Bastian - Chapter 147 - Sweet and Bitter - WoopRead
8-11 Minutes
✧Sweet and Bitter✧
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
An unusual night, indeed, Odette thought. She looked at the simple table set up in the room and meal set before her. The colourful cakes decorated around the bowl of soup for the patients was rather strange to look at, it was almost like she was in a vivid dream.
As the servants departed, silence draped over them like a winter's night's cloak. Odette picked at her meal and felt like she was being punished with hospital food. All she had to do was put it in her mouth and swallow, there was no chance to properly taste the food.
The soup bowl was half empty when Bastian stood up. Odette paused, leaving her spoon in the soup and watched Bastian walk over to a shelf, pull out a record and place it on the gramophone. Quickly the room filled with Odette's favourite music.
Bastian returned to the table. He donned a navy-blue sweater atop a tieless shirt. His wounds had barely started to heal, so his movements were slow and deliberate, yet his posture stood tall and steps retained their valor. It was hard to believe this had been the same man who had tried to curl up on her embrace last night.
Reclaiming his seat, Bastian resumed his meal as the mellow music filled the air. The music felt like it softened the mood a little, the same fantasy she had heard at the hotel, Rheinfeld's Lounge.
Odette didn't really find music sentimental, but this song had remained with her for a long time. It reminded her of the spring afternoon when she had first heard it. She bought the record with the earnings of her first payment from getting married. She then bought the sheet music when she was allowed to play the piano.
"Trill," Bastian said, his voice blended with the ethereal and beautiful melody. "Don't you think?"
Odette lifted her head to look as Bastian, as his intentions became clear. She calmly nodded her head. The fire in the fireplace cast dark shadows on his face, which had become gaunt over the past few days. He looked like a grim spectre.
As they looked at each other, the final movement of the orchestral music began. Odette averted her eyes, looking about the room to stop at the vase of iris'. The beautiful moment which had given birth to hope faded under the deception. A pain, unforgettable yet fleeting, flickered above her blue irises before it vanished.
Its okay if you don't behave with sincerity, the conviction still holds true. Odette thought. Why have we hurt each other so much? It was a mistake she did not want to repeat.
"Bastian?"
As soon as Odette spoke, Margrethe started barking. Odette jumped at the sudden burst of noise and looked under the table. She did not realise Margrethe had snuck into the room and sat by Bastian.
"No, Meg," Odette admonished, but Margrethe didn't move and just looked at Bastian.
As Odette became agitated at Margrethe's refusal to obey, Bastian slipped a bit of bread under the table and Meg lapped it up, her tail wagging in satisfaction. Noticing her joy, Bastian broke off another piece of bread and offered it to Margrethe.
"Bastian, no," Odette said. "She has already eaten, don't give her more food or she will get fat." Odette felt like she was trying to discipline two dogs.
Margrethe sat at Bastian's side, waiting for more food to come her way, but Bastian ignored her and pushed the bread plate to the centre of the table.
Odette realised that her birthday celebrations were with two sick people and an injured dog. She couldn't keep the laughter from her lips and let out a soft chuckle. Even though they all looked so pitiful, she enjoyed her birthday meal all the same.
