Reprisal

Chapter 14 : The Dreamy Day

“He loves me.”

Isabel was sprawled on her queen sized bed, cozy in her cotton pyjamas. Phone was attached to her ear as she talked to Georgia while looking at the ceiling with a goofy smile on face.

Christopher and her had returned from the get together around quarter past 12 in the night. Once again, ignoring his refusal, she came to drop him to his apartment.

“Are you feeling better now ?” - she asked, turning to him in the seat.

She had observed he was off throughout the party. Meant, he was not a talkative person but even for him he was oddly quiet in the later half. When she asked, he assured with a smile that he was fine.

“I told you I was fine before too.” - he assured gently.

“But I knew you weren't. And I realized that it might be because of all the chattering and noise.” - she said, her tone and face exhibiting guilt.

She knew he was a calm and reserved person. As he had once joked, the term ‘anti-social’ was made for him. And despite knowing that, she dragged him with her.

“Isabel..”

His soft voice garnered her attention again as he held her hand. She looked into his eyes and lost herself there. His gaze was... different. First, she had noticed a change at the club few weeks ago. His eyes had gained desire for her which wasn't there before. Now she was witnessing another change. He was looking at her with... love. She had no other word for it. He had never said ‘I love you’, neither had returned hers with such line and it had always saddened her that he didn't love her. Yet, she was contented in his agreement to their relationship and remaining loyal because he hadn't asked her companionship, SHE had asked him. Now, his gaze had changed though. And she wouldn't lie that it was not messing up her heartbeat.

She waited for him to say something but he didn't. And she had slowly realized that he didn't need words either. His silence spoke volumes. His eyes acting as medium in conveying.

“You didn't eat properly as well.” - she continued and pointed towards the small plastic bag on the dashboard. “I had Georgia pack some for you. Felt you might feel hungry later.”

He just continued to look into her eyes. His thumb was softly rubbing the back of her hand but she didn't think he was aware of it. She couldn't move. His eyes were intense and stare piercing. Like he was finding answers of the complicated questions there.

“Would you like to come up ?” - he asked, breaking the silence at last. But he hadn't blinked still.

The question was sudden and out of the blue, catching her off guard.

“Why the sudden offer ?” - she asked with a grin.

He shrugged a shoulder. “You have dropped me several times and I have never invited you over so I just thought... you'll be deeming me rude.”

He looked flustered and it was so out of his character that she couldn't help but chuckle.

“Well, I have thought about you not inviting me to your apartment but it never connected to you being rude.” - she told him honestly.

He gave a half smile. She leaned closer to him, leaving mere inches between them, and said : “I'll visit your apartment for sure but after tomorrow. Because it'll be ours then.”

He raised his left hand, as the right was still holding hers, and put aside hair tendrils from her face that had set loose from her ponytail.

“After today.” - he whispered.