Playing With Ice

Chapter 2

I let Mindy do my hair, wincing every now and then when she accidentally burned me with the ironing rod, "If my rantings are the reason behind this change then I am mad at myself for not scolding you sooner" She muttered to herself, her voice laced with a hint of pride, "Ugh, if only I knew" She tsked, shaking her head.

I stayed silent to that. I don't see any reason to say something to that but I mentally agreed with what she had said. If she didn't lash out at me earlier, I don't think I would be all dressed up now.

Ah, the dress. I glanced down at what I am wearing, my eyebrows furrowing reflexively, "You don't think I am overdressed?" I asked, bringing my fingers to touch the delicate sequins. This must-have cost Mindy a fortune and yet, she didn't think twice when she grabbed the dress from her wardrobe when I said I am going out with Dimitri.

She was too excited. She kept squealing like a little girl and smiling so hard that I wondered if her cheeks would hurt if she kept grinning like that.

But at the same time, I felt blessed to have someone who is happy for me. I don't think someone like Mindy is present in everyone's life. The world would be a better place if someone like her existed in everyone's life.

"Nope" I heard Mindy say and I looked up to see her face, "I am so glad that we are somewhat the same size. Only you have lost some weight" She continued, her forehead creasing in genuine worry and her eyes swirled in profound concern.

But I was confused, "I did?" I asked in disbelief.

I haven't checked my weight since the last time I went to meet my therapist. I knew I had a couple of kilos there but it wasn't great enough to be noticeable.

Did I, perhaps lost more weight in the past few weeks?

"Girl, do you see yourself in the mirror these days?" Mindy asked and I shook my head in answer. She shook her head in disapproval and moved away from the mirror, allowing me to look at myself.

My eyes widened in surprise. I honestly didn't expect myself to look this frail. I definitely looked sick to my own eyes. How did Dimitri- no what does Dimitri sees in me that he keeps me by his side?

The girl who was staring back at me in the mirror didn't look like me at all. Her bony face made her lifeless eyes look sunken and her lips looked awkward as if she forgot how to smile. I couldn't help but cringe at the sight of my own face.

Pathetic. I looked pathetic.

A honk from outside made me stop degrading myself for a while, "That must be him" I heard Mindy say and glanced over my shoulder to see her peeping through the curtains to confirm her assumption, "Yup, that's him" She said, nodding her head to herself.

Something twisted in my stomach and suddenly, I felt too nervous to go out and meet the guy with who I am literally living. I didn't feel like going anymore but I knew that I would be the worst douchebag if I bailed on Dimitri last minute.

He definitely didn't deserve that. Not after everything he had done for me. To make me smile. To make me feel a flicker of a rainbow on my gloomy days.

I sighed and pulled myself up from the chair almost unwillingly, "Have fun" Mindy said to me, looking up and down, scanning to see if everything was perfect. I would have smiled at that but I just nodded my head instead.

Mindy watched me as I walked away, struggling to walk casually in that dress. With my heart in my throat, I walked out of the house, my eyes landing on Dimitri who was leaning casually against his posh car, waiting for me. I didn't miss the way his lips quirked upwards in a small yet alluring smile.

I noted that he was dressed in a suit but it wasn't the same one he wore at the office earlier. He had done his hair in different ways as well.

I shuffled towards him, "Hi" I said, rather awkwardly, standing next to him.

His eyes ran up and down, "You look beautiful tonight" His smile deepened, revealing his dimple. He opened the driver's seat door and bent in to retrieve something, "These are for you" He said, handing me a fresh bouquet of roses.

I accepted the bouquet and cautiously brought it closer to my face to take a whiff of the intoxicating fragrance of the roses, "Really?" I asked him, remembering how hideous I looked in the mirror a few minutes earlier, "I think these days, I look the worst ever in my life" I continued without giving him a chance to say something, hugging the bouquet to myself.

Dimitri shook his head, "You don't" He said, "If anything, you are the most beautiful woman that I have ever met" He said making my cheeks flame for the first time in a very long time.

I averted my eyes and allowed myself to bask in that little glimmer of happiness for once. "We should get going," I said, changing the subject.

From the corners of my eyes, I saw him smile, flashing his perfect set of teeth but thankfully, he didn't say anything else. He probably knew it would make me uncomfortable as I am living with him for about half a year now.

It was a quiet journey to the restaurant and I welcome the comfortable silence happily. Dimitri did throw a few glances my way but most of the time, I kept my eyes straight ahead. Our eyes only met once throughout the ride and when it did, Dimitri smiled at me, making me forget how to breathe for a few seconds.

I tried my best to push away unpleasant thoughts and focused on Dimitri. This wasn't the right time to beat me up...I will do that once we get back home.

Turns out, the restaurant was not that far away from Mindy's place so we reached there in less than half an hour. Dimitri took my hand in his when I exited the car and tugged me gently towards the restaurant's entrance.

As soon as we stepped into the restaurant, the delicious smell of freshly made food hit my nose, making my saliva pool inside of my mouth. I wasn't hungry before I walked in but now I definitely was.

