chapter 6

I yawned. "Good night." I closed my eyes.

"What are you doing?" buck of his voice.

"Sleeping." I sparingly answer.

"There?" he said louder.

"Yes." I reluctantly answered.

I blinked one eye to look at Ruther. He was standing directly opposite me.

Contrasting eyebrows Ruther sucks on her lips. He briefly played with his lower lip before he waved and drew a circle in my direction.

"In all that?"

I lowered my gaze to what I was wearing. I closed my eyes again and laid my head on my palms together.

"Yes."

"You're wearing a corset."

"Yes ..."

And, you're wearing make-up. "

My forehead furrowed slightly. "Yes."

"Your hair is still tied up."

"Yes."

"Your veil is on."

"Yes."

"One plus one."

"Yes!"

Suddenly the four corners of the presidential suite of the hotel we were staying in became quiet. A few minutes later only the hum of the aircondioner made a noise so, I realized Ruther had left.

I wiggled myself over the sofa until I found the most comfortable position on my side. I kicked the throw pillow behind me and hugged you tightly.

"You do remember that your PA's clothes hit you, don't you?"

I bounced on the mattress in shock. Ruther hadn't left yet. I glared at him angrily before I blinked hard. I slumped violently on the sofa.

Ruther took a deep breath when I didn't answer. "Fine. You're tired ... But, at least take off your corset." he promised.

I thought for a few seconds about what he suggested. My corset is squeezing my lungs.

I’m not really comfortable no matter what I deny. But ...

"I can't ...," I said. "I can't reach the ropes behind me."

Ruther was silent again. But, soon, his weight sank into the space opposite my stomach.

"You fall down." he commanded.

I opened my eyes again. "Why?" my cross-brow question.

"Your dress ... I'll take it off."

"Aaah ..." I muttered. I was a little tired.

"Can you ?! Can you stay still, your highness? Don't be naughty!" Ruther's complaint. He quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"You move too rough, consort! You're squeezing me!" I moaned uncontrollably.

Ruther moved slightly, down. He sighed violently.

"It's so crowded! What can I do?" he asked nervously. "Just a little patience, okay? You'll feel better, after this!"

My tongue licked hard. I'm starting to get frustrated! Why is Ruther so slow? I've stumbled upon it before!

"Ahhh!" I screamed again. I tapped the side of Ruther's thigh hard as my breath tightened again. "Use your mouth, consort! Use your freaking teeth but, just be careful."

"Huh, I don't want that! It's so dirty!" he stubbornly refused.

My eyes widened automatically. "Art is your art! You man ... Can't you see? Your fingers are not good enough!"

Ruther did not touch me so, I violently scratched my scalp. Then, I just let him do what he was doing. Anyway, he doesn't listen to my preference ...

Just as expected though, he continued to fail miserably. He never finished what he was doing.

But, soon, he couldn't stand it anymore. He knelt on either side of me and dipped his face behind me.

He was tugging with his teeth and thrashing his head like a wild animal. I could hear him growl in frustration as he tried to complete his mission.

"There it is!" he was happy in spirit after struggling for a few minutes. He clenched his teeth again as he gasped, "It's coming — uggh — off!

"AAAHHH!" I groaned like a howling wolf. I immediately fell back on the sofa mattress when he left.

Ruther's seat sank hard into the space between my parted thighs. He rode on the thick layer of crinoline of my fun before he fainted sideways. The sofa swayed slightly with his weight. He placed the other armrest.

"Hah ... Darn! That felt good ..." I growled. I took a deep breath to put a new batch of oxygen into my lungs.

Ruther pushed himself on the elbow to sit back down. He stepped a long foot behind my back before he moved back to his seat on the side.

"For heaven's sake! I can never understand women's fashion!" he was free to complain. His whole face was confused in the middle. "Why are you wearing such tight clothes when it gives you this much pain and discomfort !? It honestly is just a pain in the butt!"

"Consort, have you heard the term, suffer-nice?" I will ask. "If women feel beautiful, it makes us feel confident, huh?"

Ruther looked at me blankly. He clearly didn't understand a word I said.

Pssh ...

