❃ I h@ťě you, I really do❃

“I missed you too…of course I did, until some weeks ago” He replied, pulling her away from him.

“Not anymore now Mona, and I’m not that pleased to have you here” He added bluntly.

“Wh…at do you mean?” She asked slowly.

“I’ll try my best not to waste your time with the painting, I’ll finish it up in a swift so you can leave, latest tomorrow’s evening” He said to her.

“Rooney” She held his hand.

“By the way Mona, not all portrait are drawn naked and i don’t draw naked women. I’ll appreciate if you don’t say such to my wife ever again, it’s quite offensive” He removes his hand from her hold.

“But Rooney_.” She tried taking a step but he steps back the moment she did.

“Goodnight” He said curtly then walk towards the door going out.

“Hmph!!” Desdemona puffs out sitting on the bed.

“He changed. Rooney has changed. Ugh! This is so annoying…” She literally swell up in anger.

Rooney enters the room to see Lottie curled up on the bed already, the duvet was firmly wrapping her whole like a human burrito. He heaves out a sigh then walks to the bathroom.

Moments later he came out freshened up then clad himself in his pajamas. He got on the bed also and scoot closer to her, he tries adjusting the duvet from her so he could at least cuddle her like he used to or perhaps get under the duvet with her but her grip on the duvet was so tight and firm that he got no opportunity to do so. Seems she really mean it.

“Lottie…” He calls but she gave him no response.

She must still be angry about earlier.

He thought.

Maybe he should just let her be for now, they can perhaps talk about it when it’s morning.

“Goodnight…” He mutters then lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Lottie on the other hand remained cooped up under the duvet, her body was shivering slightly so was her already chapped lips trembling.

Immense sweats covered her face, and she kept her weaken eyes shut, trying hard to endure this feverish torment that has visited her again.

She had taken her drugs as she used to but seems it’s no more working, her body just keeps failing so does her immune system keeps getting weaker as each moment passes by.

~NEXT MORNING~

Just like every other morning, she woke up just to find out it’s already late in the morning.

She sighs out on realizing how she has been sleeping more these days and how weaker her body has been getting.

With a slight groan, she got away from the bed, Rooney wasn’t in the room anymore. She glances at the clock and another low sigh left her mouth.

10:05 am.

It’s almost noon, can’t believe she slept that long.

She tries taking a step but then stops at how blurry her sight suddenly becomes. Bringing her palm to her forehead, she rubs it gently for a while, feeling a little dizzy.

Her phone began ringing on the desk it was, she glances at the caller ID to see ‘H’ calling.

“No…” She mutters then drag her feet to the bathroom.

~ATERLIER~

Desdemona, with a bright smile remained seated on a wooden chair with a board in front of her few inches away with Rooney, drawing on it. They have been on it as early as six o’clock in the morning. Rooney personally went to wake her up just so they can begin early.

“My muscles are a little stiff, it must be because I sat still for a long time already. Can we take five, Rooney?” She says to him whose eyes stayed fixated on the drawing he’s currently doing.

“You said that twenty minutes ago. If we keep on taking a break for every twenty minutes then we ain’t gonna finish this up today” He replied blankly without looking at her.

“But… aren’t you fingers aching already. You must be tired also” She pressed on.

“Stop talking, you’re disrupting me” He said and she pouts.

“You know you could make use of the restroom also” She said after a short moment of silence, Rooney sighs out and drops the brush he’s holding.

“I’m gonna go drink some water” He stood up while she did also.

“Get me a glass of milk on your way back” She said after him as he went out of the room.

Desdemona chuckles.

“That guy…” She walks away from where she’s sitting, she was tempted to take a look at the half drawing of her but wanting no spoiler, she decided to wait till he’s done with it.

“Hmmm…. beautiful paintings…as expected from Rooney, he’s the best” She smiles walking around the room checking out his drawings one by one. She came across a particular board which has a white clothing covering it at a corner and raise a brow.

“Why is this covered, is it some kind of special painting or what?” She looks back to the door and smirks to herself.

“I should take a sneak peek before he returns” She giggled removing the clothing gently but her smile had to die down the moment she saw the painting.

“Should I bring over some refreshments?” Pamela asked Rooney as she gave to him the glass of milk he had requested for.

