After finishing my breakfast, I rubbed my stomach happily. Then I remembered something. Radrien walked over and handed me a glass of water and some medicine tablets, placing them gently in my palm.
"Oh you know about this," I said slowly, taking the pills.
He nodded, voice slightly shaky. "Your dad told me."
"Of course he must have. I still don't understand why my parents are so obsessed with me taking these damn pills," I muttered, but something about the way Radrien looked at me made it feel like he already knew everything I had no clue about.
Before I could think more, he leaned dangerously close - his lips almost brushing mine. My heart skipped a beat. But then, as quickly as he leaned in, he froze and backed away.
"I'll make a call," he said casually, walking off. I sat there, face tomato-red, heart hammering. His sudden closeness had surprised me, but also, somehow, it felt familiar. The way he had leaned in - smooth, natural - like it wasn't new for him at all.
My head spun.
Why did everything feel so... foggy? Why did so many little things seem strangely familiar? I shook my head, trying to clear the confusion, and wandered into the living room, turning on the TV to distract myself.
Just then, Radrien returned and quietly sat beside me, keeping a respectful distance. His face looked relaxed, but his eyes betrayed a mix of turmoil.
I casually flipped through the channels.
"Who did you call?"
"Just a friend," he replied.
I nodded, then, feeling a bit awkward, asked, "So, uh- about this marriage, I know it was sudden and, forceful even..."
He cut me off, eyes downcast. "It wasn't for me."
I blinked in surprise. Then he looked straight at me, like he was staring into my soul. "I agreed, happily. I wanted this for a long time. You just don't remember." His voice faded on the last line.
"Wait, dude, you actually...like me? Or something?" I asked, shocked.
"What would you do if I said yes?" he asked seriously.
My face suddenly heated. "Ah, well, I dunno. I guess it's my win if I made you like me. I know I'm genius and sexy enough to make anyone fall for me, but, you know, it's a bit weird knowing my childhood enemy likes me." I laughed nervously.
"Yeah, childhood enemy." He lowered his gaze, then hesitated before asking, his voice shaky, almost vulnerable. "Honey... I mean, Lenny, how long have you, I mean, since when did you think we were enemies? Which incidents made you feel that way?"
I blinked, caught off guard by the seriousness in his tone. "I, just know we're enemies. I actually vaguely remember a time we fought, and I think we've been enemies since then."
"What time?" he pressed.
"Maybe middle school? We fought over something," I said, surprising myself. My mind felt foggy; the details were all missing. Honestly, I couldn't remember any other moments I'd spent with Radrien.
Shouldn't I remember our other fights if we were really enemies from childhood? We are together for so long and yet I couldn't remember anything, Why did everything feel so fuzzy, so dizzy, so shaggy in my mind?
My brain felt like it had completely stopped working. It was as if Radrien could read my thoughts without me saying a word. He tilted his head slightly, a knowing expression on his face.
"Lenny, you can't remember anything before that campus trip, right?" he asked.
I blinked, shocked. That was exactly right. I couldn't remember anything clearly before the trip. Not properly. I only knew bits and pieces that Radrien himself had told me - the fun things we did, the games we played... even the kiss we shared. He said I had been drunk when we kissed. I could only imagine it and replay fragments in my mind, but other than that? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
I frowned, confused. Why did I even kiss him? He's my enemy, right? Or did being drunk make me think differently?
"Don't overthink it," Radrien said calmly. Then, suddenly, he closed the distance between us. He gently took my hands in his, his fingers playing over the back of my hand. His voice softened, and his eyes seemed warmer than I'd ever seen them. "It's okay if you can't remember. There's no need to dwell on it. Just, focus on me now." He smiled, gentle but teasing. "Now you know I like you, and, well, we're married. Can you, give me a chance?"
I went completely speechless. My heart was pounding, my face flushing, and a warmth spread through me that felt, so good, yet strangely familiar. Under his touch, I felt comfortable, safe, and yet confused.
"I, well, uhm," I stammered, unable to find words. His other hand lifted gently to cradle my cheek, tilting my face toward his. "Do you hate the idea of it? Do you, hate me that much?"
Hate? My heart flipped. Words almost failed me. Hate? I didn't feel hate at all. Not even a little. The things I felt for him were, entirely different, and I'd always masked them with fake annoyance, teasing, and pretending I hated him just to keep my feelings in check. But now, being asked so earnestly, with those deep, searching eyes looking straight at me, I was completely wordless.
I blurted out honestly, "I, I honestly don't hate you. No, I don't."
The words came out smoother than I expected, almost like my heart was speaking for me - admitting something I hadn't fully realized yet.
Radrien's smile softened, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of relief and something gentler. His thumb caressed my cheek as he asked, "Then, do you like me?"
My face turned crimson. "Huh, I- I don't know." I stuttered, completely unprepared for the question.
"It's okay," he whispered, voice softer now. His gaze held mine, unwavering.
Slowly, deliberately, he leaned closer. My heart skipped a beat, and I knew exactly what he was about to do. Somehow, I didn't hate the idea. I didn't say no, I didn't push him away. I just waited, breath shallow, as he whispered softly, almost against my lips, "I'll make you like me, again."
And then, finally, his lips met mine.
I couldn't process his words.
All I felt was a rush of warmth, electricity, and a foggy, dizzying wave of emotion as his lips pressed against mine. It felt, so good, like my whole body was tasting something it had craved for so long but couldn't remember. His fingers gripped me a little tighter as he deepened the kiss. There was a strange mix of fear, longing, pain, and desperation in the way he kissed me, and it surprised me.
What shocked me even more was how familiar it felt - as if my body, my very consciousness, had missed this exact touch.
Every movement, every caress, felt like it belonged. His tongue traced mine slowly, teasing and exploring, before gliding along my lips. He broke the kiss gently, a thin string of saliva connecting us.
"Did that disgust you?" His voice was husky, low, and trembling slightly.
I swallowed hard, lips still tingling, and stared at him. I couldn't deny it - I wanted more. My entire body wanted more, and I'm sure it showed in my eyes. Words failed me, so I leaned in again, pressing my lips to his without a second thought.
Something seemed to bloom inside Radrien. He hesitated for a moment, a flicker of fear in his eyes, but then he let go of his restraint. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer, kissing me deeper, more desperately. It was as if he was torn apart inside, yet simultaneously healing with me in his arms.
Every brush of his lips, every hold, carried a raw, aching need - both for me and from me. This felt both familar and unfamiliar... This feelings felt too beautiful, too good to be real and too mixture of familiarity and unfamiliarity.
And I didn't want it to end...