Warning: This book may include a bit of foul language. Please tend to ignore them and do try to use positive and respectable words in life. The way we speak has big impact on life. Stay grounded and polite. The use of such vocabulary is purely for fictional purpose.
Wait! Click the star below if you have come this far and proceed. Who knows it might buy you an early updateð¤.
And yeah, this is the longest chapter in the book so far, almost like the length of three in one and it also has three parts so don't miss down. And also don't forget to read the authors note in the end.â¥ï¸
Elaine
I
"How can I help- oh" the student friendly smile from the face of the barista twisted like the sour taste of black coffee in the mouth of a sweet tooth.
My presence by the counter diminished all sorts of fake enthusiasm from his system, but I gave him the fatest commercial grin I could manage.
"Why are you beaming - brighter than the sun?" he asks dryly.
"Because you are not_" I tap on the cringing ring bell just to irritate him more. Thrice as he hisses jerking "_Smiling. It's a beautiful day Aiden isn't it?"
His nose flares, crisply.
"There's a whip cream on your Glass lens" I point out quite insensitively, and when he removed them to inspect.
"I was kidding"
He looked like he would rather throw me or himself out of a window.
It happens when your self defense trainer of past one day already knows that his pupil is the epitome of non forgiving person, caliber.
So when Alex proposed. well, declared that April and Aiden volunteered to train me for it. I jumped at the chance. And by the crucial way Alex regarded me, it seemed that he had already sniffed the trouble.
It was time to return the twin the hence given favor. The one who left the town without even a goodbye.
So then it began. On fine yesterday evening.
Him describing me the moves and I accidently practicing them on him.
"Use the air or punching bag" he wheezed when I had unknowingly stepped on his little toe.
"Why the artificial stuff when I have a perfectly healthy subject at my disposal" I suggested adjusting my braids and streching up the hemline of my tanktop.
Aiden looked torn between saving his job or logically stomping on my legs. Hence equalizing the pain.
For an answer we both turned to look at the side line. The empty gym room hosted two other members on the seat by the corner.
April appeared quite sick by what was going on. While Alex had a large sized popcorn bag, with a soft encouraging smile at my way. He even motioned me a thumbs up to carry on.
And carry on I did. Fifteen minutes later I was out of energy, vitality, and every molecule that constitutes the power house of my body.
April took over the stance, and this time I felt the need to collapse down the tiled floor and embrace the posture of a sleeping beauty.
But then, I couldn't let April feel left alone so I found out after a few second of physical contact that she had a weakness that was quite similar to mine.
She was ticklish.
And so began the trickle war, running around the room, a mess, some screams, a bit of Noah- well curses, a refill of popcorns by Alex and Aiden till they finally separated us later, it was evident that we had it rough.
Well, that was yesterday.
"How do you even know how to make coffee? Let alone varieties of it?" wiggling my brows I watch him effortlessly work with the machine and do multi task like it was his second nature.
"I used to work in Starbucks" he mumble as I nod for reason clear, feeling slightly guilty about my past actions.
Aiden and April were twenty with life being unfair to them at all corners. At such a young age they were willing to put there life on danger for someone else. Training to be the official addition to the white's security circle by day to follow out the responsibility.
"I am sorry about yesterday" he pauses to look at me, raising his brows and goes back to arranging the orders. He passes one to a boy nearby with a forced smile.
"Why? Your anger was valid. We were jerks."
"No you were not. You guys were just doing your job" I defended as he smiled slightly. The smile making him appear much younger in spite of the stubble growing in a shade.
"You are too forgiving" he then licked his lips and then said nothing for a moment "But i hope you won't be so easy on who Ever is after your life" he added in a dead serious note to which IÂ keep quiet knowing not how to respond.
I still haven't opened up about more than what they already knew. And as for Mike, he was there to monitor everything that looked suspicious around me, as per Nana's orders.
Similar to the scanning done by Aiden as he interacts and serves every students with the knowledge of their profile to see if someone smells different.
And as for me? I couldn't even feel anything anymore. At times everything just suited up right in place. Smooth and lovely.
And then they were dark moments like these when even the brightest of days made me sick.
"Elaine? Are you alright? You look-"
"Pale?" with false humoring smile I complete for him. But his lips barely twisted as watches me. Then at something or someone behind me.
I don't have to turn around to see who it was.