“No need. What about Lottie, has she come down for breakfast yet?” He asked.

“Not yet. She seems to be sleeping in today. Should I wake her up?”

“No need. She must be tired. When she comes down make sure she eats something. She hasn’t been eating well lately, I don’t know why” He said and Pamela nods.

“Excuse me” He says leaving.

…

“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING!!” Desdemona flinches as Rooney suddenly bellowed at her from the door, she hadn’t really notice him come in. He drops the glass of milk on a table nearby and went over to her in rush steps. Getting to her he halted and look over to the painting she was looking at.

“WHO ARE YOU TO GO THROUGH MY THINGS! WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING DESDEMONA!” He snarl unfriendly at her.

“I…I was just looking around and…” She paused and scoffs.

“Why are you so angry, did I do something bad, or is it your guilty conscience?”

“What?” He craves a brow.

Desdemona looks back at the painting, it was actually a painting of a naked lady who has the expression of pleasure all over her face with her mouth slightly open. It’s obviously the expression of someone being f-__-ked.

“This” Desdemona pointed to the painting.

“I thought you don’t draw naked women, how do you explain this, uh?” She questioned but he took a step towards her, she steps back instinctively and he continues stepping closer till her back hits the wall, he cornered her there, with their bodies almost touching. Desdemona blinks, gulping down nothing as his hot breathes fans her face.

She looks away with her cheeks burning red but Rooney lifted her chin up making her face him.

“I don’t draw naked women because they’re not my wife. Because she’s my wife, she has the privilege of me, drawing her like that. Do you understood?” His baritone voice, scrowls lowly to her hearing.

…

“Lottie…” Pamela calls as Lottie got downstairs, she was dressed up already and even had a light make up on.

“I was going to come over to your room since you wouldn’t come down. I’ll heat up your food, take a sit” Pamela said about leaving.

“Where…is Rooney?” She asked rather stopping her.

“Where do you think, he has been in his Atelier all day with that lady that came over last night. They seem pretty close, their relationship doesn’t seem ordinary also” Pamela smirks.

Instead of answering, Lottie walks away from her heading to the Atelier.

“Pfft! Wh@ťěver…” Pamela rolled her eyes, heading to the kitchen. Lottie got to the Atelier and brought up her fist to knock, however she stopped midway, her mind somehow dwelling on what Pamela said.

Taking a deep breath, she opens the door slowly and peeps in, her eyes roving everywhere in the room.

…

Desdemona rolled her eyes looking away again but then it landed on Lottie who was taking a peep inside.

Lottie’s eyes eventually met that of Desdemona’s at the corner they are and her eyes went big on seeing how close Rooney is to her. But then her eyes had to grow bigger when Desdemona suddenly smiled at her and the next thing, she brought Rooney’s head down to hers smashing her lips on his.

Quickly without wanting to see more, she dashes away from the door while Rooney roughly pulled Desdemona away from him also.

She smirks and made to go near him again but he steps back before she could.

“That’s it. I’ve had enough of you, get out” He pointed to the door.

“Rooney…”

“It’ll be good if you leave now before I make you myself” He warns, his tone menace.

***

Lottie ran away from the Atelier in tears outside the house. Pamela who sees her running away in tears quickly ran after her.

“Lottie!!”

…

Desdemona angrily marched to the guest room and got her luggage.

“His wife?” She scoffs loudly.

“As if…” She got her phone also and marches out of the the room, her heels making angry clicking sounds.

…

“He doesn’t love me, he never loved me! No matter what I do, he’ll never do. He only sees her. He still loves her. I’m just a fool giving myself to him thinking he’ll come to love me. I’m nothing but a fool for expecting he has started to feel something for me…but he doesn’t have me in his heart. He never does, he can only see her…he can only love her, even after so many years…he only loves her…” Lottie said out amidst tears.

She’s currently crouching beside a car with Pamela by her side trying to sooth her.

“I didn’t mind going through pain because of him. Because I’m always happy when I’m with him, because having him by my side is the greatest gift I’ve received so far, I tried and tried to take anything as long as he’s by my side, I hoped one day he’ll come to see me also, I hoped he’ll come to love me also I thought he was starting to but…but it’s all a lie…” She held her chest, tears rushing down her eyes.

