Chapter 172 - 80 & 81 (1/2)
Chapter 80
Satele's house
It was a weekend, so Satele was doing house chores, and Seth was out to his part-time job while their mother was in the hospital for her weekly check-up.
It was supposed to be a relaxing day for Satele of just doing house tasks, but the sudden appearance of Asher ruined it all. Apparently, the man had so much free time to criticized her house.
”What a poor choice of color. That sofa is so old than my grandfather's clock. That lamp looks hideous. That vase is out of place, ”Asher rant on and on, pointing all over the place.
Irritation welled in Satele's heart, and if Asher didn't shut up soon, he would find the end of the broom on his face.
She took a mouthful of air and slowly breathed it out of her mouth. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her annoyed, which somehow that was all he came to do.
”Ouch!”
Satele's attention flicked at Asher when his cries echoed in the house.
Asher rubbed the space between his brows and glared at Satele.
”Look what your stupid hanging lamp did to me. This damn thing is too low, and I'm surprised you don't bump your head on this ugly thing all around.”
Satele rolled her eyes and resumed wiping the table. ”We short people don't have that privilege.”
Satele jolted when out of the blue, large palms hit the table, trapping her with no else to go. She faced Asher and raised an eyebrow. ”What do you think you're doing?”
”I want you to kiss the pain away.”
”. . .” Satele would laugh if not for the seriousness on Asher's face.
”Are you serious?”
”Do I look like I'm kidding?”
”You're not really hurt and you're asking me to kiss away the pain. Are you five?”
”Are you going to blow it away or not?” Asher said the irritation in his voice reflected on his face.
”No,” Satele said, ”and why should I?”
Asher's expression crumpled. ”Woman, are you really going in that direction?” He grinned and teased, ”I know you want to. Don't pretend that you don't. I know you like me.”
Satele held herself for shoving the wiping cloth into Asher's mouth.
”Yes, I'm attracted to you like probably all the women out there,” she confessed and added, ”But it's just a silly attraction and nothing more.”
The grin on Asher's face widened. ”Then prove it. As you said, it's just a silly attraction, so a kiss on the forehead isn't a big deal. Right?”
Satele bit her bottom lip. God, this man is so annoying.
”Fine!”
Satele rolled the words on the tip of her tongue and tiptoed to reach Asher's head. She closed her eyes tight and stood on the edge of her toes. Her face flushed warm, and her hair rose on end. Her stomach fluttered, but it wasn't unpleasant. If she opened her mouth now, her words would only fumble. This was the effect on her by this man, who she claimed she just had a silly attraction.
Straining her neck, Satele leaned closer. But no matter how she stretched her body, she could bȧrėly reach Asher's head, much less his forehead.
Satele opened her eyes and shot Asher the most murderous glare she could muster.
”You're enjoying this, aren't you?”
Asher repressed his grin with no such luck. ”Not as much as when I'm teasing you.”
”Get off!” Satele snapped and pushed Asher away.
But Asher remained on his spot. Sturdy as a rock. He merely caught Satele's hand, and the grin fell right off his face.
”Something is missing on your finger.”
Satele snatched her hand back and answered in a snapping tone, ”None of your business!”
”It is my business because I gave it to you.”
”Exactly! You've already given it to me. So what I do with it doesn't concern you anymore!”
”Why can't you just answer me? Where's the ring?”
Satele huffed a breath of irritation. ”It's in my room. I don't wear it because, as you can see, I'm cleaning.”
Asher sneered. ”You have so many excuses. Why don't you just say that you don't want to wear the ring?”
Satele looked at Asher for a moment and sighed. ”You're impossible.”
She then scooted away from him and resumed cleaning, but Asher held her hand.
”I'm still talking to you.”
”There's nothing to talk about. You're being unreasonable. And can you please get out? You're interfering with my work.”
”I won't leave until you wear that god damn ring, and I'll stay as long as I want.”
”Are you a child?” Satele whisked her hand away and faced Asher with a serious face. ”I am busy. I have to clean the whole house. Do the laundry and study well in school while juggling with my part-time jobs. I don't have the time to take care of you and your silly games. So could you just please pester someone else?”
Satele was about to leave, but Asher held her hand again, and this time, he pulled her in his embrace.
”And that's the thing. You talk too much, but your problem is simple. Come live with me and you'll live like a Queen.”
. . .
. . .
Asher's hand on Satele's back tightened, bringing her closer to him as his head rested on top of her head. He didn't know why she was so stubborn. All she had to do was ask. Rely on him, and her worries would disappear.
”For how long?”
Satele's question pierced the silence and covered Asher in confusion. His hold on her loosened as he captured her eyes. The lack of emotion on her face unnerve him.
”What do you mean?” he asked.
Satele sighed, and met his eyes. ”Let's not play games. There's no love between us. Only a 'like' and for how long will that 'like' last? A month? Two months? Three months at most?”