A portrait of the unseen [COMPLETE]

Chapter 15 Trust

As the days went by, Lexa stayed by my side while I recovered from my fever. She was incredibly attentive, always making sure I was comfortable and well cared for. But I couldn't help but notice that she was often on the phone, having hushed conversations. It made me uneasy.

One afternoon, I accidentally walked into the room while Lexa was mid-conversation. She quickly dropped the phone and acted like nothing had happened. "Oh, hey, Ryu. Need something?" she asked, her voice overly casual.

I forced a smile. "No, I just wanted to see what you were up to."

The rest of the day, I couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling. Thoughts swirled in my head as I tried to chew my food at dinner. Was Lexa hiding something from me? Was she talking to another guy? Or was it just about her work?

"Ryu, are you okay? You're barely eating," Lexa said, her voice full of concern.

I looked up and met her eyes. "Yeah, just... lost my appetite, I guess."

She reached across the table and took my hand. "You know you can talk to me, right? If something's bothering you..."

I nodded, but I couldn't bring myself to voice my fears. Instead, I changed the subject. "How's your work going? I hope I'm not keeping you from anything important."

Lexa shook her head. "Don't worry about that. Right now, my priority is you."

Her words were comforting, but the doubt lingered. I couldn't help but feel that my presence was hindering her career somehow. The constant phone calls and secretive behaviour were gnawing at me.

Later that night, as we lay in bed, I turned to her. "Lexa, are you sure everything's okay? You seem distracted lately."

She sighed and pulled me close. "Ryu, I promise everything's fine. There's just a lot going on, but it's nothing you need to worry about."

I wanted to believe her, but the nagging doubts wouldn't go away. I decided to trust her, hoping that whatever she was dealing with would soon come to light. For now, I just wanted to enjoy the time we had together and not let my insecurities ruin it.

Lexa and I cuddled in bed, the soft sheets wrapped around us as we talked about life and our plans. She shared stories about other artists she worked with, the funny moments on set, and the little things that made her love her job. It was relaxing, just being with her, feeling her warmth, and listening to her voice.

After a while, Lexa shifted the conversation. "Ryu, can I ask you something?"

"Of course," I replied, nuzzling closer to her.

"Have you ever thought about going back to school?" she asked, her tone casual but her eyes searching.

I stiffened slightly. "Why do you ask?"

Lexa shrugged, looking a bit nervous. "I was just curious. You've achieved so much on your own, but I wondered if going back to school was something you'd want to do."

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my emotions in check. My past at school wasn't something I liked to revisit. "I'll tell you about it, little by little, but not now. It's... a lot."

Lexa's eyes softened with understanding, and she squeezed my hand. "Okay. I won't push. Whenever you're ready."

There was so much she didn't know about my life about my family's involvement in the entertainment industry, about my facial blindness, about the traumas I faced. It wasn't just that I stopped going to school; it was everything that happened while I was there.

"Thanks for understanding," I whispered, feeling a mixture of relief and lingering anxiety.

She kissed my forehead. "I'll always be here for you, Ryu. No matter what."