Chapter 7 Sleeping Together

"Hey, I can clean it myself, you know," Aleta complained, wiping her lips.

Axel ruffled Aleta's hair. "So don't be like a child and eat it," Axel said.

"Axel, don't mess up my hair. It's messy," protested Aleta, who wanted to hit Axel, but he dodged first.

Axel stuck out his tongue at Aleta. "Well, hit me if you can!" cheered Axel, who teased Aleta.

"Hey! Come here!" cheered Aleta back, who immediately chased Axel.

Finally, the two of them chased each other inside the house. Of course, Ansel saw it, and he felt his chest getting hotter. Ansel let out a rough sigh. "What do I care about her for? It's good that she's staying away from me," he muttered as he went into his room.

Meanwhile, the two people below were still chasing each other until Aleta stopped running because she was exhausted. "Stop! I'm exhausted right now," said Aleta. Axel walked over to Aleta, who was panting with sweat visible on her forehead. He took a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and wiped the sweat away. Aleta gasped again at Axel's sudden treatment. "Um, I'm going to the room first. It's getting late. Good night," Aleta said as she walked away from Axel.

Seeing that made Axel chuckle softly. "Is Aleta acting weird?" muttered Axel.

Aleta ran up the stairs and stopped in front of Ansel's room. She neutralized the flutter of her heart. "Should I go inside? Ansel doesn't want to share a room with me. So, what should I do? If I sleep in another room, Mommy and the others will get suspicious. I'm getting dizzy," Aleta complained, biting her finger as she thought about what to do.

Until a voice startled her.

"Aleta?"

Aleta immediately turned around and saw her mother-in-law behind her. Amanda walked over to Aleta. "You haven't slept yet?" asked Aleta, trying to eliminate her nervousness.

"I should have asked you about that. Why aren't you sleeping?" Amanda asked back.

Aleta thought about the most appropriate answer. Just as she was about to say something, the door suddenly opened, revealing Ansel.

"What took you so long to get to the kitchen?" Ansel asked suddenly.

Aleta was confused because Ansel suddenly said that.

"Oh, so you went to the kitchen. Well, you can go to your room now. I pity your husband, who's been waiting for so long. The others and I won't be eavesdropping. You can shout as loud as you want. No one will hear you," Amanda explained.

Aleta wrinkled her forehead. "What do you mean?" asked Aleta with a confused face.

Ansel, who understood the meaning of his mother's words, immediately pulled Aleta's hand to enter the room. "Come on in!" said Ansel

"Eh?! But... good night, Mommy!"

Amanda chuckled softly at that. "My child can be shy, too. Play happily!" Amanda shouted as she left Ansel's room.

Meanwhile, Ansel was still holding Aleta's hand in the room with a faint blush on his face. "What did Mommy say earlier? I don't understand," Aleta said.

Ansel immediately looked at Aleta, who seemed to be waiting for his answer.

Did this woman not understand what Mummy had said earlier? She was hinting that we would have a 'that' relationship. This mother! Why am I being reminded of that night?! Ahh!~ Ansel thought

"You shouldn't think about it too much. She wants us to sleep well," Ansel replied.

Aleta nodded her understanding. She just remembered that she was in Ansel's room right now. She didn't want to come in here in the first place. "Um, I'll sleep on the sofa. You can sleep on the bed," Aleta squeaked as she walked towards the sofa.

Suddenly, Ansel pulled her hand, and she looked up at him. "Do you like Axel?" Ansel asked suddenly.

Aleta widened her eyes slightly at the question. "Why are you suddenly asking me that?" Aleta asked back.

"Just answer it," Ansel said.

"Of course not! I think of Axel as a brother. He's my brother-in-law now," Aleta explained.

Ansel nodded his understanding. Hearing that answer somehow relieved him. "But your behavior shows that you like him," Ansel said.

"I don't like him! Besides, if that's true, what's wrong with you? We promised not to get into each other's business, didn't we?" Aleta retorted.

