###Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12


Henry sat on the edge of the bed before falling on his back. He ran his fingers through his hair, smiling as he replayed his conversation with Anthonia.

" She is crazy. " He said, laughing.

" Who is?" A voice asked him. " Anthonia?"

Smiling, he replied. " Yes, she is so crazy, Trixie. "

" Do you like her? I mean, like like. "

" No, of course not. You're the only person I will ever. . . "

" Shh, don't say that. You have every right to move on, I'm deád and never coming back. You deserve your happiness, I've had my own share of happiness which you gave me, my loved ones gave me. So, please don't say that. "

" There's no way I could possibly like like Anthonia, no way. You and Smith are on my case, why do both of you want me to like Anthonia? You know she even placed a bet with me about it.

" We know what is good for you and we just want your happiness. She makes you laugh, you laugh today more than you ever did in the last ten days. "

He didn't say anything but he just smiled.

" You should work on a new song, I won't be the first person to listen to it this time around, Anthonia will. "

His eyes flung open and he realized he was sort of in a trance.

Picking up his note and a pen from his nightstand, he wanted to pen down something but nothing came.

" Anthonia could be of help, let me ask her. . . No, she won't help. . . Or should I just go? No. . . Okay, Henry, you'll go. "

He stood up and went to her room but she wasn't there. He checked Blossom's room and saw her there.

She was seated on the single sofa in Blossom's nursery, reading a book. Her attention was solely on the book, the calm smile on her face shows that she was enjoying the book.

As Anthonia sat on the one single sofa in Blossom's room with her legs crossed, reading a book; The History Of Greece.

She just finished feeding Blossom her fourth milk. She is awake, sucking on her pacifier.

Henry decided to make his appearance known by gently knocking on the door. She looked up from her book and saw him.

She tilted her head at him, quizzically.

Entering the room, he waved at her. " What're you doing?"

" Reading. " She replied, blatantly.

" What're you reading?"

" A book. " She snapped, glaringly.

He flinched a little at the outburst of her words.

" Why would you ask such a obvious question?" She asks, expecting an answer from him which she didn't get.

" Sorry. I know it is a book you are reading, I meant what's the title of the book?"

" History Of Greece. "

" Why are you reading it? You're not a school girl. "

She looks up at him and shook her head in disapproval. " I don't have to be a school girl to read. "

" I know that but this is boring. "

" It isn't boring, I love Greece. " She replies, smiling at the mention of the country.

" Yeah, it is a beautiful country. Have you been there?"

" Yes, just once when I was fifteen. I want to go there again. I love Greece. "

" What's stopping you from going?" He asks.

She exhaled deeply. " Okay, unlike you, I don't have the money for air ticket and accommodation. I can't just want to go somewhere and actually go without a year or two worth of savings. "

" Oh, right. I want to show you something, come with me please. " He pleaded with her.

" What's it? What is it about? Where's it?" She asks, looking at her book.

He took the book from her and she eventually stood up on her feet to retrieve it back but he was taller than her and he was standing in his tippy toes.

As she made many attempts to take back the book, she finally grab hold of the book but when she wanted to drag the book out of his grip, he shifted backwards, making loose her balance and falling on him. They both fell on the floor with Anthonia on top of Henry.

As she fell on him, their lips touched each other slightly before she stood up, quickly. He also stood up and handed her the book which she took without looking at him.

The tension in the room was too hot and tight as both of them refused to speak first.

Anthonia decided to clear the tension herself. " You said you wanted to show me something, right? What is it?"

" Erm, it is. . ."

" Is it in your room?"

" No, it isn't in my room. "

" Where's it then?"

" Just come. "

She chose not to argue with him, she dropped the book on the sofa.

" I'll bring Blossom along. " She said, gesturing to the child in the cot.

He nods. " Sure, I'll be down waiting for you. "

After he left, Anthonia turned to Blossom. " I know that I shouldn't be thinking about what just happened but I can't help it. " She said to the child who didn't understand a word she just said but smiled anyway. " I'm busy telling you about my predicament and you're smiling, this isn't the time to act cute, tell me what you would do if you were me?" She facepalm herself. " Nevermind, I'll just play it cool, though it has been six years since I've kissed anyone. "

She inhaled and exhaled deeply twice before dressing Blossom up in a red onesie. She placed her in her walker and went out of the room.

Entering the elevator, she touched her hips and realized she was wearing a skirt and a blouse which couldn't hold a phone. She shrugged it off.

" I don't need the phone so let it remain in the room. " She said and got out of the elevator. She saw him first and stopped on her tracks.

Henry was standing beside the wall, one leg curved backwards, resting on the wall while the remaining one stayed on the floor, he was holding his phone with one hand while he used the other to rake his stubborn hair backwards, they won't stop falling to his face.

She smiled unknowingly, staring at him not wanting to take her gaze off him but she had to so she did. She took her unsatisfied gaze away from the handsome man standing right in front of her just a few feet away but hadn't noticed her yet because of his phone.

" Hey, I'm here. " She says, gaining his full attention as he immediately dropped his phone away from his eye level and walked up to her. " What do you want to show me?"

" You will love it. " He dropped his phone beside Blossom in her walker.

As they walked out of the lobby decorated like a museum.

" Why did you decorate this area like this? It doesn't look like a home. " She said.

" Well, most of the interior design was chosen by Beatrix, she was an artist. "

" Oh. Do you like it?" She paused to correct herself. " I mean, it is good, somehow but do you like it?"

