Something About Us

Rhys returned to the hotel suite after a long day of meetings, the weight of the day settling on his shoulders like a heavy cloak. He turned the key, the click echoing in the quiet hallway, and pushed the door open. He was greeted by a dark living room, the absence of light a stark contrast to the bright, bustling city outside. He sighed, flipping the light switch, and was immediately taken aback by the scene before him.

The living room had been transformed into a chaotic landscape of shopping bags, their paper and plastic surfaces scattered across the floor like fallen leaves. A trail of discarded shoes and socks snaked its way towards the bedroom, punctuated by the unexpected sight of his black jacket and, to his utter astonishment, a crumpled undergarment. Did a tornado hit this place? he wondered, a sigh escaping his lips. He picked up a stray sock, then the crumpled undergarment, his brow furrowing. Seriously, Heather? He followed the trail, muttering under his breath, until he reached the bedroom, where Heather was sprawled across the bed, sound asleep, her face buried in the pillows.

Rhys shook his head, a mix of exasperation and amusement swirling within him. He went to the bathroom, placing the dirty clothes in the hamper, the soft thud a quiet punctuation to the mess. After changing into more comfortable clothes, he returned to the living room, picking up the shopping bags and placing them neatly beside the couch. He then surveyed the room, his gaze lingering on the scattered items, before deciding to tackle the task of making dinner.

The aroma of sizzling garlic and onions soon filled the suite, a comforting scent that cut through the lingering chaos. Rhys moved around the small kitchen with practiced ease, his movements fluid and efficient. As he cooked, his mind drifted to Heather, his thoughts a jumble of concern and affection.

When Heather finally stirred, the scent of the cooking food pulling her from her slumber, she stretched languidly, her muscles protesting after a long day of shopping. She blinked, her eyes adjusting to the dim light, and then sat up, noticing the warm glow emanating from the kitchen. She wandered out of the bedroom, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, and found Rhys setting the table.

"Hey, you're back," she said, her voice still thick with sleep.

"Yes. And the room was a mess when I got home," he replied, his tone light but laced with a hint of playful reprimand.

"Sorry. Was too tired when I got home, too. All I could think of was sleep," she said, a sheepish grin spreading across her face. Jeez. He's like a mom reprimanding her child for being messy, she thought, rolling her eyes playfully.

Heather moved to help, placing the plates and utensils on the table while Rhys arranged the dishes. As they worked, an easy silence settled between them, a comfortable familiarity that had grown over the years.

"Would you look at that. We're like a newlywed couple about to have our first dinner in our new house!" Heather joked, her voice light and teasing. "You will marry me, right? After all, you made a promise all those years ago." She continued, her eyes twinkling, as she looked at Rhys, who halted in his steps, his face flushing a delicate pink.

"Oh my god. I was a child then. You can't take the word of a child!" he mumbled, avoiding her gaze, his cheeks growing warmer.

Oho. He's blushing, Heather thought, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Really? But I rejected a lot of my suitors back home because I was holding on to that promise," she teased, adding, I never had a suitor but what the hell. It's so fun teasing him.

Heather smiled, reaching for her necklace. "I even kept the plastic ring you gave me then." She held up the pendant, a tiny plastic ring dangling from the chain. "See! I only remove this when I'm taking a bath!"

Rhys's face went a shade darker, his ears now tinged with red. Heather couldn't help but think of how cute he looked, his usual composure completely shattered.

"S-stop teasing me!" He sat down in front of her, his movements a little too quick, and started placing food on Heather's plate, his gaze fixed on the dishes.

Did he just stutter? Ah! So fun, Heather thought, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Why, are you taking it back?" she asked, fiddling with the ring, her gaze fixed on his reaction.

"No. I already gave that to you," he replied, his voice slightly strained. He started eating, his focus on the food, determined to avoid further conversation.

Really now. Trying to avoid talking huh, Heather thought, her lips twitching. "Really? That's great! Then I'll just wait for your real proposal then. When will it be? In a year? Two? After I graduate from college?"

Just when she thought Rhys's face couldn't get any redder, it went another shade darker. Even his ears were now a vibrant crimson. In Heather's mind, if this was an anime, Rhys would be a chibi right now and his face would be so red that there'll be a steam coming out of his head.

Rhys choked on his food, a piece of rice lodging in his throat. He immediately grabbed the glass and drank the water, his face hot and flushed. He could already imagine his face was now an even darker shade of red.

This girl is only 17 and look at what she's saying! he thought, his mind reeling. "Heather," he said, putting down his spoon and looking at her seriously.

Heather stopped fiddling with the ring, hiding it again in her pajamas. "Fine. I'll stop," she said, her voice laced with amusement.

Rhys looked at her for a few more seconds, his expression still a mix of exasperation and amusement. When she picked up her spoon, he started drinking water, his gaze lingering on her.

"But you'll have to sleep with me tonight," Heather said, her voice casual, as she placed food in her mouth.

Ppffffftttt

The water Rhys was drinking sprayed out of his mouth, a fine mist that landed on the table. Good thing he wasn't facing Heather, or else it would have sprayed in her face instead!

Rhys coughed a few times, wiping his mouth with a towel, then the table, and looked at her, his eyes wide with disbelief. He waited for her to finish chewing her food, his expression a mix of shock and amusement.

"What? I meant it. Sleep with me," Heather repeated, her voice perfectly innocent.