“It hurts…it hurts so much but he doesn’t even know I’m hurting this much for him, he doesn’t even kno_”

“Shhh!.”Pamela shush her.

“It’s okay Lot…” She brought her palms forward and cups her wet cheeks.

“Say no more…I understand it all…” She said softly staring directly into her misty eyes.

Lottie sniffs, the tears not ceasing to stream down her face.

“It hurts me…” Pamela wipe off her tears with her thumbs.

“…to see you hurt and cry over a guy that doesn’t even deserves you Lottie…” She says with a different entire expression on. Lottie only continue whimpering and sniffing.

“Lottie look at me…” Pamela said.

Desdemona who got outside at the same time stops on hearing some voices and the sound of someone crying.

“What’s that now?” She thought to herself. She left her luggage and walks towards the direction it’s coming from but then stops on seeing Lottie and Pamela by the car.

“What are they doing?” She looks at Pamela who was looking at Lottie so lovingly, holding her face as well.

“What the heck…” She brought out her phone and began taking a video of them.

“…look at me Lottie…just me…” She says and Lottie slowly looks at her but on doing that, Pamela brought her face forward, kissing her.

“Oh my!” Desdemona gasps in disbelief, Lottie quickly pushes away Pamela dashing her a slap at the same time.

“Get away from me!” She spat standing up.

Desdemona quickly hide at a corner as Lottie ran back into the house.

“This is crazy…” Desdemona thought in her hiding.

“Oh Rooney, I feel bad for you dear…” She smiles shaking her head.

*. *. *.

Rooney stood in front of the naked painting of Lottie he had spent many days on before he finished, staring intently at it.

Ever since they had their first make out on the couch then, he couldn’t get her out of his mind and he finds himself painting her.

A deep breath left his mouth and he picked up the clothing, covering it back.

His phone chimed in his pocket and he brought it out to see a message from Desdemona.

He wanted to ignore it at first but then decide to take a look at wh@ťěver it is.

He clicked on it from the notification bar and it took him directly to the message.

“Consider this a gift for letting me stay overnight at your place. I’ll come back later for you to finish your painting of me. Xoxo 🥰” The text message says with a video.

“What’s she saying…” He rolled his eyes and clicked on the video but his eyes widened on what he saw.

A video of his very own wife, kissing their maid. The video stopped right where they kissed so definitely he didn’t see how she had pushed and slap Pamela.

However instantly, his eyes blaze with anger and with clenched jaw, he marched out of the Atelier.

“Lottie!!”

“Lottie!!” He calls loudly as he made his way upstairs to the room.

“LOTTIE!!!” He barged into the room to see her sitting on the bed, she seems lost in thought.

On noticing his presence, she leaped up immediately but before she could utter a word, he shoves the phone to her face, her jaw dropped on seeing the video.

“Rooney?” She calls with a gasp.

“This i… I can_”

“Was this it?” He asked his voice laid with anger and hurt.

“Is this what you’ve been doing behind me? So, did you had fun? Fooling me and taunting me behind along with your d@mn lover!” He growls loudly.

“Rooney it’s… it’s not…” She shook her head.

“I can explain, I can…let me…”

“I should have known…” He steps back disappointed.

“I thought so also, I thought she looked familiar I was the fool for not recognizing her. You guys must have made fun of me a lot.” He sighs out loudly.

“Why did i believe you?” His hurt voice asked, she couldn’t utter a word but just break down the more.

“You were always like this. You were never real!! You ALWAYS PLAYED ME! LOTTIE YOU… You’re just the worst…”

“Rooney…” She calls amidst tears.

He shook his head.

“I h@ťě you…I really do…” He says disdainfully and goes out of the room.

“Rooney…no! It’s not like that! Rooney… Rooney! Roo_ugh” She stops on her tracks on trying to follow him as her head began banging hard.

“R…” The dizziness came back again overwhelming her this time around, her voice failed her so does her hazy sight and in a jiffy, her body went limp and she collapse heavily to the floor, with a loud thud.

“Rooney….” She calls within, before her consciousness finally left her also.

She blacked out.

~T.B.C~