"You better not be giving her a rough time." With a warning edge I felt Alex hug me from back, folding our hands by my waist with his chin rested atop my head.
"It's the complete reversal of it" Aiden raises his hand in mock surrender, but instead of going back to his work he frowns at Alex.
"Is there something on my face?" Alex asks with such boredom that even a person dieting on spinach from past ten years would sound a bit more enthusiastic.
Aiden brushes off the sarcasm as he asks a much more engrossing aspect that he had invested on his frown upon.
"Is that Asian dude really your Friend?"
It takes us a while to wheel our head to point out which Asian boy he was taking about. And when we did, it was me who enhanced out the conversation. Because Alex was, well Alex.
"You mean Lee? Yes, he's his friend. Why?"
At that Aiden again ignores me completely but now with wide pair of eyes that still watched Alex. And since I can't see his face, tilting my head I craned my neck to look up as Alex looked down at me. Both of our gaze questioning the actions of Aiden.
"He annoys the F-ck out of me" we snap our focus in the direction of Aiden as he hisses.
"Lee?" I ask again
"Yes, the Japanese guy. He orders three. I repeat three different kind of drinks and lattes without sugar. And after a sip of it he questions me of its bitterness. Then walks away leaving them behind" his fist softly smacks against the bar as he keeps his voice in check.
Silence falls upon us three. And ever so delicately Alex opens up his mouth and_
"Lee is not Japanese"
My mouth twists down in sympathy for Aiden. Of course Alex will correct the nationality of his friend rather than supporting a fed up barista cum bodyguard.
But this seem to track- cross even the attention of Aiden since the next thing he offers is.
"Chinese?"
"No"
"Malaysian?"
"Not that either"
"Indone-"
"Korean" I almost scream out in between "He is Korean alright"
"And he doesn't like you" Alex adds calmly out of nowhere as I scoff turning to look at him. Untangling the embrace.
"What? He does those kind of annoying things when he finds someone â unlikable?"
I don't turn around to see what Aiden thinks of it.
One because my eyes were vividly trained upon, as they scanned the students who gave our existence a bewildered and shocked stares.
Two. Because I was hungry and so I grab Alex's arm to walk in the direction of our table.
As for the hordes of gaze that followed us- I was getting used to it and the hate.
Apparently I was a gold digger, a brain washer and sometimes even a witch that has casted some kind of love spell upon their not so beloved but highly respected ice price.
Oh The love from twitter I receive.
I can't believe Stuart has so many stupid people despite of it's reputation of hosting gifted students.
And if you ask as for the present reputation of mine in their eyes. Two words signifies what I leisurely feel about it.
Who cares.
They all can go and fork their food. Alex was mine and their opinions on or about me did next to nothing that could possibly affect me.
Well! that's probably because Mike did enlightened you of your-
Shut up.
"You said something?" Alex asks curious as we stepped up. I clicked my tongue in denial as we worked our way to the cliques designated spot.
Sticking out like a sore thumb among them was Mike, who from the past two days joins me for lunch and apparently just coldly glares around us all because he finds nothing else to do.
Today was no different.
The same spinner.
The same table.
The same people.
We sat with Alex making sure he sat in between Edmund and i. Edmund as usual rolls his eyes smirking. Mike to left frowns. An ever scrutinizing Clarissa, whose problem I still wasn't aware of in front.
Noticing the absence of Lee and Hailey I nudge Mike with my elbow.
"Sharp elbows there" he coughed as i wrinkled my nose. Guess I should've been little softer on him.
"Where's Hailey and Lee?"
He takes his time chewing his food and swallowing it as I wait with patience. All while a neutral look on his face.
After an eternity "How am I suppose to know?"
I nod stiffly, biting my lip to stop the colorful words from leaking out.
"Is something wrong?" Alex asks with a glance of why the hell is Mike still here again?written over his forehead if you look closely at the creases that forms every time he happens to look at Mike, his spinner or even his shadow lurking around.
"Nothing baby, how's the fries?" I say batting my lashes as I pop one in my mouth.
He narrows his eyes at the way I tease him these days, it was too funny to see the tip of his ear turn red. Yes, his ear blushes but never his cheeks. Again let me remind you that what he says or suggests at times turns me into the darkest shade of red. I still don't give up.
The pride.
From somewhere I hear a snort as Edmund decides to butt in.
