His Untold Lies

Chapter 12 Bedtime Story

I find myself lying in bed, struggling to fall asleep. Thoughts of how many women must have a crush on someone as handsome as Ares keep me awake. I don't want to be indebted to him or, worse, become infatuated. Besides, the duties of a wife... we're not naive; we know what they entail.

Ugh, sleep won't come!

Suddenly, I hear the door open, signaling his return from work. I get up and head to the living room, where he's seated on the couch, looking quite exhausted.

"Good evening," I greet him.

"It's getting late. Why are you still awake?" he inquires.

"I can't sleep..." I notice the pillows and blankets next to him. "Have you been sleeping on the sofa for the past two days? Why not use the guest room?"

He scratches his head and smiles politely. "The room hasn't been used in a long time, and I haven't had the chance to clean it."

"The sofa is too small for you, and it must be terribly uncomfortable. Plus, you have work tomorrow. You should sleep in the master bedroom, and I can sleep on the sofa. I'm short, so it won't be too uncomfortable for me."

I guide him toward the master bedroom, but he pinches my cheeks and pats my head. "You're adorable. You have school tomorrow, too. Besides, it's chilly here, and you might catch a cold. I wouldn't want that. I'm a man; I can handle it. I'm going to take a bath. Go to your room. Goodnight."

Why is he so considerate, while I...

I grab his hand to stop him and pull him closer. "Wait!"

"Hmm?" he asks innocently.

"Uh, Ares, let's... let's sleep in the master bedroom!"

His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "Are you sure? You don't have to force yourself."

I take a deep breath and try to sound confident. "Don't worry, I'm sure. You must be uncomfortable after spending the night here. You have work tomorrow. Let's sleep in the master bedroom."

He doesn't respond immediately, just stands there. I can't read any emotions on his face. Am I being impulsive again?

"I'll take a bath first," he mumbles, leaving me in the living room.

...

I've decided to sleep in the master bedroom with Ares, but I can't seem to fall asleep at all. Ugh! What should I do?

"If I were a woman, I'd feel uncomfortable with a man sleeping beside me... Will you be able to go to school tomorrow if you keep tossing and turning like that? You're too restless. You need to loosen up."

Surprised, I furrow my brow. "I thought you were asleep..."

"Well, I can't sleep with the light on... How about I turn off the light? It's easier to fall asleep in the dark," he says, covering his eyes with his hands.

I hear a click, and the room plunges into darkness. "I can't sleep..."

"What if I tell you a story since you can't sleep? Just relax and listen. It all began when I was quite young..."

...

"It all began when I was very young... My dad was incredibly strict with me from a young age. Unlike other kids my age, I had no real childhood. All I did was focus on my studies because that's what my father demanded. He wanted me to be perfect, just like him. The pressure was unbearable. No one wanted to be my friend; I was always the outcast. They labeled me a nerd, and I became a loner. I didn't want to engage with others either. From kindergarten to high school, I felt like an outcast, a machine following the path my parents had set for me..."

***Flashback***

"It's for your own good, son! You won't get left behind if you study hard! Friends? What kind of friends do you want? Friends flock to you when you succeed! When you have everything!"

"Why can't you answer such an easy question? Do you even have a brain?! How will you ever get into a prestigious school like this? The kid next door aced the test! You only got 99? You can't live off interest alone. Why don't you focus more on your studies instead of playing on the computer when you have time?!"

-

"HAHAHAHAHA, geek! Nerd!"

"Why do you always look like that?! You're so annoying!"

"I didn't put thumbtacks in your shoes on purpose. It's not a big deal. Besides, I already said sorry!"

***End of flashback***

"I even contemplated ending my life. Until... there was this one girl. She stood up for me and confronted my bullies. I remember how cute she looked when she was angry at those who tormented me. She was like a ray of sunshine in the darkness-warm, radiant, and she lit up my life. It was her smile that pulled me out of the abyss. Before her, I never believed in love at first sight, but she proved me wrong. Life suddenly wasn't so dull, and I realized that many wonderful things were waiting for me to discover, like her..."

"And then? What happened?" She asked with genuine interest.

I closed my eyes as I continued, "That's it... My dad passed away, and I was forced to go to the US for my studies. I never heard from her again after that."

"Really? Did you ever think about trying to find her when you came back?"

I shook my head, still in disbelief. "No, I didn't. Maybe she has her own life now. Why would I want to disrupt it? Anyway, it's getting late. Let's go to sleep. Goodnight..."

"But what if she's waiting for you too? Aren't you curious?"

"Seems like you're the curious one. Are you jealous?" I teased her.

Her face turned bright red. "N-No, I'm not! I just thought maybe you two could meet again. You... you don't need to worry about me," she stammered before turning away to face the other side. "Goodnight! I'm going to sleep!"

What a silly girl!