She's My Sleeping Pill

"How did we end up getting matching outfit?" She decided to ask him since there's no point in wondering about it alone. She'd rather ask him directly to get her answer.

Stefan chuckled and pointed at her dress. "Did you forget that I bought all the clothes at home? I sneaked some matching outfits for us just in case we'll need it. Just like today."

Cayenne was thrown in disbelief. Thinking back to their relationship several weeks ago, she was sure that they didn't have a very good start. 'Was he thinking ahead of time that we'd be getting this kind of relationship now?' she couldn't help but ask herself. She looked at him but he was still looking at ease in front of her.

"You're certainly prepared for this." Cayenne commented with helpless expression. "You decided to change your outfit when you saw my dress, right?"

"Hn. Are you upset?" Stefan put down his fork and took a sip of his coffee while observing her expression through the rim of his coffee cup.

She wasn't bothered by it. In fact, she was happy in her heart. It was very unexpected that Stefan would be doing something sweet like what couples do. She knew that she was falling deeper for him but she couldn't help it. She likes his pampering even though she knew that it would end someday.

"How many matching outfits did you buy?" she softly asked.

"Half of your clothes are matched with my clothes."

His answer brought something warm and sweet in her chest. She thought her heart was melting from his words and she couldn't help the smile from escaping her lips. She instantly lifted her cup and took a sip of her drink to hide the sweet smile on her lips. 

After resting for almost half an hour, the two of them got up to continue shopping some gifts for the people that they wanted to receive their love. She didn't forget to buy some toys for Jillyanna's children this time. She was thankful that they helped him a year ago and she wanted them to know how grateful she was. Since Stefan was friends with Travis, she finally found a way to give them her appreciation. Although the couples were rich and they probably have everything that money can buy, she still chose to buy some toys for the kids.

The two of them were walking towards a bookstore after buying the toys that Cayenne finally chose. She wasn't planning to get inside the store but she bumped into someone that sent her soul flying out of her body. Cole, Arthur's brother was walking with his mother, Kirin. He was holding a lot of shopping bags for her and base on the prints, it should be some things for his new-born child. The lady of the house looked at her with a raised brow, Stefan immediately pulled Cayenne and hid her face close to his chest.

"Sorry." Cayenne mumbled, not daring to make her voice louder than she already did. She was afraid that they'd recognize her.

He knew who the woman was after he investigated the identity of Arthur. He knew that she was the one who belittle Cayenne, the person who broke her confidence and made her have a low self-esteem.

"It's rude to stare at someone." Stefan stated, his voice was cold and menacing.

Kirin looked at him from head to toe with a smirk. "Young man, your girlfriend bumped into me first."

"She apologized already."

"I didn't hear it." Kirin insisted.

"It's not my fault that you're deaf." He was ruthless and crude. Most of the time, when no one's around, he would become sweet and gentle – but that's only for Cayenne. He didn't even give Kirin a chance to retort and left with Cayenne, her face was still buried on his chest.

"Humph! What a rude man." Kirin commented and strolled off. Cole was looking at the departing figures that were gradually disappearing from his sight. His mother might not be familiar with them but, it didn't mean he was not.

He was at least 80% sure that the woman was Cayenne and the man was Stefan. He just had no idea how the two of them knew each other.

After a full minute, he finally followed her mother without saying anything.

Cayenne and Stefan walked until they knew that Cole and Kirin were already out of sight.

"You knew them?" Stefan asked, pretending that he had no idea of the two people's identities. He caressed her face while looking at her eyes directly.

Cayenne was looking back at him. It felt natural to be in his arms after a long time of sleeping with him. She no longer felt shy around him and she was starting to open up more of the things about her. "That was Arthur's mother." Cayenne simply answered, letting him realized who she was talking about.

Stefan's eyes dimmed and he looked at her with worried gaze. "So, she was that woman. With her haughty attitude, I can only imagine how she treated you but I can tell that she has a poor attitude and looks down on others." He suddenly pinched her chin and made her look at him. If you really look carefully on her glasses, you can still see the beautiful shape of her eyes.

