Day Thirteen…
~~*****~~
Nathan's eyes never left her face until the song ended. There was an unfathomable look in his eyes that Abigail couldn't comprehend. She didn't know what he was thinking right now.
'Did he like my song or not? Did he enjoy it or not?' Abigail glanced at him with anticipation. She was waiting for his compliment. Was he mesmerized by her voice that he couldn't even speak a word?
Nathan leaned his back and leisurely crossed his legs as he examined her. His silence was making Abigail uncomfortable. She felt like the devil didn't like her performance.
'Damn! I let go of my pride and sang a song for this devil. Don't tell me he didn't even appreciate it.' Abigail tightened her grip on the microphone as she clenched her teeth. Nathan appeared to be so annoying tonight.
'This guy is so inconsiderate.' Abigail lamented as she put down the microphone and marched toward the opposite couch with her stomping feet.
Nathan's expression seemed to tell her "No comment."
Unable to restrain herself, Abigail finally voiced it out. "Hey, what can you say about my performance? Say something!" Abigail demanded, pouting her lips.
Nathan's lips twitched, forming a slight curve. "Not bad, but…"
"But what?" Abigail spat back at him.
"Your voice couldn't harmonize with the beat of the song," Nathan blatantly said.
*Ouch!* *Bullseye– his words hitting her heart!*
Abigail: "..."
That was one way of saying Abigail was out of tune. She had to admit that she was a little bit nervous a while ago. It was her first time singing for someone. She didn't notice that her voice trembled a little. But Abigail couldn't accept that Nathan could only say those plain words to her. It was not even a compliment or a thank-you word.
"Then let me hear you sing! I wanna know if you are better than me. Hmmph!" Abigail challenged Nathan, picking up the microphone and passing it to him.
Nathan raised his eyebrow, giving her a sharp look. Why would he do that? Sing for her? Never! Nathan felt like it was so embarrassing to do that. He already sang once… for only one woman. It was Monica.
But he didn't sing in front of her. He did that through their voice call when they were still playmates and chatmates. Monica was still known as Shining Star at that time. She asked Nathan to sing a song as her prize for defeating him in their game. Nathan had no reason to refuse.
This scene brought back some memories and his mood became more sullen. He missed her, especially their bonding moments in the past when they hadn't seen each other yet.
'I don't think I can ever sing a song again… just like old times,' Nathan thought to himself, his eyes filled with melancholy.
"Why are you asking me to sing a song? You were the one who dragged me here. I thought you would lighten my mood. Do you think one song is enough to lift my mood?" Nathan sneered at her. This was his other way of saying he wanted to hear Abigail's song once more. He didn't ask her directly but deep inside, he still wanted to listen more.
He didn't want to admit it but Abigail sang the song well and he liked it. He saw her genuine emotion as she sang the lyrics. There were feelings on it. And it somehow comforted his troubled heart.
He just lied to her when he told her she was out of tune. He didn't want to give her a direct compliment that would flatter her. He couldn't let her know that he enjoyed it.
Nathan gazed at her and frowned deeply as he realized that Abigail was sitting far away from him. He had the urge to pull her and let her sit close to him.
Abigail was still undecided whether she would sing again or not. As she contemplated, Nathan spoke up once again.
"I'll order another drink. Is there anything you want to eat?" Nathan suddenly stood up and went to the telephone. They could use it to order from the counter.
"Get me two glasses of vodka!" Abigail responded as Nathan already grabbed the telephone.
However, Nathan's forehead creased when he heard that. "I said something to eat… not something to drink. You can't drink much. You have a stomach ulcer, remember?" Nathan sounded like a nagging boyfriend, scolding his girlfriend for not thinking about her health.
Abigail crumpled her face. If only she was in her original body she would drink at her heart's content.
"Fine. Just order some crispy fried chicken, one platter of cheesy potato fries, and juicy barbecues!" Since Nathan would be the one paying the bills tonight, she would grab this chance to eat-all-she-can. "It's on you, right?" she added just to confirm it.
