Shimmers & Shrouds (Abstruse)

by Brukett, Scarlett

  Instead of being intimidated, like the other girls should have, she looked at me in the eyes and tilted her head. I stopped on my tracks.

  "Why are you so brand conscious?" She asked.

  I rolled my eyes and failed horribly. "What do you expect a billionaire to be like?"

  "Like you." She smiled and started walking. I followed her, silent as usual. “By the way the dress you gifted is one of the most beautiful dresses I have."

  "It is the only beautiful dress you have." I snickered. Seriously, I never checked her wardrobe, but the way she dressed herself for the college or for the hangouts, her clothes seemed to be very… casual.

  "What?" she whirled around to face me, totally appalled. "Isn't this one beautiful?"

  "Do you want me to lie?"

  "No. Walk straight." She slowed her pace down and within a few seconds she was following me instead of the other way round.

  She broke her own record by not speaking anything for the next ten minutes.

  I looked back at her with concern and she looked away like she did when we were bickering over her heels.

  "Oceana, are you talking?"

  "No." She responded. Thank god she said something. I was literally dying to hear her voice. This girl has definitely got me crazy.

  "Is that Will still after you?"

  "Yes. And shut up."

  "Do you like him?"

  "No."

  "Do you like someone?"

  "I don't know."

  "Do you like me?" I smiled, expectations pouring down from every bit of my body.

  She gave me an uneven smirk. "Do you want me to lie?"

  She doesn’t like me. "No."

  "Good."

  We were almost near the brook. It was just the matter of nearly fifty meters. She was still behind. I decided to let her walk at the pace she wanted to. She was invincible. I felt something tickle against my neck, it must be her for sure.

  "What are you doing?" I buttoned my collar so she wouldn’t do it again, whatever she was doing.

  She looked at me, bewildered. "What?"

  Afraid that I might be thinking it up, I chose to divert the topic. "Can you walk with me?"

  "Don't force me. You know I don't like people who impose."

  "Okay."

  I felt a strong sensation of being tickled near my earlobe. I knew I can’t be imagining this up. I turned to her and asked her straight "Did you just tickle me?"

  She rolled her eyes heavenwards. "As if I don't have a better work to do."

  I fumed up at myself, knowing that I can't be thinking all this; I was forced to stay put because she wasn’t caught red handed.

  I was cautious of her moves. The moment I felt the tickle, I turned to look at her and growled.

  "That's it... Run for your life, miss Viera."

  I ran after her in circles and tricked her down. She wasn’t easy to catch but I caught hold of her strap and gradually her shoulder, pulling her towards me.

  We fell on the ground with her under me and laughed our stomachs off. No one can be certain of the consistency of the mood shifts. I always ended up laughing no matter how hard I tried not to.

  "Damn it Orpheus. You cheated!" She squealed.

  "You asked for it."

  Both of us giggled after that, occasionally stealing glances at each other. I was within the kissing range with her. She’d never been this close to me. Her beautiful flawless skin and caramel eyes could possibly melt away all the glaciers.

  "Orpheus.." She called in her seducing voice.

  I was so mad for her right now that I would have kissed her if she asked me to.

  "Yes??" I asked in my hoarse voice.

  "I can't breathe."

  My libido was back under the rug once again. How foolish I was to think that she wanted me to kiss her.

  "Oh, sorry." I got up and gave her my hand so she could get up.

  The surprise that was awaited was almost visible from here but she never looked up to see it.

  "Tell me about your family." She shot.

  That question caught me off guard again. No one had asked me the question about my family this directly, or I don’t really remember anyone asking about it at all.

  "Can we talk about it when we're done with your surprise?"

  "Okay."

  As we edged closer, the view became clearer. I looked at her from the corner of my eye and the change of expressions on her face from ‘normal’ to ‘what―the―hell’ was contenting.

  "Orpheus?"

  "That's a houseboat." I assured her.

  "I hope it’s not a prank!" She looked at me and then the boat with her shiny beautiful eyes.

  "You like it?"

  "You had me at the first sight."

  "Its natural, close to nature I mean."

  "It is wonderful."

  "You hired it?"

  I didn’t want to lie so I preferred not to say anything.

  ”What? You bought it?" she shrieked. I was sure she would be mad at me for this.

  "I was just thinking if you liked it, we might buy this." Phew. Where did this answer come from?

