Chapter 87: Heavy and Frantic
Sophia called out several times, but there was no response. She pounded on the door again, but still nothing.
Yet she knew Sean was just outside.
Exhausted, Sophia slumped against the door, wondering how the gentle, loving, accepting Sean had become this… this… “obsessive“, frantic, terrifying man.
She closed her eyes and let out a long breath.
Time passed quickly; dawn broke..
When Sophia opened her eyes again, sunlight streamed into the room. She saw the window, instantly springing up and running to it. The window led to a balcony, and from the balcony, she could reach the yard and escape.
She opened the window, hesitated, and looked back at the door. After a moment, she closed the window and returned to the door.
“Honey, I’m hungry,” she called out.
There was no reply, but she heard footsteps;
Sean was going
downstairs.
Sophia took advantage of the moment to shower. When she came out, the door was open. She towel–dried her hair and stepped out, immediately noticing the smell of smoke and a pile of cigarette butts on the floor.
Last night, she was inside, and he was outside. She slept, but he hadn’t. Her fear and panic; his would have been far greater..
Realizing this, Sophia ran downstairs. Sean was in the kitchen, his back to the door, making dumplings.
She ran up and hugged him from behind.
“I’m sorry.
I won’t take risks again. I swear I won’t
Sean stiffened, then turned, pressing his hand to her forehead and gently pushing her away. Sophia’s eyes welled up. Wouldn’t he forgive her?
Sean shrugged.“I didn’t shower. I reek of smoke. I smell awful.”
Sophia shook her head and snuggled into him again.
“I like the way you smell.”
“You like smelling smoke? Is that a fetish?”
Sophia pushed his hand away, wrapping her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest, and inhaling deeply.
“You don’t smell bad at all.”
Sean coughed. “It’s early. Don’t tempt me.”
Sophia pressed her advantage, tiptoeing to kiss his chin, noticing the stubble. She pulled back, looking at his face–tired, cool, with a hint of stubble, a mix of exhaustion and raw sensuality. She wrapped her arms around his neck, forcing him to bend down so she could kiss him.
302%
Sean turned his head.“I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.”
“I don’t care, I don’t care.”
Sean chuckled and kissed her deeply.
“Happy now?”
Sophia’s eyes twinkled.“Honey, are you going to work today?”
‘Sean put his arm around her waist and lifted her.
“What do you want?”
Sophia whispered in his ear, “I want you to keep me company.”
“Keep you company… doing what?”
“In bed.”
“What?”
“Sleeping.”
With those words, Sophia burst into laughter. Sean, realizing he’d been tricked, only kissed her tenderly.
The dumplings were ready, and Sophia devoured them, praising Sean’s cooking. Sean used the hair dryer to dry her hair, then ate her leftovers.
While he showered, Sophia cleaned up the cigarette butts upstairs and waited for Sean in bed.
She drifted off to sleep but was soon awakened by Sean.
“Honey,” she murmured sleepily. “I’m tired… mm…..”
He silenced her with a kiss. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, surrendering to him.
“I scared you,” he whispered apologetically.
Sophia shook her head.“I scared you.”
“Yeah.”
That “yeah sounded so full of regret that Sophia opened her eyes to look at Sean. His usually confident, composed eyes held a hint of fear.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized again..
Sean pulled her closer. “Promise me you won’t do it again.”
“I promise.”
“What if…”
“There’s no ‘what if
“I thought about a lot of things last night.”
“What?”
“If you’d actually fallen from the rooftop, died… what would I do?”
“You wouldn’t…”
I’d bury you myself.”
“Then I’d kill myself.”
“Sean!” Sophia frowned. Seeing his serious expression, she took a deep breath. “No, I won’t let anything happen to me. I’ll live, and you have to live too.”
“If it’s with you, dying wouldn’t be so bad, he murmured against her head.
Sophia wondered how they’d gotten onto the subject of death. It was a heavy, frantic topic, mirroring Sean’s current state. He felt strangely unfamiliar, revealing a side she’d never seen before.
They slept late into the morning. In the afternoon, Sean took her out Sophia thought he was taking her somewhere scenic to relax, but when they got out of the car, they were at a cemetery.
Before she could react, a young man in a black suit, seemingly a salesperson, approached.
“Mr. Sullivan, right? The plot you requested is this way. The salesperson led the way.
Sophia, dazed, was led by Sean into the cemetery, up the steps, to the top level, to an empty plot.
“This is the best location for a double burial–with mountains behind and water in front, ensuring continuous wealth. Olivorrrounded by mountains… it’s called the Jade Belt around the Waist. Look at the mountain range, following the slope…”
Sean raised his hand, interrupting impatiently.“Didn’t I say I want a quiet spot?”
“Don’t worry, sir. Only you
and your wife will be here. Everyone else is below.”
Sean looked at the densely packed tombstones below and frowned. There are too many. It won’t be peaceful, even in death.”
“Uh?” The salesperson was bewildered.
“Better to be in some remote mountain. Just the two of us, lonely ghosts.” The salesperson wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.
“Having neighbors is better. More lively.”
“Lively ghosts? Scary.”
“Uh…”
Ghosts scaring ghosts… Not a pleasant image.
Sophia finally understood Sean’s intent. He was buying a double burial plot for them.
She pinched his arm.“What the hell are you doing?”
Sean leaned in.“We’ll all end up there eventually. Better to prepare early, so we can get a good
spot.”
“I…”
“Unless you don’t want to be buried with me?”
Sophia pursed her lips.“Whatever.”
With the plot purchased, Sean seemed relieved.
70 24
Heavy and Frantic
“My darling, I don’t wish for us to be born on the same day, but I do wish for us to die on the same day. My life is in your hands. When you don’t want to live anymore, remember to take me with you.”
Sophia twitched a corner of her mouth. That was definitely a threat!
In the car, Sophia thought it over again.
“So last night, you were thinking about buying a burial plot?”
“Yeah,” Sean said.
Sophia was speechless. She thought he was frantic and scared, but he was frighteningly calm.
Tonigh
