Monica entered her room, feeling the exhaustion of the day weighing on her. She quickly jumped into bed, tossing her bag and jacket aside.
Unbeknownst to her, her phone, nestled in her bag, lit up with a few messages from Marina. After a brief rest, Monica reached over to grab her phone, checking it with a sigh of relief.
Her finger hovered over the screen as she dialed her sister's number. It rang for a moment before the familiar, soothing voice of her grandmother filled her ear.
"My angel..." Granny's voice made Monica smile instantly.
"Granny!" Monica replied with warmth.
"My granddaughter, have you arrived home?" Granny asked, her voice soft but curious.
"Yes, Granny. How is your health?" Monica asked, concerned.
"I'm good... I heard you were angry with Mommy and the little witch, right?" Granny Phy teased, her tone light and playful.
Monica couldn't hold back her amusement, a laugh escaping her. "That's..."
"No worries, my Monica. They are just jealous of you, okay? Your mom and your sister said that if you bring Visak home this week, they'll forgive you!"
Monica froze, surprised by Granny's words. From the other side of the room, Sophea and Monica, both sitting nearby, looked stunned.
"What?..." Monic said, shaking her head.
"What did you say?" Granny asked, wide-eyed.
Monica chuckled, "I'm saying... Oh wow! I'm glad!" she rolled her eyes.
"Hehe, great. So, I'll see you and Visak this weekend!" Granny added with a mischievous glint in her voice.
"Him too, again?" Monica asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Sure. I have to make sure you two get along well, and you get pregnant soon," Granny replied, her voice full of cheeky wisdom.
Monica's eyes widened, "Granny, what's up with you? We haven't even decided on a marriage date yet."
"Why is it taking so long, my granddaughter?" Granny's voice dropped, becoming more serious. "You kids today hardly ever get married because you want to keep it private, only to break up later. I can't let that happen to you, remember that."
Monica shook her head, trying to hold in her laughter. "You're really good at twisting things and ordering people around, Granny."
"You're taking after me!" Granny Phy teased back.
"Okay, okay..." Monica replied, chuckling despite herself. She set her phone down, feeling both comforted and amused by the exchange.
Monica's door was knocked softly, interrupting her conversation with Granny. She stood up, still holding her phone.
"Come in…" Monica called out.
Her grandmother's voice continued through the phone, "Oh, you're busy? Then I'll stop here."
Visak opened the door and walked in, his tired eyes meeting Monica's as she finished her call.
"Okay, Granny. See you, and good night to Mom and Marina too," Monica said, wrapping up her conversation. "Good night!"
She hung up the phone just as Visak sat down next to her, shedding his jacket and revealing a second layer underneath. His tiredness was evident.
"You went home?" Monica asked.
"Yes, I brought some clothes with me. Why? Can I? Visak replied, raising an eyebrow with a playful gesture.
Monica stood in front of him, her expression thoughtful. "No..."
"No?" Visak repeated, surprised. "You said you wanted to be with me this evening. I'm pretty sure I didn't mishear that."
"Yes, I did say that, but now it's night," Monica replied, a smile tugging at her lips.
"What's the difference?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Time," Monica responded, her tone light.
He laughed softly as she reached out and gently touched his hair, checking his face for signs of exhaustion.
"You look so tired today," Monica said, concern flickering in her eyes.
"Yes, but I still want to stay up with you," Visak said, his voice a mix of playfulness and affection.
"Take a shower, then have dinner," Monica suggested, trying to coax him to unwind.
"And then?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Sleep," Monica replied, her voice soft.
"With you?" he teased, his smile deepening.
"Wake up…" Monica trailed off, teasing him in return.
"Just sleep on the same bed," Visak said with a grin, but Monica was quick to dismiss the suggestion.
"Don't be ridiculous," she said, rolling her eyes.
Visak stood up, flashing her a sly smile. "Sassy girl," he said, his eyes gleaming mischievously.
Without hesitation, he started to undress in front of her. Monica quickly turned away, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and surprise.
He noticed her reaction and smiled, but his gaze held an intensity that lingered in the air.
"Why did you have to turn away?" he asked, teasing her.
"You're naked!" Monica shot back, flustered.
"Don't act like a kid! I undressed you last night, honey…" he teased, his voice playful yet full of warmth.
"Stop it," Monica replied, her face turning even redder.
