"Mia?"
Mia felt her muscle ache from being tensed for so long and when she felt his body behind her, his hand about to wrap itself around his waist, she turned and pushed him away.
Rey's eyes looked hurt and her eyes widened after she had pushed him from her. The feeling of being under his command hadn't still left her system and she began fidgeting with the thought that he would do something to hurt her in retaliation.
Rey feels helpless but after her push, something clicks in his head reminding him of the same way Vennesaa had pushed him away with harsh words and he flared.
"You have no right to push me away when I paid you for this." His eyes widened after he said this and when they met hers, her eyes were instantly red from unshed tears.
He went cold with regret and hate for himself for hurting her with his words. He stood helpless and started thinking about dropping to his knees to apologize. He didn't want her to think everything he had been doing these past few weeks was a just facade to deceive her.
'So it was all a lie then?' Mia tried her best to hold back her tears as she looked at his stunned face.
It pierced her heart to think that he could threaten her and treat her like trash but could not put a leash over the bitch standing just outside the kitchen door.
Forcing the corners of her lips to tilt up into a smile, a sad smile she moved in to hug him but he took a step back. A strangled "don't" escaped his mouth but she didn't stop.
She had her eyes on the floor, not wanting to look into his. She knew her resolve to hold her tears back would be broken once her eyes clashed with his.
She walked faster and wrapped her hands around his waist. It felt like a dagger was plunged into her chest when he just stood still with his hands by his side.
Rey closed his eyes, a wasted effort to hide his pain and when Mia disengaged from the hug, he could not stand to look at her face.
Turning towards the direction of the door but pausing for a bit, he made to turn but when he heard utensils loudly clashing against each other, he walked away instead.
Mia tried to forget the heaviness in her chest by cooking and after she was done, she went into the dinning to serve them.
She walked into Celine loudly chewing gum, her entire focus on her phone like she was daring Rey to do something while Rey glared at her like his eyes could suddenly develop a gun and shoot.
Serving them quietly and avoiding their gaze, she started to walk away when a familiar hand held her hand, pausing her in her steps.
"Won't you eat?"
Looking away from the table like it was some sort of taboo, she shook her head. "Not hungry."
In her bedroom, Mia laid down with her face pressed against her pillow as she cried out her heart at the uncomfortable feeling in her chest.
When she came up for air, her eyes were puffy and reddened. She was trembling from the discomfort, her brain conjuring images of what could happen between Rey and Celine.
She hit her chest severally, not understanding why she was so stupid with hope. She didn't understand why she still held out a candle of hope in the stormy nature of their unreal situation.
While she tried her best to stop the tears from flowing, a knock jolted her.
She tried to ignore the knock but it became consistent, making her hurriedly dry her eyes and pat her face. She knew who it was.
She made to move towards the door but decided against it. She wasn't ready to face him yet so she went back to sit at the edge of her bed and the knock stopped.
When the knocks stopped, a feeling of emptiness engulfed her. She didn't know if she was supposed to feel happy that he stopped knocking or sad that he stopped knocking.
She jerked when her phone's ringing pierced the air and the bold name "Babe" with several emojis assaulted her eyes. She knew then that he would barge in if she didn't willingly open the door for him.
Walking cautiously towards the door, she threw it open and walked fast towards her bed.
Rey had wanted to see her eyes but when she turned so swiftly, he didn't know what else to do than to walk in with the tray of food in her hands.
Mia laid back on the bed with a thin sheet over her face and entire body to prevent Rey from noticing her swollen face and eyes from excessive tears.
"Babe." He called carefully and again, she was torn between two emotions.
Her heart betrayed her by thumping crazily and her stomach gave her butterflies but thinking about earlier and how all these might still be among his grand scheme, she shook with anger.
She felt her side of the bed dip and his body's heat spreading towards hers as he held the cloth, trying to pry it from her strong grip.
"You have to eat, Babe." He sounded sorrowful and sorry.
"I don't want to." Her voice was rough and muffled.
He used a bit of his strength and took the sheet from her. Her red swollen eyes met his and he closed his eyes for a bit before opening them again.
Seeking her hand out, he held it and looked into her eyes. "I know I have no excuse for her actions earlier in the kitchen, I am extremely sorry." His voice broke towards the end and that was all it took to melt her resolve.
Mia broke into tears and Rey leaned in to kiss the tears away. "No, Baby, don't cry." He pleaded softly.
"I am so so sorry." He pleaded and repeated it, kissing every part of her face till she stopped crying and hugged his neck.
"Food?" He tried again and she shook her head.
Peeling her hands off his neck and holding it above her head, he stared into her red eyes.
"You either eat or I fuck you and make sure you scream my name so loudly for Celine to hear." His voice had a hint of playfulness to it and she giggled before nodding.
"You want my dick so badly?" He joked and she hit his chest lightly with a laugh.
"Eww! No! I meant yes to food." She croaked and laughed.
"I'd feed you then." He informed and all her protests fell on deaf ears.
He ended up sleeping in her room and cuddling her to sleep despite her protests.