Speechless, Arianne turned to go to the bedroom in a fit of anger. She wanted to close the door but she was worried about him not getting any air conditioning.
Soon enough, Brian sent them their dinner. A quick look at the packaging told them their dinner was from White Waters Bay Restaurant. After Brian left, Mark called out toward the bedroom, “Dinner’s here.”
Arianne did not reply, pretending that she did not hear him.
Although he only had a towel on, Mark felt hot. The frustration was grating on his nerves. “Are you eating or not? I’ll throw it if you aren’t!”
Arianne remained silent. She couldn’t help but feel that he was here just to make her mad. They were just not meant to get along!
Mark got up to go to the bedroom and carried her to the couch in the living room in a swift move. “I don’t have a good temper. Have your dinner!”
Arianne opened the takeout silently and ate it. The bedroom’s air conditioning could not cover the entire living room, so she soon felt hot. She did not really have an appetite either and was unable to finish her dinner, even though it was only a small plate.
Mark had it worse than her. “How long are you planning to stay in this horrible place?”
Arianne replied faintly, “I don’t plan to move. It’s a decent place to live in.”
Mark breathed in deeply, his tone turning distant. “Will isn’t coming back, so stay here for the rest of your life if you can!”
Looking at him, Arianne bit her lips before speaking coldly after a while, “Can you not drag Will into everything? It’s because…” She did not finish her sentence, nor did she want to. He had his assumptions, but she did not have it in her to explain.
It was yet another unresolved argument that they had. Although Mark did not stand up to leave, they were not talking to each other either.
It was incredibly hot at night. Mark finally gave up and moved from the couch to the bed. While he was at it, he moved Rice Ball and its bed together to the door of the bedroom.
Fully aware that he had entered, Arianne did not make any response. It was not until his body got close to hers that she shifted aside.
Ignoring her, Mark scooped her up with one hand while he continued to look for his phone with another. Arianne’s tiny frame felt even more fragile under him and she could only let him do what he wanted. When Mark found his phone, he did not get up instantly. The soft and smooth touch in his arms felt tangible, and he did not want to let go for her at all… The atmosphere somehow turned intimate.
The air was so quiet that they could hear each other’s breathing. Each time their heart beat, they got closer to each other. Arianne dared not even exhale a little louder. She knew that she had been too ‘cocky’ tonight and should not have challenged him to the point of being angry.
Just as she was about to say something to soothe the atmosphere, Mark’s kiss suddenly landed on the side of her face and moved to her neck. Ticklish, Arianne subconsciously ducked her head but it felt like she was snuggling up to Mark, like she had given a silent consent to his action.
Arianne felt that she should reject him but she was unable to open her mouth regardless. When Mark’s kiss traveled to her lips and their faces were aligned, she actually closed her eyes! This meant that she was basically giving up her fight!
Arianne only knew that her heart was beating fast and her mind was a tangled mess. She had completely lost her ability to think. It felt bizarre!
Mark did not kiss deeply. He stopped for a few seconds on her lips and left. “Remember to resist the next time, and don’t provoke me.” He then laid down with his back facing her after that.
Composing herself, Arianne could still feel her heart thumping. Was this what people called having butterflies?! She felt like slapping herself. What butterflies? Could it be possible that she liked him? Yet, why did she not recognise herself anymore when she looked into his eyes? Her brain had stopped functioning too…
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