" Actually no, Emmanuella always knew that but I insisted she decorate the house. The whole house. "

" Yeah, I think she mis-decorated the lobby just to spite you. Because the rest of the rooms are greatly decorated. "

He nodded. " I know, she told me and I wasn't the least bit surprised. She was crazy just like you, just a little less crazier than you or maybe not. "

" So, who is more crazy, me or her?" Anthonia asks, teasingly.

" I can't say. You both are crazy. " He said, laughing.

As they continued to walk towards where Henry wanted to show Anthonia, there was a comfortable silence.

" I've been wanting to ask you a question, can I?" She asks, looking at her expectantly.

He hummed, nodding his head.

" How many acres of land is your gigantic house built on?"

" 30 to 35 acres of land. " He replies.

" So, all of 35 acres of land?" She asks, just to be sure she didn't mishear.

" No, just 30 acres. "

" So, why did you say 30 to 35 acres of land when it's only 30?" She asks, sharply.

He brought out a key from his pocket, inserting it in the big padlock on the wooden door. He flung open the door. " This is the remaining five acres. "

The happiness that showcased in Anthonia's eyes making it sparkle more than usual was wonderful to see. How quickly she changed her expression from almost pissed off to happy.

He couldn't deny the little tingles of proudness when he looked at her knowing he is the reason for her happiness.

" You brought me here?" She asks, advancing forward. " I thought you said it was prohibited from outsiders like me, why the sudden change of mind?"

He shrugs his shoulders, walking to where she was. " I was very màd at you and the world so you can't blame me. "

She faced him. " You. . .are you still màd at me?"

He shook his head negatively. " What, of course not. You're my friend. "

Anthonia studied his face with her head tilted. If she was in a lab coat and chemicals with all sorts of names are arranged properly, one might think Henry was an experimental object.

" Are you sure you are okay? Do you need to visit the doctor?" She asks, trying to touch his forehead but he held her wrist, stopping her.

He chuckled softly. " I'm okay, I'm just being friendly, is it bad?"

" No, no, it isn't, it just. . . Never mind. "

He held her other hand to face him properly. As she faced him, her eyes met him in a questioning way.

No matter how many times he looked at those eyes, he will still be captivated by it. Those eyes staring at him like she is digging for an answer. Those chocolate caramel eyes staring deep into his eyes that he knew lack warmth unlike hers that was full of life.

No matter how hard he tried to wave it off, he couldn't even try to deny the tingles of content in his heart, he couldn't deny the tingles he felt while holding her hand that was also warm, his body aches to be closer to hers in more intimate way; a hug perhaps.

While he was lost in his thoughts, Anthonia could also say the same.

When she wanted to feel his temperature from his forehead and he held her hand to stop her, she contradicted the feeling of oneness she felt like their hands were made to hold each other for Infinity. But, when he held the other, she couldn't resist the quick intake of breaths drawn out of her heart forcefully.

Her heartbeat increased as goosebumps formed on her body. She was yet to forget about the kiss that happened earlier tho it was technically not a kiss but it hasn't left her mind and now she has Henry staring at her like she was some sort of award he wanted to claim. His hand felt cold against hers and his eyes lacked warmth and something inside her vowed to fill those jet-black eyes with warmth and joy.

Blossom in her walker might probably be wondering what was wrong with this two grown adults doing a frozen game like they weren't too old for playing games but she didn't not make any noise and just watch her daddy take away her nanny's attention from her.

As she wanted to start crying, Anthonia lost the game as she looked away first and went to Blossom, disconnecting her hands from his.

The moment her hands left his, the feeling of warmth left him again. Maybe Trixie was right about Anthonia being his what? I think she put it as 'Fate and destiny'

He smiled brightly as the thought of Anthonia being his.

" I thought Blossom would be sleeping but she is still awake. " Anthonia said.

Of course, she is. She just wanted to start crying for no reason because your attention wasn't on her but her daddy.

They continued their walk to the shore of the water. She breathed in the smell of water and smiled.

Half of the place was covered in water, the water kept hitting each other causing a splash. The beach was beautiful just as she imagined it to be when Henry refused to bring her here.

Two trees were on either side of the beach, dancing to the wind.

" What if there is a tsunami? What happens?" She asked, suddenly.

" There is always a tsunami warning but it drains. The beach will drain. " He replied.

She nodded. She closed her eyes, hands wide open like he wanted to fly, walking in the water.

" Be careful. " He said.

As soon as those words left his mouth, she fell into the water. He looked at her, seeing she was struggling to keep her head above the water but she was failing. She was drowning.

He quickly dived into the water and brought her out. She was unconscious, her brown hair smeared on her face.

This wasn't the time to get mesmerized by Anthonia's beauty, she was unconscious but he couldn't resist it.

The way her long brown hair laid wet on her beautiful face, the way her long lashes decorated her eyelids, the way her pink plumb lip was wet, drawing his attention.

He shook his head vigorously to come back to what was presently happening. He slowly lowered his head and his lips met her, giving her a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

She coughed out water and he helped her sit up.

" Are you okay?" He asked and she nodded slowly. " I can't believe you can't swim, it is surprising. You can dance, sing, cook, look for someone's trouble even if it's well hidden and you can't swim, unbelievable. " He said and she pushed him.

They both laughed. Their laugh echoing on the beach.