Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Anya's Point of View

"Not now, Anya, not now," Marcus angrily said as I entered his office. I bowed down and bit my lip. I felt suffocated. What is happening to him? I haven't even done anything, yet he gets angry right away. It's been a week since Tiffany and I had a fight, and Marcus was in a foul mood the following day. I know he has been stressed and bombarded with the rogues' past attacks, but I am always here next to him. He can ask me for help, and I would gladly do it. Is this what Tiffany is saying? Or maybe I'm just paranoid.

"I would like to ask what food you want for later so I can tell Aunt Rosa what to cook," I told him with a smile. He looked at me for a moment but immediately returned to work with the papers and documents he's holding.

"No thanks, Anya. I will not eat here later. Leave my office," he slowly said. He's not calling me in the endearment he gave, just Anya. Why does it feel like my heart was pierced in intense pain when he calls me by my name?

"Where are you going? Can you take me with you?" I asked him while playing with my fingers, hoping he would allow me to be with him.

"Can you leave, Anya? Can't you see I'm fucking busy!?" he angrily shouted. I was stunned for a minute, then I compose myself. I tightly gripped the hem of my shirt. Why does Marcus seem to be returning to the way he was in the past? I tilted my head and smiled at him. My heart clenched as if it was about to cry over Marcus' behavior.

"Is that so? All right, I'm leaving," I whispered. "Don't get tired and hungry, okay? I love you so much, Marcus," I added and slowly walked to the door. I hope he will stand up and stop me from coming out. That he apologized and hugged me, whispering sweet nothings in my ear, but he didn't do it. I wiped away the tears I had previously avoided releasing as I talked to Marcus and took a deep breath.

"He's just tired, Anya, just understand," I said to myself. I found myself walking to the living room.

"Where are you going, Lorraine?" I asked her when I saw her totally dressed up. I sat down on the couch. They made up, and Arnold properly explained everything to her. Lorraine found out that Arnold did not cheat on her, nor he does have any woman. Arnold explained that the woman who hugged him was just his friend. Arnold felt sorry for her because of what happened to her family, so he hugged her, but he did not think that his friend would kiss him. Lorraine saw the kissed and assumed that he was cheating.

"Arnold and I were going out, Luna," Lorraine said. "He was so kind and ask me for a date. We are also planning to buy our baby's belongings," she added with a smile. Her eyes showed happiness. I smiled sadly at her.

"Take care, okay?" I said. Maybe Lorraine noticed my sadness, so she approached me and sat down next to me.

"What happened, Luna?" she asked. I hugged my knees and began crying.

"It l-looks like he's back to his old s-self, Lorraine," I said to her while sobbing. She rubbed my back and comforted me. "I don't k-know if I did something wrong. That's why he's like that," I added.

"I f-feel like he's slowly slipping away from me," I said to Lorraine while my tears fell in my shirt. She hugged me, and I could do nothing but cry. After a few minutes of crying, I calmed down as well.

"Are you okay now, Luna?" she asked. I found out that she secretly mind-linked Arnold and did not continue their plan.

"I'm okay now, Lorraine," I answered. "Thank you because you're here and for not leaving my side. I'm sorry because of me, your plans with Arnold got canceled," I apologized to her. She shook her head and held my hands.

"Luna, it doesn't matter. There were still many opportunities for us to go on a date," Lorraine said. "Besides, I'm happy that somehow you stop crying," he added.

Lorraine and I talked for a little more then I bid her my farewell. I thank her once again before entering our room. I laid down and looked at the ceiling above me. Marcus also does not often sleep here in our room. I hugged myself and cried. I felt cold because nights without him by my side felt so lonely. I need his warmth because it gives me protection and comfort. It tells me that he's not gonna leave me, that he will stay by my side forever, but the funny part is he's not here with me.