"I bet even the doctors were afraid of calling him a baby at the time of his birth."
Alex merely glares. Because he's pro at that.
I wanted to laugh, but was interrupted by the call of enquiry.
"Where is Lee?" the dangerously threating voice was that of Hailey as she strides in our direction, bends to look under the table, then with her Laser sharp eyes gives the cafeteria a one good examination. And then finally at us all for answer. With an inoculation dose in her clutch. The needle of the injection pointing directly at us like the tip of knife.
"Where is he?"
Since everyone was too occupied to absorb such precarious gestures from the ever calm Hailey. It was Clarissa who answered her.
"He's not here"
She looked like she might topple over the table any second now, but Edmund seem to know the exact reason that had her so worked up.
"Insulin?" he asks to which she nods, her eyes had a distant look as she realized that it was Edmund who had asked. I didn't missed the shadow of something unreadable as she watched him.
"He has been missing them from past few weeks. And now that he knows that I have his prescription memorized, he has been running around the school. Hiding" her nose flared cutely as her chest heaved. The clutch on the dose tightened and I almost smile at the care and kindness she emitted.
But dazzled by confusion I turn to Alex. He reads my mind in an instant and as soon as I opened my mouth he stuffs a chicken nugget inside all while speaking to clear my doubts off.
"Lee is afraid of needles. Terrified. So he tries to procrastinate with his meds. Hailey is furious about it since she's a pre med student and knows better" savoring the taste of the meat I nodded impressed.
Alex was getting good with communication. And it makes him look more adorable than I would ever admit to him.
But the tip of his ears was now tamed. So I pinch his cheeks cooing.
And man it did wonders.
"You know I could buy you teddies and anything that are actually adorable like you for your sweet admirations. I would rather have you look at me with passion and desire enough to leave this place and-"he drawls out leaving the sentence suggestively incomplete as he leans in whispering by my ear with a hint of mischievous smile in his voice.
Suddenly regretting ever toying or teasing him I shake my head.
"Who needs teddy bears when you have a polar bear" I mutter under my breath, trying to cool off the heat my cheeks rendered by puffing up air.
"I can't believe he still runs away from it" Edmund who has been such a great friend and supporter of mine, who never once made the atmosphere around us awkward because of our past history mused. And right then i was bolted down with the idea.
Picking up my backpack I zipped it open. Shuffling with my head ducked down I pull my trust worthy tab and finally shuffling the footage I see the boy sneak inside the washroom.
"He's in boy's washroom" I declare happily looking up. But the smile falls as I see pairs, pairs of stunned eyes fixed on me in silence that I hadn't noticed because of the little jumbling I did with my gadget.
It went on for a few more second before Alex diverted his attention from his food to notice the same scenario that I had a while ago. And he seem to handle it like he usually does.
"Why are you all looking at her like th- " and then his eyes falls upon the tab "-oh. That's normal"
He then goes back to his food.
Thank you Alex.
It was silence a second more
And with that the stream of questions floods over.
"Is that live surveillance?"
"That's so cool"
"Boy's washroom?"
"I have a tech criminal for a cousin" the last one was mumbled by Mike that I accidentally heard. But before I could react I realized that the schools president just told me that breaching academy's security unit was cool.
"Thank you Elaine. I would buy you something for this, But right now I have to go find the toddler in adults body" in her faint, but clear British accent she uttered as she tried to sprint in the direction of exit. But Edmund stops her by grabbing her wrist.
"That's boys washroom you are off to" he points out, slightly annoyed.
"Why yes I am" she says raising a brow.
Edmund cleared his throat and raised to his feet.
"You are a girl" he stressed as Hailey rolled her eyes sassily.
"I wouldn't have known. Thanks for reminding"
Edmund sighs, squaring his shoulders he walks ahead.
"I'll come with you"
It takes Hailey aback as she blinks. But later follows him out. Once they both were out of view I turn to Mike who mirrored a small smile like mine.
And then it was just Mike annoying my existence by tugging at my pony tail as Alex frowns and smoothens it back. It happened two times, two guys messing and taming a girls hair until Alex asked what Mikes problem was.
To which Mike replies with-
"I just wanted to see if you were concerned about your girlfriends hair as much as you do about yours" and he says that with a smirk.
Alex was quick to open his mouth and stab him with cold daggers. But I being, the nice person interrupt.
