Chapter 27
I returned at about 11 PM late into the night, Douglas was in bed but quite worried to sleep. I could see by his face that he was anxious. "Why did you stay out so long?" Normally I would be angered at this question of his, feeling that he had no right to ask me that but I've learnt to quietly avoid unnecessary squabbles.
"I told you earlier, I was out with friends." I replied in a gentle tone, I was polite but this doesn't mean if he says or does anything foolish I wouldn't react. I just want to focus on the important things that lay before me. If I enter into a conflict with him now, the conversation which I scheduled with him tonight might possibly not hold. In life, you need to learn to act wisely and that's how I've determined to be.
"Well, welcome!" I'm amazed at his kind attitude, he has been rude and ungrateful during the day. Hope this' not just temporary, I just wish he sticks to this my mission would be very easy. All I want from him is him by my side. If he doesn't I would be forced to execute my mission alone, just like the girl in "When you're alone." She's my role model, my source of inspiration beside myself, Eva and Zoey. I remember the popular cliche which advises everyone seeking to achieve difficult goals to have something to draw motivation especially when discouragements set in. In my case, this book was the greatest source of encouragement.
I went to take my bath. I need to refresh my body and mind with cool water. "Excuse me!" I told Douglas when I was about to leave. "I'll be back in twenty minutes." I gave myself enough minutes as I would most likely wish to take something light from the refrigerator before retiring to the bed. Hope he doesn't get tired and sleepy by the time I retire to bed. I really need to discuss this with him tonight, tomorrow early in the morning I'll travel to talk with Pandora. The distance is between two states and not something to go unplanned, I have to take every step to ensure success.
Thank goodness Douglas was still awake when I returned. He stared eagerly at me like he wished to say something to me or wanted me to tell him something. This is the attitude I want, I'm glad he's in the mood otherwise I'll be at loss concerning my goal today.
Dressed in my gray pajamas, I stepped gently into the family-sized bed. It's awkward to lie in the same bed with a stranger under normal circumstances. Douglas should be the one feeling this but I'm puzzled to be the one feeling it. Come on, it's the same things like this that made Cassandra fall by the wayside. As a celestial being, it's a law you must keep yourself as pure and chaste as possible to defeat the forces of evil. Cassandra had let her heart be clouded with a certain amount of infatuation and lust which made her defeated upon confronting the dark queen. She defied the divine law for celestial beings. I can't make the same mistake again.
I lie on my bed quietly staring at Douglas, what I'm gonna say is something hard for any man to accept. Well, I have to say this. This moment would determine if I will succeed in my mission or not. This' the first step to my success and I need to take it with the boldest courage, pushing away all fear behind me.
"Douglas, I need to have a discussion with you!" I said not looking at him but upwards towards the ceiling. I'm not sure of the answer he'd give me, if it would be similar to that in the day. Well, let me just say it out loud.
"I'm sorry about the way I talked to you during the day. I was rude when I should be thanking you for the great effort you must have made to bring me safely back from the celestial world." He said with a remorse face and an honest tone, I'm astonished. This must be a dream but I try hard not to let him know the reaction I had inside me at the moment. It's really encouraging to have a surprise like this when I'm doubting my decision to inform him of my plan, if he would accept or not. Things have just taken a different turn I'm most excited to witness.
I gazed into his eyes not believing if he was really the one saying this to me. He looked away briefly in frustration then returned his gaze to me. "I'm sorry, please forgive me." He pleaded with his hands brought together.
"I've accepted your apology, hope we're friends now?" I have to accept his apology and not hold on to his offence which wouldn't be profitable. His apology was from his heart to be honest, I had the gift of detecting when someone was pretending and when honesty was portrayed.
"Yes," he agreed, squeezing my palms with his hands resting across my tummy. I smiled to myself, it was a notable achievement, now I can dive into what I'd planned without any worries.
"I'm happy about this," I muttered with a smile and he brushed my face. In as much as this friendship wouldn't get sexual I'm glad to be overwhelmed in it. It's required I inform him on time before he takes things too far or sees my acts of sharing the same room and bed with him in another light.
"Yeah," he gave me a warm smile.
"Douglas," I called a little afraid that his mood would change but got surprised when he answered the name without any resentment on his face. "There's something I want to talk about with you, it's the contract marriage I mentioned earlier in the day." I once again used a polite tone to please him. His statement that I'll meet difficulty when I come to him about this same topic and him agreeing re-echoed in my mind, that wasn't gonna come true. It's therefore left on me to effect this, to make sure my greatest fear is not brought to reality.
The ball is in my court now and I need to try my absolute best or risk ending halfway or worse than Cassandra.