Chapter 57

SAAFIA'S POV:- When I held him, I found all my happiness… The amount of solace I gained when Dariel shared his deepest talks with me, when he broke before none but me to blend his pain mine was exquisite. His words enhanced my feelings for him and at this point, whether he accepts my feelings or not- They were not going to change. 'For how long are you going to stare at me?" Dariel yawned, glancing at me. We were on the bed, I was plopped on my elbows while staring at him so he could witness my feelings and sense what I did when he used to stare. 'Until these eyes get drained." I whispered, bringing my hand closer to tangle my fingers in his soft locks but he groaned. He was exhausted from work and my eyes affixed on him were not allowing him to relax. 'You have gone crazy." He mumbled, shaking his head. He could have turned to face the wall to avoid my eyes contemplating him but he didn't. 'I know, I have." I hummed. And as if him turning away from me would alter the way I was submerged in his handsome form. He shut his eyes, covering his face with his hands. My smile grew at his reaction but that didn't cease the intensity. Soon it grew unbearable and he groaned. 'Okay. That's it. If you won't stop I will create a wall of pillows." He warned, poking my cheek with his index finger to turn my face in the other direction. 'Why? Have I ever stopped you, Mister?" I giggled, removing his hand so it won't break my rhythmic eye-contact. 'Don't call me mister. I have heard that title enough." He frowned. 'Sure." I chuckled but unable to bear anymore, he finally turned his face towards the wall. Indulging in his reaction, I also covered myself with the duvets and went to sleep. The following week, I felt like floating in the air with inexplicable happiness, the smile not my lips was not leaving, lost in my thoughts as Sarah called. 'What happened? Where are you lost?" 'I am lost in him, Sarah." I replied honestly, twirling my fingers around my dress. She chuckled, 'So you fell for him in the end, huh?" 'Couldn't stop myself." 'Are you happy with him?" She asked seriously. 'A lot." And I replied honestly. Each second of nothing was delightful for me. She teased me, 'He won't be the best guy." 'No one is. No one is perfect, however, whoever he is, I treasure that." 'I see. Bless you." 'Thanks. Maybe you should also settle down as well." I changed the topic because if we started talking about him, I would go on and on. 'We will see about myself later." 'Yeah, yeah." I was about to convince her to find a guy for herself too but the sound of his car reached my ears. 'Anyways, Dariel's home. I will talk to you later. Take care. Bye." 'Bye, bye." Cutting the call, I opened my hairs, brushing them quickly and applying some lipstick, looking good while waiting for him to enter the room with a grin on my lips. As I was waiting, instead of my husband, the door flung open and a guy entered, holding my painting with Dariel behind, looking calm and collected. 'What are you doing?" I asked, tilting my head in confusion. 'I did not waste my money on your paints and everything just to leave it hanging there. We are hanging it in our room, my wife painted it after all." He replied nonchalantly, ordering the man to hang it. 'No need. I don't want it here. I don't want to paint after all." I frowned. Him bringing it here made me recall how heartlessly he neglected the work I poured my efforts into and it broke my heart to the point I didn't want to paint anymore. 'So much happened that I almost forgot to ask. Why? I see you are doing great with that garden, what is the problem with painting?" He asked, motioning the man to leave us alone while observing my work. 'That day… When you fired Peter and showed no reaction, I was disheartened and all the excitement faded. I don't want to paint anymore." I told him sadly, sitting on the bed. 'I never react, what was so great about it?" He shrugged his shoulders. 'It was! This was my first work of my life, I had never tried it before and your detachment detached me too. I don't want it. Take it away." I demanded angrily, folding my arms with a puff lingering on my face. It was ruining my mood. He raised an eyebrow in bewilderment, turning to me slowly. 'What approval do you need from the guy who failed art class in school? I have no idea what the hell it is in the first place." 'It's abstract art!" I whisper-yelled. 'I have no idea. I only agreed to it so that it could make you happy so you don't have to spend your time waiting for me and divert your mind." He argued, frowning at me. Taken aback, my mouth gaped. First of not, not expecting him to be a failure in art and second, he did that before for my happiness. 'Really?" 'Of course. I might not say it but if it makes you happy then I am happy too. I can't compliment it because it goes over my head." He nodded, giving it another look of confusion and back to me. It was clear in his eyes, he had no idea what I drew. 'Do you have any hobbies, you boring human?" I sighed, getting up and taking his coat and hanging it before unbuttoning his waistcoat. 'I am not- Okay, I am boring but excuse me, yes, I have. I know horse riding, I know calligraphy. This frame my sister made is because I taught her." He said proudly, holding his head high. And I almost snickered, 'Really!?" 'Exactly! Girls died for me to write their names back in college. I was so popular due to these talented fingers." He praised himself and I could picture how he would be. 'Just how you cannot imagine me to be rude, I cannot imagine you surrounded with girls. You must be so mean that no one would come near you." I giggled, loosening his tie and moving back so he could change but he came between me. Folding his arm to make his muscles visible, a sly smirk not leaving his thick lips, giving me a challenging look. 'Excuse me, Missus Cannedy, I was the most popular guy at my college and high school." He jeered at me. 'I don't want to talk about what I cannot imagine." I laughed, giving his shoulder a pat and was about to leave the room. The idea of being well-known was unfathomable. 'Hey- hey. Come here." The moment I was about to leave the room, he grabbed my wrist and yanked me to him. 'What-" Astonished at the unforeseen pull, I fell on his chest, clutching his shirt unwillingly. My heart skipped a beat to be this near his body accompanied by a heat traveling to my core, bringing a crimson shade to my cheeks. 'What are you doing?" I asked, losing my breaths while averting my gaze timidly. He smirked victoriously at my display of abash as if he wanted to look away like this. 'Where are you going? We are not done talking yet." He whispered. Not leaving my wrist and sliding his index finger under my chin to compete with his spellbinding eyes. 'We are." I murmured. 'Hmm." His smirk widened, closing the gap. My mouth gaped, becoming tense at the closeness, the back of my throat dried. The second my lips were adjacent to his, my breaths stopped involuntarily, pulling away hastily from him. My mind blanked, my body trembled in a thrill I was impotent to hold back. 'I-I will. Uh.. I will serve d-dinner." Stuttering, I smiled feebly, tugging my hair behind my ear. He continued to smirk devilishly and with a never-ending smile, I ran away shyly followed by the sound of his mischievous chuckle.