In A Trouble

Lavelle couldn’t sleep even though she was still awake until the clock on her bedroom wall showed three in the morning, while Theophile, who was asleep by her side, didn’t notice that Lavelle had gone to her study table and pulled out a thick book from her desk drawer. She wanted to open it but couldn’t because she felt her heart tighten because she remembered how painfully the contents of the book she was holding on to was now giddy.

Tears flowed again from her round eyes, falling down the leather cover of the thick book, she screamed loudly in her heart. Pouring out all her hatred towards this world that feels so painful and annoying. She doesn’t understand anymore how to open her eyes and see the good side of life, so much untruth in front of her that her view of a beautiful picture of life is a mirage.

“You haven’t slept either? Does it look like you want to tell me something? Why didn’t you wake me up?” Lavelle heard a voice.

Lavelle quickly wiped away the traces of her tears when she realized that Theophile was awake. Lavelle slowly heard the sound of Theophile’s footsteps coming towards her and looked at the clock on the wall.

“Sweetheart, what are you doing?” continued Theophile.

“I only saw a few photos in my photo album,” Lavelle replied calmly.

“You didn’t open anything.” Theophile hugged Lavelle’s shoulder from behind, and then he cuddled up against Lavelle’s right shoulder. “Honey, don’t stay up all night. You could get sick. Look at the bags under your panda’s eyes that are getting clearer by the day.”

“What are you doing, Theo? I can’t fall asleep, and I’m not awake on purpose.” Lavelle touched Theophile’s hand gently.

Theophile smirked. “You can’t fall asleep because you’re still thinking about something disturbing, can you?”

“Um… a little.” Lavelle sighed slowly, and then she put the thick book into the drawer of her study table.

“One thing I want to ask you. Do you hate your mom?” asked Theophile.

“Of course not. She is a woman who is always behind me, no matter what happens. Although I also often feel very annoyed with her,” Lavelle concluded.

“Then what about your daddy? Don’t you want to visit him? He’s sick, isn’t he?” asked Theophile for the umpteenth time.

“I won’t visit him, even if he cries blood to expect my presence,” Lavelle replied firmly, “Don’t I sound like a devil?”

Theophile laughed loudly and then ruffled Lavelle’s silver hair, which had only been pulled back in annoyance. “Hm… a tiny devil that always thrills my heart and soul.”

Lavelle laughed, not a pretty beautiful laugh but a twisted smile. Theophile kissed the top of Lavelle’s head then said again, “If you want, I will take your mom to the kingdom.”

“Don’t play around! Don’t talk nonsense in my house, Theo.” Lavelle was now such a weird person that she even spoke in whispers.

“Is there something that would be a problem if I brought your mom to the kingdom?” asked Theophile, “You don’t have to worry, Lavelle. We can live more joyfully if we want to walk together.”

Lavelle took a deep breath, and she tried to release Theophile’s increasingly intense embrace. She rose from her chair facing Theophile, who was now looking at her with a questioning look. “I’m just afraid that my mom won’t approve of our relationship.”

“Are we officially a couple now?” Theophile smirked.

“Umh… I’m not sure what it’s like,” Lavelle replied, turning her gaze to another object.

“I know you love me, right? It’s just that you don’t dare to be sure of your own feelings, and you don’t dare to express those emotions,” Theophile mumbled.

Lavelle squeaked. “Doesn’t this sound so sickening?”

“I guess so but, whatever it is, sweetie. I can wait for you longer than you think,” Theophile said in such a low voice. “I can wait even if it takes you a hundred years to get over that trauma.”

Lavelle folded her arms in front of her chest, smiling sadly at the sight of a handsome vampire who was still begging for love even though it was clear that the possibility of a partnership between them was pretty undersized. Lavelle doesn’t even know what kind of relationship deserves to be pinned on their relationship, because Lavelle still feels there is a barrier between them.

