CHAPTER 161: TOO PRECIOUS

She got up and walked up to him.

"It’s not nice, but it has me in the mood."

She put down her wine glass.

"I want some things, and I am no longer afraid to get them myself."

She straddled him. Rubbing his neck, she wrapped her arms around him.

Averie looked at her.

’It certainly isn’t anything pure like love.’

But he liked that. He liked those with desires, those who lusted.

Ellie drew closer.

"Let’s recreate Sarah and Asmodeus."

She gently licked his bleeding lip.

"I will give you what you want."

Her glossy lipstick, her perfume, and her contours caught the man’s attention.

"Sounds a bit unethical, doesn’t it?"

"Who cares?" She winced. "Every person I come across stares at me weirdly. You can practically hear their thoughts. If they can have that, why can’t I have this?"

"You are not drunk, right?"

"Not enough to make a mistake. I have wanted this for a while, and now, I need it.

There was exhaustion in her expression and desperation in her voice.

"Just like you, I can’t turn to anyone else."

She reminded Averie very much of Sarah Raguel after she had lost her husband.

’You were a perfect casting, Ellie. Just like Sarah, you are seeking warmth from a diabolical man. And all that because you find yourself lost and alone.’

But he didn’t mind.

If anything, he liked the girl.

"Only for a night."

He felt her inebriated breath and soft lips as the moonlight cast a pair of writhing shadows.

***

Averie woke up on a bed that smelled of jasmine and sweat.

His pale hands searched for the addictive object of the decade and found his smartphone.

The first thing the actor did was check his emails and messages.

There were some from the cast of BSPH, Ari, Min-Ha, and Hyerin.

The last one in particular was interesting.

The previous night, while leaving for a hotel alongside Ellie, he had called his best friend and told her to go home without him, that he would be out for a while.

- Are you with Ms. Arnold?

That was her last message, which was received at around two in the morning.

He hadn’t replied, as he didn’t know whether it was appropriate to admit to it.

’How would you have handled this, previous Averie?’ he thought. ’All this mess because you didn’t write down anything about your love life.’

After a long gaze, he decided to deny it.

’The less people know, the fewer rumors there will be.’

- Who dis? Out with Peter Kang. He made me drink. Still Hungover. Will call.

He put his phone down as his gaze travelled lower.

Gently breathing on his bare chest was the sleepy face of Ellie Arnold, her lips squishing against his tattoo.

He ruffled her hair.

’I prefer not to sleep with my co-stars. But who cares anymore?’

He wondered if the previous Averie would have been shocked to see his body wrapped around a beautiful actress.

’Doesn’t matter.’

They had a really passionate night.

’When was the last time I felt so relaxed?’

He was glad.

’The less tense I am, the better my performances.’

Even in that moment, he could think of nothing but his acting.

He closed his eyes as his hand chased the contours of the woman’s body.

As he reached her hips, a thought emerged.

’Is this why she walks so differently?’

He had always thought that there was a certain rhythm to Ellie Arnold’s walk.

"Do you like it?"

Ellie was smiling.

"You are awake?"

"Something was tickling me."

"I need to study you."

She snuggled closer to him. "Can’t we stay like this for a while?"

"Remember what I said?"

"What?"

"Only for a night."

The sheets stirred.

"Do you like someone?"

"Do I look like someone who would be in love?"

She observed the man. Indeed, he looked more like a promiscuous womanizer than a faithful lover.

Ellie sighed and pushed away the sheets.

She got up, completely naked.

"Let’s do it," she said, tying her hair with a hair band. "Should I put on something?"

Averie wore his underwear and got up.

"No," he said, observing her. "I need to see your muscles and how your body moves as you walk or pick up something."

Her eyes narrowed. "Is that really necessary?"

"The details matter. If you are dealing with something unfamiliar, study it relentlessly. If you want to be a great actress, remember that."

"Okay, okay."

After spending more than an hour on mundane activities like observing her joints, doing her hair, and measuring her waist, the pair moved on to the next thing.

"Are you seriously going to observe me while I shower?"

"Get on with it, I don’t have the whole day. I need to see your routine."

The girl looked confused.

"Look," he said. "Everyone has a routine while bathing. What part of the body do they wash first? How do they apply shampoo? What parts do they pay more attention to? For example, I wash my armpits more thoroughly because they tend to sweat more. To anyone else, it may not be such a bother. But it bothers me."

Finally, she took it seriously, bathing under the watchful eye of an obsessed actor.

And after all that was done with, they got dressed.

Averie was the first to put on his shoes.

"You should stay. I will leave first. Go out only after an hour or more."

He was dressed immaculately in black.

A bit sad, she studied his expression. "Be careful."

Averie’s foot hesitated to cross the threshold.

"Listen, I—"

"I know." She smiled. "It was just a one-night thing."

"Yeah." His eyes were facing away from her. "Give me a call if you are overwhelmed again."

From that day on, Ellie began messaging Averie more often.

They met often and had dinners regularly. But not once did they talk about that night.

It may not have been the most suitable activity for two people who were only friends, but perhaps the Europeans had the right idea.

Casual nudity did make better friends.

And Averie appreciated that she did not chase more than that.

He liked her.

But only as a friend.

Because she was too precious to be made into something else.