Chapter 66 - Epiphany (1/2)
Upon seeing the guests, the stationed nurse left Maxen and Olivia so she could pick-up the doctor at the entrance, leaving the two alone to enjoy some quality time with the sleeping Amelia.
”Are you close with the gardener?” he whispered in Olivia's ears when the smell of hospital disinfectant and the sound of machines inside told him that he had entered Oliver's mom's room and that he should be mindful of his voice.
Olivia just nodded to his question and pointed to a nook by the tall double windows. But instead of following her lead, he helped her empty the heavy crystal vase and rinsed it for Olivia.
While rinsing the vase, Maxen peeked over his shoulders to see Amelia's sleeping form and lo and behold, he had an epiphany: Amelia was a spitting image of Olivia while Oliver looked exactly like Henry Lin.
After filling the vase with water, he left it in the sink so Olivia could arrange the flowers she got from the gardener in it.
”It was a good thing you didn't look like your brother,” he whispered, biting his lips behind the mask to keep himself from booming a laughter inside the cabin.
”But what if I do look like Ollie? Would you still date me? And why are we whispering?” she asked, scrunching her eyebrows as she faced him.
”To answer your question, no. I won't date someone as ugly as my best friend.” He deadpanned that Olivia had to cover her mouth with the back of her hand when a smile escaped her lips.
Allured by her smile, Maxen dropped his gaze from her eyes to her lips and tucked the mask under his chin, saying, ”And this mask is too uncomfortable and scratchy.”
”Put that back,” Olivia uttered. Her hands were mid-air when Maxen held her wrists hostage. ”Not before I kiss you first,” he replied under his breath, dipping his head to press a quick and daring kiss on her lips.
He released her hands and put the mask back in place, chuckling at the sight of Olivia who pretended as if nothing happened yet the blush on her cheeks betrayed her big time when it was as rosy as the flowers that she was holding.
Standing by the sink and ignoring Maxen's presence, Olivia started dumping the flowers in the vase because honestly, she lacked any artistic bone in her body and that includes doing floral arrangements.
Once she was done, she passed the vase to Maxen who carried it back on the bedside table, breathing color, vibrancy, and life to the room.
Feeling equal parts nervous because of his disguise and curiosity, Maxen silently sat in the nook as he watched Olivia take care of her mom, checking if Amelia's clothes or a.d.u.l.t diapers needed changing, and fluffing the duvet too. Eventually, the weird vibe that he got from Uncle Chan was pushed to the back of his mind.
He was silent as it was his first time stepping into Amelia's cabin and the last time that he saw her was when she was still conscious and pregnant with Olivia twenty-five years ago, before the fall out of Henry Lin and the Suis.