Claire's POV;

She moved over to the other end of the table and sat in her favourite spot while facing Boris who was at the other end still waiting for the spoon. She picked up the said spoon, sucked it thoroughly in her mouth , then stirred her hot-beverage that was now cold. This time she didn't place it back on the saucer but left it in her mug, confident that he won't get to it.

''Yes I mind, Boris! Yes I do. So, get another one in the kitchen.'' Boris sighed. Not at all fazed by her childish behaviour.

''I'm dead tired. Now will you have pity on me and hand it over?'' He tried to persuade her. His hand outstretched, expecting Claire to walk over and hand him her spoon.

She wrinkled her nose at his persistance.

Didn't he see what I did to the spoon?

''You naughty brat! Give up on the idea and make use of your legs. Walk to that kitchen and get one for yourself.'' Her voice was loud enough to be heard all over the house.

Boris smiled, nimbling the plastic. He liked where the conversation was heading. ''I did make good use of my legs all night. Does that count enough to earn a pity?''

Claire turned a shed of pink as she stared at Boris with defiance. It wasn't what she meant at all, so why did he say that? She took a calming breath to cool her temper and replied coolly. ''You are beyond redemption! Don't talk to me again.''

''I wish that was easy.'' She glared at him.

I'll pretend like I'm home alone and no one name Boris is sitting over there, making autrocious requests. Yes that's right, I'm home alone. All these were my imaginations.

She picked up her phone and checked her chat. No reply yet! That was when she noticed a certain spot at the back of her hand was red. She did felt the pain this whole time but didn't expect a burn. It was like seeing the red skin made the tingling feeling increase.

Great! If I'd known it would get to this, I would've applied a cold patch.

''Let me! '' As Boris held her hands that was still holding her phone, he applied a jelly-like paste that gave the burn a cooling effect when it comes into contact with her skin. He spread a generouse amout carefully around it. Claire wondered how he got there without her noticing.

''How the hell do you maintain such delicate skin with how easily you hurt yourself. " he muttered, his voice decreases to a whisper "...like some kind of a 5 yrs old." He wasn't suicidal to let her hear him.

''This should prevent blemishes from appearing on the surface.'' A smile formed on his lips.

Claire slapped his hands off, giving him a once over look with her nose wrinkled.

''You stink, Boris. What the in the world did you do the whole night. Did you sleep like this? Haven't I thought anything.!'' Blunt and inconsiderate as always.

Boris in question still had the outfit he wore last night. A lime green top made from spandex, barely reaching his belly. The design did not only show off his abdomen, but also his shoulders.

The long sleeves were tailored to look like the shoulder section had been cut off. But the clothe covered the skin from his lean biceps to his wrist length.

The top could pass as a crop but it had two ropes attached to its sides which he tied at his back. This created a criss-cross pattern on his belly.

A total definition of thirst trap. With the traces of rip and tear on the outfits like someone yanked on it.

He paired the sexy top with a black leather trousers that weren't overly tight nor too loose and a pair of... Oh! His feet are bare.

So yes he stinks of last night's sweat booze and perfume. Mostly booze.

He backed away with the. He understands that Claire hasn't come in terms with his lifestyle.

He stole his primary target.

''It's not funny, Boris. Give it back now!'' Claire groaned, annoyed that he took her off guard.

He raised his hand up confident that Claire won't snatch the spoon from him. Although that would've been another case iif she was standing.

''It's just a spoon. Would that be better if I lapped the joghurt with my tongue?'' Claire's cheeks flushed as she glared at him.

''You're awful.'' Claire sounded defeated no longer insisting on taking it back. Her burn was not tingling much now.

''This stuff sure works.'' She murmured. He gave her a smug look, obviously pleased with himself.

''Of course it does. It saved my ass more than I can count.'' Boris secured the tube in his back pocket and pointing at her phone. ''So, you're breaking it off with Theo?'' He scouped up his johurt and savoured the kiwi flavour while standing and waiting for her to spill her guts.

It was easy not to think of Theo with Boris arround but the mere mention of his name made her heart race. She knew she had to prevent the conversation from proceeding.

So, she shook her head like a disappointed mother who caught her child playing video game in the middle of the night.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

''It's rude to peek at someone's phone. Where are your manners?'' Claire raised her voice, placing her phone upside down, which was useless since the screen has long shut and he already read her text.

''Don't accuse me. I didn't mean to look."

Claire gave him the ,,I don't believe you look'' She grabbed her hot cocoa and gluped down the cold drink in one go. His sharpness never ceases to take her off guard.

"Have things gotten that rotten between you two?'' Boris was getting too interested in the matter. Claire answered Boris in silence. However, he didn't seem to mind at all. The sweet taste of the creamy dessert sure soothed his mood as his mind wondered.

He pointed the spoon at her, sounding serious. ''You know Claire, running won't solve anything. Just because things aren't falling into place doesn't give you an excuse to seek an easy escape.''

Claire frowned. ''Who said anything about running? I just want to taste the water and see where we stand in this relationship.'' Her throat felt dry, so she lifted her cup to her lips only to discover she had already drunk it all. Boris was about to hand her his joghurt but thought better of it. By the look of it, something was weighing her down. It would be best not to act silly and ruin it.

