Redemption

Chapter X

From the moment of Safiye's arrival over the next month, Renato locked themselves in the house, knowing that Billy's obsession had no end, and that after failing, it would only help him figure a better plan to take Safiye with him.

At first, Safiye didn't notice the change because of how naturally the days evolved. In the mornings, Renato still woke her up with his kisses and touched her with even more delicacy than before. He would keep carrying her to the shower, and after it they would help the other get dressed in their underwear; before going to the kitchen for breakfast. With the excuse of not being dressed, Renato kept the windows locked and the curtains down, and she would have breakfast over his chest after he had his in hers. Not much could be done trap in four walls, but they had gotten used to stare at each other's eyes, and stop whatever they were doing to entertain themselves; to merge in one kiss. From the couch in the living room, to the floor on the kitchen, the walls he pressed her against to when picking her up from the floor, to the carpet in her room after not having time to reach the bed, every corner of the house became the witness of their passion, and how Renato only had to accept his love for her.

Though Safiye's love towards Renato had existed even before his began to grow, and was still growing as it reached infinity; she missed the other expressions of love that exist. She wanted to go back, to the shade of the tree in the park, where the love was so great, that silence spoke for them, and the warm wind transported the message to the other, and the peace was so great that she would fall asleep, only to find him embracing her in her dreams, while in reality he brushed her hair, and protectively looked over her sleep. But she didn't know how to approach the topic with the proper words, so he wouldn't misinterpret and get the wrong idea that she wasn't enjoying the moments with him and accidentally making him feel upset.

Therefore she chose to use other words, other excuses, to see if she could get him out of the house, and relive the moment to satisfy her nostalgia. After they had showered as he patted her skin with the towel she asked him, "Why don't we go out today?" Safiye suggested with a smile, "The days are only going to get shorter, soon we won't have time," She joked. He smiled but tensed at the idea of going out, "That's not how time works" He chuckled, "You get what I mean" She said playfully rolling her eyes, "Don't you like staying over with me, we get to do whatever we want" He said, as she looked away from him, "Yeah, but I also love feeling you against the summer breeze" She said, and he realized in the situation he was stuck. He knew he couldn't keep Safiye locked forever, but he still wasn't ready to go out and face Billy while risking her life. "Maybe tomorrow" She was slightly disappointed, but after he kissed her, she had even forgotten what they spoke about, only to remember it the next day, to have the same conversation with him, with the same outcome.

With the days going by, she could feel through her caresse how tense his muscles were becoming, and she grew worried thinking she was to blame. He misinterpreted her concern with melancholy and boredom for being at home, and his anxiety was becoming noticeable as he tried to please her as best as he could to prolong going out. It became a vicious circle, the more he tensed the more she worried, the more he tried the more she felt something was wrong. All of it happening because of ignorance of how to approach the other and explain their feelings properly because of traumas carried over from dysfunctional families.

Their bittersweet routine was broken when Renato's phone rang in an unknown place in the room. They raised from bed and began to look for it at every corner in the room. Safiye found it under bed, and after caressing the side of her face, he returned the call to the eldest employee of the company that Renato promoted to be in charge of the business. Safiye observed Renato walk from one extreme of the room to the other while rolling his shoulders and passing his hand over his hair. Being out of context kept her from understanding, but she could easily figure how uncomfortable it was making him. Therefore, when the call was over and Renato was pressing his phone against his forehead, she chose to remain quiet, afraid that her comment could annoy him further.