***
Her adorable eyebrows would move into a frown whenever I got close by, her eyes skillfully avoiding me as if I had darts in mine.
The love I wished to give her wasn't how I had planned. A smile died down in my throat before it could reach my face when I left for work.
She was nowhere in sight, like that one time.
My chest tightened and my mouth felt dry. The clumsy pain in my heart was suffocating. Her bright goodbyes that urged me to finish work early and return weren't here today.
Every day I spent in this house with her, I craved more and more. Unable to withstand the unbearable distance between our hearts, I confessed.
And that may have been my biggest mistake.
She was the reason I never forged the idea of becoming a King. There was no need to when the world that I needed was right beside me.
A king must choose his people before their lover, but that was impossible for me.
How can I choose the empire over you?
The guilt in me was growing recklessly by the day. The countless secrets I've hidden from her wouldn't possibly help our relationship.
Not to mention, she is already overly conscious of me after the previous night.
Surely, I was more methodical than this. How did I make such a foolish mistake? Who would start falling in love just a month into marriage?
I was asking for too much. My greed overtook the profound composure I had built over years.
I picked up my bag, and as always, Lion noticed my grief and bid me farewell in her absence.
"Meow."
His cute little meow stitched a smile onto my lips, and leaving for work was made a little easier.
Outside, no matter how good the weather was, everything felt grey. Every corner of my body felt dejected by the idea that I was being turned down by the person I loved most.
I had no clue what I would do next if that were to happen. I might lose my mind, but I wouldn't give up.
I wanted to spend more time with her, have her smiling every day, and live the happiest life.
My grip around the steering wheel tightened, and my gaze fell onto the plushie I had forgotten to give her, sitting by the rear-view mirror.
The whale shark plushie appeared lonely without its destined owner.
A slight smile curved on my lips just at the image of her surprised face when she will receive it. The sight of her holding the plushie in her arms would be threatening to my heart.
I wanted to click enough pictures and save them in my memory forever.
I failed to click any pictures of her, even though I'm her "husband," and the only ones I had were the photos clicked by the wedding photographer.
And that was inadvertently my lock screen.
I stared at the picture for a few seconds before quickly turning my gaze back towards the road.
Perhaps I was being ridiculous.
But what else could I do when even the smallest things reminded me of her?
The way she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was nervous. The little crease between her eyebrows whenever she was concentrating. The way her voice softened whenever she spoke about something she loved.
I had memorised them all without even realising it.
I stepped out of the car, taking one last glance at the whale shark plushie before locking the door.
"I'll give you to her today," I murmured.
The plushie, of course, offered no response.
A sigh escaped my lips as I pulled into the parking lot. I stood at the building staring at it with an empty gaze.
K.K
King Khan
A branch of the main headquarters, yet still one of the busiest buildings under the company.
People hurried through the glass doors, some with files clutched against their chests, others already speaking into their phones. Cars continued to arrive behind me, but I remained where I was.
I adjusted my tie and finally began walking towards the entrance.
The moment I stepped inside, the familiar scent of coffee and the quiet hum of conversations greeted me.
"Assalamualaikum, sir."
"Wailaikumsalam"
I replied with a nod.
My footsteps echoed against the polished floor as I made my way towards the elevators.
The doors opened almost immediately.
Once I reached my floor, my assistant came rushing in.
"Sir!!"
He panted and tried to catch his breath.
I narrowed my eyes grasping onto the emergency of the situation.
"H- He is here..."
My pupils widened with surprise as I exactly knew who my assistant was talking about.
I ran a hand through my raven like hair and scoffed.
"The old man is getting tiring."