Ansel was stunned by Aleta's words. Aleta's words were true. She was the one who set the boundaries first.

Aleta looked at Ansel, who was just silent. "Are you jealous?" asked Aleta.

Suddenly, Ansel widened his eyes at what his wife was asking. "What?! Jealous?! Wow, you think too highly of yourself. I'm saying this because I don't want my brother to have a relationship with a replacement," Ansel sarcastically said.

Aleta was stunned to hear what Ansel said. She already knew that Ansel could be jealous of her. "Well, then you can leave what I do alone," Aleta said as she entered the bathroom.

Ansel let out a rude sigh. "Why would I even ask that? She's going to think I like her. You bastard!" complained Ansel, who was messing up his hair.

***

"Oh my! I didn't bring any clothes here. So what should I wear?" Aleta muttered as she cleaned her body. Aleta walked back and forth in the bathroom, thinking about what to do.

Meanwhile, outside the bathroom, Ansel could be seen focusing on the book he was reading. "Why hasn't that woman come out of the bathroom yet? Did she faint?" muttered Ansel. He took off the reading glasses he was wearing and put the book on the table. He walked over to the bathroom. He knocked on the bathroom door. "Hey, are you dead? Why haven't you come out of the bathroom yet?" Ansel called out.

Aleta gasped in the bathroom at Ansel's knock and voice. She cursed in her heart as he wished her dead. "I didn't bring a change of clothes. So I can't go out!" Aleta replied with a shout.

Ansel let out a harsh sigh. "Why didn't you say so earlier?! Wait a minute! I'll get you a change of clothes!" Ansel retorted.

Not long after, Ansel returned with the clothes in his hand. He knocked on the bathroom door again. "Open up; I brought you a change of clothes," Ansel said.

The bathroom door opened slightly, revealing only Aleta's hand. "Where?"

Ansel gave her the clothes, and the bathroom door closed again. After giving her the change of clothes, Ansel walked over to sit on the bed. Shortly after, the bathroom door opened and revealed Aleta's figure there. Ansel was suddenly transfixed by Aleta, who had just come out of the hoodie he had given her earlier. The hoodie covered only half of her thighs. Ansel immediately averted his eyes with a faint red face. "I gave her the wrong hoodie," Ansel muttered.

"This hoodie is oversized on me. But it's very comfortable. Thank you," Aleta said with a wide smile.

Ansel just nodded his head slowly.

Aleta walked to the side of the sofa, but her steps stopped when Ansel's voice sounded.

"What are you doing there?" Ansel asked.

Aleta turned to Ansel. "I'm going to bed," Aleta replied.

Ansel sighed harshly. "Do you want Mommy to know the truth?" Ansel asked back.

"But, the door is locked. How will she find out?" Aleta asked back with a confused face.

"Do you think she doesn't have a spare key? She can still get into this room," Ansel replied.

Aleta was surprised to hear that. "So what should we do?" asked Aleta, looking worried.

"There's only one way. You sleep in bed with me," Ansel replied.

Aleta was stunned by this. "Would you be okay if I slept with you?" asked Aleta cautiously.

"Why would I tell you to sleep here if I didn't want to? Come here!" complained Ansel

Aleta slowly walked towards the bed. But because she was not walking carefully, her foot suddenly bumped into the leg of the dressing table chair. "Ouch!" cried Aleta.

Ansel quickly approached Aleta, who was squatting while holding her stubbed foot. "What happened to you?" he asked, worried.

"I hit my leg on the chair. It hurts so bad!" complained Aleta. Ansel immediately picked Aleta up bridal-style and sat her on the bed. "This hurts!" Aleta complained, tears coming out.

Seeing Aleta crying made Ansel unable to bear it. "Wait a moment, okay? I'll get some medicine first. Be patient," said Ansel as he ran to get the medicine box. After getting the medicine box, Ansel squatted in front of Aleta. He slowly lifted Aleta's injured leg.