  Her expressions softened a bit and she smiled.

  I showed her the interiors. It was a houseboat but one of its kinds. The manufacturers were summoned from India. I’d heard her mention it once that she dreamt of owning one. The boat had an interior cabin with the steer, a large round wooden bed with mattress (thank god) and artistic wooden chairs to sit on that were planted at the edge. It was a big boat, just a little small from my yacht.

  "I thought you bought it. I told you Orpheus, I love it."

  "Great.” I enjoyed a proud time on my own for like a minute and called up Sam, the guy who was in the cabin all this while. I introduced him to Oceana and after the formal greetings he turned to me for the orders.

  "You can leave the keys with Miss Viera." I said.

  "What?" She seethed.

  "I had already paid for it. I just wanted to know if you liked it."

  "What the―” She grunted and looked away. “I don't want it. If you're giving me the key, be sure of me throwing it into the river. I am serious." With that , she stalked away towards the balcony side. Funny that she didn’t want me to buy it but she wasn’t ready to leave the boat either.

  After sending him off I braced myself up for some dreadful scolding. When I reached where she was sitting, I saw her enjoying the afternoon sun with her feet dipped in the water.

  I took a deep breath and spoke. "Oceana, listen to me."

  "Buzz the hell out of here Orpheus, I don't want to talk."

  Despite her aggravated tone and rebuke, I shamelessly sat next to her.

  "Oceana Viera, I don't think you will like it if the alligators attack your feet thinking its some kind of bird." I mocked.

  Her big eyes popped out in horror. Oh no, did I mess up with the wrong nerve again? Why do I even try to act smart?

  She needed comfort and if sje got to know there were no such things in the river she would simply walk out on me. She was a bit fearless about that.

  "It is okay. Just don't sit like this."

  "Alligators... really?" she asked again.

  My mood suddenly lightened at her sulking face. Since she always acted like a kid, it was the time to be treated like a kid.

  I pointed far off at the other bank near a large oak tree. "I have spotted a seven feet resting right there."

  I waited for her response.

  Silence.

  She still hadn’t got her legs out. Was she traumatized? "Do you want me to carry you?"

  "No. But I think I need some help, I can't feel my legs."

  Shit! I really messed up with the wrong nerve.

  I helped her stand up and took her away from the edge

  "Are you okay?"

  "I wish I was."

  "Don't do it again. I don't want to lose you." The words were out of my mouth before I realized that I’d said it. It made all her suspicions true, I made her b
elieve that there were alligators over here for real.

  "I won't, just don't do anything stupid like you did today."

  "Stupid? But you said you like it."

  "That doesn't mean you have to buy it to please me."

  "I just wanted you to enjoy yourself."

  "Orpheus, I like the ruins of titanic, can you buy them for me?" "You need to know that there are some things in our life that we can't afford to have. But still we like them, simply because they're worth our admiration."

  "Does it refer to people?"

  She nodded. "It does. Like, look at you. You are the most preferred bachelor in the world. You lay a finger on any girl and she will surely be yours, you don't even have to say anything."

  She must be lying about this one, for sure. “really?”

  “Yes.”

  I lifted my finger and poked her on the shoulder. She looked at me, bewildered."What?"

  "Be mine."

  She shook her head in disgust.

  "How can you be so frustrating, Orpheus, I am not in a mood to laugh."

  "Okay." I let the subject drop.

  "Where was I?"

  "I am the most preferred bachelor and blah blah blah."

  "Why do you hate yourself being called that?"

  time to ease off some more frustration.

  “Because I am certainly not a trophy guy.”

  “You're not.” She smiled. That smile could do wonders. I swear.

  I started confiding things I’d never told anyone about.

  "You don't know how annoying it was at the nightclubs, people used to be around me like honey bees around honey. It was― suffocating."

  She stood up on the deck and held her hand out to me. She looked like a runaway knight who’d arrived to save a princess… or.. gender reversal. A runaway princess who’d arrived to save the stupid knight. Either way, she looked braver.

  "Come." She smiled.

  "Where?"

  "I wanna know you. And I don't think this is the right place."

  I took her hand and she led me to the sitting room. She pushed me to sit on the bed.

  "Are you sure about letting me sit here, with you?" I grinned.

  "Mr. Orpheus, we definitely won't have sex. That's the last thing on my list when it comes to you." She nagged.

  my smile grew wider. "Okay."

