When I woke up the next morning, Klara was still in my arms. I didn’t know why, but I felt relieved. Until I remembered last night.
Klara groaned, and I felt her feet flex as she stretched her body out. I looked around the room. Even with the curtains closed, the light coming in was bright, so it was probably late in the morning. I blinked my eyes, feeling like I hadn't gotten enough sleep. After the words she’d said, I couldn’t fall asleep for a long time afterward, but I didn’t dare wake her up to ask, either.
Nothing is wrong.
I told myself that several times, but I didn’t really feel that way. After all, something was actually very wrong.
Could Klara have someone else?
We didn’t know each other well enough. We hadn't known each other that long, either. But I was pretty good at reading people, and I didn’t think she was the kind of person to do something like this. She didn’t look guilty or anything when she was with me, and even when she tried to hide it, her emotions were pretty easy to read her.
No matter how much I wanted to believe it, though, I knew I couldn’t have heard her wrong. Not to mention how suspicious she’d been acting all day yesterday, even though she insisted that there was nothing else urgent and she could stay with me.
She squirmed some more in my arms, then yawned, and opened her eyes to blink up at me.
“Good morning,” I said with a calm smile.
I was worried on the inside, but I wouldn’t let her see.
She mirrored my smile before pressing her face into my chest. “Good morning to you, too. What time is it?”
“Not sure, I just got up myself.”
She blinked her eyes again and met my gaze. Unable to help myself, I leaned down to press kisses to her face, pausing several times at her lips, before moving to her chin, cheek, forehead, and nose.
“Ugh, wait,” she complained, pushing weakly at my chest.
I froze and pulled away, my unease growing, but when I spoke, it didn’t show in my voice.
“Why?”
She frowned up at me. “It’s gross. I need to brush my teeth first.”
“Oh.”
So that’s all it was. I allowed myself to relax a little.
“Then, you can go first. I’ll call down and have breakfast prepared for us.”
She didn’t move away immediately, snuggling into my chest for a bit more. I didn’t mind, squeezing her happily in my arms as I ducked my face into her hair. We did have to get out of bed eventually, though. Klara went to use the bathroom first, and I went to make the call downstairs.
Once she got out of the bathroom, I went in. I was quick and found her getting dressed. I pulled on some casual clothes, and we moved to the front room to watch TV as we waited for breakfast to arrive.
Not long after the dishes were taken back, she got up. She’d sat down with her bag beside her, and she picked it up, slinging the strap over her shoulder, before turning to me with a smile.
“I think it’s about time I head out, now,” she said.
I hummed, turning off the TV and getting up as well. “Sure,” I said.
Silently, I followed her as she left the room. Since I didn’t say anything, she didn’t either. Outside, I hailed a cab for her and opened the door for her. Then, I climbed in the right beside her, and she looked at me with wide eyes.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
I smiled. “I’m going with you. Let the driver know the direction; I’ll pay.”
“You don’t have to,” she said quickly.
I didn’t plan on leaving, though. I’d already closed the door, and the car started to move. She shot me a nervous look, then gave the cab driver a general direction with no specific address.