Chapter 21


    Belle''s POV


    "Uhm Alexei, can you please have someone get clothes from my apartment? I want to take a shower,


    please?"


    I then remember that Alexei''s men are well...men, they will see my panties and my other private girly


    stuffs there.


    "Ah, never mind Alexei. I''ll just grab some Niki''s clothes from his room."


    "No need. I think I know where to get you clothes."


    "Yah?"


    "Come with me." Alexei grabs my hand and brought me to another room upstairs.


    Everything in the room is covered in white linen, including the bed. The room is painted pink and


    purple. I think I know whose room is this. It''s Yelena''s room. And I suspect the room hasn''t been


    touched since her death.


    Alexei brought me to the walk in closet. Everything as usual is covered in stic and white linen.


    "Are you sure Alexei? These are Yelena''s, I''m not sure if I''m even allowed to touch these."


    "It''s fine, I''m sure if she''s here, both of you would have been best of friends."


    I did not know how to respond so I just gave him a smile.


    I removed the stic covering the clothes still hanged perfectly. Wow, I really love Yelena''s taste. It''s so


    girly and ssy. Alexei''s right, Yelena and I would have been best of friends.


    I then noticed a picture pinned on the wall. It''s a picture of Yelena and Alexei, hugging each other and


    almost kissing. They both looked happy and in love. Alexei and Yelena were lovers when she died.


    I suddenly felt a tear falling down my right cheek. What happened to Niki''s family and to Yelena and


    Alexei was tragic. It''s unthinkable. I''m so sorry Yelena. I pray that you are in a better ce now. I hope


    you have found your peace.


    I am in the middle of my thoughts when all of a sudden the light flickered on and off. I immediately


    remembered the ghost in the horror movie we just watched. Yelena if this is you, forgive me for barging


    in to your closet.


    Suddenly, the lightpletely turned off. I squealed in horror and grabbed whatever sleepwear that''s in


    front of me and ran towards the door.


    When I got out of the walk in closet I saw Alexei, crossing his arms in front of him, his back is on the


    wall and he''s trying hard to hold back hisughter.


    At this point I spoke all the profanities that I have known from when I was a child until I reached this


    age in my nativenguage towards Alexei.


    Alexei on the other hand isughing his ass off. I smack him with the sleepwear I''m holding in my hand


    and trailed back to his room. I can''t believe he''s enjoying my horror. Alexei is driving me crazy!


    I ran directly to his bathroom and took a hot shower. The shower actually calmed me down. I felt my


    body rx as the warm water run all over me.


    I was reminded again of the picture of Yelena and Alexei. They looked so in love. I just can''t imagine


    how painful it was for Alexei when she died. My Niki and Alexei have been through so much. Niki


    is basically orphaned and Alexei too lost his father and the love of his life.


    After taking a shower I inspected the sleepwear I was able to grab from Yelena''s closet. It''s a purple


    Ibed my hair with my fingers and divided it in half in order to cover my boobs. I went out out of the


    bathroom and quickly went in front of the mirror. Wow, it perfectly fits me.


    I can see from the corner of my eye that Alexei is staring at my direction. I suddenly felt ufortable.


    I quickly walked on my toes towards the bed, climbed next to him and slid myself under the covers.


    After two more movies, I felt my eyes got heavier. I''m almost half asleep when I felt Alexei''s warmth


    close to me and his fingers brushed my hair softly. Oh Alexei, I''m not Yelena. I''m never gonna be


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    Yelena.


    Last thing I felt was a kiss on my forehead then I drifted off to sleep.


    ~


    I''m already on the finishing touches to the flower crown I''m making basically out of boredom. It''s a


    back to my apartment, so here I am wearing one of Yelena''s clothes again. It''s a white and simple


    Sunday dress. Alexei and I are in the living room. He''s wearing a dark blue suit, sitting on the sofa,


    crossing his one leg over the other while scanning his phone. Niki and Alexei can wear a table cloth


    and still look good in it.


    I''m on the floor, working on the table right across Alexei. The sun is already illuminating all over the


    living room.


    To my surprise, my phone buzzed and it''s Niki. I answered it hurriedly.


    "Are you on your way home yet Niki?"


    "You sound like you''ve been waiting for my call."


    "I did not want to call you because you might be busy or having a meeting."


    "Baby, you can call me anytime you want. I have time for you always."


    My heart instantly melted, "Spend more time with me then? My work at St. Mary''s is not until Monday.


    Me and you snuggling all day and night. What do you think?" I looked at Alexei and he''s shaking his


    head while smiling. I just giggled. Niki was about to say something but I suddenly remembered what


    I sworest night.


    "Oh wait a minute. You''re still not allowed to touch me for one whole week. Soooo.."


    "Not gonna happen. I''m going to touch you anytime I want. I own you. You said that yourself when were


    in the beach." He remembers.


    "Uhh, well, I ah." I was groping for words. Dammit Niki, he''s enjoying my difort.


    "That''s right. It''s nice that we clearly understand each other baby." Niki said all too arrogantly. I


    suddenly heard a beep.


    I gasped in disbelief while looking at my phone. Niki hung up on me. I heard another soft chuckle


    from Alexei.


    I just decided to let it go and continued finishing my flower crown. I tied the cream colored ribbon to


    hold the ends together. I ce it on top of my head. I then made a few small braids on my hair.


    "How are the trees in forest mother earth?" Alexei said mocking me.


    "If only you''re more entertaining Alexei, I wouldn''t be this bored." He just smiles and continues with his


    thing. "Very well, let me be the one to give life to this dull world of yours Alexei." I stood up and went to


    the piano a few meters from Alexei.


    "You know how to y?"


    "Yup. I was kind of forced into it when I was a child. While my friends yed hide and seek outside, I


    on the other hand yed the piano with my spinster tutor."


    I am surprised to see a piano sheet of my favorite piece All I ask of You, on top of the piano. I know this


    piece by heart. I love Phantom of the Opera. Whenever I y this song, I remember Erik and what he


    must have felt seeing the love of his life in love with someone else. Erik''s character was dark and


    tragic. The fact that he has never been kissed even by his own mother is a fate no one should ever


    experience.


    When I hit thest key I took a deep breath. I nced at Alexei''s direction. I am surprised to see


    Niki, standing several feet from Alexei.


    He just stands there gazing at me. Alexei had the same look on his face. What is up with them? I


    quickly ran towards Niki''s direction and hugged him tight.


    "You''re home." Niki did not hug me back. He just looks the other way.


    "I''m tired Belle. Excuse me." Niki walked away from me. Belle? Did he just call me Belle? Niki


    never calls me by my name. What is happening?


    I followed Niki to his room. He''s in the shower. I sat on the bed facing towards the bathroom''s


    direction. A few minutes past Niki went out of the bathroom and walks directly towards his closet. He


    wore his usual white tee and boxers.


    "What''s wrong Niki?"


    "Nothing." His voice is as cold as ice. "Are you feeling fine already?"


    "Uh yes."


    "Good. You can leave anytime you wish." I froze the moment Niki said those words. He wants me to


    leave. Niki wants me to leave. Why is he doing this to me? What have I done?


    I wanted to touch him so badly but I chose not to. If he wants me to leave I''m going to leave. My stupid


    tears are threatening to fall again. I walked away from him and back to my apartment.