"It hurts!"

"Yeah, I know. I'll treat it," Ansel said. He looked at Aleta's slightly bleeding big toe.

"Be patient, okay? It's going to hurt a little," said Ansel as he started to treat Aleta's foot.

"Ahh! Ansel, this hurts! Slow down!" Aleta shouted.

"Be patient, Aleta. It does hurt, but it won't take long. I'll take it easy," replied Ansel as he gently treated the leg.

"Slow down!" protested Aleta.

"Yeah, I'm taking it slow. I'll do it slowly, okay," said Ansel.

He had never done anything like this in his life. He would never want to touch someone else's feet except for his own parents. But now Aleta broke all that. Aleta was the first person to make him throw away his prestige.

"Well, it's done. How does it feel? Does it still hurt?" Ansel asked.

Aleta shook her head slowly. "It doesn't hurt anymore. Thank you," Aleta replied

"Don't cry anymore," said Ansel, who gently wiped away the tears on Aleta's face.

Aleta was stunned by Ansel's sudden tenderness toward her. "Is this a dream?" she asked. If it was, please don't wake her up. She was pleased that Ansel was being gentle with her.

"Come on, let's go to bed," Ansel chirped.

Aleta lay down on the bed. Just as Ansel was about to turn her over, Aleta opened her voice.

"Can you hug me?" she asked.

Ansel immediately turned around and saw Aleta looking down at her face. Ansel pulled Aleta's hand and hugged her tightly. Aleta was entirely stunned by the sudden hug, which was very warm.

"Go to sleep."

"He 'em!"

Aleta settled herself in Ansel's arms. Could he tell that this was a perfect night for her?

Ansel didn't know what he was doing at the moment. He felt like he was not his usual self. He followed everything Aleta wanted. But, for some reason, he was comfortable hugging Aleta right now. Until unconsciously, a smile appeared on his face.

***

The morning had greeted the couple, who had not yet woken up from their sleep. The wife was the first to wake up.

"Enghh!"

The wife, Aleta, blinked her eyes slowly to adjust the light entering her retinas. When she could see clearly, her husband's handsome face was revealed. Ansel's perfect face transfixed Aleta. The firm jaw, the hawk-like eyes, the kissable lips. Suddenly, she remembered their first night. Aleta's face immediately turned bright red at the memory. She unconsciously raised her hand to touch that face. However, when she saw Ansel's eyes about to open, Aleta immediately pulled her hand back. She didn't know what she was doing to close her eyes again.

Ansel opened his eyes and saw his wife, who was still closing her eyes. But he knew it was all a lie. A cunning idea popped into his head. "Ahhh! What's that?! There's a cockroach!" Ansel shouted.

Aleta suddenly opened her eyes wide. "What?! A cockroach?! Ahhh! Get away from me! Go! Go away!" Aleta shouted.

She was so panicked that she didn't realize she was on top of Ansel. The two of them stared at each other in silence. Neither Ansel nor Aleta wanted to break the contact, but suddenly, the door to the room opened and revealed Amanda's figure.

Amanda widened her eyes at what she saw. "Oh, my gosh! Sorry, you guys continue," Amanda said as she closed the door again.

Ansel and Aleta looked at each other with widened eyes. "Mommy, this isn't what I thought it would be!" cried Aleta. Aleta got up from Ansel's body. She looked at the man angrily. "This is all because of you. You tricked me by saying there was a cockroach when there wasn't," Aleta protested, folding her arms across her chest.

"Who told you to pretend to be asleep earlier, so I went straight to work on you," Ansel replied with an innocent face.

An infuriated Aleta hit Ansel on the arm. "You bastard!" screeched Aleta.

"What did you say?" protested Ansel with a sharp glare.

Suddenly, Aleta shrank when Ansel gave her a sharp look. "Nothing. I didn't say anything," Aleta squeaked.

Seeing Aleta scared like that made Ansel unable to laugh out loud. "Hahaha, your face is hilarious. You look like a scared cat. Hahaha," Ansel joked.

