SEQUEL: THIRTY-THREE

Roman quickly pulled on a shirt and without bothering to do up the buttons, he placed his cigar in an ashtray and went out of his room. He stepped out in time to see Alina go into a room at the very end of the hallway and without stopping to question why her room was there, he swept across the hallway after her.
He stopped in front of the door and contemplated what he was about to do. Sure he had seen a glimpse of a different part of Alina for the past few hours they had spent with each other but the her that he had always known was discouraging him from going through with checking up on her.
He lifted a hand to knock anyway, prepared to leave if things looked like they were heading south. To his surprise, there was no response. Knocking again provided the same response and if Roman hadn’t seen her personally go into the room, he would have thought she wasn’t in.
Roman took a step back with the intention to leave but the niggling feeling under his skin wouldn’t let him. A quick try at the door handle showed that it wasn’t locked, he pushed it open and looked in to find Alina sitting curled up on the ground like she had wanted to go back to bed but had given up halfway.
He really wanted to leave but he couldn’t abandon a lady that needed his help so he reluctantly stepped in, “Hey, are you alright?” He asked quietly, staying close to the doorway in the case that he needed to make a quick exit.
Alina lifted her head and turned around to look at him with gut-wrenching vulnerability spilling out of her big dark eyes like tears.
Roman didn’t know when he stepped in and closed the door behind him and walked closer. He got to Alina’s side and crouched so that they could be face to face.
Alina turned her whole body so that she was facing Roman, the tears that she had been trying to keep at bay spilling like a broken dam. “Do you think I should have never been born?” She asked in a whisper, her voice cracking.
Roman found himself at a loss for words, that was the very last question he had been expecting to be asked. He had thought that he would just have to comfort Alina over getting betrayed by a friend but he had a feeling that it was far deeper than that.
Alina looked down at her hands which were tightly holding onto the edge of the oversized sweatshirt she had on, this made her tears spill faster, staining the black sweatshirt and her pale hands. “I could have-” A hiccup cut her off, “I could have died but my dad didn’t even call. My only friend ever tried to kill me but that was somehow less painful than finding out that she only became friends with me because of my status, just like everyone else…” She trailed off as a sob punched out of her.
“I’m so exhausted and tired of being lonely, I hate being a princess.” She placed her hands on her face as her shoulders shook with sobs.
While she spoke, Roman quietly sat on the ground to listen to her, and when her tears drowned her words, he gently tugged her hand away from her face and pulled her in for a hug.
Alina hadn’t been expecting anyone to pay attention to her grief, much more Roman. It brought down walls that she didn’t even know she had up and with it came a well of tears. She had never been much of a crier, it was far easier to convert her sadness to anger but now her anger had burnt out, leaving a sadness so dense, it threatened to consume her.
Her slender frame shook as she cried into his shoulder, her sobs loud and ugly like all of the emotions trapped inside of her. She had no idea how long she sat on the ground with Roman, it felt like a few minutes and an eternity at the same time.
None of that mattered though because Roman held her the entire time, single-handedly keeping her together at a moment when she was about to completely shatter.
Alina lifted her head and wiped away the last of her tears away, “I’m really sorry about that,” She apologized, refusing to look at Roman, “I understand if you hate me-”
“I don’t.” Roman cut her off, his voice steady.
The complete certainty in his words broke through Alina’s bubble of embarrassment. “What?” She asked, a hiccup following her question.
That made a small smile form on Roman’s face, “Take a shower and then we’ll talk.” He said instead, worried that she had cried enough to give herself a cold.
“You’re not kicking me out?” Alina asked in confusion, making no move to get to her feet.
Roman stood up and did it for her, helping her up. “Why would I do that?”
“I’m a princess, I’m not supposed to be sad about anything.” She mumbled, having no choice but to stand on her feet when Roman practically carried her up to her feet.
“That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard,” Roman said lightly.
Alina’s eyes dropped to Roman’s shirt which was practically soaked through, “I’m really sorry about this,” She stepped closer to him, making an effort to wipe the tears away with her sleeves.
