Clarence was thrown out of the room and locked outside after the kiss.
He tapped on the door and reasoned, “Can you be reasonable and let me in?”
Stella replied immediately, “Don’t you know that I’ve always been unreasonable?”
Clarence touched his lips as he savored the kiss and returned to the sofa with a wide grin on his face.
Stella on the other hand lay on the bed. She started to yawn as the medicine began to take effect. She
covered herself with the blanket and slowly fell asleep.
Later on in the night, she was woken by the thunderclaps. Stella sat on the bed and listened to the
pitter-pattering of the rain. Occasionally she could feel a cold breeze blowing through the room.
She then remembered that the blanket that she took for Clarence was rather thin and started to worry
that his cold would worsen… When that happened, she would be the one to suffer. Stella got out of bed
and started to look for a thicker blanket for him.
She gently opened the door and saw that Clarence was still working. Stella placed the blanket beside
him and said, “Have you regained your conscience after resting two days at home?”
Clarence closed his laptop and answered, “I’m just making good use of my time.”
Stella reached for the thermometer to check his temperature. His body temperature was normal and
did not have a fever anymore.
“You’re fine. Sleep now. You should have recovered by tomorrow.” Stella said.
Clarence replied, “I don’t think I’ll ever recover.”
Stella placed the thermometer down and asked, “Do you intend to sleep with your hair wet?”
“That’s because I tried to borrow the hairdryer but you didn’t give it to me,” Clarence answered.
“Are you implying that I’m trying to make you fall sick?” Stella retorted.
“That’s not what I meant.” Clarence looked outside and continued, “It’s rather cold.”
“I brought out another blanket for you,” Stella said.
“I want to go into the bedroom.” Clarence requested.
Stella scoffed, “Sweet dreams.”
Stella returned to the bedroom and slept till the morning. She felt much better and her nose was no
longer blocked. She stretched and just as she was about to turn around, she felt a hand on her waist.
Stella was speechless.
Clarence was lying beside her and said, “Good morning.”
Stella asked, “I remembered that I locked the door.”
“You remembered wrongly.”
“How did you get in?”
“Didn’t you say sweet dreams? I thought that was your invitation to me.” Clarence said mischievously.
The conversations became pointless. Stella rolled her eyes and wanted to get out of bed but was
pulled back by Clarence.
Clarence closed his eyes and mumbled, “Don’t move.”
Stella took a deep breath and laid still. A moment later, she noticed that Clarence was not moving and
then she quickly escaped from his clutches.
She went next door to look as her kid. Thereafter she continued with her drawings in the room.
Nathan came to deliver some documents for Clarence but each time he had to sneak in to avoid Stella
finding out.
It was the evening and Clarence knocked on the door, “Let’s go out for a walk.”
“Go ahead. I don’t want to.”
“We’ve been cooped up inside for several days. Don’t you want to stretch your legs?”
“That’s you. I’ve only been inside for a day.” Stella scoffed.
“Some exercise is good for you.” Clarence persisted.
Stella placed down her pencil and looked at him emotionlessly.
Clarence continued, “The rain has stopped. Let’s go out for some fresh air.”
At this moment, Stella indeed felt that she was slightly dizzy. She had been drawing for the entire day
and should go out for a break to rest her eyes.
The rain had just stopped and there were pools of water everywhere. The air was crisp and cool.
Stella stretched her back and swung her arms for some exercise. After taking a couple of steps,
Clarence grabbed her waist and pulled her to the side of the road.
At this moment, a car drove past and splashed some muddy water onto his trousers.
Stella frowned but Clarence was calm about it.
Clarence said, “There’s a garden over there.”
Stella was still stunned and asked, “What?”
Clarence walked on while holding onto her hand. Stella tried in vain to break free from his grasp.
There were numerous people in the garden, young and old, couples, taking a stroll. Nearby there was
some playing guitar. Stella walked over for a closer look.
She pulled Clarence towards the sound of the guitar and he went along.
They finally found a young man playing the guitar. They merged with the crowd just as they were
requesting songs for this young man to perform. The man looked around at the crowd and then
stopped at Stella. He asked, “Miss, which song would you like me to perform?”
Stella was stunned and looked around before asking, “Me?”
“Yes, you, you’re the one I picked in the crowd. It’s fate…”
Before he could finish, he noticed that her hand was held by Clarence and was staring coldly back at
him. He quickly stopped trying to chat up Stella.
Stella replied, “I’m fine, just play anything you wish.”
The man readied himself and with a huff, blew aside his fringe and said, “Then I’ll play the song
‘Joyous break up’.”
Clarence was speechless.
Stella blurted out a chuckle.
The music was lovely but the atmosphere became melancholic.
After the song, the young man asked again, “Lady, how is it? Do you have any thoughts of breaking
up?”
Before Stella could reply, Clarence said coldly, “You’re pushing your luck.”
The young man persisted, “Shall I play another?”
Clarence was upset now and was about to walk forward but felt someone holding him back.
Stella asked softly, “What are you doing?”
“Teach him a lesson,” Clarence replied angrily.
“How old are you? He’s just a kid.” Stella said while glaring at him.
Clarence grinned and then whispered into her ears, “I don’t intend to hurt him, just watch.”
Then, he brushed off Stella’s hand and then walked towards the young man. He took over the guitar
and then started to play an upbeat tune. His ad hoc performance caused a nearby group of young girls
to scream in excitement, “Oh, he’s great!”
Stella frowned and wondered about the purpose of his performance.
The young man scoffed and folded his hands but could only look on quietly.
Stella blurted out a chuckle.
The music was lovely but the atmosphere became melancholic.
After the song, the young man asked again, “Lady, how is it? Do you have any thoughts of breaking
up?”
Before Stella could reply, Clarence said coldly, “You're pushing your luck.”
The young man persisted, “Shall | play another?”
Clarence was upset now and was about to walk forward but felt someone holding him back.
Stella asked softly, “What are you doing?”
“Teach him a lesson,” Clarence replied angrily.
“How old are you? He’s just a kid.” Stella said while glaring at him.
Clarence grinned and then whispered into her ears, “I don’t intend to hurt him, just watch.”
Then, he brushed off Stella’s hand and then walked towards the young man. He took over the guitar
and then started to play an upbeat tune. His ad hoc performance caused a nearby group of young girls
to scream in excitement, “Oh, he’s great!”
Stella frowned and wondered about the purpose of his performance.
The young man scoffed and folded his hands but could only look on quietly.
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