Chapter 12: One night, One room

Atishooooo!

Janice rubs her nose with tissue paper. She has rubbed her nose enough that it turns red like a cherry.

"I told you not to stay out in the cold, but why would you take note?" Dylan scolds her. Janice is sitting on the sofa. He bends and holds her face up. She looks at him. He appears to be handsome from every angle. "Look!" he says abruptly, and she jerks back. "You still have snow in your hair," says Dylan removing snow pellets.

Janice stroked his face gently, apparently wanting to distract him. He grabs her hand, and for a moment, they maintain eye contact. She never minds whenever he makes contact.

She sneezes at his face. "Oh! Sorry I didn't mean to. Here." She instantly extends her hand out, revealing used tissue papers.

He gawps at the ball of tissue paper and then at her. "What a troublesome woman!" He takes the tissue paper and throws it into the dustbin.

Dylan splashes water on his face and wipes it with a towel. "It was snowing, and you know you're allergic to cold. You should go for precautions." He goes on with his lecture.

"Such a charming face and such boring thoughts," she hums. "First, it was snowflakes, and second I'm not allergic okay?" says Janice snatching fur coat from him. "I enjoyed the meal and that chardonnay… I'm gonna give it a thumbs-up."

Janice is drunk slightly. The party was for her addition to the team thence, and she had to drink the whole bottle for it to show her gratitude. She sneezes again. Dylan shakes his head and trudges towards the window wall.

"Someone has got a clown's nose!" says Kingsley entering the dining room along with Christian. Janice throws a pillow at him. Ow!

"You deserve it!" says Janice patting her back. Kingsley throws the pillow back. She catches and sticks her tongue out.

"Hey! What's that?" asks Kingsley. He advances the fish bowl hanging on a stylish stand. Janice has sneakily placed it in the morning in place of the vase since they were in the practice room, so no one has seen it until now. "That wasn't here, I guess," he says, moving closer, his nose-tip is touching the glass. There is a red-coloured betta fish in the bowl. The fish was stationary, but Kingsley's disturbance caused it to locomote. "That's hilarious!"

"Well, Janice buys that… obviously, it should be hilarious," jeers Dylan.

"Such a sharp tongue!" murmurs Janice rubbing her red nose. He is still standing at the window wall, seeing out probably the garden. Kingsley has told her about the garden but not the attachment of Dylan with it. She can see through him. He is probably missing someone and desperately wants it to come to him, give him the warmth. But only if his wish could come true.

"Hey! Dylan come and have a look," says Kingsley prodding the glass. The fish budges around in the bowl, giving the impression of enjoying the company.

"This isn't for me. You guys enjoy," says Dylan. Janice looks at him. Is he still mad at her? His face is solemn that it is hard to tell.

"I love it!" expresses Kingsley. He clearly looks excited and happy. He nudges Christian, who is standing beside him.

"Yeah! I think it is better than that vase at least," says Christian. He makes his way and sits next to Janice. He starts to discuss with her the schedule regarding her practice and gives her some extra tips. She listens to him carefully.

A while later, Janice starts to get bored and sleepy. "When are we going home?" she asks Dylan, yawning.

"Hard to tell." He looks outside. The snow has started to become heavier. "What does the weather service say?" he asks Kingsley.

Kingsley, who is already checking the forecast, reads, "There will be a blizzard tonight and no one allowed to wander the street."

"No doubt winter has set in," he murmurs. He taps his mobile phone further. "No cab is available. I don't think leaving our place is a good idea."

"So? What are we going to do?" asks Janice anxiously. "I'm tired. I need a bed." She walks towards the window and sees snow pouring heavily on the ground, covering almost everything. It looks like a soft white bed.

"I have an idea," says Kingsley. His face lights up like a 500watt bulb has turned on.

"Not interested," says Dylan boringly. "Your ideas are costly, and right now, I'm not in a mood to pay the price." Christian nods. They both have paid the price before, so they know well.

"At least hear him out," says Janice. Dylan and Christian both eyeball each other and then shrug.

"Suits yourself," says Christian. "My bed is calling me." He gets up and leaves.

"I was saying, why can't you two share a room for today?" Janice smiles. "Hey! You like the idea… don't you?" She empties the tissue paper box, makes a ball and stuffs all the tissues inside his mouth.

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"If it weren't for the storm, I'd have slept already in my room," says Janice throwing her pant on the chair.

"So do I," says Dylan. "Well are you done?" he asks. "I need to use the bathroom."

Janice is changing her clothes; meanwhile, Dylan’s back is turned. He is standing. Arms crossed across his chest. The room is not large. There is a bed in the centre of the room, and alongside are tables. The view of the room is very magnificent since there are window walls.

The CK villa is pretty wide. Kingsley and Christian make their living in their rooms, so they never bother to maintain other rooms too. It is hard for them to maintain their own rooms, though! So other rooms aren’t in a condition where someone can live except for one, which is supposed to be of Dylans'. They reside all alone; in order to keep them accompanied, he comes to sojourn at their place.

Janice says 'yes'. Dylan turns around and finds her sitting on the bed; her legs are overlapped. She is wearing a white shirt which she has borrowed from Dylan. She opens her two buttons and runs her fingers over her chest. She beckons him with her index finger, and a magnetic field generates between them. He loses his mind and starts to walk towards her manically.

He grabs her from the collar. She moans. "What are you…?" She places a finger on his lips. Shh! She trails lower.

"You are drunk," Dylan whispers in her ear. He notices that the scars around her neck have vanished completely, but she is asking for more.

"I'm sorry," says Janice seductively. She grabs his collar and throws him on the floor beside the bed. He grunts. "I need to use the bathroom first!" The bathroom is opposite the bed, and she needs to use it badly.

"You! Ungrateful little fox!" Dylan grunts. He sits on the bed, rubbing his back.

THUD

He hears Janice's groan and runs towards the bathroom. He knocks, "Have you seen a ghost? "

No! A croaked voice comes from inside. He breaks into the washroom and finds Janice lying on the floor. He bursts into a laugh. "It hurts!" she exclaims.

"My back hurts too." He steps out to leave, still laughing.

A seductive voice makes him stop, and he turns around. Please! she repeats. His smile is gone, and he now sees Janice intensely taking in her very sight. She still hasn’t buttoned her shirt. He quickly looks away.

"I said sorry before doing that!" she says innocently.

"I also said you were drunk!" he opines.

Dylan scoops her in his arms and makes her lie on the bed. He freshens himself. Every time he closes his eyes, he gets a glimpse of her. He walks towards Janice. She is fast asleep. "You are a saviour," she mumbles. He takes her picture, puts on a blanket, and is about to leave when she grabs his hand. "Don't… leave… me!"

Dylan looks at her. She is seductive in her sleep; he wants to do it; rather, he resists and suppresses his inner thoughts. He lies beside her, keeping in mind he will take out his hand from her grip and sleep on the couch instead; as soon as he closes his eyes, he falls asleep.