Cayenne didn't blink or avert her eyes this time. She just wanted to look at him and focus all her attention to him. Next, his gentle and caring voice resounded close to her. Their face were just few inches away from each other. "Don't let anyone bully you next time. If someone tells you something bad about yourself, come to me and I'll tell you more than a hundred of your good points. If anyone bullies you, let me know and I'll let them suffer. No one else can bully you other than me."

Cayenne was touched with his words. No one told her these words or showed so much care for her in the past. As she listened to him, her eyes were tearing up. However, a deep frown was formed on her face at the end of his statement. "Why do you want to bully me? How's that different with other people?" she complained and even swatted his hand away from her chin. "I thought you were honestly caring towards me."

"I am." Stefan insisted. "I will bully you tonight and I know you won't complain about it."

Listening to him, Cayenne could no longer hold herself and she burst out laughing. He sounded serious with regards to bullying her but, he was actually just helping her feel at ease.

Cayenne braved herself and touched his face as well. This is the first time that she took the initiative to touch his face while she's sober and wide awake. Stefan stiffened under her warm touch. "When you speak, I just don't understand why you're not using much better words to talk to me."

"I was using the right words. You just have so many dirty thoughts in your mind."

"Am I?" she questioned with a touch of laughter in her voice. "I don't think so."

"Really?"

"Hn." She insisted while nodding her head. She was just about to say another thing when she noticed that some people were taking pictures of them.

"Are they filming for a romantic movie?" one of the people among the crowd asked while looking around to look for any hidden cameras and filming staff.

"They look handsome and pretty. Must be famous." Another person stated.

"They are just so sweet." Another person spoke.

The crowd made Hana blush but Stefan was nonchalant with the attention they got. He's used to people prying on his love life but this time, he didn't want to drag Cayenne's name with his. He didn't want anyone to know about the woman that he treasured the most. He was worried that being with him would disturb her normal life.

"Ehh! Aren't these the couple that we saw at the university?" a younger woman exclaimed while pointing towards Cayenne and Stefan. She immediately put her hands down when she realized that it's rude to point fingers at someone. She smiled at them and made a heart shaped with her fingers and followed by a thumbs up. "You have my full support."

"Thanks." Stefan responded and turned around with Cayenne burying his face close to his chest, once again. The two of them ended their shopping and decided to have a joyride while waiting for the day to end. Stefan called Travis that they'd be coming over to their house to give out their early gifts. However, he was out of town with his family and will be back after New Year. So, Stefan drove the car and brought Cayenne to the nearest resort. He asked a valet driver and had him parked the car to his private space. The two of them walked along the beach, getting quality time just for the two of them, without other people disturbing them. She had no idea that the whole resort was owned by the person walking right beside her.

The cold breeze made Cayenne shiver involuntarily since she forgot to bring her coat. She wasn't expecting to be walking at the beach with him and he didn't remind her to bring her coat either. Stefan took off his own coat and placed it over her shoulder. She felt warm and comfortable but she found it a little bit unfair to him.

"Here. You take the other side of the coat."

"I don't think we'll fit." Stefan reasoned out. "Besides, I got a scarf with me."

"We will. Trust me." She insisted and told him to wear the left sleeve of the coat. Since she was wearing the right sleeve and he was wearing the left sleeve, the two of them were even closer this time.

"You know what's even better than this?" he asked with the corner of his lips lifted in a playful smirk.

"What?"

"Take my coat off." He instructed her which made Cayenne narrow her eyes in puzzlement. He fully wore the coat which wrapped his whole body, blocking the cold breeze while she was doing her best to control herself from shivering.

Standing in front of him made it easier for Stefan to grab her. He pulled her close to him and wrapped the front of the coat around her. Stefan just wanted to tease her but, he had no idea that it would turn out to be much comfortable than her thoughtful idea earlier.

This time, Cayenne's back was pressed on his warm body, her head  leaning on his chest; feeling the erratic beat of his heart.