Chapter 5 I Attention

Monday morning, Via felt unwell again. She decided to take one day off. Sean looked at her worriedly, reluctant to go to the office when he found Via lying on their bed. 

He also persuaded her to go to the doctor, but she refused because the hospital traumatized her.

Sean who knew that Via was afraid of the hospital, finally chose not to force her.

“Yes Daren,” said Sean while occasionally glancing at Via who was listening from the bed. “I can't make it to the office today,” he continued, telling Daren over the phone. “Hmm… hmm… yup, Oh, Okay, alright,” Sean mumbled then walked out into his study.

Seeing Sean's back disappearing behind the door, Via took a deep breath. At first she thought Sean didn't care and went to work leaving her alone, but she was wrong. Her heart fluttered as soon as Sean contacted the operations manager that he was taking a day off.

A few moments later Sean returned to the room, there was no phone in hand which was replaced by a bowl of porridge. He smiled at her then walked over to the bed.

“I will take care of you today. I asked Daren to replace me at Luna Star temporarily,” Sean explained even though Via didn't ask. Lately, Sean had been doing things that were out of the ordinary.

“Do you want to eat it yourself or you want me to feed you?”

Seeing Sean about to spoon the porridge, Via got up and asked for the bowl of porridge.

“I can feed you,” Sean persuaded suddenly.

For a moment, Via was stunned, her face was red. Getting Sean's pleading gaze, Via also didn't want to refuse. A spoonful meal slipped into her mouth, etching a smile on his handsome face.  Until the last bite, he still seemed reluctant to leave.

“What do you want to do today?” Via asked as Sean while he put the empty bowl on the table.

“I'll do something in the living room, you just take rest. I'll wake you up as soon as lunch arrives,” he said while landing a kiss on her forehead. “Don't give a frown, if you weren't sick, I definitely wouldn't want to get out of bed.”

After getting a love pinch that Via gave, Sean left the room laughing. What's more, Via's face turned red, not because of a fever, but because Sean's flirty words.

A few hours later, Via woke up again, and glanced at the clock on the table showing eleven o'clock. She couldn't afford to go back to sleep, so she decided to clean up and find Sean afterwards.

He looked busy at the dining table with a pile of papers in hand and a laptop on the table. His head lifted when he saw Mia's presence as she entered the room.

“Hey,” Sean greeted seeing Via's face refreshed after a good rest.

“Hey,” Via replied, closer and landed a kiss on his cheek. “You're so busy.”

Sean shook his head, “Not really. Only a few reports that can still be checked next time. I just finished my work.”  He stood up while tidying the table.

Via checked the refrigerator and was about to prepare lunch when she felt Sean's arms wrap around her from behind.

“No need to cook, I'll order something,” Sean whispered as he left kiss after kiss from neck to shoulder.

Via's body shook, receiving Sean's hot lips.

“But I want to do something. Resting makes me bored,” Via said in the middle of the fondling.

Sean sighed and let go of the hug. “Okay, I'll help. What do you need?” he asked, taking in the contents of the refrigerator in front of them.

After deciding on the materials to be used, the two of them worked side by side in a solemn and silent atmosphere, the only sound being heard was knives on the cutting board, and the rustling of water and oil in a frying pan.

After the food was ready to be served, the two of them ate in the TV room while enjoying the romance movie that Via chose. While chewing, Sean occasionally commented on scene after scene that made no sense to him.

“Believe me, they will broken up,” he said seeing the couple's bickering on the plasma screen.

Via laughed when Sean's prediction came true. “You're more suited to be a commentator.”

“The film is predictable, and the plot is too mainstream,” said Sean, seeing the unsatisfactory ending. Sean pressed his body with Via as soon as they finished their lunch, while his hand stroked her arm and shoulder even though his eyes were focused on watching the show.

“Wanna see another movie?” Sean's offer was approved by Via.

“You're right, the movie wasn't great.”

After switching channels, Via leaned back on the sofa and laid her head on Sean's broad shoulders. Her slender fingers played with his t-shirt with lazy movements. This time, they watch a film about a country woman who achieved her dreams in a big city. After half way through the movie, Sean couldn't help but ask.

“You said you wanted to own a bakery,” Sean whispered when Via was getting sleepy until her eyelids were half closed.

“Yes, and you've known this from the moment we met.” Via wanted to laugh remembering the large amount of bread sent to the apartment in the early days of their relationship.

“Are you still refusing my offer?”

“I still don't want you to keep helping me, this bakery is my dream and I wanted to build it from my own hand, Sean.”

Sean offered several times, but also so many times Via refused. For her, Sean's presence was enough. Not long ago, Via also felt disturbed by the news in the media about the woman who was rumored to be engaged to him, but Via chose silence rather than asking.

“Go to sleep, I'll clean this up,” said Sean ending the conversation.

That night, Via woke up and found Sean from next door. His muttering voice sounded faintly from the direction of the living room. After washing her face, Via intended to catch up with Sean, and also she felt hungry.

Once across the room, Via accidentally heard Sean say something that made her steps stop.

“I'll be home in a few days Eve, we can meet there.”

Even though it didn't sound like a whisper, Via felt her heart throb like being pinched. Hearing the name of another woman who became Sean's partner in every gossip turned out to make her heart totally broken.

“Yeah, I'll tell Mom. Are you home too?”

For some reason, hearing the interaction between the two, the more convincing Via that Sean and Evelyn had such a close relationship.

“Hmm… hmm… I miss you too.  Let me know when you arrive.”

Via's heart trembled at Sean's tone which said he missed another woman. 

During this time he had not once uttered a word that showed feelings such as longing, or a small call, for example, dear, baby, or the like. Via's heart was bleeding hearing Sean's low voice when he said those words to the woman on the other side.

Knowing her position, Via braced herself, put on a fake smile hoping that Sean wouldn't notice, and prepared to leave the room as soon as Sean ended the phone call. Via deliberately walked by stomping her feet, making a little sound to let her know where she was.

“Hey,” Sean greeted seeing Via leave the room with a sleepy face.

“Hey, I'm hungry,” Via replied with a small, slightly forced smile, hoping that her smile would look natural in Sean's eyes.

“I ordered your favorite dish. Come with me,” he said with an unusually gentle look.

For a moment, Via felt as if Sean's eyes flashed love, but she brushed it off because after hearing the way he was talking to Evelyn, Via couldn't believe her own eyes anymore.

Sean led Via to the dining room, then they enjoyed their dinner in silence. Via was full of her own thoughts, while Sean didn’t notice it.