章 16: Apartment

The car came to an abrupt halt. My upper body was pushed forward and the car steering offered a welcoming collision.

My head spun trying to recollect everything that had happened. I glanced over to Haziel whose eyes met mine, the downturn of his eyes offered me a concerned look.

Haziel released his seatbelt and rose his arms to meet my shoulder not breaking eye contact.

"Are you okay?" His question came out firm.

I didn't reply. Instead, I looked forward through the windshield and watched the reckless driver race away until he was out of sight. A menacing frown formed on my lips.

"What an asshole!" I dictated

Although what had happened was too minor to be referred to as an accident, It was a hairbreadth escape. I hit the steering wheel to relieve my frustration since the driver was not in my sight. The horn of the car blared voicing out my anger.

"Hey," Haziel's voice came from beside me as he shook my shoulders gently.

I turned my attention to him once again, regaining my composure.

"I... I'm sorry about that, are you okay?" My question came out half passed despite my genuine interest.

Haziel nodded in response and so did I. Gearing up the engine again, I brushed the recent event away from my mind and drove to Haziel's apartment.

We went up to his abode. He opened the door and left me to go in first.

Viewing the scenery again developed a strange feeling inside me. I had remembered vividly the way his living room looked. From the color and position of the chairs to the covered art on the side of the room.

Despite having the appearance distinct in my mind, I had long forgotten how his home felt.

How I enjoyed brushing my feet on the carpet and how the air didn't feel empty or stale. The walls were white with only a gray accent wallpaper at the back, and the purple couches texture matched perfectly with it.

The minimalist interior design made the makeshift art studio feel calm and serene. He had decorated his home in a way that seemed similar to his art style. Clean but never boring.

Haziel brushed past me heading for his bedroom before stopping in his tracks.

"I would say make yourself at home but, I'm pretty sure since you've been unclad in here before you'll be comfortable." He joked lightly before exiting for his room and coming back a few minutes later changed into a grey tee and some sweatpants.

By the time he was out, I had slumped on his couch not bothering this time to peak at the art in the room. However, it was obvious to me that the nude painting was no longer on the easel. It was now nothing but a metal tool not in use.

My mind drifted back to that particular painting, leaving a slightly bitter taste in my mouth.

"I should start making lunch, do you have any requests?" Haziel asked towering over me.

"..."

"Of course, I'm not on the menu for a selection, that's reserved for much more costly dishes," he continues lightheartedly.

I chuckled genuinely amused.

His abrasive remarks that bewildered me now were much appreciated, after his mundane text and car silence this was a warm welcome.

"I have no preference, chef's choice," I shrugged my shoulders.

Haziel nodded thoughtfully and disappeared into the kitchen. I decidedly busied myself, pulling my phone out of my purse, and scrolled through emails and messages.

+3 notifications

1 missed call and a text from Jalen and a text from Kiera.

[I'll be back home today babe.] - Jalen

[I might fire this incompetent decoration company.*head slap emoji*]

I rolled my eyes at the choice of words of the former and replied the latter.

[Patience, try deep breaths]

Kiera was a perfectionist who believed in getting everything the way she wanted. God forbid other people worked differently. If she were legitimately upset there would be no words just actions.

Haziel stepped back into the living room after about half an hour and sat next to me on the couch giving an appropriate distance. He leaned his back on the chair and combed through his hair, breathing softly.

His chest rose with every intake of air and fell softly with an exhale. This insignificant action had my eyes glued to it like I was watching a blockbuster movie. Haziel swallowed and tilted his head towards me.

"About the charity event, Is every royal family going to be there?" He asked as though it was merely a passing wonder.

I motioned my head to the blank wall and back onto him to reset my former train of thought.

"Most likely, everyone with notoriety should be there, not sure honestly, if some decide to not show up then it's not up to me," I replied, dropping the phone clenched in my grip on my folded thigh.

Haziel nodded wordlessly staring daggers at me.

"I actually have something to show you," he uttered out of nowhere, propping up from where he was seating, went out of sight, and came back with a medium-sized canvas.

"This was sent to me by a friend of mine and I thought maybe you might like it." He turned the canvas around to reveal a brilliantly painted waterfall landscape.

From the brushstrokes, my mind could already tell who the artist was. This person was known for capturing real-life landscapes in his works in a vivid and trapping manner.

I was so lost in the painting that it took me a while to notice the wide grin that had formed on my face.

"Ina Amverto," I pointed out in a silent whisper, moving closer to the painting

Haziel nodded, "She sent this to me as a surprise, I see you are familiar with her work."

"Yes! I am a huge fan, I have a painting of hers in the hallway of my childhood home." I explained brimming.

"She sent this to you? It's really good," I appreciated.

Haziel gestured his hands, stretching the canvas over to me for viewing. With ready hands, I let the phone on my lap slip to the couch and got up to collect it.

"I have to check on the chicken," he murmured dashing for the kitchen.

In 20 minutes passing by like a glimmer of hope in a desperate time, Haziel came back out of the kitchen, dropping the meals on the table. I strolled over to him to see if I could assist in setting it up.

With the efficiency of a trained waiter, he took no time in presenting the pasta dish elegantly on the table. I took a seat where the dish was laid and waited for him to seat down.

Haziel took his seat opposite me.

"Bon appètite." He voiced.

"This looks really good," I praised, taking a fork and pulling out a long string of pasta, guiding it into my mouth.

My tastebuds rushed to the party, pleasantly pleased.

"Perhaps you were right, if I had a meal like this available at home, maybe I wouldn't want to eat out," I said after swallowing my first bite. Every single part of the dish hit all the right places for me.

Haziel smiled in victory, looking mildly ecstatic that I enjoyed the taste.

I dropped my fork and took a glimpse of him.

"All of this feels eerily similar to a date? If I didn't know any better I would think of it like that, or maybe even go as far as saying you were into me," I remarked in a playful tone, however, in my head this was a serious inner dilemma. My eyes were fixed on his expression.

Haziel's lips turned into a smirk.

"What can I say there was just something about the girl that mopped the floor with her dress looking for an earring that has had me completely bewitched."

He chose a sarcastic response, raising his eyebrows mockingly at me.

"I'm never going to hear the last of that night with you, am I?" I pouted.

Haziel shook his head no.

I sighed and went back to the meal in front of me completely devouring it. While I was almost done, Haziel had cleared his plate silently and was now watching me eat with an expression that seemed to be lost in thought.

"What is it?" I stopped eating posing the question at him.

He shook his head, tearing his gaze from me and into the window by the dining table.

An unfamiliar ringtone blasted through the room causing Haziel to bring out his phone from his pocket. He took one look and the caller Id and let it ring.

"I was thinking which one would you rather I pretend never happened the earring search or the drunk strip tease?" Haziel asked completely paying no mind to whoever was attempting to reach him.

I opened my mouth to answer but was stopped by the sound of knocking coming from the door of his apartment.

Haziel looked as perplexed as I did.

In no time the knocked shouted loud enough for his neighbors to hear.

"Open up babe, I know you're in there!" The lad's voice roared followed by haphazard knocking.

"Why haven't you been paying attention to me, I promise I'll be more generous! Just open up." The voice sounded desperate.

My eyes peeked up at Haziel who looked angry or rather coldly at the door.