The Essence Of The Darkness
EOTL eps 70: Warming the Heart
“Where are we going?”
Sera turned to look at Xavier in the car. The car had headed to the city center and began to penetrate the highway congestion on the protocol lane which began to be crowded by the motorists who were on the move towards noon. Several times the vehicle they were riding had stalled in the middle of traffic jams, luckily their experienced driver seemed to have the maneuvering skills to slip to and fro so they managed to break through some of the congestion points that blocked it.
Now, their cars are entering the parking area of the grandest and largest shopping mall located in the heart of this famous capital.
Sera turned several times towards the large building in front of him before then looking at Xavier again, waiting for an answer to his question. Actually, the pregnancy is still very young, the stomach has not been properly bent. However, the shadow that she was going to shop for baby gear, felt very pleasant and fostered a sense of anticipation full of happiness that she could not resist.
No matter how hard her past life was, no matter how cruel the torture she received when she was a teenager under the control of the Dawn Family, Sera was still a woman usually with her maternal instincts were very strong. The shadow chose small, soft-colored objects for her baby, inexplicably making her chest expand with immeasurable pleasure.
The cheerful sparkle in Sera's eyes certainly did not escape Xavier's sharp observation. Sera's happiness is contagious, making Xavier willingly let go of the entire burden of his complicated mind and willing to go with Sera to have fun together.
“When you took a shower earlier, I called Elana to ask her about her subscription boutique where she used to shop for Zac stuff. The boutique has several branches in this city, but said Elana earlier, which is in the shopping center is the most complete. I've been looking for information before and I think the boutique has good credibility to provide all the high-quality baby gear." Xavier's hand moved and grabbed Sera's hand, then plunged her fingers between Sera's fingers and gently squeezed their link. “You agreed to choose the best for our children, didn't you? These kids are precious.”
Sera looked at Xavier's gentle expression and she nodded her head approvingly. Even so, there was a constant repeated clink of questioning inside his head. Xavier said that the children in the womb are very valuable.
Does Xavier value the children as his children and as a father with his fatherly instincts, or does Xavier only value the child as his genetic link as well as the creature that provides stem cells to save his life?
Sera's question was certainly only spoken in her heart, he dared not say it because he knew that the question would only trigger a conflict between himself and Xavier and would make their relationship that had begun to soften to sharpen again. Sera understands that this is not the right time to trigger a conflict, she really does not want to damage the peaceful atmosphere that feels pleasant between her and Xavier.
Shortly after, both of their minds were distracted when the car they were driving stopped in the shopping mall's large lobby, before the driver stepped down from his seat and rushed to open the door for his master.
Xavier turned his head towards Sera, smiling with an apologetic attitude.
“This shopping center is not mine, so I do not have special access to enter it. We had to get in from the usual main door. You don't mind, do you?”
Sera nodded her head and frowned as her eyes stared curiously at Xavier.
“I'm fine. Isn't... isn't that more of a problem for you?” tanyanya back.
Although they have only been close the last few years on their own, but Sera has been learning about Xavier for many years. He knew that Xavier Light, despite having a shining charm that dazzled many of the people around him, turned out to have an introverted closed personality. It was very difficult to find Xavier's photographs in public areas because the man almost never appeared in public.
Photos of Xavier Light, the business genius, can only be found in pictures taken during closed business meetings, or in the photos taken by the paparazzi secretly at a time when Xavier was unaware of it. Even when Xavier first invited Sera to dinner at a star-studded restaurant, the man chose a private room that was closed off from the view of the other guests.
Xavier grinned as he shrugged when he heard Sera's question to him.
“Well, it feels a little uncomfortable. I don't like to be looked at, but everyone always looks at me if I show up in these kinds of places. I hope you're not bothered if it happens later.”
If others were to say it, perhaps they would appear to be bragging. But, if Xavier said it, somehow the impression he displayed seemed more regretful.
Being the center of attention of unknown people in the crowd is definitely not pleasant.
Sera could not help but feel pity. Now, then he can understand a little why Xavier likes to avoid the crowd.
The man smiled as his eyes watched Sera and knew the sense of pity reflected there. Xavier then stepped down from the car and bowed there while extending his hand towards Sera.
“Come. I think we have to face it for the sake of our baby,” asked her then in a chuckling voice.
