Chapter 134 - 42 (1/2)
”This is rare, seeing you so troubled.”
Alvaro didn't have to look to know the voice came from Rozarria. He took one last drag before he threw his cigar into the blazing fire in time Rozarria sat next to him, holding a cup of hot chocolate.
”Did you already ate?” he asked. His gentleman façade was back as he took in her appearance. She was warmly wrapped in layers of jackets with the addition of a thick comforter dr.a.p.ed around her shoulders. Her long hair was braided and was resting on one side of her shoulder. It was like she came out of a bath. He smelt a milky scented wash from her and saw the droplets of water thawed by the heat of the fire on her long wet lashes. She appeared fresh and very, much comfortable.
”Yes,” Rozarria replied before she noticed Alvaro was looking at her. ”What?”
”Nothing . . . I'm thinking what it feels like hugging you.”
Rozarria didn't reply, and Alvaro's grin widened when he saw her lips quirked up, which she quickly hid.
”I take it that you're not against the idea?” he asked. Though he already knew the answer.
”Even I said no, you'll still do it anyway, right?”
Rolling her eyes with a stony face like that, she only appeared adorable in his eyes. Without a word, he grabbed the helm of the comforter and casually let himself inside the warm embrace of the thick fabric before he cozily wrapped themselves with it.
Rozarria leaned on his shoulder while his hand sn.a.k.e.d around her waist, pulling her closer to him. These past days, they were sleeping together. Sometimes in her tent and other times in his. And most of the hike, they walked side by side, chatting if he was not occupied in rescuing Maxine. Needless to say, they were closer than before. Closer to be comfortable with each other's presence.
After a period of silence, sipping her hot chocolate, Rozarria asked, ”Aren't you afraid your fiancée might see us?”
Chuckling, Alvaro answered in a playful tone, ”You know, I already lost count on how many times you said that word. If you're not jealous, then I don't know what is.” He paused and added, ”And answering your question, I don't care if she sees us. And she's not my fiancée.”
Rozarria didn't answer, and for a time, only the flickering of burned wood and the whooshing sound of the wind echoed in their ears.
Alvaro pinched Rozarria's waist, earning him a blank look from her.
”Tell me . . . why are you climbing mountains?”
Eyeing him suspiciously, she asked, ”What are you talking about?”
Alvaro stared at her with a serious face and said, ”For five years, you've been climbing mountains in the month of deadly winter. More arduous and dangerous than the last. And based on my understanding, climbing mountains is never one of your hobbies.”
Rozarria raised a brow. ”You mean base from your investigation, right?”
Alvaro shrugged his shoulders, neither denying nor affirming.
With a cold expression, Rozarria stared in the darkness ahead and voiced out her thoughts hidden behind her freezing armor of ice. ”I have come to the point in time that for me to feel alive, I have to seek danger.”
”Don't tell me. You're one of those depressed billionaires who lost all meaning in life?” Alvaro asked, not one bit surprised by her answer since it was mostly the rich who were depressed while the poor were full of life, driven by the d.e.s.i.r.e to reached success. But once they achieved it . . . what's next?
Rozarria smiled, meeting his gaze as she answered, ”Perhaps . . . I can get whatever I want with a snap of a finger. Life . . . had become dull . . . But even so, even with all the money and power . . . The one thing my heart wanted . . . I can never have.”
”Is that why you're trying to numb yourself by sleeping with men?”
Rozarria's pupils rounded. She was shocked for a moment before she turned back to her usual ice-cold face. ”You're perceptive.”
Alvaro grinned. ”It's not that hard to guess.”
Braking eye contact, Rozarria focused her gaze towards the darkness ahead. ”Yes, part of the reason.”
”. . .”