Chapter 8

Gin smiled as he served the food order of his three friends. Rouge, Clide and Velvet. His restaurant was about to close but they came. So here, he extended a little time for them. He sat down and shared.

"How's the serenade?" he asked excitedly.

The three men stopped eating properly. They looked at each other and silly laughter echoed. It was only Clide and Velvet who laughed because Rouge had a deep frown.

"Very hot, man! Olivia fired bullets at us!" Velvet laughed.

Gin laughed softly and then shook slightly.

"You're really talkative! This Velvet have that idea. He even knows A for the effort. He still said it has one hundred percent guaranteed, it won't work either." Rouge blamed Velvet.

Velvet fluttered in the air and then resumed eating. Gin folded his arms and looked at his companions. Clide stopped talking but smiled. He looked at Rouge. Desperation is evident on the man's face.

"What is your plan?" aske by Gin.

Rouge smiled mischievously.

"If I don't go through the courtship, I'll just go through the Santong paspasan!"

Gin raised his right eyebrow.

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, I mean it. "

Gin nodded.

"You know Rouge I have a better tip."

"What?"

"Since, you haven't reached Santong-paspasan yet. Here is what you have to do first..."

Gin told Rouge his tip. The latter's lips twitched and then he smiled.

"You know Gin, I hope, It was just you who I asked tip this morning... I made a mistake with Velvet!"

He looked at Velvet but the latter just waved his left hand in the air and then ate.

The next day... Olivia got up a little lazy. She rubbed her forehead and she moaned a bit. She is hot. It's just a little but she still feels bad. It looks like she got it because she was tired of cleaning the house and then she soaked it all in the tub. If she was not that crazy! She covered herself with a blanket but that was only for a moment because he had difficulty breathing. She heard the door of her room open.

"Wake up, love! The sun was already shining brightly! Come on! We have a beautiful sunny day!"

She went back to covering the blanket. She guess, she just felt worse? He did not seem to be able to subdue the raging bullet. Rouge removed the blanket she was covering and stared at her face with a frugal smile.

"Good morning..."

She frowned at it.

"Haven't you been carried away by what I did last night?" she asked frustrated.

A faint laugh escaped Rouge.

"I think it's a big war. I'm used to raining bullets, Olivia. So don't think that you can make me retreat just like that."

She took a deep breath.

"Speaking of war... Can you leave now? I'm not in the mood to go to war with you. I feel bad." she said.

She was startled when Rouge suddenly rubbed her forehead. Then it worriedly looked at her face.

"You're hot."

"Now...?"

"Olivia, I did not come here to fight. I am not your enemy."

"But I want to fight you because I hate you. You might think... Until now, my blood is boiling all over of what you did to my plant. I really want to shave you in the tweak but I just can't do it now because I feel bad."

An awkward smile appeared on Rouge's lips.

"I'm really sorry about that. I really do. So even though, I know you're still mad at me, I still went to you. Here it is and I have a peace offering..."

From behind it, it released a brown pot with an artistic design on the side. It was only medium in size then and a very beautiful type of rose was planted in the pot. It was hybrid and grafted. A mixture of red and white colours of flowers. The plant is very healthy. That breed is just out and she loves to have it, she just can't afford the price because its expensive. She immediately got up from lying down and felt better. She quickly pulled out the pot that Rouge was holding and the latter was even surprised at what she did.

She smelled the flowers and closed her eyes to taste the fragrance. She smiled. Rouge stared in amazement at Olivia's face as she closed her eyes tightly and smiled at the flowers of the plant. It looked so innocent and he seemed tempted to kiss it and hug it tightly. He smiled, obviously, she was happy with the peace offering he brought. Thanks for the tip Gin gave! Olivia opened her eyes again. She looked at Rouge's face smiling frankly as he stared at her face.

She looked again at the plant she was holding. She rested deeply.

"Fine! Now that I feel bad, I’ll give you a ceasefire. I will not fight you but only now. But anyway... Thank you for this beautiful roses. It made my mood better."

Rouge's smile widened. Now, he knew very well one of Olivia's weaknesses.

"I'm going to cook soup for breakfast. Do you want me to just bring the food here? A breakfast in bed?"

"I don't want breakfast in bed anymore. I'm going to eat at the table. I'm just sick and I can move."

