Death of a Bachelor

#18 Oranges

Silence, a deafening silence. Lewis opened his eyes and reached for his phone. He unlocked it and quickly turned it off when he saw it was still 6:00 o'clock in the morning. He took a deep breath and stared at the ceiling, It had been a week since they landed in Spain, and all he could say he had a great time staying in Madrid. He also visited few art galleries with Simone and her yapper cousin Solana, they also marveled at the stunning architecture. Lewis spent countless hours wandering through public markets and stalls, which had quickly become his favorite spots despite their crowded and noisy atmosphere. The food, the music, the culture, the people—everything had a way of soothing his mind and spirit.

He had found a rare peace in this country, allowing him to forget about the pressure and stress on his upcoming race next month. A break and escape from the relentless demands and high expectations that came with being part of the Mercedes racing team. There were days when he felt the weight of the world on his shoulders, the pressure to not just perform but to excel, to be the best. Despite his passion and love for racing, the demand to maintain his top standing often left him exhausted—of course he's only human he also feels tired. But in this quiet corner of Spain, surrounded by the warmth of Simone’s family and the simple beauty of their home.

Lewis felt a sense of freedom he hadn't experienced in a long time. Here, he wasn’t just Lewis Hamilton, the world-famous racer. He was simply Lewis, a guest in a welcoming home, free to breathe and far from the negativity, fear, and expectation that followed him everywhere else. He shifted his gaze to the side and noticed Simone, still sleeping soundly in her bed.

He carefully sat on the couch and he groaned from the pain in his body, Lewis rubbed his neck and shoulders, trying to ease the stiffness. He glanced around the bedroom, the morning light casting a warm glow on the cozy space. Despite the pain in his body, Lewis felt a sense of comfort in this room. His attention shifted on the small collection figurines on the shelves, a smile plastered on his lips as he stood up and walk towards the shelves to have a closer look.

On another wall, a collection of paintings some were framed, while others were simply pinned up, giving the room a casual, artistic vibe. Lewis found his gaze lingering on the window, next to the window is a small desk was cluttered with art supplies and a chair. Carefully, he walked towards the bed where Simone lay sleeping peacefully.

A soft smile tugged at his lips as he watched her for a moment. He shook his head slightly, struck by how angelic she looked. Her brown hair spread out over the pillow, framing her peaceful face. Her eyelashes rested gently on her cheeks, and her lips, slightly parted, looked soft and inviting. She seemed to be dreaming something beautiful.

Lewis felt so comfortable around Simone's parents and truly appreciated Mila and Miguel. He admired their love and dedication to their daughter's well-being. During his one-week stay in Simone's home, one question kept running through Lewis's mind: why Simone chose to stay away from her parents, especially when Spain also offered great opportunities for painters like her?

Now that he thought about it, he finally understood why Simone chose to stay in Paris and why she preferred to be alone. She wanted to become independent and learn things on her own. Her parents were overly protective, especially her father. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate their love and care, but she craved the freedom to make her own decisions and learn from her mistakes. Simone wasn't running away from her parents; she was running toward her own future.

As he stared at her his gaze went down to her lips, and he took a deep breath, the warmth of the room enveloping him. "F*ck you, Lewis" he whispered under his breath, biting his lower lip. With a sigh, he turned away from the bed, but before he could open the door, he stopped when he heard Simone's voice, soft and sleepy. "W-what?" he asked, turning back to face her.