16. Be Back Together

The silence of the garden greeted Olivia's sense of hearing. Only the sound of her footsteps blended with the gravel of the path. Olivia's eyes were fixed on Axel. It seemed that Axel hadn't realized her arrival because he was still standing under the spotlight, looking at the lake. Of course, he didn't realize. Axel wore a mask and a hooded jacket, bowing his head every time someone passed by. How could he realize Olivia's arrival? Once she was a few steps away from Axel, Olivia picked up a pebble. She intended to throw the pebble at Axel. At first Hyun-a squinted to focus the shot, then when she raised her arms to her chest, her movement stopped. Axel was already looking in her direction. "Olivia?" Axel's voice called out, albeit softly. Olivia grinned with her hands hanging in the air. She dropped the small pebble unceremoniously before hiding her hands behind her back. Not long after, Axel stepped over to Olivia. His eyes watched the surroundings even though no one was passing around them. Axel's steps got closer and closer. Becoming a little impatient running over to him. "Hey, Axel, I don't-" Olivia's sentence immediately stopped as her whole body stiffened. Axel suddenly rushed into Olivia's arms, holding her very tightly. Olivia almost staggered back, then Axel turned their bodies that were still embracing each other. Axel's laughter and relief provoked Olivia to chuckle. "Are you okay?" Axel asked, whispering beside Olivia. He didn't want to let go of her embrace. Olivia felt her heart warming, a tingle of excitement. She couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips into a smile. "How can you stand not contacting me?" Axel threw a joke. Realizing it was a joke from Axel, Olivia just chuckled. "Hey, I'm fine. Are you so worried?" Olivia replied, throwing a joke back at Axel. Although not willing, Axel let go of her hug. In close proximity, Axel's pair of eyes intensely looked at Olivia. From his forehead, eyes, cheeks, the movement of his eyeballs could be seen clearly tracing the details of Olivia's face - his lover. "Of course. You didn't answer my calls and messages. Why are you so heartless, huh?" Axel pretended to glare fiercely at Olivia. Olivia didn't answer for a while. She deliberately only returned Axel's gaze with a sweet smile. She knew that Axel wouldn't be able to scold her that much. So, Olivia slightly lifted her chin, returning Axel's gaze. Including a teasing smile. Axel knew that he couldn't help looking at Olivia. Like a child who was teasing an adult. "Huh..." Axel laughed lazily, moving both hands away from Olivia's shoulders. "I didn't know that you were now using that weapon to seduce me." Chuckling, Olivia then put on a serious facial expression again. As Axel did, Olivia's eyes also traced her lover's face. Hyun-a caught a hint of fatigue in Axel's eyes. Chuckling, Olivia then put on a serious facial expression again. Just as Axel did, Olivia's eyes also traced her lover's face. Hyun-a caught a glimpse of fatigue in Axel's eyes. "Are you okay too?" asked Olivia, her tone so soft. Axel nodded without hesitation, shoving both hands into his coat pockets. "I wasn't because you didn't answer my calls and messages," Axel replied. "But it's better now." Olivia sighed heavily. "Axel I know you're very worried about me, but you have to take care of yourself," she said in an annoyed yet worried tone. Then Olivia held both of Axel's cheeks. Pressing his cheeks inward, then loosening them to the side. Olivia did that repeatedly. Axel didn't seem to offer any resistance. He just followed where Olivia's hands moved his face. "Look at this, your cheeks are already starting to look a bit thin. Hey, aren't you eating enough?" Olivia asked, scolding Axel at the same time. Releasing Olivia hand from pressing on his cheeks, Axel shook his head. "No, I'm not underfed. I've been on a diet lately, Olivai." Olivia's brow furrowed in astonishment as she squinted her eyes. She looked back and gave Axel a probing look. Olivia's intimidating aura made Axel suddenly feel awkward. "You're lying, aren't you? You never even said you wanted to diet all this time," Olivia said, deliberately blatant in her suspicions. Not wanting