My Words Are Law

What are we? (4)

It was hell trying to hide her face while passing by security and much more so getting him off her back as soon as they reached the apartment. Chryses Taylor refused to let her go, hugging her every time she as much as moved a centimeter away from him. 

"Taylor! You have to let me go. You need to drink water and sober up."

"No. Stay here- Or... I can go with you." He smiled, looking very proud of himself. 

Amaryllis could only sigh in exasperation as she walked to the refrigerator to pour some cold water for the drunken guy while he stuck behind her like glue, his hands tightly wrapping themselves around her waist. 

She thought he would finally let go after telling him- in a non-commanding way- to drink the water. He did, but quickly resumed to hugging her after he was done with the task. 

"Taylor..." She's had enough. "͎L͎͎e͎͎t͎ ͎g͎͎o͎ ͎o͎͎f͎ ͎m͎͎e͎." 

"No." 

"T- What..?" Her eyes widened when his hands remained around her waist. What's the meaning of this..? "͎L͎͎e͎͎t͎ ͎g͎͎o͎ ͎o͎͎f͎ ͎m͎͎e͎." She wasn't about to give up, but his hands stayed where they were. 

He chuckled as he hung his head on her shoulders. "It's the first time we're so close like this. Why are you so mean?" 

She felt his breathing close to her neck, and her eyes widened when she realized what he was planning to do. "͎T͎a͎͎y͎͎l͎͎o͎͎r͎-! ͎L͎͎e͎͎t͎ ͎g͎͎o͎ ͎o͎͎f͎ ͎m͎͎e͎ ͎r͎͎i͎͎g͎͎h͎͎t͎ ͎n͎͎o͎͎w͎ a͎͎n͎͎d͎ ͎g͎͎o͎ ͎t͎͎o͎ ͎s͎͎l͎͎e͎͎e͎͎p͎!" 

In that instant, his arms retracted to his sides. "Ha..." He turned around and went straight to the sofa, probably to sleep. Before he did, however, he looked straight at Amaryllis dead in the eyes. It felt so uncomfortable that she had to tell him to close his eyes straight away. He didn't quickly do as told, making her panic for a bit. Did it lose effect..? Is it not working..? 

The second she thought of that, Chryses sighed as he looked away before closing his eyes. 

A minute passed by before she eased up and relaxed her shoulders. Gathering some courage now, she closed the distance and checked if he was really sleeping. The steady rise and fall of his chest told her it was real. But what was going on a while back..? Was the blessing losing effect..? Since he's sleeping like this, it might just be lagging since he's drunk..? She scratched her head before getting him a clean blanket from the linen closet. 

While covering the guy, she noticed a bruise on his lower right jaw. There were a few scratches on his cheek as well, and some dirt. It didn't seem like he wasn't doing that poorly, but Amaryllis could never really know. Is he living well? Where could he have been for two weeks that even the media couldn't find him? And suddenly, he pops up in a precinct drunk and unconscious? She poked his stomach and didn't feel ribs sticking out, so she figured he was eating, at least. 

She sat by the sofa and watched him sleep. What is she going to do tomorrow when he wakes up sober..? 

~~~

Chryses opened his eyes, blinking rapidly when the sun directly hit his eyes. He moved away to escape the rays when he realized he was in an unfamiliar place. He sat up and inspected the small layout of a dining room, living room, and a kitchen all connected together in an open plan with a blank face. 

This was all seen by Amaryllis, who just came back from a short trip to the convenience store. 

"You're awake..? Good morning..." 

His neck snapped to the small entrance hallway on his left, to the voice that greeted him. He looked surprised for a moment.

"How are you feeling?" Amaryllis asked when he didn't greet her back. He must be confused. 

"...In shock," he finally replied as he sat up and folded the blanket. "Frankly, I never thought we'd meet again in such fashion." 

"..." So he didn't plan this..? She'd been thinking about the possibility last night.

"You think I planned this, don't you?" 

This time, it was her turn to be surprised as she immediately broke eye contact. She felt guilty after looking at his bruise. He's been disowned, for god's sake. Amaryllis sighed, wanting to hit herself. Ignoring his guess that hit home, she walked to him and handed him the things she had purchased. 

"It's not much, but... I bought some clothes for you to get changed into." It had been bothering her since last night that he smelled of liquor. 

"You shouldn't have bothered. I'll lea-"

"Not at all- Anyway, I cooked breakfast. We should... We should eat." Amaryllis quickly cut him off as she shoved the bag into his chest. "The bathroom is at the end of the hall. You can take a shower, too." 

The guilt was clearly eating her. Chryses smiled and thanked her for being thoughtful. It's an opportunity he couldn't resist after all this time. She's still so naive. He sighed as he stood up and took the bag from her. "Then, I'll take you up on your offer." 

Amaryllis finally exhaled after he got inside the bathroom. She felt so tensed, not knowing how to act in front of him. He looks so exhausted and drained it shows right through his face even though he's smiling gracefully. She quickly went to the kitchen and prepared the food. 

When he came out, freshly showered and neatly dressed, she immediately dragged him to the table and made him eat. Chryses looked at Amaryllis, who was observing him eat the food she had prepared. Did she think he wasn't eating properly..? He wondered as he devoured a big bite of the food she cooked. Well, she's not wrong. He shifted his gaze sideways before proceeding to empty his plate. After which, she went and got him water, as well. Almost catering to his every need, and Chryses was enjoying every second of it. In fact, he was savoring every moment.  

"By the way... Have you seen my wallet?" He asked after he was done washing the dishes, which she insisted on doing at first until he pulled her back and made her sit on the chair. When he looked back at her while wiping his hands, he felt amused at how pale she looked, as if it was her fault that it was missing.  

"That... It's- The police said you were robbed... And they weren't able to catch the thief..." Her voice gradually became smaller at the end as she looked away, not noticing the smirk he flashed in full view. 

"Ah... Is that so?" He nodded. 

"I, I can lend you money..." Her next words were inaudible, but the silent environment helped relay them to his ears, making his brows arch. 

He leaned on the countertop as his gaze turned thoughtful. 

"I can't say I don't need cash right now. So I'll borrow a few bills for traveling if that's fine?" 

She peeked at his face. "Wh-where will you go..?" She asked carefully after coughing. 

***