Queen of Ice

Julia opened the door and saw Cecilia sitting on the couch in their bedroom. Her expression was detached and cold as she was holding a glass of wine. “Your face battered.”

Julia walked approached her, then sat next to her. “It’s already late. You should sleep.”

Cecilia touched Julia’s face gently, tracing it as if it was a glass that was easy to break. Julia, who carried away with the atmosphere, pulled her closer. Her hand on her waist stared into Cecilia’s cold dark brown eyes.

“So... What do you want? Do you want something?” She did not answer her question and kept staring into her eyes. Julia put her lips gently.

Cecilia closed her eyes. She put her hands on Julia’s shoulders, then pulled her away, gently. “Nothing.” She said cold and detached.

Julia sighed and nodding her head. “I... will take a shower...”

“I already prepare a warm water for you to bath.” Julia furrowed her brow. Why suddenly she changed her behavior? Julia only battles with her thoughts for minutes. “What’s wrong?”

She sat on the chair, then sighed. “Thank you for taking care of me.” She grabbed her bathrobe, then went to the kitchen to grab a cola from the fridge, then went back to their bedroom. She keeps battling with her thoughts.

“Maybe she needs her medicine.” She mumbled. A splash of water was heard, and Cecilia sat next to her. Julia shifted to give her some space and place an icepack in her battered face.

No one spoke, they only stared into each other deeply, until Julia started a conversation. “Why now? Why are you...”

“Is it illegal to take care of my wife?” Cecilia asked.

“Well...” she was out of words. Julia shook her head and sighed. Little did she know; Cecilia wanted to laugh as she looked at her expression. Julia leaned her head on her shoulder, then closed her eyes. Enjoying the moment she dreamt of.

The Universe answered her prayers, but her heart was still shambled. She keeps telling herself something was off. Julia tried to deny this feeling, but the more she refused, the feeling was true.

“So... are you ready for a second date?” Julia furrowed her brow.

“A date? Again?!” Cecilia nodding her head. “Are you watching soap opera or wants to get that...”

“This time... just two of us.” Julia stays silent and nodding her head. She touches Cecilia’s forehead.

No one dared to speak, until Cecilia leaned her head on her shoulder as she hugged her knees. “Lord Duncan...” Julia scoffed, then rolled her eyes. “You’re right, Julia. I was wrong this time, I’m sorry.”

Julia doesn’t react to Cecila’s words. She watched her wife’s face cold and detached, but she could feel something more beneath the mask.

Flashback on

Julia covered their body with a blanket, then looked at her. “This time... don’t run. Let’s we’re talk about your relationship with Lord Duncan and a lot of stuff I should know.”

Cecilia looked at her with no emotion. “I was cheated from you for the past 4 years...”

Julia scoffed and sighed. “I still remembered what our vow was...” Julia wiped her tears with her thumb. “Full of hatred till the death do us part. I... even can’t heard the... priest pray his blessing to us, but... he ‘blessed’ us in different way.”

Julia’s heart shattered into pieces and tears escaped from her eyes. “Julia!”

“I’m...” she felt her head dizzy, then she held the wall. So much she can bared. She leaned on the door, then sighed. “I never cheated on you. I... try to respect our marriage, but you...”

Julia looked at Cecilia’s expression, cold and no emotions. She sighed, then approached her, and held her hand. “I already broke up with him... he...”

“Yes... you’re not the only one for him.” Julia wiped her tears. She wants to hate woman in front of her, but something blocked her. Her feeling towards the cold woman in front of her, was more than hate.

Julia cleared her throat. “What happened to my mom...”

“She and Thomas having an affair." Cecilia sighed.

Julia narrowed her eyes. “Don’t... badmouth my mom. She...”

“Did she always go home late, Julia?” Julia was stunned by her words. “I was there when the affair happened. We... slept together... Your mom, Thomas, and I... were slept together that day. We’ve been partying, until... midnight and drunk.”

Julia closed her mouth, and her eyes widened. She was shocked by the revelations. “Why...?”

Cecilia’s fingers traced Julia’s sleeve tattoos with her finger, down to her leg. “I hate this marriage, so do you, but... the way you treated me all these years... made me realized.” Julia can see honesty through those dark chocolate eyes. She sighed. Cecilia was a mere human, she made mistakes, like anyone else.

Julia pulled her closer and sighed. Cecilia doesn’t react or respond, her body still stiff. She stroked her hair gently. Cecilia feels there’s a million butterflies inside her stomach. “Will you forgive me?”

Julia stared into those dark chocolate eyes with an unreadable expression. She doesn’t answer or respond to her words.

Flashback off

Julia sighed, then she looked at her wife, sleeping next to her. Julia decided to go to the kitchen and searched for something to eat or drink. “Oh... Y-your... Majesty.” A maid with a green badge in her uniform bowed to her.

Julia sits at the dining table, she still wearing her bathrobe. “Can you cook me instant noodles? I want you... to cooked it.” The maid nodded her head and started cooking what she wanted.

Julia pondered until the maid finished cooking her meal in her favorite noodle pan. Julia opened the pan lid, then smelled the aroma. She devours the noodles after she pours a lot of hot sauce. “Do you have boyfriend or husband?” Julia asked the maid.

The maid nodding her head. “I-I have a boyfriend. D-do you...”

Julia leaned her back, looked at the maid. “I have a friend who cheated, and he is asking me some advice.” Julia sipped her mineral water. “...they... already married for five years and his wife cheated on him. In their marriage, they hate each other... do you count it as cheating or not? If you consider it as cheating..., what did you do?”

Cecilia eavesdropped on the conversation between Julia and the maid. Her expression was cold and mixed, but she felt anxious. She thought Julia would openly call her cheater.

She widened her eyes as Julia poured her heart out to the maid. Her tears dripped from her eyes, then she quickly wiped. She took a deep breath and exhaled.

Cecilia decides to go back to their room as her heart beating fast after what she decided.