Eric thrust out his palm, gesturing Hera to join him. Sighing, Hera walked to the couch and took his hand. Eric tugged her hand, making her land next to him and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, bringing her close to him. Hera looked into his aqua blue eyes and smiled halfheartedly. She watched as he leaned back and stretched his long legs. He was wearing grey sweatpants with a thin, loose yellow T-shirt which didn’t do anything to hide his abs. 

Hera was still waiting for him to answer her earlier question. Eric shoved his hand into his pant pocket and pulled out a fresh red rose. Hera’s eyebrows went up in surprise while she eyed the rose as if it’s a contagious disease.. Eric smiled knowingly and pinched her cheek before giving her the rose along with the gift box. She was reluctant but accepted it anyway. It’s not like she had a choice. 

“Relax, Pixie. You don’t have to panic. He’s not here. He’s in Italy,” Eric said. “Italy?” Hera asked in disbelief. She eyed him suspiciously as if he’s lying to her. He grinned softly. “Yes, its some family emergency,” Eric shrugged nonchalantly, and Hera understood, he didn’t want to elaborate. She nodded her head, unsure. “But this rose looks freshly plucked?” She stated which sounded more like a question. He agreed. 

“Lanson plucked it in the morning and kept in the fridge to keep it fresh or something. He issued orders to her,” Eric said, and they both chuckled. Hera could imagine Hunter, commanding the housekeeper. 

‘Typical Hunter.’

“Family emergency, you say? Is everything alright?” She prodded hoping he would provide some closure on that. “Nothing you should be worried. Now tell me, what are you doing in the guest room and why aren’t you in your room?” Erick asked her and smoothly changed the subject. 

‘Did he change the topic? Avoiding answer means trouble.’ 

She couldn’t help but worry about Hunter. His father’s parents lived in Italy, and Hunter loved his grandparents. Hera hoped they were all good. 

“It’s not my room, Eric. Master bedroom belonged to the master of the house, and the last time I checked, I’m not one. I’m staying in the guest room because I’m a guest,” Hera said, sounding tired. Eric looked at her like he wanted to drag her to the said master bedroom. But instead, an eyebrow was raised in silent question. Running his fingers through his soft honey blonde hair, he sighed in annoyance when she didn’t speak. 

“Of course, it’s your room too, Pixie. You better shift out of this guestroom before Ace gets to know. You know he won’t like it. You don’t want to provoke him, do you?” Eric asked, to which Hera just shrugged her shoulders, showing indecision. He shook his head in defeat. 

“Lanson said, you didn’t come down for dinner as well,” he stated in a scolding tone. Hera looked at the rose in her hand and twirled it absent-mindedly. “I wasn’t hungry, Eric. I ate enough earlier, and I’m still full. Just want to sleep till morning,” she said and glared at him as she suddenly realised something evil that he did to her. “I was sleeping peacefully until the ugly demon decided to ruin it,” she accused. 

He laughed and kissed her on the cheek. “Go back to bed now. And, Pixie, If he knows about this room issue, you better keep me out of it. Your fucking boyfriend will kick my ass, and I’ll kill you with my tickling weapons if that happens,” he said, wiggling his ten fingers to show her the said tickling weapons. Hera laughed, and he walked out of the room, bidding her good night. Hera locked the door and went to bed with the gift box. 

“My Boyfriend!” Hera said, testing the sound of the words. She laughed sarcastically at how absurd it sounded to hear. She didn’t realise that she was crying until the tears left the wet trail on her cheeks. Despite their break up three years ago, Hunter still owned the title as her boyfriend. 

Ironically, she’s staying under his roof, feeding her stomach in his kitchen, sleeping on the bed in his house, holding a gift from him. 

‘Can my life be any more fucked up than this?’ 

Once her tears dried off, Hera washed and cleaned her face in the bathroom. After dreading for some time, she finally decided to open the gift box. Hunter had wrapped it with purple colour glitter paper, her favourite colour. Smiling to herself, Hera inhaled the sweet aroma of the contents in the box, bringing it closer to her nose. 

Hunter was aware of her sweet tooth. He’d been gifting her box full of sweets since their childhood for every special occasion. A birthday gift, as a “parting gift” during winter and summer breaks, as a “missing you gift” when they were not able to spend time together during tests and exams, as an “apology gift” whenever he made her angry or upset and of course as an “I love you gift” too. 

The only difference between then and now was that he used to mean it from the heart until they broke up, but now, she’s not so sure what purpose these sweets served or what she supposed to feel. 

He used to handpick every sweet, all her favourites, yummy and delicious. Sometimes they were expensive, imported chocolates from all around the world. 

Hera folded the wrapper neatly after carefully unwrapping the box. With shivering nervous hands, she opened the box and just like she guessed, the box revealed the chocolates of different types and shapes. She took out the first sweet that caught her eyes, and it felt so light, it’s weightless. Wondering what she would find inside, she opened it, and a huge grin spread across her face automatically. 

It was weightless because it’s Candy floss. 

Hera quickly filled her mouth with candy floss, and it melted in no time. “I could kiss your feet right now, Hunter. So it’s a good thing that you’re not here,” she murmured, swallowing the sweetness. Savouring that heavenly taste, she looked into the wrapper to find any written message for her. 

It was Hunter’s unique style. He never gave her a card or those cliche gifts boys usually give girls. He always wrote his message inside the wrapper of the sweet. Hera ignored the disappointment she felt as there’s no message.