Shimmers & Shrouds (Abstruse) (4 page)

I turned to look at
him, he looked disheartened.
"Look, I know it's not good, I understand your problem, and trust me, I’m not mad at you, its okay. I know it’s not easy. You don't have to be the one to think you did wrong by pulling yourself back."

My lecture
didn't work the way I expected it to. He was still wearing the same expression.
Unthinkingly, I touched his face, and it thrilled me to have his skin touch mine. I had never ever ever dreamed of it to happen for real.
"Look at me, Orpheus." My five feet four inches seemed to be an ant size in front of his giant full fledged figure of six feet three inches. Finally his gaze was on me.
"It's okay, you didn't hurt me. In fact I would have done the same, did you get me?" I tried hard not to fret but the heat of my blood was surely working against my attempts.
"Yes." He muttered.
"And this hasn't ended anything. If you're not comfortable, I won’t be anywhere around. You can still leave if you want to. Don’t worry, I am going to forget everything about whatever happened today okay? Even this dress.” I pointed at myself. “I will think it to be some fancy stuff that I happened to buy from a designer store, though that certainly is not my style.”
"Okay" he smiled. “But you have to promise me that you will stick around as long as I want you to.”
"You bet." I smiled "And be very cozy… if in case you are planning to stay for some more time.”
He nodded.
"Stay here as long as your heart permits you then." I pulled away my hand from his cheek.
"You bet." He smiled.
"Can I go and change?" I tried to lighten my mood and the atmosphere.
"Unless you're not comfortable." He came closer and it seriously made me gulp. He slid his hand on my arms; I couldn’t understand why he did that until I looked at the loose strap that had fallen. He placed it back.
"You give me goose bumps you know that?" I laughed weakly.
He was flushed with embarrassment. Obviously, I was way too….Frank.
"I'm glad I met you." He smiled. His voice rang with total sincerity.
"You're leaving?" I asked him, horrified. This was something that the guests said before bidding a goodbye… right?

"
Not so early. I just wanted you to know I'm...” he turned red again.
"Leaving?"
"No. I’m glad, stupid." He hit me on my head.
"Ouch." I grinned.
I left him then, for a while to check my messages and then to change back. While I dressed back in the old clothes, I continued to think about the absurdities that happened in the living room a few minutes ago. That guy sitting on the couch of my less comfortable apartment was capable of dating any girl he wanted to, that guy who I thought would be cold both on the outside and inside was nothing like my dreams; he was much better. Despite his cold outlook and icy attitude, his cheeks were warm, promising deeper sincerity and security.

When I returned, I found him already asleep. Oh my god. This multibillionaire was sleeping on a couch!

I wrestled against my wish to wake him up, though that was totally something that I should have done. God had been generously graceful about granting my wish to an extent that I wouldn’t have imagined for myself, and being greedy would certainly result something bad. But he was worth risking every possible thing that I had in my life. My dream, my love… How could I just end up everything and return back to the time before we knew each other? It was just too much. I convinced myself that I did no wrong. Whatever consequences this encounter had planned for me, I was going to be ready to go through it, no matter what.

I
brought him the extra bedding that I had kept with myself for the camping purpose. It smelled like orange lilacs. I covered him and sat there on the floor to look at him, more closely than he would ever allow me to get anywhere near his body. I traced his lips from my fingertips, moving them to put my hand on his cheek, again, without his permission though. I deliberately wanted him to wake up and see me. I have had always wanted this; to make him fall for me.
"You deserve to be happy." I wished if he could hear it. "Because you worth it." I paused, unable to say anything further, but I struggled. “You can bet on it."

Realizations.

I was awake, but
I didn't open my eyes. My roller that I used to keep my arms around felt harder and deformed. That was unusual but I didn't mind it all. I was happy to have my assignments completed and Orpheus was here too. Poor boy, he had to sleep on the couch and the thought of him being hungry worked as a trigger to make me sit from my bed.

I
felt a strong grip around me and it felt as if my heart would burst. I opened my eyes, only to see a hand gripping me hard enough so I couldn't escape; my head was away from his chest. Was he sleeping right next to me? This could not be a dream right? My heart fluttered with excitement. Wait. How dare he sleep with me?
"Grrr! Orpheus." I screamed in an attempt to wake him up so he could let go off me.

His eyes flew open, shaken by my reaction, he loosened his grip.
I pushed him away and sat in an upright posture. My jaws were clenched and fists were balled up, he copied me except for clenching jaws and fists thing.
"Any explanation on how you landed on my bed?" The voice had the same pitch of arrogance. He might have slept with innumerable women but… how dare he consider me as one of them?
"Oh that! Well, I fell off from the couch, twice, and your bed is queen sized." he grinned foolishly, only to rise my temper.
"Any explanations on why you had your arms wrapped around me?"
"No." He looked sorry. Okay. At least he was being sincere.
"Should I get you a king sized couch next time?" I glared at him
"Won't I get to sleep here?"

