Wayne had always been mindful to keep a routine for Pei Li as and when they were at home. Since filming was on a hiatus for the moment due to promotional work, the couple had been spending a lot of time together at home when she didn't have to visit her mother or that he didn't have to attend any event.
Wayne would either catch up on reading his existing and new scripts while Pei Li painted, accompanying him quietly. There were days where Wayne wondered how Penny was doing and if she would ever be back again.
Despite this, after all the confessions Pei Li made to Violet, which he overheard, he found himself loving her even more. It didn't have to be loud. Quiet moments of enjoying some peace with the sunlight rays shining in through their living room's curtains made Wayne wish for those moments to never end with Pei Li.
Since she wasn't very shy with him after letting him sleep by her side on most nights in the hotel during the filming schedule, she had been stealing kisses randomly from him when they were alone. It made him wonder if she was ready for their next stage in their relationship. No doubt, he had jumped straight into intimacy with Penny first to aid in resolving her guilt and sorrows but with Pei Li, it was different.
It has to be different.
It had to be delicate.
The sight of her zoning out while staring at her painting made him stare at her longer as he crafted a plan in mind.
Pei Li was recalling over and over again, trying her very best to think who TP could possibly be. While she was visiting her mother yesterday, TP came again. Their brief conversation had been tormenting her curiosity and worries.
"We meet again… I have missed you." TP said while suddenly sitting next to Pei Li, who was resting by the corridor while waiting for her mother to return from showering with the help of a nurse.
"TP?" Pei Li was caught by surprise. His look this time was different, more playful than his usual stern self. His eyes, which were the only thing she could see on his face, made her know he was smiling at her.
"Where have you been? What do you always do? Don't you have to work?" Pei Li instantly remembered she needed to ask those questions.
TP chuckled. "So fascinating how you actually cared for me! Do you miss me?" TP exclaimed in delight before teasing her a little.
She stood smiling mysteriously to play along to TP's act, not wanting to reply to him but he began to be bold with his moves. He was about to hug Pei Li when her quick reflex made her step away in a nick of time.
"Oh ho ho… Don't you try to move away… Haven't you remembered just how I have always touched you?" TP's question terrified Pei Li very much.
The alarm of danger was ringing so loud in her mind, but before she could react, the nurse and her mother had returned, diverting her attention away briefly. TP quickly took the chance to sneak away without anyone noticing.
Since then, it has been bothering her. She couldn't make sense of what he meant. She didn't want to worry Wayne about constantly meeting with TP on many occasions, but she needed to get it out of her mind, yet she was stuck at home with Wayne.
Being deeply engrossed in her thoughts, she was startled by Wayne's abrupt but gentle hug. He felt her rejection a little before she quickly eased into his hug.
"Hmm… What's wrong?" Pei Li asked, trying to divert his attention away from her worries.
She tilted her head to the side to look cute, meeting his loving gaze, and he stole a kiss from her lips.
"Pretty…" He said as he admired her look.
"Oh… My art? Aww, thank you…" She beamed with a wide smile, distracted from her thoughts.
"I meant you…" He teased as she blushed when he pulled her closer to him by her waist.
"I…err…" She understood his advances as she blinked nervously. She may have felt a fear in her when held like this, as though it was a dejavu, but somehow, she still felt safe with Wayne, not to deny him or react aggressively towards him as she did with other men who tried to touch her.
"I have been thinking…" He kept his gaze on her eyes as he slowly drew her closer to his face for a slow kiss.
"I won't hurt you… I just thought you might want to experience it with me…" He whispered as she looked at him, a little flabbergasted, but she was also yearning for him. To come and think of it, they had been married for months now, but only now did they get this much closer.
"I…" She swallowed a hard lump in her throat as he kissed her again on her lips, this time with some urgency, which made Pei Li's breath shudder nervously.
"We will take it slow…" He said when breaking away after feeling her grip on his arms tighten.
"How… I… I have no idea. I'm a little terrified." She looked away, nearly crying, but he continued to coax her as he kissed her forehead.
"Tonight… We will start…" He teased before breaking away, leaving her to continue painting while he got busy in the kitchen, preparing dinner.
That abrupt turn of events took Pei Li off guard. She wasn't expecting him to leave her hanging. Whatever he was planning was really working on her, as his teases were leaving her wanting more of him. It was definitely a good distraction from her thoughts of TP.
She decided to go to the kitchen and offer to help prepare dinner together.
"Do these need to be prepared?" She asked, pointing to some leafy greens as he nodded absentmindedly before rummaging through the refrigerator.
When he finally closed the refrigerator door, she was at the sink plucking the vegetables. He deliberately walked closer to hug her from behind before washing some tomatoes he took out in the sink with her in front of him. Pei Li tried very hard not to blush, but she was defeated the moment Wayne stole a kiss on her right cheek.
"We are going to have some simple soup noodles today, alright?" He whispered to her left ear as she held her breath and nodded.
"Breathe… I don't bite, Little Cloud." He teased as she let out a huge breath of relief when he finally walked away to dry his hands at the hand towel hanging by the kitchen door, chuckling at his successful teases.
She blushed terribly, which made her quickly run out of the kitchen to the washroom to calm herself.
Are you prepared, Pei Li? This is it… A night with your husband… She questioned herself while staring back at her reflection in the mirror, smiling at the fact, ensuring she was comfortable with the idea.
That night after dinner, Wayne was preparing a hot bath in the tub for Pei Li when she came in to check on him.
"What's that…" She asked when Wayne turned around, half naked, wrapped in his towel.
Pei Li quickly turned around and blinked. Her eyes were closed, trying to keep her composure and shake away her fear when she felt him holding her waist to turn her around.
"What were you asking?" He teased in a seductive voice as she slowly opened her eyes bravely to meet his gaze.
"...for?" She was finishing her sentence when she pointed to the tub as he smiled lovingly at her.
"What do you think it's for? Shower, isn't it?" He teased further before kissing her. She was timid about it, but she forced herself to slowly open up.
She had always heard from the aunties in the eatery stalls back in the village during their gossip, saying their first time was always very painful. That was something she was afraid of.
"Will… Will…" She stuttered in asking him if it would hurt not knowing her fear was aching Wayne's heart. He decided to stop teasing her for the night by kissing her forehead.
"That's all for tonight… Take all the time you need. Go in there and take a good soak before showering when I leave." Wayne urged her as her grip tightened on his arms.
She frowned at him giving up. She wondered if her nervousness was making him give up. A part of her still wants it but a part of her was terrified.
"We will take one step at a time each night alright? Didn't I promise we will go slow?" He coaxed her to let go as he kissed her forehead and smiled lovingly. She felt a little relieved as she loosened her grip.
"Alright, quick go soak. I will see you in bed." He teased again before leaving the washroom all to herself.
She was glad that he waited and gave her space as she stripped her clothes before entering the bath tub to soak. The warmness of the water reminded her of days she woke to find her body full of cuts and bruises.
It was also another reason she hesitated to be intimate with Wayne just yet. There were parts of her memories she couldn't connect to the events that had happened. It was as though she had amnesia but she had never spoken to anyone about it except Penny.
Whenever she asked Penny, Penny would always assure it was all fine. She yearned for answers and clarity rather than comfort. She wondered if her new friend, Violet, could help her with this. She looked forward to the day of her recording next Monday when she got to spill everything to Violet without worrying about being judged.