Chapter 39-Number one fan

Chapter 39: 39-Number one fan

"Oh, I’m living my best life... dancing in the rain~"

Aymara suddenly lifted the wooden spoon like a microphone. She closed her eyes dramatically. "Aaahhh!"

Nathaniel’s shoulders shook. He covered his mouth and held back a laugh.

Unaware, Aymara opened her eyes and continued singing. She turned toward the counter, she still hadn’t noticed him and went about her task.

Nathaniel found himself wondering how long he should remain there.

A minute? Two? He could announce himself. He should probably announce himself instead of watching silently like a creep but there was hesitation in his heart.

There was something strangely peaceful about watching her unrestrained.

Outside, the world was ending and inside the cruise, Aymara was dancing around a kitchen while preparing dinner and the ridiculousness of it made Nathaniel feel calmer.

He looked through the kitchen windows. Beyond the glass, the ocean was still a nightmare.

Massive waves rose beneath the darkening sky, the lightning flashed in the distance and the fortress rocked gently as another wave passed beneath it yet here, he found warmth in that place.

The sweet aroma, life on the chef and the music were all drawing to his soul.

Nathaniel looked back at her. A big laugh escaped him and this time, Aymara heard it.

She froze. The spoon remained halfway between the pot and her mouth. Slowly, she turned around.

Her eyes widened at the sight of Nathaniel, that embarrassment she’d brushed off earlier came crashing down on her. Hard.

Nathaniel stood at the doorway watching her and neither of them spoke.

Aymara’s face went completely red. "N-Nate?"

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

She looked at the spoon in her hand, her eyes drifted to the food she was making before raising back at him.

"Have you been standing there long?"

"Long enough," he uttered. Also feeling a little embarrassed at being caught watching her.

Aymara’s embarrassment deepened. "How much did you see?"

Nathaniel’s lips curved up. "Enough to feel like I should have paid the concert fee."

"How much is that?" She pressed. She hadn’t heard him approach or felt his eyes on her so she herself was clueless on just how much of her childishness had he witnessed.

"Enough to know that you can’t sing."

Aymara’s mouth fell open. "I can sing!" She argued.

She could sing... Off key but it was still singing and as long as she enjoyed the music, it was fine. And from the look in Nathaniel, he didn’t seem to mind her awful singing at all.

He didn’t immediately go off telling her she was horrible and should never sing again. That made Aymara feel moved.

Nathaniel chuckled. "You can certainly make noise but singing..." He shook his head.

"Nathaniel!"

Nathaniel laughed properly for the first time. The sound surprised even himself.

It made Aymara stop and stare at him. Then her embarrassment disappeared almost immediately and in it’s place, a slow smile spread across her face.

"Your laugh still sounds as good as ever."

Nathaniel’s smile faded slightly. "So?" He remembered he was still mad at her and put on a frown.

"I haven’t heard you laugh like that in years," she let out.

He looked away. "Then perhaps you should stop making terrible music and I’ll laugh more"

Aymara grinned. "Never. Horrible music is the medicine of my soul."

She turned the music up again and Nathaniel immediately shook his head.

"You are impossible right now. I can’t bear it."

"Yet you’re still standing there," Aymara playfully grinned and waved her eyebrows up and down at him. "Admit it, you’re my number one fan aren’t you?"

He glanced at her and froze for a moment. The question triggered the bitterness of the past.

Before, he had always had the habit or calling himself her number one fan. Her true support that moved with her through the changes of every season, always by her side and a shoulder for her to lean on.

Now, it hurt to be reminded that to a star even the number one fan isn’t special, they are disposable at any given moment.

"True. That I used to be," he replied. The words "used to" were so harsh on his throat, a past tense that brought unwanted feelings to the brim.

Aymara forced out a smile. She also felt the sting of those words but she still went ahead and asked. "Then stay until the end of the performance."

Nathaniel didn’t give her a response. He simply walked farther into the kitchen and the space between them suddenly felt much smaller.

Aymara turned back toward the stove, but her movements had lost their careless rhythm. She became painfully aware of him behind her as the quiet tap of his feet on the floor drew closer, the warmth of his presence, the way his gaze seemed to linger whenever she glanced over her shoulder.

She stirred the soup too quickly and a drop splashed onto the counter.

Nathaniel noticed and by instinct, he reached out to get her hand out of the way. "Careful."

"I am careful," she said, trying to regain her composure.

"You nearly attacked the vegetables with a knife. I would hardly call that being careful," he teased.

Aymara shot him an amused look. "That was dancing," she defended.

"Of course, only you would call it that," his voice was dry, but the corner of his mouth lifted.

Aymara narrowed her eyes at him. "You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?" She asked. "Seeing me all embarrassed?"

"Immensely."

She turned toward him, wooden spoon still in hand. "You’re very bold for someone who came here just to spy on me."

"I wasn’t spying."

"You were hiding in the doorway like a thief. Tell me, Nathaniel Stormbourne, what are you trying to steal?"

"I was observing my living environment to see if it’s hospitable," he made up an excuse on the spot.

"That sounds like a lie."

Nathaniel took another step closer. "Does it?"

Aymara’s teasing reply caught in her throat. He was close enough now that she could see the faint amusement in his eyes. Close enough to notice that his hair was slightly disheveled from resting, and that he had come all the way from his room without bothering to change properly.

Her gaze dropped to his shirt. The first few buttons were open.

Nathaniel noticed her eyes dropping. He knew he should step back but for some reason, he wanted to push a little to see her reaction.

Aymara immediately looked away instantly. A soft pink hue appearing on her cheeks and the top of her ears. "You’re supposed to be resting," she forced out.

"So are you," Nathaniel replied, observing her every reaction. "You’re human too and I’ve hardly seen you take a break."

Aymara wanted to argue that he’s been resting for a long time and even if she did rest, he wouldn’t know but held back. They had just launched a new beginning, she didn’t want to do or say anything that could ruin that so she went with, "I’m cooking."

"You call this cooking?"

She lifted the spoon threateningly. "Do you want dinner or not?"

Nathaniel glanced at the spoon, then at her flushed face.

"That depends."

"On what?"

"Whether you plan to feed me while singing because if so..."

Aymara’s cheeks grew warmer and she continued to forced a threatening expression and failing badly.

"I could poison your food for you saying that," she joked and then froze, her eyes locked onto his.

She hoped he wouldn’t take her joke the wrong way and end up pulling away from her. She’d hate to have to return to step one.

"Try me and see what a vengeful lingering spirit I’ll be," he joked back.

The answer was so calm that it made her heart stumble and her tense shoulders fell and relaxed. Aymara turned back to the stove before he could see her expression.

"Sit down. Food will be ready soon."

"Are you ordering me around now?" He raised an eyebrow in a teasing manner even though she couldn’t see him.

"Yes. Now be a good boy and do as you are told."