***
That's right what Xavier said. When they enter through the giant lobby of the shopping center that directly connects them to the area in the first floor hall that is very spacious and full of humans who spend their time there, all eyes immediately looked towards them, as if they were bewitched by the man's handsome aura that was arguably inhuman.
Even for Sera who did not accept the gaze directly, the human-human eyes looked as if they were blasphemous and made her uncomfortable. The gaze was so fixed, it was as if the human spies were being smashed by magic that they were unable to let go of Xavier's eyes.
Sera could not help but glance at Xavier, she realized that the man was wearing an expressionless face like a robot, even Xavier didn't blink at all when one of those people shamelessly took his picture by turning on the blinding flash of his phone's camera.
Sera knew that Xavier actually wanted to get out of the crowd quickly, but the man did not accelerate his pace when crossing the spacious hall they had to take to get to the elevator area, because Xavier kept Sera from going too fast for her pregnancy.
Xavier's attitude touched Sera's heart, as if Xavier was sacrificing himself for Sera's sake. That's why, impulsively Sera clasped her hand on the man's arm and drew Xavier's attention to look down while looking curiously at him.
“What's up?” Xavier uttered his question in a gentle tone, not rejecting Sera's embrace on his arm.
“You can walk faster,” whispered Sera slowly. “Not a problem for me," he continued with his wide eyes that showed solemnity.
A single smile instantly appeared on Xavier's lips, the man's eyes sparkling with a conniving radiance, like a child promising to make mischief together. Then Xavier's hand moved around Sera's waist and tightened it against her body.
“Then, hold on to me, lest it fall off,” gently Xavier pulled Sera's petite body and sped up a step, escaping from that enchanted human-eye's gaze as quickly as possible, escaping from the eyes of those enchanted humans, enter the elevator which was waiting.
As the elevator door closed and moved up, Xavier leaned against the wall and lowered his head to look at Sera as if feeling guilty.
“Sorry," said Xavier later in a sorry tone. Sera shook her thin head.
“It's okay, I just can't imagine you have to experience it every time you take a walk in a public place.”
Sera's eyes watched Xavier's face, suddenly her feelings softened instantly, for some reason at this moment, in her eyes Xavier looked like a grim little boy who had let down his mother.
“It turns out, having too handsome face has its disadvantages as well in their respective ways." Sera said teasingly to melt the atmosphere.
It seemed like he succeeded because Xavier's grim expression turned a little bright. The man smirked, looking at Sera with a seductive look.
“So, do you think I belong to the category too handsome?” he said he was happy, asking rhetorical questions subconsciously.
Sera's cheeks flushed red, she knew she had said the wrong thing. He was just trying to comfort the man, but his chosen words even made him appear to praise the man blatantly.
“I mean, a lot of people think you're too handsome.” Sera answered quickly.
“Many people? Does that include you?” sahut Xavier wants to know. Sera instantly turned her face away, unwilling to answer and choosing to avoid looking directly at Xavier.
However, it was not Xavier's name that he let Sera off just like that. The man stepped foot, about to push Sera against the wall, his face looked determined, with a burning desire in his eyes that inexplicably made Sera's heart instantly beat faster.
“You want what?” Sera bought, her hands moving forward in front of her body, as if holding back so that Xavier would not step closer.
The man did not care about Sera's refusal, his body urged Sera, making Sera's hand trapped between her body with the man's chest.
“I want to give you a kiss in return for your praise of my face,” whispered Xavier raucously with a seductive sensual tone. The man moved his palm against the elevator wall, trapping Sera there so she could not escape.
Sera glanced at the surveillance camera that was in the corner of the elevator roof. He looked at Xavier with warning.
“I don't need a gift reply.” Sera gasped as Xavier lowered his head towards her. Reflexively, his hand immediately rose, holding the man's chin so as not to be able to kiss him. “J-don't try! There's a surveillance camera up there! You can be arrested for being perverted in public!” screeched Sera while lowering her head to protect her face.
At that moment, Xavier suddenly moved his hand to close his mouth. The man seemed to hold himself back with all his might, but eventually his defense broke down instantly. A hint of laughter escaped Xavier's lips.
The man held his back before Sera, his threatening attitude was wiped out already, and changed with a relaxed feel full of joy. The laughter still sounded stifled at first, but somehow because Sera's attitude really made her amused, Xavier finally escaped the sound of laughter escaping from his lips, leaving his mouth, a kind of very pleasant laughter that was only heard for the first time by Sera's ears.
