Tulip's Destiny

XXXIV - The Inevitable Pull

"Mikhail..." Raine said, as he stepped back. "Mikey." Manuel uttered in confusion. "If you're not here for anything... I'm busy. Please escort her out, Manuel." Mikhail smiled bitterly, looking at her finger. Raine looked down to see the engagement ring, she slowly hid her hand to her back. "But we need to talk." She reasoned. "There's nothing to talk about, Ms. Buenez. You made it very clear last time we talked." Mikhail said, walking back to his desk. He hid himself behind the screen of his computer, avoiding another second of the conversation. "But..." Raine muttered as Manuel gently held her back to walk forward and out of the office.

As soon as she went out, Mikhail let out a deep sigh he didn't even know he was holding in. He grabbed a bottle of water, chugging it furiously. "Shit, what was that Mikhail?!" He slapped himself. "Ouch! It's not a dream..." Mikhail stared at the door with a heavy heart then he started remembering the night at the exhibit. "Stop getting ahead of yourself! She's going to get married." He scolded himself through the screen.

"What happened Manuel?" Raine said, staring at the ground intensely. "What did I do? Was he angry at me?" She turned to him naively. "You should rest first and then let's try again." Manuel smiled.

As the rays of the sunlight crept through the curtains of her hotel room, Raine woke up with a sore body. Her head felt heavy as she tried to pry herself out of bed. Sighing, Raine laid under the covers while reaching for her phone. She rubbed her hands on her face, finching on the bright screen.

Gelo💗:  how's my Tulip? i miss you sm T~T

A chuckle escaped her mouth reading Gelo's text.

Me: Sorry, I fell asleep. I'm fine here. I miss you too. Take care.

Gelo💗: where are you? can I call? pleaseeeee ;)

Within a few seconds, her phone began buzzing. "Hello?" Raine started. "How are you?" She continued. "When are you going home? I miss you so much!!!" He squealed. "Why can't I come with you?" Gelo huffed, hearing her chuckles. "Can you open your camera?"

"But I'm in bed!" Raine said. "Doesn't matter. I want to see your beautiful face." He insisted. "Please! I'm disgusting! I haven't taken a shower." She reasoned. "Nonsense. It's fine, I won't smell you from here." He snorted, forcing her to open the camera. "Oh! What a goddess! I can't believe this art is displayed for free! How lucky the man who will marry you! Wait! That's me!" Gelo smiled, taking multiple screenshots. "Stop it!" Raine said shyly, covering the camera.

After some time catching up, Raine set her phone back down and sighed, sitting upright on the side of the bed. She got up feeling optimistic, she rushed to the nearest grocery store to pick up some supplies. As soon as she got back, she laid out the ingredients for making a cookie and prepared a pack lunch. She cooked Chicken Adobo paired with brown rice and put it on a cute tupperware she found in the store. Manuel chuckled as he stepped into the hotel room. "It smells divine here. I'm surprised you haven't burned the place down yet." He noted inhaling the looming aroma in the room. "It's not easy of course! I only have an oven and a kettle..." Raine said playfully. "Are you telling me... you cooked using the kettle?" Manuel laughed in amusement. "I hope he'll accept this." She said, getting lost in thought."Raine, don't take it any way but... what's your point here? Why do you still want to see him?" He asked, noticing a sad emotion pass her auburn eyes. "I told you already. I want to have our closure." She said keeping herself busy and avoiding his gaze. "Is it really needed though?" He asked, leaving her in deep thought.

Mikhail strode into his office, shrugging off his coat and resting on the couch beside the entrance. He folded the sleeves up his forearms as he let out a deep breath of exhaustion.