My heart skipped a beat again. T
he anger melted like an ice would if placed on the burning stove. I sat there staring at him. His face was full of innocence, the way I always wanted it on mine.
"I don't know." I said shyly as I got down from the bed, anger ruined, my head had definitely rotten!
"You're not going out, anywhere during the day. Media is the last thing I want at my doorstep." I warned him. Glaring.
"I am not used to obey orders". He said. Yeah, you give orders instead― I kind of know that.
"I'll be going out to get you some quarter pants, after that, please be kind enough to take a bath." It sounded a request this time.
I rushed into the bathroom immediately. I had to get some groceries as well, and Summer wanted to take the assignment from me at ten in the pizzeria. She was asking me if she could come home. I hid the horror in my voice and told her it would just be fine for me to meet her there. The thought of Summer seeing Orpheus in my house was as scary as watching grudge in a jungle.

Summer was as radiant as ever, but she seemed
more than pleased to see me.
"Is that― are you blushing O?" She seemed stunned as if she had seen a whale in her swimming pool.
"No." Perhaps I was blushing even more now.
"What― the― hell!" She hugged me immediately. I was clueless about the thoughts running in her head.
"Don't tell me you said yes to Will?" She looked at me with surprise and hugged me again. Oh no! Seriously?
"No summer. It's always been a no, and it will never change." I puffed.
"But there has to be someone. I mean, this redness on your face isn't usual. I know." Summer was not going to let this go so easily. Damn the blood cells.
"I was watching porn."

She wouldn't really believe if I told her about the Greek god who was watching T.V in my house
, perhaps. I started walking. Arguing with her on a day like this was the last thing I was expecting.
"Okay, with whom?"

I looked at her, exasperated.
"Oh Summer, what am I going to do with you? There's no one." My level of endurance had almost ended.
That convinced her, nearly, and she started telling me about her date but mind was absorbed in his thoughts, I was barely aware of anything around me; somehow, I just knew that I had to keep walking.
"You know Orpheus?" I asked her.

She stopped speaking, dazed by my sudden interference.
"Orpheus who? Orpheus Albert?"
"Yes." I looked away. There was just one guy with such a weird name.
"Of course." She smiled. "Who doesn’t? That charming guy with a hell lot of money."

Thoughtful. I didn't kn
ow that. Thanks a lot, Summer.
"Yeah. He's cute." More than cute, actually he was BREATH TAKING. He was god’s miracle.
“Cute? Are you kidding me? O, He is one charismatic guy with dripping sex appeal...  mmm." By the look on her face, it looked like she was thinking about his naked body. I grew jealous and this made no sense. Though he would certainly looked best without his clothes. Even the thought of it was SO HOT.
"And old." I cut in, driving my attention to the negative side.
“And his looks so attractive and mouth drying that he can make any girl go gaga over him."

TRUE.
"And old."
“And a smile that can melt the heart of even the married ladies, can you imagine?" She was simply ignoring my comments.
"And old." I repeated.
"Yes. But what's the big deal? He's just twenty nine." Okay. I did manage to get on her nerves again.
"He's going to turn thirty this year." I snapped.
"It’s amazing that he looks like twenty two. I love him. I'm his big fan... as in B-I-G. I'm waiting to see who the girl he’s going to marry is." She beamed a charming smile.
 The day went pretty well and it was sad to leave her. She was too good to spare, but the mention of a pair of quarter pants in the list reminded me of a special guest at home. He must be hungry. I purchased whatever I could and returned home. It was so sad to keep this as a secret from my best friend that I was going to spend another day with.... him, somehow it didn't feel right.
"I am home!" I announced. The television set was switched off and it worried me a little. He could be nowhere except here.
"Orpheus?" I called out again. My voice was a little loud this time.
"In here, Oceana."
 It was time for me to get used to the full name.

The vo
ice came from the kitchen and I heard a faint sound of something getting fried. Uh oh.

I prayed he didn't get a boil beca
use of the nuisance he was up to, but when I reached there, the scenario was unexpected. There he was, dressed in his quarter pants and T shirt that were clearly complimenting his biceps, skillfully tossing a pancake. The lunch was nearly ready.

“Where did you get the stuff to wear?” I asked.

H smiled like a young boy. “Let’s see. You said that I was not allowed to go out, so I called my servant to have this delivered to me.”

Wow. Why didn’t I think of that earlier?

"And I thought, while you're out; let me help you if I can." The self contended look on his face was back.
"You cook?" I was taken aback. Okay that was the part I had to clear about first, but, anyway… "Since when?"
"It’s been a long time. I am trained to handle any kind of adverse condition."
"Well, I must say, you're in one." I helped him with the food.
"It's rather beautiful."
"Is it?"
"You bet!" He promised.
"I am impressed." Oh no, did I blush again?