Chapter 34
BL I don't want to reincarnate!
I completely forgot about Ephraim's presence at that point. All I could think about was what was in front of my eyes. My hands were shaking very badly and I had a hard time taking the frame out. I was terrified that I would break it and I forced myself to stop. I clenched and unclenched my fists to force myself to calm down. Once a bit calmer, I pulled out the frame, laid it down in front of me and just stared at the painting inside. I didn't believe my eyes. It couldn't be real. I finally looked up at Ephraim, needing comfort.
"No. You are making fun of me. You are pranking me.
-Why would I do such a thing?"
I quickly looked back down, feeling that my eyes were missing the gorgeous sight I had under me:
"It can't be. You can't be serious.
-Why doesn't my dear wife trust me?
-Swear on your life."
I didn't even look away anymore, terrified that it would disappear the second I did.
"I swear on my dear wife's life."
That scared me enough to force me to look up. I couldn't turn my back to Ephraim:
"Don't swear on that.
-Why not? I don't have anything more precious to me.
-Swear on your life. I don't want to die."
Ephraim rolled his eyes:
"Fine, I swear on my own life.
-Really?
-Yes.
-Say it again!
-Darling... You really know how to irritate me sometimes."
I wasn't listening to Ephraim anymore. I had heard everything I wanted. This was mine. It was real and it was mine. It wasn't a joke. Knowing that, I suddenly let the excitement take over. The painting was so gorgeous that I wanted to scream:
"It's a Pissarro! Oh my God! How the hell did you get a Pissarro! No it's impossible. This isn't real. You are lying. How the hell did you get this? I didn't know that Pissarro existed in this world! Is he still alive here?
-Why wouldn't he exist here? What other world would he exist in?"
Ephraim's voice suddenly became very deep. I immediately pinched my lips. I really had to pay attention to what I was saying. I had no idea how I could talk myself out of this one. I could still play dumb and pretend that I wasn't thinking straight because of the gift. Fortunately, I didn't have to because Ephraim moved on and just laughed:
"I knew that you would like it. See? Your husband knows you very well. Do you finally feel how much I love you now?"
That sentence woke me up and I bit my lower lip with all my might. He couldn't win. That would hurt my ego way too badly. Worse than the kitchen knife.
"I mean... It's not that bad."
Ephraim raised his eyebrows:
"Not that bad?
-Yes.
-So it's not incredible?
-No..."
My mouth was burning. Of course it was incredible. It was a PISSARRO!
"I'm sorry, wife. I really thought that I did well this time. It seems I don't know you well enough yet...
-It's okay.
-Don't worry, I am a fast learner. This won't happen ever again."
He got up and started walking closer to me. I didn't know what he was planning but I felt my heart stop when he crouched down in front of me and touched my pride. I snatched his hands away with a scream:
"Don't touch it! You'll dirty it!"
Ephraim smirked:
"What is it, wife? I am simply trying to unload you.
-What does that mean?
-If my wife doesn't like it, then I should give this painting back to the seller.
-But... I don't hate it. We could still keep it.
-My wife should only have things that he loves. Don't worry, I will get you something better next. It won't be a painting though. I now know that you hate such things."
He lifted my treasure and I thought I would cry:
"Wait!"
Ephraim looked down at me with a smirk:
"Yes, wife? What is it?
-You... Okay I lied! I love it. It's mine now, you gave it to me. Please don't take it away."
Ephraim laughed:
"I knew that my wife loved lying. If you had told me your true feelings since the beginning, we wouldn't have had to go through this."
Ephraim put the painting back in front of me and I was way too excited to get angry at him. I felt my heart slowly calm down and continued staring at the painting for hours. I had no idea what was going on around me, not at all interested in the real world anymore. I had stared at the gift for so long that I could have drawn it by memory. I could still see the painting even when I was blinking which was the reason why it took me a second to realize that it was being taken away. Seeing the painting levitating finally woke me up and I jumped up:
"Hey!"
I looked at the servant who was taking my painting and thought I would cry:
"Where are you taking my painting?"
The servant didn't answer. He just bowed to me with a sorry look. He then glanced at Ephraim and I finally looked at him.
"Where is he taking it?
-Don't look so sad, wife. I just felt that you weren't paying enough attention to me. The painting will be waiting patiently for you in your room so turn your attention back towards me now."
I couldn't help grimacing.
"But you aren't Pissarro.
-I advise my dear wife to quickly smile at me and to stop saying another man's name. Despite my good nature, I am a very jealous husband."
I raised my eyebrows:
"Good nature?
-Don't you want to see the painting ever again?"
I did my best to smile and it was so hard that I thought my cheeks would fall off.
"Happy?
-Perfect."
I immediately lost my smile and started stuffing my cheeks with food. I wanted to finish as fast as possible to leave that place but Ephraim immediately understood my plans:
"Take your time, dear wife. No gift of mine is worth you choking over."
I glared at Ephraim and started stabbing my brocolis again and again. Should I just throw the plate at his face? I couldn't say that I wasn't hungry, that didn't work out last time.
"Don't look so sad, wife. You will see your gift again after a few minutes."
I didn't answer and continued pouting.
"I didn't think that my gift would be so successful. If I had known, I would have gotten you a Larsa.
-Who's that?
-Exactly."
I rolled my eyes and focused back on my food.
"I'm not hungry anymore.
-But you didn't even eat half.
-And?
-You should eat a bit more, darling... Just a bit.
-I don't want to. I'm done.
-You will never heal at this pace.
-Then I never will."
I heard Ephraim sighing and he gestured towards the door. The next second I saw my treasure coming back inside and I jumped out of my chair. Seeing me so excited made Ephraim rub his eyes:
"I really am weak when it comes to you, darling. The painting can stay but you have to eat."
I sat back, excited. I went back to eating and didn't look away from my gift for a second.