Aleta clenched her fists tightly. Again and again, Ansel played tricks on her. Annoyed, she immediately bit Ansel's neck.

"Ahh!" cried Ansel, who gasped when she suddenly bit him.

"Feel that! Huh!" said Aleta, who immediately ran into the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Ansel was still silent since Aleta suddenly bit his neck. Ansel got off the bed and walked to the mirror. He saw Aleta's bite mark, which looked red. Instead of being in pain, Ansel felt his heart racing. Ansel looked at his face, which was reddened by the bite marks. "Shit! Why am I like this just because that little kid bit me?" Ansel muttered.

Meanwhile, Aleta was also looking at her red face in the mirror in the bathroom. She just realized what she had done earlier. "How come I suddenly bit his neck? I reflexed because I was very annoyed at being pranked by him. Gosh, how will I get out later and see his face?" Aleta complained.

Aleta preferred to clean her body immediately. It was about fifteen minutes before she finished. She saw a paper bag on the bathroom table. She immediately grabbed it and took out the contents. A baby pink dress was there. It was quite pretty. She put it on and looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. "Hmm, cute, Aleta!" she said with a big smile.

After looking well at herself, Aleta walked out of the bathroom. That's when she saw Ansel, who was already dressed in his casual suit. Ansel turned to Aleta, who had just come out of the bathroom. His gaze became fixated on Aleta, who was somehow very beautiful in his eyes with the dress she was wearing. Aleta was embarrassed to be stared at like that. "Thank you for the dress," Aleta said in a low voice.

"What did you say? I didn't hear that," Ansel interrupted.

Aleta let out a harsh sigh. "I said thank you for the dress. Am I pretty in this dress?" Aleta asked.

"Pretty'?"

Aleta was surprised to hear that answer.

"Yeah, it's the dress that's pretty, not you," Ansel continued, causing Aleta to purse her lips in annoyance.

"What a bummer!" Aleta protested.

"Never mind, let's go outside. The others are waiting downstairs," said Ansel, pulling Aleta's hand out of the room. Ansel directed Aleta's hand to be placed on his arm. Afterward, they walked together down the stairs. They saw Aditya, Amanda, and Axel when they reached the dining table. They all looked at the two of them. Big smiles were seen on the faces of both parents, except for Axel, who seemed to have a sour face because of it. Of course, it was caught by Ansel, who immediately showed his lopsided smile.

Ansel pulled a chair for Aleta, which surprised Aleta with the treatment.

Calm down, Aleta! Calm down! Ansel is just acting ~ Aleta's inner voice

Amanda seemed very happy with the interaction between the two. After sitting Aleta down, Ansel sat next to her. "I'm sorry I disturbed you," Amanda chuckled.

Both Ansel and Aleta were stunned to hear that. "Mommy, that was a misunderstanding. We didn't do that. I was surprised because Ansel suddenly said there was a cockroach. That's why it happened," said Aleta.

"Yeah, Aleta's right," Ansel added.

"But what happened last night happened, right?" Amanda asked again with an expectant face.

Ansel and Aleta looked at each other because of that question. Until they remembered the incident where Aleta had tripped. If remembered, it did make people misunderstand Aleta's scream. Remembering it embarrassed both Ansel and Aleta.

"Mommy, just calm down. You'll hear happy news soon," Ansel replied.

"Well, that's good! Let's start the breakfast," Amanda said.

Aleta glared at Ansel. "Why are you saying that?" whispered Aleta.

Ansel leaned closer to Aleta's ear. "Never mind. You don't want to see her get disappointed with our answer," Ansel replied.

Finally, Aleta just kept quiet. What Ansel said was true; he didn't want to make her sad. But this was wrong. They didn't do it last night. They had already done it once. But because Ansel told her to take the pills, Aleta took them without hesitation.

Could it be that if she hadn't taken it, she would have been pregnant by now?