AFTER the dinner, Aeschylus invited her to go to their pavilion which she immediately accepted.
A single picture frame on the wall caught her eyes before they finally reached the pavilion.
“Uhm, aren’t your parents going to get worried? It’s getting late,” he gestured the seat for her.
“Nah, I said to Nue that I’ll be going here so there’s no need to worry about that,” she sputtered as she shuffled her feet while sitting.
Leaning to the railing, he questioned, “What were you telling me earlier? I believe my mom interrupted us in my room.”
She tapped the space of her seat. “I’ll tell you if you sit beside me.”
He stared at her for a second before doing what she said.
Mouth twitched when she placed her hand to his. “I accidentally saw your scars on the forehead, is that the reason why you kept the side of your face hidden?”
The young woman saw how the color drained out of his face, she also noticed his slightly quivering hand so she brought her other hand to caressed him better.
“My mind can’t take off the fact that your mother never knew what’s going on to you, I know I don’t know anything from the start but please tell me it wasn’t her who did that to you,” every words she spat was free from sternness, she doesn’t want him to feel pressured if she asked with her raising tone even if she’s already getting fumed at the moment.
“It wasn’t my mom…”
A weight come off her shoulder after he admitted that her thoughts was wrong. “Then who?”
When she looked at him in the eyes she saw his orbs starting to get glossy.
Being extremely gentle with him she handled him with care, afraid that he’ll break any time.
Hussey moved her hand to his cheek and softly pulled him towards her shoulder while her other hand stroked his back.
“It’s the motherfuckers who got kicked out,” not a question, she was so sure. “Am I correct?”
Aeschylus didn’t answer her, he didn’t cry on her but the memories he got from them was enough for a single tear to fall out of his eye.
They stayed like that for the past minutes, she didn’t dare to say anything as she can really read the room and wasn’t the best time to brought the topic up.
“But…” she trailed off, was clearing off the lump in her throat. “How come she never know?”
“I never told her.”
Her mouth set in a hard line and then he continued, “Every night, I haven’t seen her get home without wearing her drained state. I don’t want her to worry, she’s already stressed with her work and I don’t want to be a burden.”
“Please do remember that she’s still your mother. Every mother prioritized their child more than anything else, hmm?” she reminded which he can only answer with a nod for her.
She brushed away his bangs to shower his forehead some chaste kisses, as soon as he got comfortable, he melted on her and closed his eyes to feel her more.
She feels so nice, he stated in his mind while letting her kiss his scars.
“Does that somehow made you feel better?” she mumbled through his ear.
He nodded his head. “I’m grateful you’re here.”
That made her heart swelled up with blissfulness.
“Good cause I’m not going anywhere but if you push me away—”
“I would never,” he strongly disapproved. “Please stay, I’ll never push you away.”
She giggled then answered him while letting her fingers danced along with his locks. “I’m not planning. Like what I said in the past, you’ll never get rid of me even if you push me away.”
Aeschylus lifted his head to look at her, reason why her hand dropped to his nape and began to massaged it delicately.
“What if you suddenly disappeared?” worriedness was visible to his voice and features.
Hussey roamed the back of her hand to his jaw until it found its way to his chin and moved it close to her face, only to make him turned scarlet.
“I’ll always be here when you need me.”
The lassie pressed her lips to the corner of his lips. “I would be such a bitch if I’ll suddenly leave you.”
Again, she pressed her lips on him but on his cheek instead.
“I introduced myself in your life and I didn’t even ask for your permission.”
Then she cupped his face, a smile wearing on her lips. “And never thought about leaving, as long I’m breathing, I’ll stay. Got that, Sky?”
Overwhelming emotions overtook his whole being that he can’t keep his hands off to himself so he wrapped his arms around her waist.
Shocked at the sudden attack, she eventually stuffed her face to his chest.
She snuffled her nose to his scent. “You smell so good, Sky. You’re giving off a vanilla scent, I love it.”
The young man jumped and let her go to give them distance.
“Hussey! Stop doing this to me!”
“What? I just gave you a compliment and it’s true that you really smell so good,” she reasoned.