''I feel so uncertain and you know how much I dislike feeling like that.'' They both held eye contact before she diverted her gaze to the floor that was covered in so many captivating stones of different colours that one could only find on the shore. The rug could easily be mistaken for the real thing, one of the artistic reason she purchased it without baiting an eyelash at the outrageouse price. It gave her living room a bold outdoor look. It was worth every penny.

''... It's like the moment I was his, his attention began to wane bit by bits. I hate it! It makes me feel... it... I don't like it when his mind wanders off, not with me by his side.'' Claire felt the sofa shrink, as if someone was sitting beside her.

Boris' focus were now entirely on her, she could feel the intensity of his stare on her.

''Do you suspect there is another woman?'' The statement alone made her flinch but she didn't defend him immediately.

She leaned back on the sofa, her hair spreading on the surface. Her brown lashes were adorning her eyes, a hint of a smile was ghosting her lips. She blinked a few times, considering the possibility he might be right. The silence stretched as Boris waited for her to speak.

She travelled through her memory box, comparing the Beginning to Now. Much had indeed changed but not everything. But for how long would their ship withstand the waves?

She looked back at Boris. ''The Theo I know is too sweet to cheat on me.''

He stared at her in the eyes trying to see through her, before giving up and looking away.

He's not cheating on me. But... he hasn't being honest these days

But she refuses to suspect him not until they talk things through.

''If he isn't cheating, I see no reason to break up with him. If you keep this up, you will end up single and that will be too much work for me''

Why am I discouraging her? I have to support her. Making this decision on her own would make things easier.

Claire gave him a funny look. ''I'm not breaking up with him. I never said so.''

A sigh escaped her lips. ''I just want to set things straight between us...''

She stretched her hands forward, graping the air gently, her eyes distant. ''It's time to build a deeper connection with him. He has to understand that we're now in a relationship. You get what I mean right?'' She slumped back, exasperated.

Boris could feel her gaze seeking his understanding. He gave in and glanced her way , nodding.

''Yes I do. It's hard to build a future with someone. Especially with someone you started dating for only a month.''

''Hey!'' She smacked him on the shoulder.

''What's that suppose to mean? We've known longer than that.''

''Hook up don't count.''

Claire showed him her middle finger.

He chuckled, getting up with her empty cup in hand and headed to the kitchen.

The smile she didn't know she had on fell when Boris took more time to get back.

Great!

She sighed, her eyes blinking upward. Her intention was to push everything about Theo to the back of her mind and Boris was a welcoming distraction. But how Theo entered their conversation, she had no idea and from the moment she started talking, there was no stopping.

The air was gradually thickening with every breath and she was feeling like the room was closing in around her.

Not good! If this keeps up, I might have to...

She scanned through her chat history. The person she crowned as her bestie still haven't replied. The app clearly marked that it had been read. So why on earth has she gotten zero response from Leni? Her eyes absently stared at her phone, teeth softly grazing her lips and her mind silently wondering what to do.

Boris yawned, filled the quiet room with an obnoxious and exaggerated sound. This interrupted Claire's thoughts, earning him a glare.

''Do you have to be so loud?''

Boris stretched his hands over his head yawning again, but this time quietly. ''I'll leave you to your busy schedule.''

He left, heading for his room but then paused like he remembered something and glanced over his shoulder. "And tell Leni I didn't get to taste the birthday cake she sent me and she should make up for it this time." Then, he turned and continued down the corridor.

''It wasn't my fault you were away!'' She shouted after him. He waved his hand in the air not bordering to turn around. She felt remorse for her selfish act. The cake was delicious that after eating hers, she was tempted to take a slice from his. The following day Boris hadn't come back and she gave in until nothing was left of it. Only then did she realised what she did but it was already too late.

Speaking of Leni, we didn't have any coffee meet today.

I lied! I have absolute nothing to do today. I must've subconsciously cleared my work for the day.

Did Boris know? Could... could he have known I was lying?

She palmed her cheek, blinking her eyes multiple times, then squinted them shut and shook her head. She tried to shake off the embarrassing feeling.

If I ring Leni and meet up, then the coffee meeting wouldn't be a lie.

''This would be easy-pizzi.''

Her tone lacked confidence and her thumb was hesitant to click the call button.

** But then her fingers slipped, and Leni answered the phone. "Hey, what did you call me for?" Leni asked in that smooth voice that only her possess.

"Uhh, I was just wondering if you want to get some coffee?" Claire made sure to hype her voice and make it all sunny like but by the sound of it she faild with flying colours.

Leni laughed. "You miss me, don't you? You don't have to be polite about it. It's been like forever, you have no idea how much I miss you. So, at what time? Are we meeting in the city center or do you have somewhere else in mind!" **

Claire's eyelashes fluttered and she realised the conversation only happened in her head. Her thumb was still frozen in the air right above the call button. She assured herself that her imagination was a vision of what to come, a sign that everything would turn out well

Here goes nothing... !