Tarnished Before Accident
Chapters 27. Shopping

Last night, Rey stayed at this house again. He told me a lot about his life. The man wasn't as cold as we had met. She was warmer to me so I felt more comfortable when I was next to her.

That night, when we were chatting casually on the balcony of the room, there was something that had been stuck in my heart and I was eager to ask him. Perhaps, this is the right time to ask everything.

"Sir Rey, may I ask you something?" I asked him for permission first.

"Say!"

"Why marry me?"

"Don't I say it before. I married you because I wanted to be responsible. I don't want you guys abandoned."

I think that answer still makes me less satisfied. People get married not only because they are afraid that their wives and children will be abandoned, right? If only that was the reason, he could give us a house and finance without marrying.

"Wouldn't you not marry me you could give me a place to live. Why should I get married?"

Rey then turned her attention completely to me, staring into the depths of my eyes. My gaze was fixed there, as if the look in his eyes could hypnotize me in an instant.

"Because I want to take care of you." He said firmly. "Alea, my father used to say, "Never look at a woman, let alone smile at her. Except, she's your wife." And I did what he said. I witnessed for myself how Dad only looked at Mother. Until he was no longer young, he just smiled at my mother." His lips then revealed a faint smile. "If I don't marry you, I won't smile and look at you. Especially looking after you."

"I .. can take care of myself."

Rey raised her eyebrows, doubting my words. "You sure?" He chuckles later. "Seeing you almost killed yourself, then frightened when scolded by Mama, I feel the life you are living right now and in the future will be heavy. If I leave you unaccompanied, who will comfort and protect you?"

I stared at the two hazel eyeballs that looked beautiful. His eyes showed sincerity. I felt something warm in the recesses of my heart. It's been a long time that no one has given me attention since Dad died. And right now, the one who gave me comfort and attention was precisely my brother's own husband.

Miris, right? Although he is also my husband at the moment, but still if our relationship is nothing more than status.

"Don't be too nice to me!" I softly said, looking at him with a gaze that I could not translate. Rey frowned hearing my words. "I'm a normal woman. I don't want to have more feelings for you. Take responsibility accordingly. I won't demand much."

I chose to stand up, then left Sister Rey who was still sitting on the balcony of the room. I rubbed my chest, easing the strange turmoil that suddenly stirred. I'm afraid my heart is starting to cling to him, afraid my weak soul depends on the sturdy figure of Rey.

My eyes closed, resting my back and head against the walls of the room. I exhaled this tight breath.

Yeah, God. Please, take care of my heart!

***

While this morning, after I prepared breakfast, I heard Rey calling me from the room. I looked up while answering his call, then rushed towards the man's private room.

The room is open. Rey didn't seem to close the door on purpose. I saw him sitting there on the edge of the bed bare-chested.

I lowered my head, hiding a red hue bias in the face. Swinging the steps carefully, I finally stopped right in front of the man.

"What's wrong?"

He looked at me, then took something from beside his body. A P3K box was thrust at me.

"Help me change this bandage!"

"Oh!" I nodded, received the P3K box from his hand, and sat down next to him.

The bandage is wrapped around the left shoulder towards the right armpit. I don't know what he meant because it was clear that he was shot in just one section. Rey's sister let me take off the bandage wrap on her body, then change it with a new bandage.

I got up from my seat, stood up while leaning towards him, focused only on the thick bandage. Rey was silent, not speaking a bit when I removed the bandage, but there was one thing that bothered me.

At such a close distance like this, he looked at me, setting his eyes full on me.

"Sir Rey!" I called out his name without daring to look at him.

"Hey!"

"Why look at me? Don't look at me like that!" I tried to be honest with him. I am not comfortable being looked at like that. I don't think his eyes are good for my heart health.

"Then, what should I look at?" ask without sin.

"Whatever! Obviously don't look at me that way. I'm .. nervous." That's my bad. I was too honest to express my feelings. Let alone! Let him no longer do anything that would make me tremble.

"Oh, alright!"

I cleaned the wound with a warm towel that I had mixed using an antiseptic, pressing it slowly so as not to make it hurt. Rey was silent, showing no expression of pain.

"Sir Rey!"

I turned to the side when I called out to her and at that moment, Rey turned to me. The incident I have avoided has happened since. Our views met for a while.

I cleared my throat, as well as her, trying to decipher the tense atmosphere.

"Is the wound covered in bandages like that again?" ask me after disguising the heartbeat that previously felt tight.

"no need. Just cover it in the wound."

"Heem, okay!"

I'm really nervous. Our position is so close. Although at this time I can freely see and touch his athletic body, but of course I do not do. I just touched the necessary body parts, not took a chance.

"It has. I'm .. excuse me."

I immediately packed the P3K equipment, put it in the box to get out of front of Rey. Just as I was getting out of my position and almost reaching the doorway, Rey suddenly called out to me.

"Alea!"

I stopped my steps, but refused to look at him.

"Thank you."

I nodded while pulling both corners of my lips upwards. "Sama-sama," answered me who then came out of Brother Rey's room.

At exactly half seven in the morning, I finished breakfast on the dining table. Rey came down in time without me calling her. He immediately pulled out a chair to sit on before starting to eat food.

"What cooking is today? It looks good."

"Heem, I hope Rey likes it."

Like any ordinary day, I brought Kak Rey some rice along with the side dishes and vegetables. There was no chatter when we ate the food. However, again Kak Rey's expression looks reluctant and lazy to chew her food.

"Why? Doesn't it taste good?" ask me after realizing the contents of the plate did not decrease much.

"Alea, it looks like my tongue is numb. I can't feel anything." However, his eyes were fixed on the plate in front of me. "It looks like your food is better. Can I change it?"

"Huh?"

Without waiting for my approval, Rey took over my plate and replaced it with her plate. "But I ate it." I tried to stop him. Why would he take the rest of my food?

"It's okay. I seem to be hooked on eating the rest of your food." Rey seemed to be without burden to say it. Did he realize what he just said?

I see Rey eating it so well. He clearly said that his tongue could not feel anything.

"How does it feel? Is it still bland?" many ensure.

She shook her head. "No. It tastes good."

The smile on my lips was deliberately held back. This happens a lot when we eat together. I don't know, I can't think of a reason for Rey's strange behavior. We continued eating quietly after exchanging our plates.

***

The food has been exhausted. I ordered a taxi to go to the downtown shopping center to stock up on monthly supplies. Rey's sister had already turned me over with a credit card and cash after asking her for permission to shop.

Perhaps, I am currently more like a real housewife. It's okay, doesn't every woman have a dream of being a housewife who can take care of their family and children so as not to lack affection?

All the groceries I've made a list in the note on my smartphone app. Just so I don't miss a single ingredient when I start shopping.

One by one I put the groceries in the trolley to the mountains because it was too full. I waited in line at the cashier which happened to be not too crowded. In order to get rid of boredom, I turned my eyes the other way. But what I did made me find something. I saw a very familiar figure chatting with a foreign man in one of the men's watch stands.

I sharpened my eyesight to make sure I didn't misidentify people. And as soon as the figure turned to face me, I was sure who he was.

"Sister Rena? Isn't he out of town?"