Chapter 5 Love or Lust

Olivia pinned Axel to the wall, pouring him kisses all over. But he managed to resist her, and pushed her away.

"Why are you doing this ?" He asked, baffled.

"You knew it was you, the one I met in Sweden."

"So? What if I'm the one you met in Sweden?" He asked, glaring at her.

"Then many things should changed." She muttered, her voice barely audible.

"You have no shame Olivia, bringing this up now because you are having misunderstanding with Asher."

"I have always wanted to bring it up, no matter how hard I try, I can't find the man I met in Sweden in Asher, but I tried to convince myself."

"You and Asher were together for two years, so why are you splitting out these trash now?" He shouted.

"After the other night, when we shared a night together, it reminded me of the man I met in Sweden."

"Don't phrase it that way, we slept on same bed, it didn't indicate that we shared a night."

"Axel, I want us to be together." She said, and he looked at her for a while before laughing out loud.

"You must be insane."

"Axel, I met you first."

"And you were with Asher for two years, you are engaged to him, your wedding is fast approaching, and you're blabbering these nonsense? Can you listen to yourself?

"Asher broke up with me, he is not returning to me, even if he comes back, he won't return to me."

"So? Is that why you are doing this ? Because Asher broke up with you ?"

"When I came home two years ago, you were the one I wanted to meet, but Asher approached me. I thought he was you, untill I discovered his allergy, then I tried to rethink, strawberry was the drink I had the whole time while we were together, I was still confused, until I met you again, but it was already late, I couldn't leave Asher."

"Yeah, Olivia, it was late then, and even now, it is still late."

"Are you sure ? When we met in Sweden, am I the only one who fell in love." She said, staring deep in his eyes, driving him to the memory of their first encounter in Sweden.

*

*

FLASHBACK***

*

Axel sat in a restaurant, expecting his date, when he got a message from her.

"Gosh, I get stood up." He muttered, and intends to leave, when he sight a gorgeous lady step into the restaurant, her radiant dark eyes sparkled in the restaurant and he felt like she is the only one in the restaurant. He couldn't take his eyes off her, and watched her adjust her long dark hair to the back, when a waiter bumped into her.

"Oh, my." Axel almost shouted.

"Oh, my." She shouted, and the waiter started apologizing.

She looked at her blue gown that is now stained with wine, she looked around embarrassed and turned to leave, when Axel tie his jacket around her.

"Hi pretty, I believe you might need it." He said, and she looked at him, her sparking dark eyes glued to his.

"No, I believe I need something else now." She said.

"If is my pleasure to attend to your needs." He said, and she chuckled.

"A ride, I can't attend a date like this, so I have to return home." She said, and he smiled brightly.

"Shall we ?" He asked, gesturing his hands towards her, and she received the hand, together they left the restaurant together.

*

*

FLASHBACK ENDS***

*

Axel blinked rapidly to snap out of his thoughts.

"Olivia, please... leave."

"I was right, I'm not the only one who fell in love at first sight, you felt the same way. So I will give you time to think about it, I will return, Axel, and together we will think of a way to be together." She said, and peck his lips before leaving.

**

**

Asher draft out a note and gave it to Piper, who collected it with a smile.

"That is the rules and regulations you are expected to follow, for as long we are roommates." Asher said.

"Fine, I agree to them all." She said.

"I doubt if you reed that."

"I did."

"Read it out, to show that you agree to it all."

"Piper must abide to the following rules as Asher's roommate. Rule number one, Piper must never go close to Asher's bedroom, that is an abomination. Number two, Piper is free to use anything in the kitchen, she is free to cook and use all kitchen appliances, but she should never cook for Asher and lastly, Piper shouldn't try to be too friendly, keep the relationship as distant as possible." She read aloud and smiled brightly.

"So,do you agree to comply ?" He asked, and she nodded.

"I will comply."

He nodded , and smiled too. "So, let's exchange handshake to seal the contract." He said, and stretch his hand for a shake.

She hesitated for a while, before she received the handshake, but he withdraw immediately because of how cold her hand felt.

"Why? Why is your hand so cold ?" He complained, and she looked at him.

"Your temperature is low." He said, and she looked at him confused. "Can you permit me to feel your temperature?" He asked, and she nodded, still confused.

He touched her forehead to feel her temperature, and his hands almost freeze.

"You are not feeling well, you should see a doctor."

