Celes stood momentarily stunned by the abruptness of his accusation but said nothing. Her silence was a quiet rebellion against his demands.
She moved to the kitchen to prepare a simple meal, her hands moving mechanically as she tried to ignore the tension between them. They ate in silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavily in the air.
Andros, perhaps sensing her discontent, offered to wash the dishes, a rare gesture that felt more like an obligation than an act of kindness. Celes accepted the offer with a muted nod, her mind already drifting back to the solace she had found in her studies.
At least, I have something to look forward to.
That night, as they lay in bed, Celes was roused from sleep by Andros’s groans of discomfort. He complained of a stomachache, his voice tinged with melodramatic pain.
Still half-asleep, Celes mumbled, "You should find something for yourself."
Andros turned to her, his face contorted with hurt and betrayal. "You used to care," he said quietly, his eyes searching hers for a hint of the woman who once went out of her way to look after him.
Celes, struggling to keep her eyes open, sighed. "Andros, it's late. I'm tired."
His expression hardened, the distance between them growing more palpable in the dim light. "I see," he whispered, turning away from her.
Celes watched his back for a moment, the weight of their strained relationship settling heavily on her chest. She closed her eyes, feeling the guilt of her silent reproach as she tried to drift back to sleep. But flood of memories came rushing back to her—a time when she had been caught in the rain, desperate to bring him medicine to soothe his stomachache.
It was raining heavily.
I arrived at the Consul’s office, drenched and disheveled, my hair plastered to my face and clothes clinging uncomfortably to my skin. The sentinels and scouts, including Andros’s own Gamma and Delta, turned to me with mocking laughter.
“What are you doing here, Celes? Looking for a place to dry off?”
"C'mon, she's the Beta's mate?"
"Scrawny look suits you, doll."
Ignoring them, I pushed forward, my heart pounding. I found Andros at his desk, papers strewn around him.
“Andros,” I panted, holding out the medicine, “I brought this for you.”
He looked up, his expression icy. “What are you doing here?” he demanded, his tone laced with irritation.
“I heard you were sick."