Shimmers & Shrouds (Abstruse)

by Brukett, Scarlett

  "What?"I glared back."You said we should forget who we are, you want me to hypnotize you so you can recall it back?" I swear that sounded like a five year old kid was speaking.

  He laughed loud, louder than I thought that sophisticated people did. Embarrassment washed over my face.

  "I don't think hypnotizing would be needed, you're eyes are hypnotic enough to do that job." He chuckled once again.

  Blood flushed under my pale yellow skin, my eyes grew wider. Was he….hitting on me?

  "Wow, that's the biggest pair of eyes I've seen yet, you have a comparatively large iris." He studied my eyes, I looked away. Oh, I wasn’t even prepared for this encounter.

  "My mom says I'm easy to read, this is the only drawback." I shrugged my shoulders and looked at him, just to see whether he was paying attention. And he was.

  "Your mother has a sixth sense?" He giggled. Humor at the expense of my mother… wasn't funny at all.

  "No, she has common sense. You sure lack that one!"

  "Whoa." He looked kind of blown away with the sarcasm in my voice. "Now THAT needs a truck full of guts." He used his finger to make me heed every word.

  "I have a lifetime supply." I flaunted, tossing my hair.

  "I appreciate the source you've got." He sounded sincere enough. "By the way who do you like? Mom or dad?"

  Our topic of conversation changed again.

  "I look like my dad. But I'm fair because of my mom." I informed. "And you look pretty much like your mom."

  His face expressions rapidally changed. He looked appalled, like I was speaking something offensive, knowing I wasn't allowed to.

  "Okay what are the identical features?" He looked rather amused.

  I'd never imagined him sitting this close. He looked a lot hunky in the pictures, but in reality, he was the hunkiest, loveliest and someone like the princes in fairytales if they had existed for real.

  "Your nose, your forehead, the lips." I paused. “Your eyes are―" Before I could finish, I felt him fidgeting. I understood that I was closer to him than I should be.

  "I'll go change." I stood up to leave .Every topic that we had talked on till now grew awkward in the end, that was inevitable. I felt uneasy to even stand in front of him now.

  "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that." He sensed the seriousness in the air, and got up too.

  "No it's fine, for a moment it had drained out of my mind that I'm just an ordinary girl. People like us have our limitations, we can't be anywhere near you guys, I’m sorry." I felt some wetness on my cheeks. I couldn't believe I was crying. I immediately wiped the tears off before he could see them.

  "That-was-not-what I meant." he staggered.

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

  I prayed he didn't get a boil because 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?

  It didn't look like he was raised in the family where there were approximately hundred servants to take care of every little chore of the house that was likely to come up.

  He washed his dishes, made my bed, cleaned the forever-present-webs from the places my hands could never reach and helped me with my assignments, I had forgotten to make the front pages of them and he was a great help, really great one. All these things were very new to me. Whenever I read the newspapers, the news were either about him dating some supermodel or creating a controversy. However this side of him was never explored, the more I got to know about him, the more I was falling, never to get over him again.

  And at last when the clock struck nine pm, I knew he had to go. It reminded that he did not belong anywhere near me. He was Orpheus Albert, a guy so rich, he could set a rocket to land on mars. A billion girls were out there who actually go gaga over him, wishing if they could have a handshake with him, touch him, feel his gaze and witness the god like smile he had; all what I had cherished in the last few hours. A part of me wanted him to stay but I knew this was wrong, entirely wrong, the very thought was wrong. It was not the right time to ask what my heart was wrestling with my mind for all this while.

  "You're... leaving huh." A strange pain evoked in my chest, hard to ignore. I knew it was difficult to keep myself from crying when I wanted to cry so badly.

  He was looking right into me. His gaze made it difficult to think, to say anything further, like they were urging me to speak up stuffs I would never say knowingly.

  "Yes." He looked away. I understood that it was the only reply I was going to get.

  "If you― wanna come back to watch the horror stuff, I'm just thirty miles away." I smiled, trying to keep it where it should stay. It was funny how thirty miles sounded like thirty meters.

  "Like you promised." He smiled; it wasn’t very visible though. "Don't worry. I might come bac
k. I might need you and your little home to comfort me again." He added.

  I grimaced.

  "It's time, I must leave now."

  Words are mere words. They are just said. It takes effort to follow what one has said, and it looked like Orpheus wasn't paying attention at all. I had to do something about it.

  "Bye." I closed the door on his face. I knew he was standing outside, or maybe I was imagining all of it. I squeezed my eyes shut. The tears that I had tried to hold back all this while were now running down my cheeks. I was hoping to die because I was absolutely clueless about what was wrong with me. I was crying because I wasn’t going to see his face for god knows how many days and this thought was absolutely crazy.

  I went to bed quiet early that night but I couldn't sleep. I twisted on my side and closed my eyes, hoping if that could bring me a little sleep. When I was sure it wasn’t going to help me, I lay straight on my back brooding at the ceiling, trying to figure out every possibility that made me think something as stupid as this. He was just a guest, and he had to go. That was inevitable. But why was I thinking it would have been alright if he were by my side lying right next to me just like he did last night? Why didn't I have dinner tonight? Why was he crowding up my mind right now when I should be thinking about my projects, my parents, and my ambition? I had to prove my worth to the chairman of ‘Zinerva Hotels and resorts.’ The leading group that runs hotel chains in several countries of the world.

  Maybe I should stop thinking this because it can't be possible. I was just an ordinary foreigner and he was a billionaire, because I needed to think ten times before I spent a pound as it could ruin my budget plan for the entire month and he had everything in his reach, right from Ferrari to his three private jets. There was nothing common between us. (Age and height were really in the list.) Apart from that, he had a long string of possessive girlfriends while I had never gone for a real date with a guy in my life no matter how long we were in a relationship.

  I had read an article about him which said that the writer can safely assure that he was not a pure person physically, as in, he was not a virgin. I don't think I've ever let a guy touch me in that sense. So there was exactly nothing that could make me stay for a guy who was an absolute opposite of me.