Kiss me, Rome,'” Rome recounted, casting a meaningful glance at Neo.
“Seriously?” Neo’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief, prompting Rome to nod in confirmation.
“And did you kiss her?” Neo inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Rome scoffed at the notion. “That was in a dream; she was just mumbling,” he explained, dismissing the idea with a wave of his hand.
Neo’s eyes widened with realization. “So, she’s dreaming about you,” he concluded, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he connected the dots.
Rome couldn’t help but smile in response to Neo’s observation, nodding in agreement.
“Well, d@mn. Did you kiss her when she woke up?” Neo probed further, intrigued by the unfolding drama.
“Kiss her? Why would I do that?” Rome’s incredulous tone reflected his confusion. “She just woke up from a dream she didn’t even want to be in,” he reasoned, shaking his head at the absurdity of the suggestion.
“Why would you say that?” Neo pressed, sensing there was more to the story.
“Well, she slapped me once when I kissed her,” Rome admitted with a shrug, recalling the unexpected turn of events.
Neo sighed in response. “How did you make billions of dollars again?” he quipped, teasing Rome about his apparent lack of expertise in matters of romance.
“Bro, I think she’s fantasizing about you now,” Neo remarked, his tone growing serious as he offered his analysis.
“Seriously?” Rome’s eyes widened in surprise, considering the possibility.
“Yeah, I think so. But seriously, bro, how are you so clueless with girls?” Neo couldn’t help but wonder aloud, amused by his friend’s obliviousness.
Rome simply rolled his eyes at the teasing, pondering the newfound revelation about Phoenix’s feelings towards him.
~~
Fiona had paid a visit to Phoenix at Rome’s house for the first time today.
“It’s really beautiful,” Fiona murmured, a wide smile lighting up her face as she admired the surroundings.
“I told you,” Phoenix replied with a grin, gesturing towards the tastefully decorated living room.
As they settled onto the plush couch, Fiona couldn’t help but comment, “Wow, your stomach is really showing.”
Phoenix rolled her eyes playfully. “Seriously?” she teased in response.
“Okay, okay, I’m just joking. You have the stomach of Kylie Jenner,” Fiona quipped, eliciting laughter from both of them.
“So, tell me, what’s been going on?” Fiona inquired, turning her attention to Phoenix, her expression filled with genuine concern.
Phoenix let out a deep sigh before sharing, “I dreamt about Rome, not once but twice.”
“Seriously?” Fiona’s eyes widened in surprise, clearly intrigued by the revelation.
“Tell me, what exactly did you dream about?” Fiona pressed, eager to hear the details.
“Hmm, it’s kind of awkward because in the first one, we almost kissed, and he told me he liked me,” Phoenix began, her voice tinged with a mix of uncertainty and excitement. “And in the second one… well, our clothes were almost off,” she confessed, her cheeks flushing slightly at the memory.
“Wow… you two had segz?” Fiona’s eyes widened with astonishment as she looked at Phoenix, her curiosity piqued.
“Oh, lord, I think you need to work on your English,” Phoenix chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. “I meant we almost had segz in my dream, but we did not.”
Fiona couldn’t help but smile at the clarification. “Wow… now tell me every detail,” she urged eagerly, leaning in with anticipation.
Just as Phoenix was about to respond, she caught sight of Rome and Neo approaching from behind Fiona.
“How was his body in your dream? Was Rome’s body really segzy, Lord i knew you wished you both really had segz in your dreams?” Fiona continued, oblivious to the approaching duo, much to Phoenix’s chagrin. Phoenix eyes widened when Fiona kept talking.
She knew she was so dead. Now Rome knows everything.
“Hi…” Rome greeted warmly, his smile directed at Phoenix, causing Fiona to finally turn around. Her eyes widened in realization, and she quickly slapped her hand over her mouth, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she comprehended the situation.
But at that moment, Phoenix was more embarrassed.
TBC