Nathan held back, suppressing his smile. Abigail looked adorable when she asked the last question. She didn't want to pay. In fact, she was saving up some money. How she wished she could start working again to earn some money.
She didn't want to rely on Butler Li's kindness. And she didn't want to look like a gold digger in front of Nathan. She was not pursuing him because of his money and fame. She needed him to stay alive and survive.
Nathan ordered the food she requested along with one bucket of beers. When he was done, he returned to the couch. And he made sure to sit closer to Abigail. The booth was somehow spacious so it felt a little bit awkward to sit farther from each other.
Abigail just glanced at Nathan strangely. She noticed that Nathan changed his position and he sat next to her. "Why are you here?'
"I'm avoiding the aircon," he nonchalantly said, closing his eyes as he leaned his head on the backrest of the couch.
"Do you feel cold?" Abigail asked him.
Nathan just simply nodded his head, not glancing at her. But a few seconds later, he heard Abigail moving from her seat. Before he could react, Nathan just felt Abigail's arms around his body as she hugged him.
Nathan automatically snapped his eyes open and turned to his side. With his two round eyes, Nathan looked at Abigail in disbelief.
"What are you doing?" He didn't expect that Abigail would suddenly hug him from the side.
"Giving you warmth. You said you felt cold." Abigail responded matter-of-factly.
Nathan: "..."
Nathan was at a loss for words. He could smell her sweet fragrance and he could feel the softness of her body. He felt the warmth pass through her body to his!
"Furthermore… I told you that I would try to lighten your mood. Do you know that a hug is one way to comfort someone when he or she is feeling so down?"
Nathan was still in his baffled state. He just froze in his spot like a statue. Abigail sank further into his side, wrapping her arms around his waist while leaning her head on his chest. She was trying her luck, wondering if Nathan would give in to her new strategy.
She should know how to play with his emotions and gain his trust for him to open up. She had to destroy the wall that was keeping his heart locked up, not allowing anyone to enter. Abigail had to melt his icy cold heart!
"Abi…" Nathan mumbled. He didn't know what to say. He tried his best to maintain his composure but Abigail's closeness and her intoxicating scent were making it hard for him.
His body was starting to react as this body contact brought the memories of that night where he lost control… the night when Abigail kissed him for the first time. He felt like the room temperature suddenly rose to a certain degree. He was no longer cold!
'Damn! Push her, Nathan! Push her!' Nathan was cursing himself inwardly as he was encouraging himself to make a move.
Nathan finally moved her hands to grab hers. When Abigail sensed that Nathan was planning to remove her hands that were wrapping his waist, she tightened her grip and softly mumbled, "Five minutes… just give me five minutes. Just stay like this for five minutes, then I will let go…"
Nathan's hands stopped moving as soon as he heard that. Abigail was requesting him to stay like that for five minutes… just hugging him.
The room became silent, no one uttered a word. Only their heartbeats and breathing could be heard. Since she was leaning her head on his chest, Abigail could hear Nathan's loud heartbeat.
Nathan could only look at this fierce but charming woman who was leaning comfortably on his body. He had the urge to wrap his arms around her and pull her closer but he tried to resist it. He just clenched his fists, fighting his hidden desire.
'Damn… Five minutes? Why does this five minutes seem like eternity?' Nathan lamented to himself. He didn't know if he wanted it to end quickly or prolong this moment.
And just like that, Nathan was not able to resist this temptation called Abigail Scarlett's Five-Minute Hug! He immersed himself into this moment, savoring every second.
He didn't know what Abigail was thinking because he couldn't see her face. She was looking down as she avoided seeing his face.
Nathan didn't see how red her cheeks were as she continued hugging him. Her heart was also beating rapidly inside her chest. She had never imagined that hugging the devil like this would give her a whirlwind of emotions.
'Shit. What have I gotten myself into?' Abigail closed her eyes and bit her lower lip.
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