Marrying The Guy I Hate

XXI: Stealing Glances

Melody stared blankly at her laptop screen, momentarily spacing out for the N'th time, in the middle of proofreading her novel.

Fingers unconsciously touching her lips, slowly drifting into euphoria.

It's been days after the night they went to talk and see the cityscapes. Yet the feel of Clarence's lips still lingers as if it happened just a minute ago.

She swore she could have been deaf that night at the sound of her loud heart beating, going on and on like fireworks exploding, one after the other, sparkling all the emotions she didn't want to admit.

Yes, it wasn't as if it was their first kiss, but damn, it sure FELT like it was.

Was it because of the way Clarence made her feel protected? That even when Xander tried to insult her by introducing someone new, it didn't even left a dent.
Was it because of how she felt cherished with the sweet melting way he looked at her and called her pretty?
Or was it the way he held her that felt as if he didn't ever want to let go?

"What's up babe?" There he was, startling her, peering over from behind the couch she was sitting on.

She gasped at how close his face was from her.

Their eyes looking at each other, slowly traveled down to gaze at the other's lips in unison.

She quickly averted, feeling her cheeks heat up.

"I'm done with my novel." She said, trying her best not to sound nervous.

On the side she heard Clarence cleared his throat, before making his way to sit beside her.

"Should I now have the privilege to be your editor? How about we start discussing my talent fee?" He joked.

"I bet I'll be bankrupt with your talent fee." This earned her a gasp and a fake offended look from him.

"Don't underestimate my generosity Missy!" He pouted, crossing his arms.
Melody suppressed the urge to pinch his cheeks at the cute expression he was sporting.

"Well then Mr. Crawford, what're you gonna offer?"

"Hmmm..." He tilted his head, acting as if he was thinking deliberately,
and said;
"How 'bout a kiss on the cheek for every chapter?"

He was beaming from ear to ear. And before Melody can even think of a comeback, Darren came in.

"I've booked us the flight for our island getaway!" Darren waved his phone at them.

"Great! What's the sched?" She asked excitedly.

"This Thursday as planned, of course!" He winked at her, also taking a sit on the couch, leaving her enveloped between both brothers.

Melody was ecstatic. A trip to the sea would definitely be the perfect way to kick-start their Sem break. As well as get inspiration for her writing.
Darren also told her that he saw Clarence looking the place up on his phone just the other day. It'd be a nice place for him to unwind from work too, she thought.
That's why it's where Darren and her plan on celebrating Clarence's upcoming birthday.

"Now that's settled, how about you go hand me your laptop so I could go over your novel?" When Clarence said this, she somehow felt nervous.
He'd be her first critique, and she's not yet even done proofreading the whole thing.

~•~•~•~•~•~

Two chapters in and Clarence found himself drawn deep into the rabbit hole of Melody's work.

Its suspense psychological theme got him wondering how and where she got inspiration.

To be honest, he pegged her as someone who'd prefer a romance genre. He could have sworn the last time he overlooked what she was writing was a romance fantasy.
So it was definitely a surprise when he was introduced to a lead character having a Dissociative Identity Disorder playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with an unknown stalker.