"Stop being so childish. Finish the food and get going. We have this thing called class that starts in five"
My motherly advice has both of them do the work I ask them of. But in between Mike leans to whisper.
"What do you see in him? Even you can do better than that"
Ever so slowly, with defensive and determined eyes I stare at him as I whisper back.
"He doesn't sleep around with rats, cats and pythons. And by the way I see the same things in him that Riley sees in you"
And let's say that shut him up.
II
The next day after yesterday. That's basically today was a whole different story. The one thing that you can't and shouldn't underestimate about Stuart was the easy grades. Academics and surprise theory tests were not the bother. At least for me because I have most certainly seen the others stress and address how sick and horrendous they were, but my genre of portion that could actually be called as the work days were when we started the practice. For the play. Or should I call it more precisely, a musical.
"what's that?" i looked at the two tiny balls of cotton upon the outstretched palm of Riley, who being the assistant of the great grand head boy Edmund had no choice but to assist him while he puts us all in misery in the name of perfection.
"Stuff them in your ears" she advises plopping herself beside me on the audience seat that were empty except for few drama students that would actually act on the play sprinkled in a scattered manner. When I frown at her,, perspiration of confusion written all over my face she looks ahead, facing the theater platform, the stage and pouts with squinted eyes. Takes a sip from milk shake in her hands as she crosses her legs.
All while I felt that she certainly wishes to be drunk for the moment but is making amends with the milkshake in hand.
So i look at what has been bothering her so much.
And then I see Alex glaring at the microphone with the Drama teacher standing up to his height in her Gucci five inch heels and Edmund on his left slowly taking cautious steps away from a boy whole looked like an icy grenade in his last resort.
"They are going to try make him sing again aren't they?" hyperventilating I snatch the cotton with wide eyes.
When we had entered the hall, almost whole of the cast was stunned to see Alex.
And Alex was Alexed to see them.
But the show stopping commercial smile that lit up the whole damn structure was of Miss. Jenks. The teacher who walked to us with her eyes trained on my boyfriend as she checked him out in not so teacherly manner.
"Alexander" she said haunting the image of a sexy and modest voice for forever in my head. "We've been waiting just for you. The lead you know"
Right at that time I began hating her with a perilous amount of passion.
Not a nanosecond more or less
"Meet the other lead too" I chirp with a mild snarl extending the hand that could give anything to knot itself inside her hair bun and pull it out.
Her thick mascara lined and winged eyes tracks upon me with a fake smile, distatsefulness in her orbs.
Good woman. Feeling Is mutual.
"Miss Waters I see. Welcome" I fist my hand, the one that never received the greeting that it hoped for.
"Its wins- winters" I almost slip but clip out.
"I see"
Let me guess, she sees a lot. May be she should see herself in a mirror and count her age out.
She then process to asks us both to follow her. But my gut and quite a genius brain told me that she just wanted Alex to follow.
"I don't like her" I growl once she was out of ear shot.
Alex looks at me through the corner of his eyes. A smile of amusement radiating of him unhealthily.
"I think I am going to enjoy this" he says to my surprise and with that I do my best to ignore him.
Adjusting the strap of my back pack I pivoted over and out, admiring the architecture of this place were once the greatest of actors during their school days had performed.
Fame and reputation holding the pillars of the structure higher than it's actual roof.
Were now two unprofessional teenagers will take reins of something so big and possibly completely destroy it.
Great job nana.
"here we are" she leads us to the mic near the large Bosendorfor piano that would have had me drooling over if it weren't for Miss. Jenks calling Alex to stand by it.
"What's this?" is the first words he ever directs towards her since we met her. It was so void of voidness that even the blackhole would be ashamed of it.
Go my boy.
I grin.
"It's trials. Sing the verses in this sheet. It will help you warm up before we begin the practice for the musical" when she finishes with a smile, mine drops and Alex, lets say he stared at her for a good ten second. Looked over the sheets she had handed him. Gently placed it on her palms as he returned it to her and said three words that made sense. For both of us.
"That was funny"
And apparently it was not funny.
Not when Edmund mysteriously came around from the side and tried to walk away as he realized the scene that was unfolding among us.
But to his dismay Miss. Jenks had the eye of an eagle. She made Edmund convince us while he looked like the one who needed convincing.
"Alex. You can try? Right?" he nods as Alex neutrally pinned him with just how stupid are you? Look.
