Chapter 54 Memories From His Past
“Are you dried up yet?” Bryce asked from the living room in Hera’s apartment where they had been seated ever since they alighted his car. For some reason, he couldn’t go back to his mansion and had decided to crash at her place for the night. Hera knew that it was a big step, letting a man into her apartment to spend the night but she let him anyways. She couldn’t send him away even if she wanted to. Especially not after what they had just being through tonight.
“Almost.” She answered from her bedroom. She had been trying to wipe her hair dry ever since she got out from the shower. Drying her hair had not always been the easiest chore but it was either she tried to or got her bed wet tonight with dripping water.
She sat down at the edge of the bed and ran the towel through and through, in a bid to get all the water out.
“You’re not going to get it out like that.” She heard Bryce’s voice from behind her. She turned around to see him leaned against the door of her bedroom. For how long has he been standing there, watching her? She was tempted to ask but refrained from doing so.
He was clad in baggy pants that he had probably gotten from his house when she was in the bedroom. Now that she looked at him so closely, she couldn’t unsee it anymore. He looked so adorable. Has he always looked like this or she just didn’t notice?
“Let me help you.” He offered and stepped into hr bedroom fully. She tried to protest but she was too late. He was already standing in front of her. He took the towel from her hands and slowly began to work his way through her shrunken mass.
Hera relaxed and her tensed shoulders plopped down as he gently massaged her scalp with the towel. For some reason, it felt so good. No one had ever done something like this for her before. It was an entirely new feeling and it sent tingling sensations throughout her entire body.
Bryce worked slowly, careful enough not to hurt the woman under his care. He has never had anything worth protecting in his entire life but this woman, she was the only thing standing between his rules, laws and ethics. He still couldn’t understand what had changed. Why was she different? Why was there longing? Why was there unstacked need? Why couldn’t he bring himself to behave the way he normally does when he was in the arms of a different woman. Why was her mere presence changing everything?
“Does it feel good?” He asked and she nodded lightly.
“You are the first person to dry my hair.” She proclaimed. “No one has ever done something like this for me.”
“I’m glad then.” He mused. His lips stretched in pride. There was a certain level of happiness that coursed through him at her revelation and he basked in it. He always wanted to be her first in a lot of things. “The only person who has helped me dry my hair… well, it was my mom.”
Hera noticed that this was probably the first time that he was saying anything about himself concerning his parents. He had always closed that chapter of his life and had always shunned her whenever she said or mentioned anything about it. She could remember vividly how his countenance had changed when she hinted at it before.
“What was she like? I meant your mom?” She proceeded to ask. Careful to take things slow and not rush him before she scares him off. He was like a little rabbit tying to leave his hole at this point and she would guide him, not scare him.Text content © NôvelDrama.Org.
She handed the towel over to her and took a seat beside her on the bed. Hera noticed that he had a anxious look on his face at her question so she placed her hand on his.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” She encouraged. “But I’ll always be here if you want to say something about it.”
She made an attempt to stand up to her feet but he held her back and she willingly obliged.
“She was…” He trailed off as though he was trying to remember. “Well, she was the nicest person to have ever walked this planet.” He mused. “She was kind, selfless, brave and one of the courageous women I knew. Plus, she was incredibly stunning that most times I find it hard to believe that she’s my mother.” He joked and they both shared a laugh.
“What happened to her?” Hera took a step further but when he retreated, she realized that she might’ve overstepped. “I’m sorry if I’m asking too many questions. I won’t happen again-”
“No.” She cut her short. “I want you to know Hera. I want to tell you everything. If here’s anyone that I would like to tell the truth then I want it to be you and no one else.” He confessed and she shook her head slowly.
Hera knew that this was probably the biggest step he had even taken. To trust her and to let her into his dark and scary past that he was scared of telling anyone. She felt elated that he wanted to open up to her.
“I’m here for you Bryce. Don’t rush it and I promise you that I will listen.”
He nodded his head at her request. Well since she had offered it, he would have to dig up those memories from his past that he had tried so hard to bury in the deepest and darkest part of his brain.
“My mother and my father were the ideal couple. At least that’s what they made me and everyone believe.” He started with a deep breath. “They never failed to show the world just how much they loved each other. I grew up thinking that I would have something like their relationship or better, but then I realized that it wasn’t as easy as they made it sound. It wasn’t perfect. There were too many cracked holes that she was trying so hard to glue together so that I didn’t notice. I was twelve when the first tragedy struck.” He muttered while Hera listened with rapt attention, waiting for him to continue.