I leisurely looked around the restaurant, taking in the interior of it. It did look lavish. In other words, I don't think I belong here. I quietly followed Dimitri to a table that was romantically set with rose petals and candle lights.

Dimitri pulled the chair for me and gestured me to sit down before pushing it in a little. Then he made his way to his own chair, sitting opposite of me. "I have already ordered the food for us based on what I know of what you like" He informed me.

I nodded my head in acknowledgment and at the same time, the waiter started to serve the food for us. I looked up at Dimitri when the waiters left and he gestured me to dig in.

Cautiously watching him, I took the spoon gingerly and spooned some food into my mouth, taking my time to taste the piece of meat in my mouth, "This is nice" I commented, chewing and nodding my head at the same time. It was really good and for some reason, it surprised me.

"Glad you like it"

I smiled to myself and looked up at Dimitri. My eyes zeroed at the corners of his lips where food was smudged there as he took another of his steak, "You've got a little something at the corners of your lips" I said, putting down my spoon to point at his lips.

Dimitri's eyes met with mine and took a napkin to wipe the corners of his lips, "Where?" He asked, missing the spot obliviously.

I pointed at his lip, "At the right, a little lower" I said, waving my finger to guide him but he missed the spot again, "No at the side. Here let me" I said, grabbing a napkin and leaning towards him to dab it against his lip, "There, all clean," I said, pulling back the napkin to inspect his clean lips.

I stared at those soft lips longer than I should and blinked when his lips curved upwards into a breathtaking smile, "Why are you smiling?" I asked, clearing my throat a little as I averted my gaze. Did he notice I was blatantly gawking at his lips a few seconds ago?

"Nothing" I heard him say, "I am not smiling" He added making me snap my head up to look at him again.

Clearly, he was lying. He was still smirking, the tip of his nose was slightly pink, "Sure you don't" I said curtly, looking down at my food, "How's your mother?" I asked him in an attempt to change the subject. "I haven't seen her in ages" I went on, trying to sound indifferent.

This is probably the first time I asked him about his family in months. I always wondered how she was but never asked about her Dimitri, "She is good. She misses you as well" Dimitri said, pausing as if he was having an internal conflict, "She had been nagging me to bring you over to the mansion for a dinner" He finally said after a few moments.

I  didn't answer him right away. I took the glass of lemonade and took a sip, "Your father wouldn't like it" I said, dodging the bullet barely. I didn't want to attend another dinner only to be humiliated.

Dimitri's smile faltered and was replaced with a frown. His eyes turned cold and hard, "Nobody cares about what he likes" He grunted out, clenching his jaw.

"Sure" I sighed.

Dimitri let out a sigh as well, "I hope you will go out with me like this, I am not asking much, maybe once in a while-"

"I am scared" I blurted out without thinking, interrupting him abruptly.

Dimitri stopped talking right away, "Why? Why would you be scared when I am right next to you, Rayna?" He asked me in a gentle voice, leaning towards me and extending one of his hands to place on top of mine which was resting on the table.

I stayed still. Not flinching away from him. This is Dimitri and everything in the world could go wrong but Dimitri wouldn't hurt me intentionally, "I am scared of your profession" I answered him, choosing my words carefully, "I am scared to go out with you and be anxious every second, anticipating who might jump in front of us with a gun and shoot you" I said, letting out the weights of my chest.

Yes, I knew he wasn't the bad guy but he still shoots people and beats them up. He must have so many enemies...like Danial. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I thought of that name. I tried not to think about how he looked like-

"You're not afraid of who might shoot you but you're afraid that I might get hurt?"

I blinked, focussing my attention on Dimitri again."It sounds silly, isn't it?" I chuckled dryly without any humor.

Dimitri actually looked pleased now. His eyes held an emotion that I knew all too well."No, it doesn't" He responded with a shake of his head, "I think you just gave me another reason to be with you" He quickly added making my heart swell against my chest.

This man truly loves me."Dimitri..." I trailed, not knowing what else to say.

That only made his smile deepen, "I love you, Rayna. I always did and always will. Please just remember that. Even on the days, you don't feel good about yourself, I would always love you" He tightened his hold around my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

I looked down at our hands and smiled, "I know" I said, feeling a hint of joy within me,"I know you will, Dimitri" I looked up at him again to find him gazing at me.

We stayed silent, staring into each other's eyes.

For a few moments, we drowned in each other's gaze, basking in undivided attention that we could offer to each other but our moment was disturbed by a waiter.

"Would you like ice cream for dessert?" He asked and that was enough to bring back memories that I kept far away in my mind.

My eyes widened and I sucked in a sharp breath, suddenly feeling my heart constrict against my chest making it hard for me to breathe.

I started to hyperventilate, my breathing came out in a short gasp. Dimitri said something and then the next second, he was right in front of me, taking my face in his, "Rayna, it's okay!" He said, trying to soothe me but it was already too late.

My eyes rolled back into my sockets and everything went blank after that.

Only one thing was in my mind before I succumbed to the darkness. That day, in drizzling rain...I was with Danial and the kids, eating ice cream without any worries...