And when the whole crew lost hope Alex suddenly had a thinking face on. Lower lip rolled in, lids hooded. And then right then I knew the vile look that got featured on his face as a ever so fading smirk formed on his lips.
He was going to use this disadvantage to quit this play.
Why would he not? He had been against this sorcery since the day began.
That is until I convinced him that we can have a good time.
And you also want to make nana proud.
Alex coiled his fingers on the neck of the microphone and everything went quiet. Dead quiet.
"Listen to me carefully" he tips his head and Miss. Jenks seem to be on cloud nine with the way she encouraged him by patting his shoulder.
"We sure will"
"Oh god" Edmund muttered a prayer as he came and stood by my side.
Alex had always been the kind to twist the situation in his favor. And he was shameless at it. He was blunt and clear, and borderline the iciest fire I knew.
And when he sang, it was like a fire. To our ears.
I heard the cracks and ruffles as everyone stumbled away at the force as his voice cracked when he attempted the high pitch with his eyes closed and index finger inserted inside one of his own ears to block out his own voice.
I blinked my eyes widening by the second as he slowly opened his eyes still blurting the lyric out. And for a moment he even stifled a smile in between.
Nobody stopped him until he decided to end it with a god forbidding tornado of a long note.
He even had the audacity to turn and ask Miss. Jenks with a smirk.
"I bet I am going to rock this play. Am I right?" at this the clearly underestimated Miss. Jenks watched him with pure challenge it made me uncomfortable to see her take the sudden role of a professional. This academy was no joke, they do hire the best.
I came to learn of it hard way around as she forced Alex to sing thrice much to his dismay until he looked like he might burn the whole place down.
At last it was decided that he would lip sync to his own heavily auto tuned pieces that he will record after a good tutoring by the vocalist.
And guess who was the musicals vocalist that was introduced to him, the very one who quivered by the white screen at right just a step above green room was non other than-
"Jordon?" I face palmed as the boy stepped up, and on his name again being called wrong by the same person leaving him with a face as if he was questioning his bad luck and life in general.
"It's Jared" He squeaked as Riley snorted beside me.
"My brother and your boyfriend makes a great pair" she giggles as I pitifully glance at Jared and then at riley.
"He sings?"
"Got jonathans genes" she says tucking her hair behind her ear as an image of Joe Rivers flashes before my memory.
With that we fall in a trace of focusing on the view in hand. I wait for my call- wait a little more. Slightly more till Miss. Jenks officially realizes after her subtle but very clear ignorance that she can't proceed the training without a female lead.
"I hope you don't mess this Miss Waters. You have bigger responsibility than any other character in the musical and from how I have seen the way you introduced yourself I think your vocal might need some rigorous training as well" and then she runs her gaze on my face like inspecting a lab rat "I know you came here in scholarship, hope you are aware of how much this is important unlike those insignificant school events in an ordinary high school"
I lift my eyes to meet hers, the proximity she stood in to only let me hear of her opinions as she had the glimmering friendly smile on for the bystanders to be fooled didn't seem too uncomfortable.
I've seen and handled people like her.
And it was time she learns to not mess with someone like me.
From the corner I see Alex frown at us, certainly suspecting something fishy. May be by the way I had borrowed the coldness from him to freeze the lady in front of me.
But to know he was here with me, and on my compulsion for me had me worry about none of the things that would let me down.
"We'll see" Is all I say, smooth and obnoxious. That's how I sounded as I walked past microphone and to the piano.
I sat by it and ran my fingers over the keys, feeling the tone beneath them even before playing it.
A smile brews as Alex smiles from his position with his arms folded across his chest. Confident and bold. Not his, but in me. He believed in me.
And then I play. The words join them. My vision, just a dark abyss as they took me to a world of serenity and melody. Eyes closed and working hands.
A beautiful myth.
The anxiety and fear vanquishing in waves into the sea of past.
I've changed so much over this year that holding onto the best of me and leaving behind the worse didn't only felt like a new life. I was making a world for myself, decorating it with the best pieces of me. Of us.
Eternally grateful I finish it, the last lyrics of falling for you by Ellie fading out as I open my eyes.
Silence.
And then gradual applause dominating as it echoed out. Bright faces and a defeated Jenks. The crew looked proud and Riley downs her glass of shakes with a loud cheer of-
"That's my bitch"
Everyone thankfully ignores that but I do begin second thinking that what she was having wasn't just milk shake alone.