I just sat on my ankle and turned to Ruther to help loosen the strings. I immediately untied the busks that were hooked in front of me when the corset on my chemise spontaneously peeled off.

I quickly removed the glove on my right hand. "Anyway, my corset wouldn't have been knotted like that if you hadn't pulled it wrong! I do appreciate your help. But, I'm just more stressed!"

Ruther laughed at his nose. The sarcastic tone dripped down his throat.

"I'm sorry? I don't know. I'm not wearing a corset." dabog niya. He helped me pull on my wedding ring when I struggled to remove the tight ring, which was measured on Maya's finger. "Ugh, we really need to re-size this."

I glanced at Ruther's face. I stared at him.

"Yeah, we should. But, hey! Don't pin this on me! I told you, I'll just wait for Krystel, in the morning, to help me." I countered.

Ruther stood up violently. He unbuttoned his wrist buttons.

"Fine. Fine ... It's my fault, happy?" his language bored. "It just doesn't make sense for you to put up with what you're wearing until morning. Only monsters can sleep in that monstrosity!"

One of my eyebrows flew. I crinkled my nose and I quickly shook him.

How many times have I slept under a corset? I can't remember! In the entertainment world, you only get to rest when you're on time. The timing, venue and costume don't matter. Heck, even the noise doesn't matter!

I focused my gaze on the left glove I was removing. I still continue to be weird.

"Psh. Boys ..." I whispered. They really know nothing about women’s sacrifices to feel good under our skin!

I stomped my foot on the cushion top. Gradually my bodice, hoop skirt, petticoats and white beaded skirt fell to the floor.

I waited for Ruther's comeback but, he didn't say anything. So, I looked up at him again and opposite-eyebrow pierced the look.

I immediately looked relieved when I saw his face. He frowned at me as he patted his thumb nail.

I followed my gaze to the area his eyes were licking. I immediately hugged myself when I realized I was wearing a shirt.

"S-sorry ..." Ruther stammered. He quickly averted his eyes. "I ... I didn't ..." He didn't finish what he was saying.

"O-okay ..." I said in disgust. The skin on my cheeks burn violently. "S-I'm used to this, don't worry. I always change costumes on set so, it's not new for me to dress in front of men."

Ruther suddenly shifted his full weight across his leg. He slowly scratched the nape of her neck and the back of her shoulder.

I quickly bounced my back on the sofa mattress. I immediately turned my back on Ruther and bent my knee to my chest to look like a ball.

That was weird ... How can I feel embarrassed, now, when I'm really used to switching in front of the staff and cast of the shows I've participated in? I'm not really naked, ah? But ... not so, because we are not in a public place?

If so, then, I’m the one who’s weird! It's normal to get dressed in front of a crowd, not the other way around.

"What are you doing?" he suddenly uttered.

"Sleeping." I answer quickly.

"There?" he questioned.

"Yes ..." I said. My forehead furrowed.

Huh? Wait, wait ... Isn't this exactly what happened, before? Nade-de javu ba ako?

"Why?" he changes the course of the conversation.

I glanced at Ruther over my shoulder. "Because I'm tired! Do I have to repeat myself?"

He folded his arms violently. "No. But, I think you should know that I don't keep quiet until the person I see sleeping is not lying properly in bed."

I opened my mouth. "Why?"

For a moment Ruther's eyes lost focus. He seemed to be diving deep into the back of his brain.

"B-just!" he replied while massaging the senses. "There's plenty of room in the bed for the two of us, there. Go. The mattress is soft."

I jumped to sit at his suggestion. I quickly backed away to the corner of the armrest.

"N-no, thank you!" I panicked. I hugged my knees tightly to my chest.

Why I'm like this, I really don't know! I used to try to sleep in the same bed with my co-worker because sometimes, we take a nap when we don't have time to shoot.

"Are you gonna be stubborn about this?" he asked tiredly.

"Yes." I nodded sternly.

Ruther sighed. "Well, so am I ..." he said. He washed his hands before combing his hair back. "I'm sorry in advance."

My eyebrows furrowed even more. "Huh? Sorry for what?" I question suspiciously.