Olivia finally got up and then brought the plant to the window. She laid it there. Rouge sighed.

"All right. But you need to take medicine later. You should also rest. I will take care of the housework."

"It's up to you."

Olivia went to the bathroom to wash and then brush her teeth. But then, she went back to bed. She was just daring in front of Rouge. She really feels bad. Rouge was still there, sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Just call me when you have cooked breakfast." she pushed the man away.

"Yes, love..."

Olivia blinked when the young man suddenly kissed her on the forehead. Amaze, she stared at his face because she did not expect that. She was even more surprised when he smacked her with a kiss on the lips. Before she could move to slap his cheek, he immediately walked away and then laughed softly. The man signed a peace sign and said...

"Ceasefire!"

He walked out of the room and Olivia just scratched her forehead, she buried her head in her soft pillow. Is she just sick now so she is not very angry with Rouge?! She took a deep breath and then turned to the beautiful rose it gave to her. She smiled, she really loved that. Rouge got one of her weaknesses.

While Rouge cuts the ingredients for the soup he cooks, he sings a little softly. He really slowed down so that Olivia could not hear his ugly voice. It may only make it sicker. He had a wonderful morning.

"I wish, I had just approached Gin yesterday." he just smiled.

He continued what he was doing and he felt like he was a professional chief like Gin.

"Thanks to you, Mister nice guy! I can get back to you too, someday."

He waited for a while to cook the soup. He immediately went to Olivia. He saw it sleeping and breathing lightly. He stroked its forehead, it was still a bit warm. It would be better if it could eat breakfast to take medicine. He gently kissed her on the lips and caressed it softly. She opened her eyes and she was amazed to see his face when he was confronted.

"Hello, sleeping beauty! Did my true love's kiss wake you up?"

Olivia didn't say a word but she couldn't help but smile. She really is not in the mood to fight now.

"Is the food cooked yet?" she asked instead.

She is really hungry.

"Yes, indeed. I think it would be better if I just brought food here. Your fever is a bit high."

Rouge gently lifted her up and then adjusted the pillow so that she could lean back. She does not speak. Only now, does she see this side of Rouge. She is used to it for not paying attention no matter what else she does. Now, the world seems to be turning upside down. When he does not want to give it a look, then it will get her attention.

"What is that stare for?" Rouge asked her with a smile.

"Why are you suddenly doing all this nonsense? You didn't give me this kind of attention before, did you? You used to ignore me like I told you yesterday. Why? Because I am the author of your favourite book. You were just a fanatic."

Rouge took a deep breath and made a peace sign.

"Ceasefire, Olivia... Ceasefire! I don't want to answer all that because I'm sure everything will end in a fight."

Olivia frowned. She didn't say a word but the eyes she threw at the young man were persecuting.

"Ceasefire! It is better if we eat and then you can take medicine. Then fight me when you feel better. " Rouge retorted

She took a deep breath.

"Okay." She just agreed.

Rouge took the tray he had laid on the table and placed it next to her. They had already started eating and they were both quiet. She felt relieved when the hot soup filled her stomach. She continued eating and Rouge wiped his finger on the side of her lip. She looked at the man and she got a frugal smile. It took a few more seconds for his finger to linger on the side of her lip before it gently removed it.

"Sorry... I disturbed you a little."

"I-It's okay."

She continued eating and so did he. When they finished eating it waited a few minutes before giving her medicine. After that, it immediately went down with the dishes. Rouge was the one who wash the dishes. Olivia got up again and looked at the rose she had placed at the window of her room. She looked outside, the weather was nice. She looked at her garden and she laughed a little when she saw the traces of bullets outside the gate and scattered some empty shells under her window.

"Ehem! You should be resting... Go back to bed, Olivia."

Olivia rubbed her chest and then looked at Rouge a little annoyed.

"You scared me. You look like a cat when you walk. I don't hear any footsteps."

Rouge laughed softly.

"I was trained to be like that. But anyway, you should go back to bed. You need a rest."

Olivia folded her arms and challenged to look at Rouge's face. A mischievous smile appeared on her lips.

"What if I don't want to? What are you going to do?"

Rouge smiled mischievously back at her. It also looked challenging.

"I'll carry you back to bed. I'm serious..."

Olivia stomped slightly to the floor.

"I'm not sleepy! I just woke up earlier." she complained.