And I need to do something about it.
But before I could think more of it, Alex was by my side and I almost stand up smiling when he captures my lips with his own.
Knocking the breath and senses out of me.
The chatters drop, and the world flips out. And one thing was made sure that day, Alex didn't gave two flying bricks about what people sees or thinks. And PDA was just something that never bothered him.
From that day and kiss later, my life had been described something that ranged from fairy tale and cult.
But in reality we barely had a time to catch our breath rather than plotting how to make each other breathless with surprise make outs.
The days proceeded with drills, morning self defense lessons with struggling twins, shower, breakfast that Alex makes sure I grab even if it requires for him to spoon feed me as I run around my room looking for shoes and tie to wrap up the attire, classes that drains your brain, play that drains your vocals, and an online session with nana that drains the limited energy as she fills me with the knowledge of how my spine should be while I sit, or where my pinkie should point at while I drink.
And last but not the least the walk to my room as the day ends when I try not to faint by the corridor and mostly jump on a chance when Alex offers a piggy back ride. Which I am pretty sure he enjoys and looks forward the most in a day by the way his eyes slightly lights up.
And soon the hours of effort began to turn into days and days into week. The weekend we decided to resume our movie night like the old days with a missing Noah.
We missed him more when neither of us reacted at the jump scares that would've obviously freaked out Noah. And The Nun had turned into the title page of red Netflix logo as we had slept on the couch halfway through it. Waking up only in the morning to realize how tired we still were and Monday was already hot on his heels.
Then it resumes.
Back and forth.
Alex scaring the actors who were quivering enough to raise the fake sword at him, by asking if he was going to kill him with it.
His question was genuine as he hadn't read the full script yet. But the young guy almost peed his pants and teared up saying "no Alexander, It's my role to fight you off my land"
Sometimes it was fun and other times I just felt for him. He tried and yet his past reputation caught up on him.
One thing was great about it, Alex didn't required much to be done for his character. The knight he played was as unmotivated piece of stone like he was, that made the ruthless killings and dealings he does appear way more realistic than he would admit.
As for me? lets say that a banished princess in rags working under the empire of cons and thieves with fire in her eyes was easier said than done. But the surprising part was I quiet managed it. Being better than a professional liar bought out the character from naturally within me.
And I did looked the worn out girl with so little effect by the make up that it actually scared me of how much I was losing myself.
Basically an amazing script written by Edmund with medieval era meets Macbeth meets greatest showman meets Frankenstein was way good that it sounded. No wonder he is an off spring of someone from artistic media. He knows what he does.
And after a dealing of fifteen consecutive days, Alex's glares and animosity towards everything and anything except me ofcourse, a pitiful vocal training by Jared who lost his own voice while helping Alex and lots of costume designers trying to convince Alex to wear a shoulder length wig which he certainly didn't and him finally agreeing when I whispered in his ears that how he looked way more hot with the wig on, which made him accept the wig later, later. The musical was done.
It was finally over.
Nana was so proud and Mike just texted me a
Good job peasant.
I mailed the entire recording to Diana and Noah who question me with.
Is that Alex with long hair?
And what the f-ck is Alex doing there?
And you can guess which was by whom.
Yes, they now know that he studies with me or that I am in the same academy as him.
That night I decided to stay in my room with pyjamas on and a highly brooding mind. I was thinking about Riley and her changing behavior.
She was stressed and I could see that, when I confronted her about her drinking she buzzed me off saying it was only to fizz her head before the work load.
But I knew better so I did the one thing when I smuggled a chance to meet Nana. And the opportunity I grabbed out of.
"Elzina. You were excellent out there. Your mother must be so proud of you" Nana smiled calmly taking a sip from her cup as I sat jittery legged behind her office desk.
"Thank you nana" grateful I genuinely state. But fall back into silence and a comforting one.
Then she breaks it by reminding me of something that I had been dreading and looking forward to.
"your birthday is in two days" I suck in a soundless breath as her eyes softens, placing the cup upon the desk mat she looks at me "I know we have been exchanging protocols, but still i don't know what's your likes and dislikes are. So I want to ask you this darling. What would you like for your Birthday. Ask anything and I won't deny"
It was a strike, an open invitation to explore my bond with her. Will she listen?