Sera, who had lowered her head to avoid the man's kiss, finally raised her head and peered at Xavier cautiously.
His eyes widened, half awed when he saw how radiant Xavier was when the man finally showed his truly sincere laugh and not a provocative naughtiness or a false laugh deliberately made as calculated as ever.
“You are so adorable, Serafina Moon.” Xavier smiled broadly as he finished his laughter. His eyes dimmed at the eyes of Sera who was watching him carefully, inexplicably seemed to harbor deep desires and meanings that could not be interpreted by him.
Stared like that, Serafina instantly turned her gaze away in a careless manner. Xavier is always alert, manipulative and sometimes unpredictable about what goals he has in his head. Only this time Xavier was so loose and free, not covering up his feelings and willing to laugh sincerely in front of Sera.
For some reason. Xavier who was like this, grew a new love that could not be held in Sera's chest.
“You said the baby boutique is quite famous here.” Sera suddenly got a thought as they stepped side by side walking out of the elevator. “Then, there will definitely be many consumers shopping there. Is... is that okay, for you? W-if you're uncomfortable, you can wait somewhere while I shop,” bargain Sera gently with good intentions.
Xavier turned his head, looking at Sera in a smile.
“I can't possibly let you shop by yourself. Then, what's the point of me driving you this far? After all, inside the boutique the atmosphere was different from in the lobby earlier. There will be no distractions there.”
Sera raised her head, looking at Xavier in confusion. “There will be no interference? How can?”
Xavier thinned his lips haughtily. “I ordered that boutique for both of us. So today, the boutique is only open exclusively for both of us as consumers.”
***
Sera was completely blown away as her eyes circulated staring at the entire baby boutique that was opened specifically just for the two of them. The store manager himself greeted them at the door, then after Xavier and Sera entered, the store door was closed, closing off access for consumers other than them to shop there.
The baby boutique is magnificent, sprawling and dominating most of the floors on the eighth floor of the shopping mall, The entire interior is perfectly arranged with a classic arrangement dominated by high-quality wood-coated materials and also pastel-colored clothes that spoil the eyes and warm the heart.
There were no striking colors in this place, all the objects that were there, from the clothes hanging, the baby carriage, even to the baby bed, the whole thing was a pleasant soft pastel color.
Sera herself was speechless, just standing with her mouth slightly open, enjoying what his eyes could absorb that could not stop circulating and scanning all the adorable funny things around him.
Xavier nodded his thin head to the store manager who took the time to accompany him while explaining some common things to him. Afterwards, the store manager resigned, giving privacy to the VVIP customer partner to choose any object desired without interference.
Xavier's attention was immediately diverted completely to Sera. The man smiled at how astonished Sera was at all the things around her. Actually, he felt the same way. All the objects in this baby equipment boutique, small in size with shades of heart-warming colors.
As hard as a man's heart, when surrounded by these kinds of things, surely his heart will soften without a fight.
“So where are you going to start?" Xavier stood behind Sera, both of his hands moving to the woman's shoulders and squeezing her gently. "What will we buy first?” ask again.
At that moment Sera seemed to wake up. The woman turned her head towards Xavier, her eyes widened between anxiety and confusion to make Xavier immediately worried.
“What's up? You why?” sera's suddenly changed attitude made Xavier surprised. Both his hands cupped his wife's face, while his eyes scanned the entirety of his wife thoroughly. “You sick? Over where? Does your stomach hurt?” he continued, leaning in with questions because Sera did not answer them.
Sera boughtak, she seemed to feel guilty towards Xavier. Sera's hand involuntarily moved and cupped Xavier's hand on her cheek, then grasped it firmly.
“Xavier! I. I have not recorded anything, I have not found out anything about the objects that must be purchased for the needs of baby equipment. I-I mean, yesterday I promised Elana to come together, so Elana can help me pick things. Now I don't know what to buy." Sera's eyes looked around, towards the salespeople who were waiting graciously at every corner of the goods shelf with the intention to serve. “How is this? What do we tell them?”
Sera's answer provided a beam of relief in Xavier's soul. At least, Sera did not experience pain in any part of her body. In addition, Sera's fearless attitude innocently over something that was actually nothing to fear, made Xavier again grin amusedly. But this time, he managed to hold back his laughter. The other hand moved squeezing Sera's confused hand, making their fingers interlock.
