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Ximena started awake to the sound of a child screaming and nearly couldn’t believe her eyes when she looked around. She was no longer in her apartment in Imperium. This was an entirely different environment from everywhere she had ever spent time.
The warmth of the sun had her opening the windows to feel it on her face. It felt warm and refreshing, much like the cottage that was now their new home.
Unlike the cold, blue hues of her childhood home and the black and white color of her apartment, the cottage bedroom was decorated with brighter shades of gold and purple.
She didn’t think she could ever stand this much color but it felt strangely like home. It was as though the home she had known and come to tolerate no longer lived up to the definition of the word.
“You’re finally awake.” Liam entered the room just as she was starting to wonder where he ran off to.
She blinked in surprise. Was this really him?
The man who always wore suits or other equally intimidating outfits was now wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
“The sun must have risen from the west.” She remarked, noticing that his hair was disheveled. It was usually neatly combed, not a strand out of place. She didn’t know which version she liked better.
“Like what you see?” He teased, placing a basket on the bedside table.
.....
“You know that I do.” She walked over to him and kissed him lightly on the lips before she peeked into the basket. Her jaw must have dropped to the floor. “On top of your different dressing code, you went fruit shopping as well? Did I die and wake up in an alternate universe?”
“Don’t worry, you’re still alive. I wouldn’t go fruit shopping to save my life.” He snickered.
She let out a dramatic sigh of relief when he explained that their neighbors had given him the fruits to welcome them into the neighborhood.
Though she had to admit, that was fast. They had not even left the cottage once since they came here. Apart from Liam who had clearly been outside, that is.
She picked an apple from the pile and bit right into it. “Is it just me or does fruit taste better here than in Imperium?”
He smiled at her overexcitement. “Everything feels better here because we are free to do whatever we want. Speaking of which, I’ve been waiting to practice that freedom all morning.”
She chuckled as he picked her up with ease. “You would say anything to get into my pants.” Not that she was complaining.
___
By the time they got out of bed, they were famished. Their stomachs grumbled one after another, making them laugh.
“Is that your stomach? Because I swear I heard thunder.” She teased him and slid out of bed.
“Yours sounded like a dragon’s roar.” He retorted, laughing when she pouted.
She grabbed a pillow and smashed him with it, running to the kitchen before he coaxed her into playing or more. She would drop down if she didn’t eat something soon.
While she gathered the ingredients to start cooking, he slid up behind her. “Do you need help?”
“You can chop onions.” She changed her mind as soon as she remembered the lumps Desmond had chopped while she cooked with Zaria. These men had grown up with servants doing everything for them and she doubted they knew how to boil water. Instead of onions, she gave him some potatoes. “Forget the onions. Peel these.”
At least it was easy to do as soon as he figured out how to use the peeler.
When he was done, he washed his hands and crept up behind her to hug and kiss her. His lips left a tingling sensation on her ears.
“If you want to eat any time soon, don’t do that.” She swatted him away.
“I don’t mind having you for lunch.” He remarked, and she knew he was serious. But that didn’t mean she was ready to starve. So, knowing it would take him ages, she asked him to help her unpack.
With no time when she packed the luggage, she had thrown her clothes into the suitcase with no order, some of them still hooked to their hangers.
It wasn’t a problem if he was simply taking them out of the suitcase and placing them in the closet but she knew what he would have the most trouble doing—folding. Even she had trouble folding some of her own clothes, especially tops. She giggled when she soon heard him complain ‘how does one fold this thing?’
The cottage was quite small and there wasn’t much distance between the kitchen and the bedroom. She took a few steps out and peeked into the bedroom through the open door. He was holding a tiny top of hers that was all strings and silk, the one she usually simply threw into the drawer because there was no logical way to fold it. Hell, wearing it was a nightmare too.
“Good luck with that one.” She thought. By the time he figured it out, the food would be ready.
She was right. She finished cooking and set the table before checking on him. He had managed to organize most of the clothes and had the stubborn top in his hands. He gave up as soon as he saw her.
“Can you finish up on your own? I give up.”
“A for effort.” She winked and put him out of his misery. “The food is ready.”
“Thank heavens.” He looked like he had been pardoned from a death sentence. Was it that bad?
They sat down at the table and she plated their food.
It wasn’t often that he had a meal at home without his family. The few times he did, it was either at Ximena’s apartment or his villa but nothing felt like this.
He didn’t know what was missing until it was just the two of them together, with no one trying to come in between them. There was also something different about her cooking today. It was nearly the same as always but much better.
“Can I have some more?” He asked for more chicken stew when he cleared his plate.
“Of course.” She plated some more for him. Coming here was the best decision they had ever made.
When they finished eating, they decided to take a walk and explore the town.
It was a little town and it didn’t take long for them to walk past one of the only few schools nearby, the only cathedral, and the nearest convenience store.
She caught sight of a signpost labeled Humville and asked the woman at the grocery store cashier, “How did the town get its name?”
“It’s known for beekeeping.” The woman responded with a smile as friendly as the ones she had seen on everyone’s faces when they greeted them. This seemed to be a small town with friendly people wherever they went.
As if to prove her conclusion, the woman picked up a jar of honey from a shelf above her and placed it in their purchased goods. “You must be new here. This is to welcome you to Humville.”
“Thank you.” She regretted not coming out with something to give back. However, the woman didn’t even allow them to tip her.
“So, what’s your story?” She asked, eyeying Liam and then her suspiciously.
“What story?” She flushed.
The woman rolled her eyes and settled her gaze at Liam. “He doesn’t look like he would belong to a place like this and neither do you. Besides, you are a couple. There has to be a story. Did you elope?”
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Mini theatre
Xim: How did the town get its name?
Stranger: Ava named it. How else do you think?
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