Chương 19: The Sunny Boy In Her Youth Was No More

Lucas slept soundly throughout the night. But, he wouldn't ever expect to be woken up in such a harsh and rude way by Daphne the next morning. In his grogginess, he found himself being slapped in the face repeatedly.

"Wake up! What are you thinking? Why do you sleep here?"

Daphne pulled the blanket away from Lucas. Her voice blared inside the small living room. With another slap, Lucas regained his senses.

"...huh? Daphne? Wait... it hurts!"

Lucas caught Daphne's wrists. She almost fell on the couch before she quickly steadied her feet. Daphne yanked her hands away from Lucas' grasp.

"What the hell... what are you doing?" Lucas frowned, feeling the stinging sensation on his face. He glared at Daphne, "Why did you slap me?"

Daphne scoffed. She was not even afraid of the change in Lucas' expression.

They had been together since high school. During the times they fought, Lucas never did anything to make Daphne afraid of him. The most he had done was be angry for a couple of days but, he never lay a hand on her.

The image of a sunny boy in a school uniform was quickly replaced with the messy one lying on the couch. The stark contrast irked Daphne so early in the morning.

In her mind, the boy she adored during her youth was now so different from the man in front of her right now. The lack of redeeming qualities in his adult life drove Daphne to be mad at him.

The resentment only kept piling up.

Daphne snatched the blanket when Lucas tried reaching out for it. Standing with both hands on her hips, she shouted at him.

"Don't ask me that when it's your fault! Do you want to make me feel bad for you? So you slept on the couch last night?

Daphne was confused to wake up alone this morning. Even though she had been treating Lucas coldly these days, it was weird not having him on the same bed.

Daphne went out of the bedroom to look for her boyfriend. The feeling changed to shock and irritation when she saw Lucas sleeping on the couch.

The anger she suppressed started to boil up, resulting in her lashing out at him.

The sleepy Lucas became irritated.

Because his sleep was rudely interrupted by Daphne, the dissatisfaction he held back the last few days began to burst out from within him.

Lucas slowly sat up. Still eyeing Daphne with a sharp gaze, he spat, "Don't you want that? I'm just an eyesore to you now, right? Just let me sleep in peace."

Daphne was speechless. With a frustrated sigh, she exclaimed, "What's with the eyesore? Did I ever say that?!"

Lucas laughed mockingly, "From how you act these days, it's true."

Daphne's ears were stung by how self-deprecating the laugh seemed to be. She bit her lower lip, trying to avoid initiating a screaming match with Lucas.

"Then... have you ever thought why I acted like that?" Daphne asked through gritted teeth.

Lucas narrowed his eyes. The words that he heard at the restaurant intermingled with the ones Daphne hissed before.

"You're ashamed of me now, right? I can't be compared to other successful men?"

"ISN'T IT TRUE?!"

The shout stunned not only Lucas but, also Daphne. It was already too late when she realized what she had done.

Lucas laughed feebly. The light in his eyes turned dimmer. He replied sarcastically, "...so, that's it. Thank you for being frank with me."

"Hey! You should know that I'm only thinking for your own good!"

Ignoring his girlfriend, Lucas lay down on the couch again. He turned his back on Daphne before covering his entire body with the blanket again.

Daphne almost pulled her own hair.

"You want to continue sleeping? Yes! Go to sleep! Just freaking sleep and work your part-time jobs!"

Lucas closed his eyes. His voice echoed from under the blanket, sounding muffled, "At least I don't earn dirty money."

Daphne clenched her hands into fists. She was so tempted to yank Lucas away from the couch but, she might be running late if she continued to fight him. School time would start in an hour.

"Tsk! How useless!"

Daphne stomped her feet before rushing back into the bedroom. Lucas gave her no reaction. He pursed his lips into a straight line, holding back from worsening the situation.

The fight was really uncalled for. She was mad because he didn't sleep in the bedroom? Shouldn't she be happy instead? After all, wasn't he an eyesore to her now?

Urgh... This problem shouldn't continue...

When Daphne emerged from the bedroom complete in her formal suit and a winter coat, Lucas forced himself up from the couch. She didn't look at him even once as she walked past the small living room.

"Daphne."

Daphne paid no attention to Lucas who still sat on the couch. She brought a pair of shoes out of the shoe cabinet.

Lucas let out a sigh. He rose to his feet and walked toward her. With his gaze trained on her side profile, he muttered.

"Let's talk tonight."

Daphne flinched. She turned around, looking at the closed door.

"There's nothing to be talked about. Didn't you know everything now?"

Daphne was obviously reluctant. Her tone was harsh. She kept her posture straight, showing her stance.

Lucas shook his head even though Daphne was not looking at him. He stated in a firmer voice.

"We have to. There's no use in us behaving like this. If you have anything more you're dissatisfied with me, tell me everything tonight."

"No!"

Daphne ran out of the apartment, blasting the cold winter air to Lucas' face. Standing at the doorway, he silently watched her figure disappear into the corridor. The sound of her footsteps also faded.

Lucas closed the door, cutting the cold air from continuing to blow into the small apartment. His expression was dull.

Daphne's admittance pricked his already exhausted heart. Even though Lucas wanted her to be truthful with him, it was still hurtful.

Tonight...

Would there be any changes?