Roman held her shoulders, spun her around, and then led her in the direction of the bathroom, “Shower first, I’ll do the same.”
Alina stood in front of the door and watched Roman leave, her chest feeling the lightest it had ever been. She only went to the bathroom after he left, staring at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were puffy and her face was red and blotchy, Roman must have thought that she looked fucking hideous, why did he let her stay?
Showing vulnerability was one of the things that Alina had learned not to do while she was still young because she quickly learned that people wouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of her with it. However, she didn’t feel any of that dread after practically having a meltdown in front of Roman.
For a moment, she didn’t know what to do and would have remained standing in front of the the mirror staring at herself without a purpose if she hadn’t remembered Roman telling her to take a shower. So she did, she took a scalding hot shower, the heat comforting her.
Afterward, she stepped out, prepared to spend the rest of the day in her bathrobe because she had drenched Lou’s only to find something waiting for her on her bed.
She hadn’t heard anyone come in while she was in the bathroom but she knew without a doubt that the shirt on her messy bed not only belonged to Roman but that he was the one that brought it for her.
Alina picked it up and held it close, drawing in a soft but cold scented cologne, it reminded her of a snowy evening. The shirt was a much better option than remaining in her bathrobe until she could buy new clothes.
After dressing up, she sat listlessly on her messy bed, not sure if she was supposed to remain in her room for Roman to return or to go out and meet him. A decision was made up for her when a knock came as she remade her bed to keep herself busy.
She straightened up to find Roman leaning against her doorjamb and staring at her. He was dressed in a fitted white tank top and black sweats which was very out of place for him because he was usually dressed in three-piece suits and overcoats.
Alina slowly walked over, noting that Roman’s hair was longer than she previously while it was damp. She opened her mouth to say something but Roman interrupted her.
“Breakfast is ready downstairs,” He said shortly, turning around to lead the way.
Alina had been about to say something like she would leave anytime Roman wanted her to but breakfast sounded better. Although, Roman’s shirt skimmed her thighs and she was the very last person to feel self-conscious about her outfit, she found herself tugging on the edge of the sleeves and the hem of the black shirt she had on.
Roman pretended not to pay attention to Alina to give her some privacy but it was hard to not notice her with how fidgety she was. They could have had breakfast in the dining room on the third floor but he didn’t want to keep her cooped up there.
He had also asked Iyla and Lou to join them for breakfast so that there would be some company at the table. He had no idea why he was going this far for Alina but he couldn’t help but feel like she had entrusted him with her wellbeing.
Lou and Iyla were already seated at the table, the drapes opened wide to let sunlight in. Roman sat first and then watched Alina slowly trudge to the table like she wasn’t sure she was accepted there.
Her dark hair made her features softer, it made it so easy to forget how much of a monster she could be. “Hi, good morning.” She said softly, sitting in the chair closest to Roman.
Lou and Iyla struggled to keep straight faces, after the confrontation that morning, they had expected all sorts of terrible things but not Alina coming down with Roman wearing nothing but his shirt and sticking to his side.
They knew better than to confront their boss with their assumptions while Alina was at the table though so they swallowed their words and replied to Alina’s polite greeting.
Breakfast was surprisingly peaceful, Roman returning up the stairs afterward while Alina pattered after him like a kitten following their owner.
Lou and Iyla exchanged horrified looks, they still sat at the table and they communicated silently with wide eyes.
“What’s going on?” Lou whispered after she was sure that Roman and Alina were out of earshot.
“How would I know?” Iyla fired back but her voice held none of its usual sarcastic bite. She couldn’t help but notice Alina’s puffy eyes - had she been crying?
“Well, I’m going upstairs to find out.” Lou said resolutely, hopping to her feet.
“Sure, leave me alone to clear the table,” Iyla grumbled.
Lou didn’t slow down, “I’m sorry, I love you.”
Iyla just shook her head fondly and got to work. She had a feeling that they were going to be seeing a lot of Alina from now on.