"Anything?" licking my dry lips I blink as her eyes lits up accompanied with a warm smile.
"Anything"
And at that moment I knew exactly what to.
My thoughts were ruptured as I heard frantic knocks by the door. Dusting away the cookie crumbs I open it to see Mike.
"It was you wasn't it?" he breaths, his chest heaving and cheeks flushed with sweat and what could only pass as happiness.
I don't have to dwell on to realize what he was saying. His smile was the evidence.
So I cross my arms across my chest and raise a brow.
"May I know what I am being accused of?" I still mock for the fun of it. as he grins.
Mike.
Grins.
"Nana called off the engagement" he screams in a raspy, thick with emotion filled voice as I shush him frantically in fear of waking the whole damn dorm up. But he barely cared as he pulled me into hug. "And Nana advised me to thank you for it" he chuckles as I wrinkle my nose pushing him away.
"You reek" I whine, wiping the dampness from his shirt that had spread across my once compressed cheek. It overpowered the sentimental family moment even. It was that sour.
He scratches the back of his head sheepishly. "I was at the gym, I will get going now" he say simultaneously moving right as I frown.
"Where are you going? Your dorm is this way"
It wasn't the play of my vision, he actually blushed.
"Riley?" he says and I face palm in a motherly fashion.
"Mike. Take a shower before you go. She'll throw you out with that eau de sweatfume on you" or will throw up with the amount of alcohol in her system.
But that will change tonight.
Everything will change soon.
But was it for better?
III
It was astounding that what a single day of freedom and resolution could do to spark the enthusiasm and life in a person.
It was weekend night and i wasn't tired. Instead I impersonated a couch potato, while Alex laid on the sofa with his head resting on my lap facing the celling.
The silence between us surreptitiously increased our understanding.
But then it got overwhelming as I begin to play with his hairs.
Surprised he lifts his eyes to look at me, and when I pat his forehead to lay still he does so.
Few minutes later I was massaging his scalp as he closes his eyes in a bliss with a small investing smile.
And that was one of the most beautiful thing I had seen that day because honestly he'd do something by tomorrow, unconsciously and that will beat up the past collection of visual memories I had of his.
"Are you braiding them?" he asks suddenly as I pause crisscrossing the strands into small braids.
"Yes" uncertainly I remove my fingers from the cluster, but he stops me by coiling his hand around my wrist and reposing it on his head again. With his eyes still closed.
"Feels nice" he murmurs as I smile.
He indeed was spoiling me.
So I resume.
I keep doing it even when he begins to speak.
"So how do you think?" he asks, and sensing the loose ends of his question he repeats it with more prominence. "Like are you curious all the time or it's a sudden-"
I chuckle at his ramble, as he stopped to eye me warningly. He sure was insecure to ask me of such easy aspect but never shied from brusquely blurting out the innuendoes.
He turns his face to look away as I seize his attention back on me by cradling his head in my direction as I cup his cheek.
"I do think like normal people does. Feel the same way. I only happen to memorize it faster" he blinks up appearing more relaxed, listening intently as I continue. "From childhood i never sat still on one place, my thoughts wandered to things that I don't understand. Then an itch of finding out what it was and restlessness until I would. And that's how I came to learn stuffs that are stupid yet it kept me occupied so I taught them to myself any way" I shrug as an interrogative smile surpasses his features in a jiffy. At that moment I had a fair idea what he would ask next.
"Things like?"
Yes, I sure do know how his brain works now. Well, only when he decides to be predictable.
It was surprising how a person can be so readable and crystal when they want to and at so difficult when they don't.
Alex was not complicated. He was a kind of book that himself decides who he wants there reader to be.
Every single day I've learnt the verses that make him, makes him so different yet addictive.
"For instance, beat boxing" and this had him. He then began to pester me to beat box for him which I didn't wanted to until he sat up, leaving behind a low cold numbness in my thigh at the pause of blood circulation.
I stifle my laugh at the nest his head was, but soon cracked up with him as he pulled out his phone to use his selfie camera to tame his hair after he undid the braids.
Once he finger combed his hair with me helping him a bit, I hadn't realized how closer I had scooted to his side in the process.
And he seem to notice it as well as I felt his arm circle my waist pulling me to him all of a sudden, killing of the little space between us.