“You don’t need to think about anything but how you can heal quickly and forget the past memories that made you feel tied up,” Theophile said, “I believe one day you’ll be able to forget about this completely.”

“I hope so too,” Lavelle whispered later.

Not long after, an unknown voice sounded from Lavelle’s stomach, a voice that was really embarrassing that made both Lavelle and Theophile quite surprised. It wasn’t a fart but the sound of an empty stomach screaming for delicious food to be filled. Lavelle held her stomach in embarrassment, her cheeks blushing instantly.

“You hungry?” asked Theophile with a faint smile.

“Um, yes. I don’t think the food is strong enough to fill my hungry stomach, which is like a baby’s stomach,” Lavelle replied awkwardly.

“I can cook a meal for you if you want,” Theophile offered a favor.

“But… it’s already so late,” Lavelle replied, really feeling awkward.

“I can still hear the television in the living room, which means Mark isn’t asleep yet, and you don’t have to feel awkward because this is your own home,” Theophile said.

“Okay, can you cook me instant noodles? I think there are still a few packets of instant noodles in the cupboard.” Lavelle sighed after that.

“Of course, whatever you want, I can do,” replied Theophile later.

+++

A delicious and appetizing aroma wafted throughout the first floor of this simple and spacious house. Even Mark and Daniela, who were still awake from watching the football match, turned their heads as if asking for a share of the instant noodles Theophile cooked for Lavelle that midnight.

“Sorry guys, I only cooked two packs of instant noodles, and that was especially for Lavelle. If you want to eat the noodles, cook them yourself before I wash the jar,” Theophile muttered as he sprinkled the fragrant celery leaves and a little fried onion sprinkled on top of the half-boiled egg. “Doesn’t this make you two feel hungry again?”

“Damn it, if you don’t want to share those instant noodles with us, it’s better not to talk too much,” Daniela exasperated, “Being a vampire or a love slave even though you’re still annoying.”

Mark laughed softly. “You’re so weird. Just let them make out. I can make one for you, Danie.”

“Actually, I don’t want to eat noodles at night because it’s not healthy but, if you insist, that’s fine. After all, this football broadcast is still two more games,” Daniela replied later.

Mark nodded and got up from his couch, walked over to the kitchen table to prepare some chili powder and some other spices. Meanwhile, Lavelle and Theophile had gone to sit on one of the couches. Lavelle slapped her forehead when she had just forgotten something, namely looking for her cell phone. She then glanced at Daniela’s cell phone, which was lying on the table.

“Danie… do you have a DC?” asked Lavelle then.

“DC? What’s that?” Theophile chimed in.

Lavelle glared. “This is something you don’t need to know.”

“Okay, I give up. Maybe, for now, I don’t need to know anything about you,” said Theophile, nodding, but Lavelle could see a look of disappointment in Theophile’s beautiful eyes.

“By the way, you don’t use a cell phone? You’re a rich businessman, right? How can you communicate with your employees if you don’t have an email and a fan page?” then asked Daniela.

“Is a cell phone that important, huh?” asked Theophile then.

“You will feel how valuable a handful of cell phones are when you know how easy it is to communicate without having to go through the hassle of seeing that person.” Daniela furrowed her brow.

“And the scary thing is I forgot where my phone fell,” said Lavelle later. “I need to contact someone about my work.”

“Um… how about meeting that person?” asked Theophile with pouting lips.

“Don’t be silly, Theo. I don’t want to meet him in person.” Lavelle huffed in annoyance.

“You seem a bit not in a mood  today to talk about things sensitively.” Daniela sighed. “You can call him if you… um or you want to ask Theophile for a new cell phone, isn’t he a rich businessman?”

“I’m not interested in that. I prefer to buy with my own money,” said Lavelle.

“That’s because you’re used to being a great woman,” said Mark from behind the kitchen table.

“That’s right, and you do deserve to be called the greatest woman.” Daniela nodded in agreement.