The Past Vione didn’t hope for much when she woke up, just as the morning sunlight managed to penetrate the thick curtains at the window and disturbed her eyes. At that moment, a few seconds before she opened her eyes, a fleeting, sad thought crossed her mind. Usher must be gone. He must have left.
But the heart of The Past Vione had its own will. Her logic told her not to hope, but her heart did the opposite. In fact, deep in her heart, she wanted to see Usher the moment she opened her eyes for the first time. She wanted Usher to be the first person she saw before she started her day.
The Past Vione took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She steeled herself as she turned her body and a stabbing pain throbbed in her heart. My guess was right. Usher has already left.
It took a moment for The Past Vione to regain control of the wave of disappointment. She calmed herself by saying over and over, “You know, this isn’t the first time Usher has done this, but it doesn’t mean he’s underestimating or belittling you. He loves you; he’s told you many times. It’s just…” There was a pause as she found the strength to smile. “… he’s too busy with his work. So, it’s only natural that he has to get ready for work right away.”
Speaking of getting ready for work, The Past Vione suddenly remembered something important, Usher’s message last night asking her to mix tonic into his morning tea. So, she hurriedly got out of bed. She quickly dressed and hurried to the dining room.
An Omega greeted Vione’s arrival. “Good morning, Luna.”
“Good morning, Ida,” The Past Vione replied with a smile as she walked in. “Is breakfast ready?”
Ida Kelly nodded. “Yes, Luna. Everything is ready, but is there anything else you would like?”
“No.” The Past Vione shook her head and stopped at the dining table. She saw that all the dishes were set, including a pot of tea that Usher often drank in the morning. “You may attend to your other duties.”
“Very well, Luna.”
After Ida left, Vione took the antidote from her bag. She put the antidote into the teapot and let it mix thoroughly. At the same time, the sound of footsteps made her heart beat faster.
The Past Vione turned around. “Usher.”
“Vione.” The Past Usher approached with a furrowed brow. He looked at The Past Vione with suspicion. “What are you doing?”
The Past Vione gaped. “Huh?”
“I asked you,” The Past Usher said curtly. Then he sat down at the dining table. “What are you doing?” He saw The Past Vione holding his teapot. “Did you make my morning tea?”
For a moment, The Past Vione remained stunned. Then she blinked and shook her head awkwardly. “N-no. Ida made your tea, as usual.”
“Oh, good.” The Past Usher exhaled with an indifferent look. Besides, his face showed signs of weariness. “I just don’t want to suddenly get diarrhea from drinking your tea.”
The Past Vione’s eyes widened. Usher’s words shocked her so much that she almost couldn’t breathe. “W-what did you say?”
The Past Usher didn’t answer. Instead, he asked another question. “What exactly are you doing here?” He poured tea into a cup and smelled its distinctive aroma. “You don’t intend to play the role of a wife serving her husband’s morning needs, do you? Are you trying to seduce me?”
The accusation left The Past Vione speechless. Her mouth opened, but she couldn’t utter a word. Her tongue felt tied, and her feelings were mixed. She felt confused, strange, and most of all bewildered.
The Past Vione looked at the Past Usher with a look full of questions. What exactly is happening to him? This isn’t the first time he’s shown such a drastic change in behavior. Her gaze then fell on the tea The Past Usher was smelling. Besides, how could he forget his request from last night?
The confusion continued to swirl in The Past Vione’s head, and eventually she couldn’t hold it in any longer. She finally spoke again. “I am not at all playing the role of a wife serving her husband’s morning needs or trying to seduce you. On the contrary, didn’t you ask me last night to take care of your morning needs?”
The Past Usher was about to take his first sip of tea. The cup was already at his lips. The Past Vione’s words startled him. He quickly put the cup back on its saucer. “Huh?! What do you mean?”
“What do I mean?” The Past Vione took a breath and brushed her hair back in frustration that she could no longer contain. The confusion bothered her. She thought Usher was deliberately playing with her emotions. “What exactly do you want from me, Usher? One moment you’re so caring and full of love for me. But in another moment, you’re so cold and heartless.
This time it was The Past Usher who was confused by The Past Vione’s words. He cleared his throat. “Wait a minute. I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“You don’t understand?” The Past Vione scoffed. “Just tell the truth, Usher. You’re playing with me, aren’t you?”
The Past Usher clicked his tongue with a mocking expression. “Who do you think you are? You’re nobody, Vione. You’re not attractive enough for me to be interested in playing with you.”
The past Vione closed her mouth. Her hands clenched into fists. “You.”
The Past Usher sneered and reached for the teacup again. He sniffed the aroma of the tea once before drinking it.
“You really are outrageous, Usher,” The Past Vione growled. Her patience seemed to be wearing thin. She was outraged to think that he could accuse her of something that he himself had asked for. “It was very clear last night that you asked me to add tonic to your morning tea, and now you’re acting like I’m trying to seduce you.”
The Past Usher choked and coughed. “What? Tonic?”
“Yes, you told me yourself that an old friend gave you tonic to keep your body in shape. So let me emphasize that, Usher. I had no other intentions. I just had good intentions to make sure that you took that tonic.”
The Past Usher said nothing. The Past Vione’s explanation only made him more confused. So, he asked himself. When did I meet my old friend? And which old friend was Vione talking about? Besides, why would I need tonic when Scott has already taken care of my fitness?
There were many confusions that The Past Usher felt, especially because he noticed the seriousness in The Past Vione’s demeanor. He was somewhat doubtful, but he strongly suspected that The Past Vione wasn’t lying.
“Tonic?”
*