His gaze lingers over my lips as all trace of smile leaves his face, the subtle stare now a passionate naked look of what went through his head.
"So my little curiosity rover" he says, the voice husky and dark like a dominant fog of storm. And I might have given him an input of NASA's rovers loitering in mars.
I don't trust myself as I chose to remain still, the heat and beat of heart and skin striking out any possible sanity I could conjure.
I close my eyes when I feel his breath on my collar bone, hot and teasing till his lips finds its way to my neck.
My nails clutches the leather coat as it digs in them, the senses too intense to think of anything else.
"Ever were you curious of what would happen if we surrender the control we have?"his voice melted so closed to me, softly and slowly. his lips moves, brushes against as I almost fall apart. His other hand reaches by the hem of my shirt as he slowly moves it up till his thumb softly caresses the strip of bare skin.
And that's when his words and the present precipice of the moment dawns on me. My eyes tears open as I stumble the jumbled word out.
"I-I don't think we- we" he goes stiff, my stuttering dies completely as he moves away abruptly. An apparent sign of hurt and apology on his face.
"I am sorry, it just-" I look away.
I couldn't even say it. It's just you don't even know my name and I don't deserve your entire love with such rancid wall of lies between us.
But he seem to take the blame on himself as he cups my cheeks and lifts it so that I had nowhere but to face him. His eyes a mix of darkness and yet understanding.
"I am sorry. I just got carried away" he breathes, handling me with so much care as if I was the most delicate piece of glass that he was afraid would break. But little does he knows that I was sharp enough to cut him through.
"Will Never happen. Not until you want it. Okay." He says so promisingly that it hurts, I could do nothing but nod with a smile. A sad and forced one.
I know that the mess created wouldn't be evened out until the advent of something else. So I place my hand above his, leaning my side to his compressed touch as I ask him about what I have been dying to see and know.
"Can I see your tattoos?"
It takes him aback as he watches me, but nods as he moves to unbutton his shirt. Stopping right mid way to peek a glimpse at me as his loose hair fell splayed by his forehead.
He thoughtfully looks down and turns his back against as he undid the rest. A clear gesture of how he didn't wanted to make me uncomfortable.
I don't deserve this. He was too precious.
I halt my self loathing monologue as he lets the shirt fall from his shoulder halfway, gathering by the mid arm.
My breathing hitches as I watch the swirls of ink up close, the shades that scarlet told me hid his scars.
Running my cold fingers across the pattern I sense the stiffness his muscles endured beneath me.
By the rise and fall of his shoulder I knew it was giving him a hard time as well.
"Why the wing?"
My question lingers in silence.
"When I was a child, as naïve as I was, I wanted an angel to come and save me from - from the abuse" my toes curl in anger, as I keep my gaze fixed to him. An image of a young Alex with hopelessness prevailing with every step he took. "But then I realized that to save myself, it was only me at the end. There were no angels, only demons. So to heal, I became my own savior"
Covering up, he began buttoning up his shirt he turns,
"And One day I decided to mark it on my body, an angels wing" he bites his lower lip as the corner stretches into a smile "and I regret it"
"Why?" without missing a beat I ask frowning as he brings his hand to tuck the strand of hair behind my ear.
"Because I should've waited a little more, because God did send an angel down for me" I swear though it wasn't anatomically rational, my heart did skipped a beat. The weight of his words held my breath captive, the sincerity of it so vivid that even his eyes held the evidence of it.
We may not have talked about us after that night, but the unsaid secrets between us was an elephant in the room that was cornered by the faith we both had on each other.
"I am no Angel Alex" I whisper blinking away the spiteful tears that stung my eyes. And he seem to be too adamant about what he said, I know it by the soft contour of his lips that smiled an enigmatic but deliberate insight.
He still waited as I waited for my birthday, just a day between him and i. Between Alexander and Elzina.
The thought of the day holding me together by seams. The day when even Ian can't stop me from what I would want to do or say.
But tonight by what Alex said left me in dense helplessness once again. He waited.
"You are an Angel Elaine." he grazed the corner of my lips with the thumb as his hand held me by the jaw. "Not only because you saved me, but like angels you also come with mysteries don't you?"
His turquoise eyes then meets mine, not accusing or compelling.
Just waiting.
And there was just one day between us.
***
And the book reached 1OOk and that was sick. I still am dazed about it. Thank you so so much.