She shake her head. "No, I ca-."

"Just wait for me here, I will go get changed." He said and hurried to his room.

"I can't visit a doctor." She muttered, her voice barely audible.

Asher returned after freshening up and met Piper seated on the couch waiting, her expression unreadable.

"Piper, let's go."

"No, Mr. Asher, I can't go to the hospital." She muttered in fear, and she shake her head negatively; he chuckled at her childishness, thinking she is scared of hospital.

"Come on Piper, you are sick, and I can't just seat and watch. We're roommates so your health is also my priority. It's either you come with me now, or you leave my house." He said, his voice determined.

"But, they won't attend to me, they can't see me." She said, and he looked at her with a smile.

"Come on Piper, stop being a cry baby. Let's go." He said, and dragged her out, not minding her freezing body.

He ordered for a rented car, it arrived within few minutes,and he opened the door for her.

"Mr. Asher, you don't understand, we can't go to the hospital, because I can't go, they can't attend to me, you are the only one who can see me." She said, and Asher chuckled.

"Don't be scared, I already find a good hospital that will attend to us, after seeing the doctor, we will go get you a new dress, this one is already dirty. How long have you been wearing this ?"

"Three years." She muttered, and he almost lost control of the car, but he was quick to step on the brake.

"What did you say ? You have been wearing the same dress for three years ? How is that possible? Oh, do you wash and wear it back?" He said, already feeling pity for her, and she looked at him confused. "You must have lived a hard life, don't worry, I will take you shopping and buy you nice clothes." He said, and she looked at him, her expression unreadable.

He drove in silence for a while untill they pulled over at a hospital. He alighted and opened the door for her, but she hesitated.

"Come on, let's go." He said, and she looked at him. He chuckled, amused by her childishness. "Come on." He said, and help her remove her seatbelt, before dragging her out.

"Mum, look at that man talking to his car, with so much emotion." A little kid said, pointing at them.

Asher turned to also look at the man the child was referring to, and was surprised to see the kid pointing at him.

"Come on Michal, let's go." Her mother said, and dragged her away.

"Why was the kid pointing at me ?" He muttered, and scoffed. "Come on Piper, let's go." He said, and turned around to see her gone. "Piper, Piper." He called, looking around for her. "She was just here. " He thought.

He looked around for her but didn't see her, he become confused, wondering how she left without a trace, so he returned home, and met her in front of the gate waiting for him. He alighted from the car immediately, and went to confront her.

"How can you leave like that ?" He shouted.

"I told you, I don't want to see a doctor, I know what happened to me, the doctors can't fix it, because they can't see me." She said.

He looked at her pitifully, wondering how severely ill she was, totally ignoring the part where she mentioned that they can't see her, and assumed he heard her wrong - that she meant that they can't diagnosis her illness. "Piper, I love to understand you honestly, let's go inside, but before that, to make up for everything, let's go shopping." He said, gesturing his hand towards her, and she shakes her head. "What? No? Why?

"Mr. Asher, there is something you have to know." She said.

"Ok, let's go do that inside." He said and they went in together. "Do you know that people believe that this house is haunted? "He said, and she stopped walking. He noticed, and looked at her, laughing out loud. "It also freaks you out, I was also astounded when I heard. I almost passed out and think of leaving this place, but turns out it was you wandering around the house, giving people false information."

"What would you have done if it was haunted?" She asked, her voice serious.

"I don't believe in those stuffs, ghosts and all, it freaks me out. I would have ran off if the rumors were true. But it's just a rumor anyways, ghosts don't exist. I never believed in fantasy folktales, they are all bunch of nonsense. Don't believe them either." He said, and turned to see her expression still the same. "Oh, I must have scared you. Let's stop talking about it." He said, and they both went in.

She sat, looking down in silence, the awkward silence made everywhere tensed, and he regretted bringing up the ghost story.

"Piper, what you want to tell me?"He asked, hoping she brighten up, but she didn't.

"It's nothing really, I just wanted to tell you that I don't want to go anywhere."

"Oh, is it because of your condition? Don't worry, we can just order for the clothes instead. Do you have any medication you take ?"

"Mr. Asher, if I tell you the truth, you won't be able to handle it. I don't want you to freak out." She muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, but he managed to hear.

"Piper, it's fine. I won't pry." He said and headed to his room.

"What do I do now?" She muttered, playing with her fingers.