Chapter 8

Chapter 8 

HAZEL 

I must have heard him wrong, there is no way, he just said that. Standing with my two hands clinging to my bag, holding it like it was my last chance of standing without falling, my eyes remained on the man who looked so good even though he was just waking up. 

“Did you… hear what I said?” he cut through the silence that was already crawling through my skin. 

“I’m not sure if I heard you correctly, it sounded like you said you wanted us to practice being a married couple.” I muffled, forcing this awkward smile. 

His eyes flickered. He didn't debt it…. Oh my God… he wants us to practice being a couple? A married couple? 

“Hazel, do not… he is your sister’s husband, you can’t play house with your sister’s husband, you are better than that.” My angel conscience blurted to me, popping up before my eyes, dressed in a white fitted gown, with wings on her back and a halo on her head. She had this worried look on her face. 

But she is right though. 

The thought of playing house with Nikolai. Pretending to be his wife. Practicing how to pretend to act in front of Vira’s students and teachers. 

What would it entail? 

Do we have to hold hands? Hug each other, look at each other with longing and true affection? Kiss each other? 

A knot tightens in my belly but I could feel the heat rushing through my face just at the thought of it. I have always wanted it. To be the one he wakes up to every morning. To be his wife. His best friend. To be able to freely hug him, watch movies with him, have his kids, and attend meetings like that together, those are the things I wanted with him…. 

Would I be able to contain myself? 

Practicing is not the problem. Pretending is not the problem. The problem is…. Nikolai might see the truth behind those smiles that are meant to be fake, he might see the longing I buried in those eyes that are meant to be there for pretense…. How well would I be able to hide my feelings from my sister’s husband who needs me to pretend to be his wife for the sake of his daughter? 

“Oh, there you go again, ruining the fun!” A voice came and soon the owner came into view. Dressed in black pants, a black jacket, and black wavy hair let down. With a red shoe. Floating in the air, tiny with her horns and fangs. That must be my demon conscience… is it me or does she keep upgrading her style every time she shows up? 

“Do not listen to this Saint, Hazel. So what if he is your sister’s husband? Remember that she stole him from you first… now that I think about that wench, I just want to yank out her eyes.” she snarled, “My point is…when next will you get to live out your fantasies? The man you want is here, this is your chance to get what you want… so why don’t you just enjoy it… Enjoy it, Hazel, you have just one life, live it to the fullest… if anything goes wrong, remember that you are a billionaire, you can always travel and start over somewhere else.” 

“Hazel?” Nikolai's fingers snapping hank me back to reality. 

He was still standing in front of me, waiting for my response. 

“Uhm…” 

“Aunty?” Vira walked up to me, rubbing her sleepy eyes. I dropped my bag on the table and bent over to pull her into my arms. 

“Morning, darling, did you sleep well?” I tilted my head, my smile so bright, I could feel the joy lingering in my heart. 

She smiled back, hugging me tight, “I’m sorry for lying to the teacher yesterday. All my friends parents would he available for the family retreat, I knew my mum wouldn't come so I could only think of you… please don’t be mad at me.” she pouted, her voice so low, broken like a child who craved the love of a mother. 

I knew the feeling so well, which broke my heart even more. 

I stroked her hair gently, “Why would I be mad at you, my princess…. You have nothing to apologize for… although I would have appreciated it if you had told me instead before going to your teacher.” I muttered. 

“I’m sorry.” 

“Apology accepted.” I gently patted her butt. She giggled. 

“Did Dad tell you already?” She suddenly asked. 

My bro, we arched slightly confused, “Tell me what?” I asked. 

“What?” she exclaimed, hands on her head, “He didn't tell you that you two need to practice being husband and wife before the family retreat? How do you plan to be my mum and Dad?” 

What? 

“It was her idea,” Nikolai added. “But she has a point… we… need to practice. 

“Mu ha ha ha ha.” I could hear the demon conscience laughing in my head. 

“What exactly do we… need to practice?” I stuttered, barely able to look at any one of them. 

“I’ll help.” Vira chimed. 

“What?” 

“So, my friends and I talked about the things they know about their parents and the way their parents act when they are around and when they are not around.” She muttered. She suddenly pulled out a notepad, flipped it open, and pulled out a pen. 

What is going on? 

“And Nanny also helped me look up a few things on the internet. If we are going to pretend to be a family, then we have to do our best to do it right… so here are a few things the two of you would need to know and do.” she started, “wait, let's head over to the living room.”

She ran past me. 

I turned to Nikolai, jaw dropped, utterly speechless. “What is going on?” I muffled. 

He shrugged, “Let’s go.” 

I followed… not like I have much of a choice, I sat on the chair and Nikolai sat at the other end of the chair. 

“Step one, no more sitting twelve meters away from each other. Coronavirus ended over 6 years ago. Close the gap.” she ordered, hands on her waist, eyes on us. 

Nikolai and I turned to each other and looked away almost immediately. We moved a few meters closer. 

“Closer!” Vira yelled. 

Oh God! 

We moved closer again. This time we were close enough. I could hear Nikolai’s heart beating, I smell him clearly, I could feel his presence against my skin. 

“Argh! Nanny… please give me the tab,” she grunted. She typed a few things and turned the tab to us. “Can you see how close this married couple is sitting? Yes, that’s how close you two need to sit.” 

The couple in her phone was close, barely any space between them, his hands over her shoulder, her hands on his thigh. 

I don't think I can sit that close to… 

Suddenly I felt his skin against mine, his hands over my shoulder causually like they were meant to stay there. 

Nikolai was sitting next to me. His body collides with mine. 

I think I’m going to have a heart attack.