"I'm going to the bathroom, take it easy!" Visak said, before heading toward the bathroom and closing the door behind him.
Monica let out a deep breath, then settled back into bed, finally able to relax after the brief but intense exchange.
—
As Monica lay in bed half awake, her thoughts began to blur with the warmth of the room. Soon enough, the bathroom's door creaked open.
Visak stepped outside, shirtless, the towel wrapped loosely around his waist. The flickering light of the bedside lamp caught his skin, casting shadows across his toned body.
He walked toward the bed, his gaze intense, and as he approached, he leaned down to kiss Monica's forehead. His lips then traced a path to her lips, soft and lingering, pulling her deeper into the kiss.
"A…An…," she whispered, her voice shaky.
"I want you tonight," he murmured, his words husky as his lips moved down to her neck. His hands gently brushed against her skin, undressing her slowly, deliberately. His kiss and touch, sending waves of warmth coursing through her body.
The atmosphere thickened with desire as his body pressed closer to hers, his towel slipping to the floor, leaving him bare. His kisses traveled lower, as he began to undress her completely, savoring every inch of her skin. The tension between them was palpable, both of them caught in the intensity of the moment.
But then, a knock at the door.
"Monic!" Nuth's voice broke through the haze. The sound was distant but sharp enough to pull Monica out of the moment. She jolted upright in bed, her heart racing.
"I'm crazy!" she muttered, a soft gasp escaping her lips.
"What did you say?" Nuth's voice came again, this time closer, as she stepped into the room.
Monica, still flustered, looked at Nuth, trying to compose herself. "Where is Visak?"
"He's downstairs, waiting for you for dinner," Nuth replied, her eyes noticing Monica's disarray.
Monica tried to calm her nerves, but her mind was still reeling from the vivid encounter.
"And you… haven't taken a shower yet?" Nuth asked.
Monic hesitated, a sheepish look on her face. "Yes, I'm tired. I fell asleep."
"Can I prepare a bathtub for you?" Nuth offered, her voice soft but filled with concern.
"No, oh, yes!. But I'll have dinner first," Monic said with a tired smile.
"Okay," Nuth replied, her thoughts still lingering on the moment that had been so abruptly interrupted. She stood, trying to shake the tension from her body, and made her way to the door, her mind still racing as she prepared to meet Visak downstairs.
***
Monica felt a flutter of happiness as she walked toward the dining room, seeing Visak sitting alone at the table, his back turned toward her.
The soft glow from the chandelier illuminated his features, but there was something different about the way he sat—tense, almost distant. As she approached, she called out his name.
"Vi…"
He immediately stood up, the movement swift and almost hurried. His phone was still clutched in his hand, his expression a mix of concern and urgency.
"Monic! I have to go," he said, his voice carrying an edge of panic.
She stopped in her tracks, her brows furrowing. "Now? What's wrong?"
"My little brother, Virak, got into an accident!" Visak's words rushed out as if the situation was too pressing to delay.
"Oh god! I will go with you!" Monica instinctively started toward him, her concern overwhelming her.
"No, dear, you need to rest," Visak replied quickly, his voice firm yet soft. "He'll be fine, I promise."
"But… is he in the hospital?"
Visak's gaze dropped, his fingers tightening around his phone as he looked away.
"He was on the way to the hospital… I need to go now."
Monica's heart clenched, the anxiety in his eyes contagious. "I understand. Please be careful," she said softly, walking him to his car.
Before he climbed in, Visak kissed her cheek gently. "I'll come back soon. Virak is okay. Just wait for me here, alright?"
Monica nodded, her heart still heavy with worry. "Take care and call me when you get there."
"I will."
She watched as he drove off into the night, her eyes following the fading tail lights.
—
The house was quiet as Monica finished her dinner alone, the unease lingering in her chest, her mind still on Visak's sudden departure.
In her room, as she grabbed his jacket from the bed, something fell from the pocket. She bent down to pick it up—a small receipt.
Monica's hands shook as she unfolded the paper. It was from A Mart in Kandal province, dated at 4 p.m. today, showing a purchase for a bottle of soft drink. Her heart raced.
"What's this?" she whispered to herself. The timing didn't add up.
Her thoughts began to race, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. She lay awake in bed, restless and unsure, her mind too full of questions she wasn't ready to answer.