Olivia to be trapped in worry, Axel held both of Olivia's shoulders. He patted her shoulders several times to calm her down. "I was asked to run a diet program by my agency, Olivia. More precisely by the brand that will later sign me." Hearing Axel's explanation, Olivia secretly felt a great relief. As long as the two of them were apart, Olivia was worried that there was a big problem happening in Axel's work. It turned out that Axel's work was fine. Olivia had been nervous herself after the rumors of their closeness were spread by whoever. Unbeknownst to Olivia, Axel was actually hiding his heart throbbing with pain. Axel clearly lied about what he said earlier. After the rumors of their closeness circulated, there were some problems at work. Although it was not a big problem, it was still quite disturbing. Moreover, the Chief Director of his agency had given a warning. Axel anticipated the brands that contracted him to end up disappointed. What brand would want to use a model in the middle of a scandal? Axel just didn't want to make Olivia feel guilty. "Is that so? Thank goodness," Olivia said with a relieved smile at the end of her sentence. "I feel relieved that your work turned out okay." Axel chuckled. As soon as he opened his mouth to speak, a voice suddenly rang out. Interrupting both of their attention in the middle of the silence. Axel's stomach rumbled. With a look of amazement and astonishment, Olivia watched Axel. While Axel immediately held his stomach with an embarrassed look on his face. "Are you hungry?" Olivia couldn't help but laugh. Axel clenched his mouth tightly, grimacing unpleasantly. How embarrassing! Olivia then grabbed one of Axel's hands. She grasped his fingers and gave him a sweet smile. "Come to my friend's house. There's plenty of food there." *** The aroma of steaming bacon completely filled Axel, Olivia, and Katness' sense of smell. On a divan board seat that was enough for the three of them, they sat in a circle. In the center of the three of them, several plates of food were placed. There was one grill, and Katness was busy turning pieces of raw meat. Occasionally, it was placed on Olivia or Axel's plate. "Hey, how come you're starving at this time of night?" Katness asked the question in a casual tone to Axel like a close friend. Luckily, Axel didn't mind. Axel just chuckled in response to Katness' question-which was actually more like a mother's nagging. "Aren't you being fed by your agency?" Again, Katness did not hesitate to say it curtly. Olivia immediately hissed while giving Katness a quick glance. While Katness casually put on an innocent and questioning expression. "No problem, Olivia. She sounds like my mom always..." Axel's sentence was cut short when he saw Katness giving him a warning glare. Axel turned to Olivia, as if asking for help. Olivia only responded with a shrug of her shoulders. She had given up first. "You two, why are you not eating at the same time tonight?" asked Katness, complaining. Axel gave Olivia an incredulous look. "You didn't eat?" Then Axel put on an annoyed expression. "Hey, why didn't you eat? You're nagging me because my cheeks look thinner, but you're not eating yourself?" Katness suddenly stopped her movements, looking at Axel and Olivia in turn. Olivia immediately widened her eyes. "No, that's not it. I ate..." "What did you eat? Just a bowl of ramyeon kimchi." "I added another bowl, you just gave it to me," Olivia argued, not accepting the blame. Axel sighed heavily, looking incredulous at Olivia. "Still. You only ate ramyeon? Can that fill your stomach?" Axel scolded. Olivia immediately put on a little smiley lips. "I'm already full. Relax, sweetheart." Axel tried not to fall for Olivia's seduction. Meanwhile, Katness was suddenly wide-eyed and frowning strangely. Katness was amused after hearing Olivia's call "I don't want to know. You have to eat." "You eat. I'll feed you," Olivia snapped. "No, no, you have to eat. Do you think I can get full?" The look on Katness's face changed in an instant to one of disgust. She rolled her eyes lazily watching the two couples in front of her eyes. Katness exhaled roughly through her mouth. "Hey, can you guys just shut up and eat your own food?!"