"For this." he uttered before suddenly grabbing me.

I screamed sharply. I wailed like a howling banshee in the middle of Holloween. I was stomping in the air when he carried me to his chest. I slapped him on the arm when he ran me to bed.

"WAAAH!" I shouted freely when my back suddenly hit the bed. I bounced on the mattress when he threw me there. I angrily pushed myself to sit down and stared at him. "What's the big idea !?" I demanded an explanation, angrily.

Ruther bit his lower lip. "I-it's just my pet peeve ... So, just don't try to leave because, if I notice you move elsewhere, my body will just automatically carry you back. It's like an auto-pilot," he said. "I don't remember how that happened. But, it always happened to Maya. P-p-but, don't worry, I never touched her! And, I have no intention of hurting you. Just ... just sleep there ... "he pointed to the bed.

I tilted my head. I looked at him curiously.

What the hell is Ruther talking about? What automatically? Auto-pilot? And, he remembers nothing? Is he cheating on me?

"I-if you touch me, without my consent—"

"—I'll turn myself in." he finished my sentence. "Trust me ... I have no ulterior motive. It just bothers me when people don't sleep on a bed."

I briefly barbecued him with a sharp stare before I decided to nod. He did trust me at church, earlier. So, I guess, I should return the favor.

I slowly lay down next to the bed. I saw how the tension in her shoulders eased when I shifted to my side to enjoy the softness of the bed.

Ruther did not side with me. She walked to the bathroom while quickly unbuttoning her dress shirt.

Hmm, how curious ... Ruther really IS a decent guy, whatever I think. He's a gentleman and is very concerned with the people around him.

If so, why did Maya leave him? What did it have and was it able to endanger the dignity of the Dela Torre family just to escape Ruther?

Suddenly the noise of the faucet that Ruther operated inside the bathroom flowed. It sounded like melodies of a lullaby so, I immediately fell asleep. It was like the sound was massaging my tired muscles so, I no longer wondered why I fell asleep before he even got out of there.

I blinked my eyes when I was dazzled, under my closed lids. I narrowed one eye and saw that all the lights in the presidential suite were still on.

My eyes wandered to the wall clock hanging on the cream-colored wall. I scratched my head violently because it's only been 2 hours since I traveled to the dream world.

I dragged myself close to the door and turned off all the lights. I dip the mattress so I can quickly go back to lying down. The bed bounced hard on my weight. So, it shook Ruther’s sleeping backwards bulk.

I quickly regretted when he suddenly moved from his place. Guilt ate at me when he slowly sat up on his bed.

I prayed that Ruther would go back to bed. I promised the Lord that I would be careful next time, so that I would not disturb his rest. After all, everyone deserves a good night sleep ...

But, God just didn't listen to me because, instead of lying down, Ruther looked around. Suddenly his shoulders stiffened before he sat back down until he hit me hard.

"AAARGH!" he screamed like a little boy who saw a ghost. He immediately turned in front of me and wrapped himself around my chest until we fell.

"H-hey, y-you okay ?!" I asked nervously. One of my palms automatically landed on the back of his head, sinking hard into the corner of my neck.

"I hate the dark!" she screamed before she cried. I could feel my shirt quickly soaking in her tears.

"A-uhm ... o-okay?" I stuttered again. I immediately stroked the top of his head to calm him down. "S-sorry, I don't know ... All right. Let me go first. I'll turn on the light again."

"No!" he stubbornly refused. He tightened his chain around my waist. "D-don't leave me ... There are d-demons here!"

Huh? What? What demons is Ruther talking about? He's a fully-grown man, for crying out loud!

Why is he acting like a kid? D-don't tell me, he's freaking taking advantage of me ?!

I gently pushed his head away. "Come on, no demons, hey!" I sit tight. "Can you act like your age, Ruther? If you have nyctophobia, let me go for a moment so I can turn on the light right away!"

Ruther quickly shook my chest. He whimpered again like a puppy kicked in the stomach, "W-don't! Don't leave me!"

"Yes? What are you saying—"

"—It's true that there are demons, sister! They are bad!" she cried like a child. "They're hurting me! I'm Gabby."

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