A Crystal Love

Chapter 38- This Side of Heaven

As I lean in, our arms naturally intertwine, forming a comforting connection. However, the elevator abruptly halts, disrupting the moment as it opens its doors to welcome more passengers. Despite the interruption, I quickly refocus my attention.

Returning my gaze to the phone, I skim through the comments from his coworkers, who seem to have taken an interest in our presence. A picture captioned 'So she exists' garners attention, followed by a flurry of responses from others who had glimpsed us during our interactions.

It becomes evident that our movements hadn't gone unnoticed, some of his coworkers  took out their phones and snapped a picture of us walking the halls holding hands without us knowing every time we walked by or stopped to talk to someone."

One photo, in particular, stands out amidst the flurry of tags and reactions. It captures a moment when I paused to converse with Doria at the nurses' desks, partially turning to glance back at Rome. It's the only image where not only is there a full view of my body, but my face is clearly visible, my hair brushed to one side of my shoulder, and a smile on my face.

Rome retrieves the phone, tilting his head to examine the picture more closely, almost as if trying to discern what others might see. Then, a smile spreads across his face.

"They are right, you're a stunning creature" He concludes.

"So wait ..you are in a group chat?"

"It's a work chat." He shrugs, as we exit the elevator and cross the foyer to the parking lot.

"Ok, clearly, you guys mess around on it...you have a lot of people here that seems nice and friendly, do you ever hang out with any of them?" I ask.

"Not beyond these walls."

"Why?" 

"Is it because of Scarlet?" I ask, hating the fact that she made him distrust people so much that he built walls around himself...he may say he healed from that experience...but he has never let people in again.

"No, because I prefer it that way..besides, I don't have a lot of spare time on my hands to socialize with people."

"That's not true..you have time..you make time..it wouldn't hurt to hang out a for a few drinks once in a while like your colleagues suggested yesterday.

"Well, you go out once and people start expecting you to show up again, then again and again...quite frankly...no." He sighs.

I huff.

"I'm surprised people like you...you sound unpleasant and stand-offish."

"Hey.." he raises his index finger up.

"I am one of the most polite and friendly people anyone could ever meet..quite charming infact. I'm nice to people...I'm helpful, funny and generous..I love people....I just don't make friends in the way that I used to or you seem necessary." He utters.

I place my hand on my belly.

"Your dad is a sadist." I murmur to our unborn child and he immediately pushes my back against the side of the car and leans over me..

"You take that back...don't you ever say anything negative about me to the baby. You want my child to detest me." He grumbles.

"Your child?"

"Don't digress." he snaps.

"Take it back" he urges him.

"Will you be a bit more social?"

"I refuse to bargain with insurrectionist.....Take. It. Back..... don't say bad things about me in the presence of our baby." He mutters and I realise just how serious he is being, where as I was joking.