He averted his eyes from her. “Stop playing with me!”
Hussey didn’t hold back, she leaned onto him and entwined their hands together. “Baby . . . I wasn’t playing with you.”
She dropped kisses on his neck and jaw.
If he was being real there, his blood would already come rushing down out of his nose already, Hussey don’t understand. It’s making his heart panic with her scheming tactics.
“H-Hussey!” He can almost hear his chest thumping like his heart wanted to get out from his chest.
It’s making his stomach feel tingly and floaty, this woman was definitely making him feel weird.
Her head rested on the crook of his neck that made him excessively thankful so he can calm his heart down.
While Aeschylus stared at her closed eyes and her tranquil face, he was rethinking if he should place his palm on her natural curls or not but in the end he made out his mind and slid his fingertips in her locks which she snuggled closer to him after.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something, Hussey.”
She hummed, face still on his neck—also feeling his vanilla scent every seconds.
“Do you want to uhm… Go to the movie theatre with me?” He cleared his throat as he began to scream at himself inside of his unorganized mind. “M-Maybe watch the new released movie but if you have other plans it’s okay—”
“Are you kidding me? Of course I’ll go with you!” Hussey removed her head on him to meet his gaze. “I was about to watch that new movie through my laptop but it will be so much better to watch it with you.”
Felt like thorns in his throat got out after she agreed to him.
While playing and pinching the tip of his fingertips, a thought came up to her mind.
“Uhm, Sky?” she hesitated for a second but when he hummed she continued what she was about to ask. “I’ve been thinking…”
“About what?” he curiously questioned, while his lashes batted at her.
Hussey tugged her lower lip as she carried on with her restless thoughts. “We have been hanging out for some time, Sky.”
“Right . . . Where is this ending? You sounded reluctant.” He gave her a quick peek in the eyes before returning to look wholly to her face.
She was taking so long to spit out the thing that she was meaning to say.
“Yeah . . . but, why I haven’t seen your father? I know this is me being nosy but I can’t really keep this thought out of my head. I just saw a picture of you with your father and mother—”
“Oh . . .” he lowly babbled after he grasped what she wanted to say. “Your question is understandable, Hussey. It’s okay to ask me anything,” he assured her with a tight smile.
Aeschylus continued, “About my father . . . I don’t remember anything about him, I only know him through my mom’s stories. Needless to say, he’s not with us anymore,” he settled.
The young man examined her expression when she remained looking at him.
Much to his relieve, there was no tendency of her pitying him. He assumed she was just reading him what he was feeling as he told her about his father.
“Growing up, I never knew our father.” His eyes took a peek at Hussey whose gaze was looking straight ahead. “I don’t really hold any grudge to my mother, I understand her but I’m happy she gave herself a chance to be with our Azul.”
A smile made way to his lips, he can tell she was genuine about it. “Are you contented with the life that is given to you?”
Hussey shifted her head to him then she gave her a toothy smile. “I am—even if I’m not, I have no choice but to keep moving forward.” Aeschylus nodded to what she said. “How about you? Does life somehow made you contented?”
By performing with raising both of his shoulders, he was unsure. “I don’t think I’ve reach the real feeling of being ‘contented’ ever. Life can be unfair sometimes, I’m not privileged as the people who has golden spoon in their mouths as they grow up, but so far. . . .”
He focused his gaze on her eyes. “I can say I’m blessed. I’m thankful . . .” because I found you and you found me. . . .
The two shared an endearing, soft glances to each other while passing the minutes by.
After some time talking about random things, Hussey finally said she’ll be heading home as she had been there for almost three hours and it’s insanely dark outside since it’s already quarter eight in the evening.
“Are you sure you’ll be fine on your way home?” asked Aeschylus.
Hussey got on her motorcycle, already carrying her helmet. “Of course, don’t worry about me, Sky.”
Then she leaned on him for a bit to send him a good bye kiss on the cheek. “Bye!” After wearing her helmet, she drove out from his sight.
Meanwhile, Aeschylus traced his fingers where she left him a kiss. Tint of pink was visible on his cheek.
She never failed to make my heart flutter, huh?