[7] Naïve Tigress

Maze got up in the morning with the usual irritation and screeching sound of her alarm clock repeating *Today is Sunday*. 

It was enough to give her a temporary headache every morning. but she had to bear with it, after all, it was a life-saver for a sleepyhead like her.

She left her bed and freshened up quickly and got ready in her plain white jogger pant and yellow hoodie. Then she climbed down the stairs heading towards the kitchen, aiming to prepare something to end the growling of her empty stomach.

But as she stepped downstairs and entered the living room close to the kitchen, her nostrils filled with a palatable aroma that made her mouth watery.

But wait !! how come there is food aroma floating out of her kitchen.

She rushed towards the kitchen as something crossed her mind.

Thinking someone might break into her house, she took the wiper stick and entered into the kitchen secretly on her toes.

As she was about to knock the person busy in doing something in her kitchen, he turned back and both cried their lungs out, "Ahhhhhhh"

“Oh god, Shit... Ryan!! It's you !! I thought someone broke into my house,” Maze queried giving him a light bash with the wiper stand.

"Ouch...I don't think you have anything valuable in your house worth stealing," He chuckled with a light groan. Maze rolled her eyes being irritated by him," What the hell are you doing here in my house?"

“Shut up Mademoiselle, I was just trying to cook something as an apology. And by the way, I just use your key that you left last night at the doorstep" He brought the key out of his pocket and reeled it in front of her, "Remember ?!” He chuckled and launched the key at her. 

Maze caught the key and a frown made its way to her face just as her eyes fall upon Ryan.

The frown on her deepened as she whined as Ryan was wearing her most favorite t-shirt, "What the hell !! Thick Witten, why did you wear my unicorn t-shirt, it was my favorite"

The t-shirt was too tight on him, especially upon his forearms, perfectly flaunting his chiseled muscular body.

"Shut up Mousey. Don't be so stingy. And by the way, I was the one who brought this for you" Ryan complained pointing at the fabric that had uncomfortably shrouded his body. 

Maze rolled her eyes as a response to his remark, " I know. I know, no need to show off. But when you gave it to me it's mine..And you have no right over it. Now be ready to buy me four more Unicorn T-shirts as compensation" She riposted back.

"Wait ..what?! Why?! it's not ruined yet" He tried to validate her that t-shirt was still fine, but she didn't pay heed to his pleading as he was her prey for today.

"Shut up. As you have already worn it, so... I don't need it anymore... Moreover, Do you think it would fit me anymore, you fat pudding head cow" Maze grimaced her face, eyeing her big body ensnared in her tiny shirt.

Ryan sighed at her judgment and finally agreed to buy her new t-shirts as he has no other choice.

He made Lasagna as breakfast. Maze jump on the food, as delicious food was something that she can't get daily as she was really a very bad cook but comparatively a good eater.

Since it was Sunday, she was supposed to clean her house almost after a year. But it can wait a bit where shopping can't. A lazy peter pan like her just needed excuses to skip hard work. So she decided to postpone the house cleaning task a week back.

After breakfast, they went together for shopping. She brought four t-shirts, two pairs of Snickers, one track pant, and one cardigan for her, of course with Ryan's hard-earned money.

She loves to make him spend as Ryan was a really very calculative person, who doesn't like to waste money unnecessarily, but Maze was exceptional. And Maze always targets him, due to his calculative nature.

After shopping, they went to the food court and ordered two ice tea and two cheeseburgers.

While chewing a mouthful of burger Ryan shifted his stare to Maze, "Um Maze, Maybe I need to go back home for a few days,"

"Is everything all right? You seem worried" She asked a concern while munching on the burger.

"Actually, there is an emergency. I will try to come back early once I am done with it" He assured her avoiding explaining further.

She was expecting more to hear as a result she ended up asking, "What happened? If you want you can tell me..." But she had to stop receiving a cold glare from him meaning to "STOP ASKING FURTHERMORE QUESTION". She lowered her head and dug in her burger. 

Sometimes she wonders why he doesn't like to talk about his family.

'Why is he behaving like that?! What might happen between him and his family? Why he kept refusing to address his family' She thought to herself yet after knowing all her questions would never be answered by him.

She shook her head to get rid of her curiosity and scolded her curious mind.

"He will open up whenever he would be okay with it." She kept reciting herself this line though her quest never got quenched by this.

 Ryan felt bad that he had to hide his family matters from her. But it was best for her or perhaps for him. No matter for whoever it was, the real thing is that it is good for either of them.

He presumed she might hate him after knowing about his family. And he doesn't want to lose her.

She was his only hope when he was plunged into darkness. She held his hand and pulled him out of his loneliness and his fear of life.

He knew that his actions might hurt her but he can't drag her to his past. His past was better to be buried deep down.

None of them were talking after that quiet negotiation between them. A strange stillness was developing more influential among them.

He spoke first to get rid of the silence. He tried to tease her to ease the situation between them. Well, it worked. She was a Tigress and She would never accept her defeat so easily.

"Would you be able to manage while I am not here?"

She looked at Ryan squinting her eyes and creasing her forehead, " Excuse me !! What do you even mean by this?!"

"Well, you know Maze is the alternative name of trouble. And here what I think even trouble is scared of Maze. So will you able to manage yourself from getting into trouble?" He teased.

If looks could kill anyone then Ryan would have already been by now sixth feet below the earth.

"Stop blabbering... It's you who needed to be taken care of, not me" she countered back by sticking out her tongue.

But he enjoyed it, he just has to poke that naive Tigress. And she would start roaring without any second thoughts.

She starts throwing soft punches on his arm which was hurting her more than him.

"Jokes apart. Will you be fine?" he asked her again in a serious tone once the tense situation was normalized between them.

"Yep I will..when are you planning to leave?" Maze asked with a casual smile.

He thought for a while before answering, "Umm...maybe tomorrow."

"What are you planning to do when I would not be here?" he added

"huuhh" she sighed, "The same old things. Visiting Angles home Orphanage" 

"Okay. Do whatever you want just make sure you are safe and of course, do stay away from trouble" he giggled pointing his finger at her.

Maze rolled her eyes at his giggling face, but the warmth of his smile touched her as well.