章 14: BREATH WORTH TAKING
The early morning sun streamed across the room– her eyes fluttered open and she found herself scrutinizing the vase, expensive, yet unfamiliar room. It was a sanctuary of serenity. She didn't know how she got there but she knew it wasn't a place she knew of.
Phoenix groaned. Her head felt like it was splitting into two. She needed something to quench the fire in her head. She flung her feet off the bed and that's when her half-nakedness caught her sight.
" Ah?. " She gasped, taking in her reflection in the mirror as she pulled the duvet over her chest. "no...this can't be" She cried, sinking back into the bed– the scattered clothes over the floor took her notice.
A glimpse of the last dusk vividly replayed before her eyes. Even though she couldn't remember how it ended yet what she had recollection of clearly gave out the end. " What have I done?" She grumbled.
That's when Irish stepped out of the bathroom. Their eyes met and she jumped-screamed, pulling up the the covers tightly over her chest as she threw the pillow at him. Irish flinched at her sudden reaction.
" Sorry...sorry~ I didn't know you were already awake." He stuttered on the words, his face turned back to the entrance of the bathroom. His gaze was stunned.
" I was gonna leave before you awake~" He tried to reason but that rather triggered her. She thought he had wanted to bill on her after a nightstand. A burst of anger filled the air.
" Am I just one of those your many sluts?" her temper rather unbridled, feeling betrayed once more.
" No~" he tried to talk but her echo cut him short.
" What the hell did you do to me~?" the words shot at him and her thoughts dawned on him.
" No, Phon, it's not what you're thinking~" He firmly stated as he chanced closer, but she yelled a Stop, her edge on in defense. He stared closely at her eyes and noticed those unshed tears. " Trust me... please."
He sounded sincere but remembering his friend's statement made it even more difficult. She couldn't bring herself to just trust a man she had no clear picture of. Although she'd worked with him for the past years, she knew less of him. Phoenix felt anxiety mounting up inside her.
" I think I should get going..." She said, heading off towards the door with her clothes and sheet gathered in her hands. But Irish stepped ahead of her, blocking her path. His skin flushed, his eyes dilated and wild.
" Try and hear me out first, please..." His voice shook her, calming her into silence. He felt sorry for scaring her but that seemed to be the only way that would make her listen.
" Please~ I have a lot to say, give me a chance."
Phoenix just nodded, seeing the looks in his eyes. He could not approach the issue directly. His hand slowly reached for hers and she didn't hesitate. As if on an impulse, he hugged her.
Irish sighed, trying to reason with her. His eyes seemed to seek her understanding– a pleading gaze locked in his eyes. " I know how hard it's been for you and how difficult it is for you to trust anyone at this moment in time... But believe me, all you've heard~"
He tried to stair matters along comfortable path when he stood back to look at her. He noticed her tensed looks relaxed a bit. Phoenix could see the pain in his eyes as he spoke.
"Those were mere accusations. I'll do my best to prove myself, huh?~please."
His words made a deep impression on her. He looked harmless enough. Those looks in his eyes clearly show one pleading not guilty with no one on his side. Her heart moved over to him and tears spilled out of her eyes. Just like those accusing fingers back then on her wedding day~ she didn't want to be like them.
Accusing her of deceiving and trapping a young, caring, and energetic man like Del into marrying a living dead like herself. Those memories brought back pain and anguish~ the pain of having no one on your side.
She didn't want him to be in those dark shoes. She knew how lonely it felt. Irish opened up to explain further but her gentle squeeze on his hand made him stop, staring straight up into her eyes.
She gave him a meaningful look, which warned him not to probe further. " I trust you~" The words trailed him.
" You do~" His voice elated.
" Yes, I've decided to take the risk," She said and as if on an impulse, added. " It's better trusting a devil you know than a devil you don't know." She sighed. " I thought I knew Del and Berla better but look what I got in return."
He wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with the back of his hand. He pulled her and hugged her clumsily– Phoenix was surprised but then she felt warm.
She hesitated for a second, but his hand was rubbing her back, and she found she wanted his protection after all. Her head rested over his shoulder and she hugged him back.
" I bet it's worth the try." She thought. If she's to take the path of revenge, a trusted alliance is what she needs most and that's exactly how she saw him.
" I think you should get washed up first." He said, breaking away from the hug. " You still wreck of alcohol"
The reality hit her cold in the face, taking in the sheet gathered at her chest with her clothes in her hands. She feigned a sheepish smile~ the awkwardness of the situation instinctively dawned on her.
Irish chuckled as well. " Sorry, I should get going~" Her words faded from the entrance of the bathroom, and he tilted his head with a smile.
" I'll get you some hangover dish."
" Alright~thanks." Her words mixed with the droplets of the shower.
.
.
.
After fixing himself up, Irish brought out a knee-length floral dress he had ordered in the early hours of dawn, for Phoneix since she was with no other clothes than the hospital gown and the casual wear they'd picked earlier the evening before.
He laid it on the bed with white sneakers beside it and trod off to the kitchen. He wasn't sure of the foot size but 37 he requested, considering her height.
Standing in the middle of the kitchen, Irish stood in thought. He was ready to get her meal but he was lost on what to get her since he didn't know what she'd like or prefer. Scanning through the ingredients in his refrigerator, he took a wild guess.
" Banana almond smoothie will do." He said with a smile. Within a few minutes, he was done. Well garnished and appealing.
Just when he set it down on the table, the door rings, invading the silence in the room. " Who could it be?" He wondered, not expecting anyone in particular. But then, he remembered he had asked Rosset to drop some documents at the house before getting to the office.
Before he could get to the door, it flung open, revealing the most unexpected visitor he would have thought of.
" You stood us up last night." The feminine silhouette barked, walking past him into the room. His face contorted into a confused frown as he stared at his back.
" You were with father last night?" He asked, stopping right beside her by the table. Her gaze was fixed on the meal on the table. Her brow furrowed.
" It doesn't look like you were expecting me~," She asked, pointing at the two glasses of banana almond smoothie as she scanned his face.
" Um~yeah." He fumbled. Trying to make up any excuse but then, a voice drew their attention from the stairs.
" How do I look?~ I feel..." Her words were cut short by their stares. She finally realized they had another guest.
" Who is she?" Zaylee asked, not expecting to see her there.
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