Stephanie's POV
"What?"
"Hmm, three meals a day together," Cliff declared.
I was stunned for a second. Meals together? Is this some new way of flirting that I am not aware of? Usually, in moments like this, the playboy male lead asks for something like a hug or a kiss, or even a date in the ones I read.
"Is this another of your playboy skills?" I was suspicious of this man's words. Such an innocent request was too innocent for a man like him.
Cliff's brows frowned, giving me one of those offended looks. "You think too much, love. I said it with goodness in my heart. You are bone and skin. People will think I starve you." Cliff huffed, his eyes pointing at my arm.
Instinctively, my hand tried to cover my arm. I didn't think I was that thin. This man notices stuff a contract husband shouldn't. He was a playboy through and through. I cleared my throat, trying to change the topic. "Do I need to put on the wedding band too?"
"Yep."
He didn't wait before answering me. I sighed since it was his house. I can follow these rules a bit. I put on the wedding band while looking at the other band still in the box.
"What about this one?" I inquired. If he was planning to wear it later, I can put it aside for him. Cliff didn't glance, instead forwarding his hand towards me.
"Can you put it on for me?"
I stared. This time I really stared at his hand. His fingers were longer and neat, with veins popping up on the back. Why does this guy confuse me with such words? Look at those veiny hands, those flirty double-meaning words. God knows how many became victims to this.
"Wear it yourself." I put the box on the dashboard, looking out of the window. I am not falling further into this sweet dream.
I glanced away, staring outside. It was already late, and the traffic from people going home had cleared up. The roads were emptier, with a few cars passing by now and then. The night sky looked similar to the past.
If it was my hometown, at this time mom and I would walk by the beach. After leaving home, mom chose a port city. She never told me the reason other than the legend of the city. It was a place named after a maiden called Avaline. Avaline was a young maiden who lost her lover at sea and heard that souls of those lost in the sea never rest until they reach the shore. So she waited by the shore every day for her lover.
No one knows whether she met her lover and put his soul to rest or ventured into the sea to find him. But people did pity the young couple and named the city Avaline so that someday they could find the place by hearing the name.
My mom loved the story. She used to tell me love so pure was hard to find. Every time we went on our little walk by the beachside, my mom stared into the sky. Her eyes were out of focus, as if she was lost in her own world. Maybe she still hoped to meet her lover, not Klever. Love like the one Avaline had. Maybe she related to Avaline, or she was jealous that she could never experience it.
"Remember, Athy, if someday you fall in love, they better wait for you like Avaline," my mom used to say after telling the story every time.
Forget love. I entered into a sham marriage with the worst kind of guy. A playboy.
"A trash."
Cliff's words from earlier flashed across my mind. I was too caught up in the moment to ask that. I rejected him and called him trash? Other than the blind date, when did we ever meet?
"Have we met before?" I turned to face him and asked directly. Maybe he remembers wrong or thinks I am someone else. Why would I call a guy like him trash? Sure, he was a playboy and an STD hub, but trash might be too much. Even if I think that, I wouldn't say it.
"You really don't remember?" His face stayed the same, but his voice sounded sad.
"If I did, I wouldn't be asking," I sighed.
"We did. Not only did we meet, I confessed my feelings in front of everyone, but you rejected me. I was so embarrassed that I gave up on love."
I couldn't help but snort hearing his tale of misery. Rejection from first love, so he turned into a playboy. Was this the trope he was going for? I was rejected in front of everyone—that's an absurd lie. I fell for a guy like Daniel because he promised he would save me from there. If I can fall for that piece of art, Cliff was far too good for me not to fall for, especially his looks.
"Yeah right, what next? I was your first love? You had love at first sight and still weren't able to move on, so you became a playboy?" I said between my laughs. This was the funniest thing I have heard. When was the last time I laughed? This was good. Me? The first love of a guy like Cliff? Who will believe such absurdity?
"Yeah."
"You didn't know me. I was invisible in your world, but you became the center of my world. Every time I saw you laugh, my heart stopped beating. I could watch you for hours. But alas, you had to be cruel and reject me."