When Love & Hate Collide [Completed]

Chapter 16 - To Smile or Not To Smile

"Why were you smiling while getting off the car at the mansion?" Noberto asked me looking intently at my face.

I was thrown back by the question. Where did that come from? And why was he asking it now, all of a sudden?

"I am sorry. What are you talking about?" I asked completely lost at his question.

"You. You were smiling to yourself when we reached home. What were you thinking about?" He repeated the confusing question which I wasn't sure I understood. I tried to recall what I was doing when we had reached home. I remembered he had taken me to that pond before coming straight to the mansion. That's when I realized what he was talking about!

While coming back I had been thinking about him painting there next to the pond. And I had been stupidly amused at my own thought of finding myself posing nude in that beautiful setting.

It was a ridiculous notion, one that should have never occurred to me in the first place, I thought now. But it was too late. I did think and my bad luck that he saw me thinking about it too. Why he would suddenly ask of it was something I had still not understood but right now I had to figure out a way of answering his question. He was staring intently at my face.

"Uh.. nothing.. I was.. It was nothing," I replied.

He didn't believe me. His eyes turned dark and I saw him becoming rigid all of a sudden. He turned his eyes away and I felt I was losing him again. "Anyways, I am not interested anymore. You can leave," he said sternly while still looking away.

"It was nothing, really. I didn't even know I was smiling," I tried to reason with him but he was not listening. I couldn't let it be as it is. I had to find a way to connect with him again. It was not about me. This was about him. So I rushed in again.

"No, believe me. It wasn't important. I was.. I was just.. thinking..," it was difficult for me to continue but he was facing me again and looking at me intently. If that helps.

"Uhmm.. we had gone to that place near the pond. I was thinking.. I was thinking maybe you can paint there. I know it was silly of me and it was absurd to think something like that. And I was only smiling because it was so stupid," I finally had it out. Skipping the part of my nakedness, of course.

I had said it while looking down because I couldn't say it to his face. But when he didn't reply, I slowly took a peek at his face. He was staring at me with wide open eyes. He was not expecting my answer. But as soon as I saw him, he closed his eyes and turned all blank.

"I am sorry. I don't know why I was thinking like that. You can-"

"It's a good idea."

No!

"We can paint there. Would you like me to paint you next to the pond?"

"No, that's not what I meant. I mean, you need not paint there. You should not paint there!" I immediately responded to the preposterous question.

"Why? It was your idea," he challenged.

"Yes and I also said it was an absurd idea. It doesn't make any sense. You shouldn't think of it. Please, forget I even said it," I blabbered to make him change his mind. But he was hardly listening to me. He was there but his mind seem to be somewhere else. As if he could already visualize himself painting against the natural back drop.

Oh! That stupid brain of mine and its bizarre fancies. How the hell will I bring myself to pose all naked out in the open for anyone and everyone to see? I cried to myself.