Instead of entering the room, I just knocked on the door and shouted, "The dinner is ready."
Not wasting any other second, I sprinted towards the kitchen. Getting the silverware and the dishes, I put them down on the dining table.
Getting back to the stove, as I removed the lid, the aroma of the stew filled the entire kitchen.
Swirling it with the ladle, I made out what veggies she put in. Like always, Linda knew what our likes were in the veggies, and likewise, she added to the same list.
Pouring the stew into the two big bowls with a ladle, I also put both bowls onto the table. Looking around, I found the salad and some other dishes which were mostly healthy, liking to Dave's palate.
As I set the water glasses, I saw Dave entering from the corner of my eye. He was still in his casual attire, but his hair was handsomely disheveled, indicating he might have woken up from sleep.
Though Dave was never a sleeper. A barely four-hour sleep would be enough for him. And now he was having almost eight hours of sleep, that too during the day.
But on second thought, he was having heavy medication, so sleeping for long hours was not a surprising factor. He sat in the same spot as he had before during lunch.
I too sat in my same seat and started enjoying the stew. The stew had a spicy and savoury taste, and all the veggies were soft enough to melt in my mouth.
I closed my eyes in ecstasy as I thought to myself. Jesus, only Linda's cooking saved this day from turning into a tragic one for me.
As I opened my eyes, my gaze accidentally fell onto the man who was now staring at me with a deadly gaze.
His veins were visible as he clenched the spoon, which made my eyes crack open completely.
I blinked as the realization hit me.
Apparently, a moan slipped off while having the delicious food. If I could, I would have dug my grave in that moment and never shown my face to him.
I coughed up, trying to ease off the rising tension in the room, and fortunately, he moved his gaze and again focused on the food.
I sighed in relief, of course, internally, and focused on the food.
The whole dinner went in awkward silence. When he finished his food, he went back to his room, grabbing another glass of water.
Guess I do not have to remind him of taking the medicine.
So, I started to do the dishes and then stacked up the leftovers in the fridge. Though there was some left over, I would finish it in the morning before Linda arrives tomorrow morning.
As I got back into the room, I also walked into the bathroom.
I turned on the faucet of the bathtub. I was not a clean freak, and taking one long bath was enough for me in one day. But today, everything that happened tired me to my bones.
A nice warm bath would ease my muscles, which I needed desperately.
Stripping off my clothes, I closed the faucet as it filled the whole tub. First, I put my fingers into the water to test its temperature. Satisfied with the temperature, I finally stepped into the tub.
Water was already soothing my stiff body, and God, it felt so good. Taking my time, I lather up my body with the body wash and wipe it over my body. It went smoothly like butter.
The scent filled my nostrils, almost making me feel like heaven, when a knock echoed.
My brows furrowed as I asked, "Who is it?"
Though I knew who it was yet I did not want to face him now. Not when I was having a good bath time.
"We need to talk."
Of course, he needs to talk, and I had to listen and obey.
I could not help but roll my eyes over his order. All day, he made me stressed, embarrassed, and anything but relaxed.
And when I got the chance to relax myself, he was here to ruin this perfect moment.
"No." This time, I replied in the same tone he always used in that one-word style, which I absolutely hated.
There was a pause on the other end, the kind of pause that told me he wasn't used to hearing no from me.
"No?" he repeated, like the word had personally offended him.
"Yes. No," I said, leaning back in the tub, letting the warm water soak into my skin as if it could shield me from his persistence.
It never felt so good saying to no to someone as much as I felt in that moment. God, if I could repeat this moment again and again.
"Elena," his voice dropped just enough to sound like a warning, but I did not budge; instead said dismissively, "We can just talk tomorrow morning."
Now, shoo. I kept these words in my mouth, not wanting to test him.
No reply came from his side, which was even shocking for me. Dave was kinda like a hot-headed bull who would rather eat pickles, which he hated to the core, than step back or surrender.
Why did it feel like this was just the quiet before the storm hit?
But whatever, until he created another mess, I would love to have this moment just for myself without his disturbance.
I lay back as I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of the water seep into my skin.
My muscles finally started to unclench, and the world outside the bathroom ceased to exist.
For once, it was just me, the warm water, and the delicious thought that he was far, far away from ruining it.
As the water went cold, I got up and put on a robe while drying my hair with the towel. Pushing out the door, as I stepped into the room, I was dumbfounded with the scene in front of me.