“If it's just that problem, I have a way out.” Xavier spoke in a confident tone, slightly seductive.
“What kind of exit path?” Innocently, Sera raised her head, looking at Xavier curiously.
Xavier glanced around to assess, then looked at Sera earnestly.
“You know, our son is likely a twin, right? The gender is still not revealed, but the colors here are quite soft and neutral to be worn by both sexes.” Xavier looked serious as he continued. "Then, how about we buy two pieces each for each item in this boutique?” it was with a light tone.
Sera widened her eyes wider. It is not suspected, that such a crazy idea that emerged from an extraordinarily intelligent brained man like Xavier.
How could the man choose the craziest easy way by squandering his money to buy two pieces of each type of item sold in this boutique?
“You can't do that.” Sera subconsciously removed her hand from Xavier's grasp, then lightly hit the man's arm to reprimand him. “Don't you see this boutique is so full of stuff? You're going to throw away not only money but also items that our baby might not have used. I better call Elana just to ask before shopping.”
Sera grunts Xavier, after which, the woman reaches into her handbag, intending to take her phone to call Elana. At the same time, the sound of a button opening from the boutique door made Xavier frown. The man turned his head, wanting to know why the Boutique Manager dared to open the door for other consumers, when he had already booked this entire place exclusively for both of them.
Xavier's body turned around to give a loud reprimand to the boutique, but his eyes then sharpened, filled with anger when he saw who had come.
A second later Xavier made his decision. The man turned his body back while his hands instantly moved, grabbing Sera's hair that was still on her back before then deftly directly curling Sera's hair in a roll neatly tied behind her head.
What Xavier did made Sera who was pressing Elana's mobile number immediately stop the movement of her hand, the woman frowned and turned her head, looking at Xavier with a confused look asked. Sera's hand then moved, rubbing the mark of the kiss with a dark mark on his nape that was so clearly left Xavier at the nape of his neck.
“Xavier?” Sera looked into Xavier's eyes, asking unnecessary questions because Sera knew that Xavier must have understood what was implied in her eyes.
Why did Xavier suddenly curl his hair? Wasn't Xavier himself breaking down his hair scrolls this morning so that the kiss marks he left behind were not visible to anyone and made Sera ashamed?
Xavier's lips thinned, while his expression turned dark, filled by the grim shades of vigilantly mixed that made Sera even more curious.
“Roll your hair. Don't let it go." Xavier's orders were stern as if they were unwilling to accept a rebuttal. Sera opened her mouth to ask for clarity, but the sound from the direction of the boutique door caught her attention, making her look from behind Xavier's back towards the source of the sound.
“Sera! I came to shop with you,” Elana who just entered the boutique room that has been closed again the door immediately waved at Sera excitedly as her eyes rubbed with Sera.
It widened Sera's eyes, as if the goddess of salvation had come to free her from hardship.
“Elana!” Sera greeted Elana with excitement, the woman stepped past Xavier, approaching Elana who was also coming to him. “Thank God you came, I was really confused earlier!”
The two pregnant women looked equally excited, filled with cheerful nuances that ignored what was happening around them.
Of course Sera also did not realize how angry and burning the gaze thrown by Xavier towards the back of Elana, to the figure of Credence who followed the steps of Elana behind him silently and casually, while putting on her annoying sweet smile to avenge the hostility that Xavier had thrown at her blatantly.
***
***
***
***
The hello.
The author thanks for the likes of each part, comments, favorites, five-star rate and also VOTE RANKING given by the reader so that the author novel always goes to the rank.
Ebook Essence Of The Darkness/EOTD is available and can be purchased in the G00gle play book.
EOTD / Essence of The Darkness --> Story of Akram and ELana
EOTL / Essence of The Light --> Story of Xavier and Sera (Ebook NOT YET available)
Keywords in g00gle book :
Go to playstore ---> select BOOK --> enter keyword: Anonymous Yoghurt
IF YOU GET THIS EBOOK NOT FROM THE GOOGLE PLAYBOOK, IT MEANS YOU HAVE COMMITTED A CRIMINAL ACT OF THEFT AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE MURDER OF THE AUTHOR'S CREATIVITY.
Yours Sincerely
AY
***
***
***