  "What makes you smile?"

  "I am glad it’s in the list."

  "Orpheus!" she pouted.

  “Sorry.”

  She sat right next to me, taking my hand in hers and holding it firm.

  "How did you develop this addiction to alcohol."

  "It’s a long story." I mumbled.

  She squeezed my hand. "I'm not going anywhere."

  "I've never really told this to anyone, I'm not sure about your response."

  “when you share something good, it doubles, when you share something bad it splits into half.”

  That gave me the required courage. I started. "I was ten when my mom died. My dad got married with his girlfriend after her death. It was something I couldn't really take. You wanna hear more?"

  "Yes."

  "So, I never really expected much from my dad after that. My family was destroyed in front of me and I couldn't do anything. At nights when I used to look at our pictures, this feeling of guilt used to come from nowhere."

  "Guilt?” she interrupted “For what?”

  "I could have saved my family. I could have stopped my mom. But I didn't."

  "Stop blaming yourself. This is nonsense."

  I raised my eyebrows at her continuous intervention.

  "Do you want to listen more?"

  She smiled remorsefully.

  "Yes. I'm sorry."

  I carried on with my story. "Dad got settled with his new wife but didn't plan to have a child with her. He thought I would rebel. But there was nothing left to rebel for. After I graduated, I knew I would have to join his business but I was through with this sham."

  "Sham?"

  This intervening thing might be usual for a chatter box like her. I smiled and told her the inner secret, something nobody knew. “We are a happy family Oceana, a happy family who isn't. So I enrolled myself in the army. I just wanted to stay away from them. I was already angry at myself for reasons you know now. Alcohol, parties, nightstands... they subsided the urge to die, otherwise there was no reason for me to live, or I think I wasn't really that interested."

  Was she even getting how complicated it was?

  "But then the orphanage?" she popped up again.

  Yes she understood everything I told her.

  "I am very relieved when I'm with the kids. I love them. My mom believed in social service, so do I. 'The savior' is just an effort to reach a bit close to her."

  While I comprehend with my feelings, her face almost made me laughed. She was… dumbstruck.

  "You mean..."

  I understood what she was surprised about. "I am it’s founder, and my salary goes to the orphanage."

  "You started an orphanage

  "Is that hard to believe?" I smirked at her. Sure, it was unbelievable.

  "Do you know how nice you are?"

  My cheeks reddened at her declaration."I am not."

  “You're a good man Orpheus, and I'm lucky to know you personally."

  "Thanks."

  "What else are you planning to tell me?"

  I eyed her expressions. How did she know I wasn’t done telling about my problems?

  "I've told you everything." I lied.

  "I don't think so."

  "You know everything that you need to know, Oceana."

  “Feel free to confide anytime if not today.” She smiled.

  "You know, your level of understanding is what attracts me the most." That doesn’t count as a flirtatious comment. I meant it.

  "Well... that makes me old enough to be your grandma I guess." She laughed melodiously.

  No. That makes you old enough to be in my arms forever.

  "Yes." I smiled. Though both of us knew it was a lie.

  The dinner.

  I wondered how god almighty forgot to put a mute button in the system of this beautiful lovely lady. Unlike all my ex girlfriends, she kept blabbering about her studies, her future plans, the thriller novels and their equally thrilling climaxes, my Reventon, my wardrobe, her wardrobe, and endless questions of where I was taking her. Unexpectedly she was quiet all of sudden when we were half the way to our destination and I noticed she was staring out of the window. Of course I wanted to enjoy this absolute calmness, which I didn’t know was going to last how long. However I grew uneasy when she didn’t speak for a long time.

  "Oceana, is everything alright?" I swallowed, glancing occasionally at her, because I knew she was very particular with the traffic rules, If I happen to swerve the car by an inch and she will prefer walking over car ride. There were always some unspoken rules that I had to follow when I was with her.

  She looked at me with exasperated dark eyes. "Where are you taking me?"Her voice was cautious.

  "It is a surprise." I looked straight. I didn’t want to disclose the secret so early. I was taken aback at grandma’s declaration to bring Oceana for the dinner. Could it be any more comforting?

  "You are driving on a deserted road for the past fifteen minutes, what kind of surprise is this?" she frowned. Jesus! Where was she going with this?

  "Good things come to those who wait." I smiled, ignoring her hateful glances.

  She reluctantly leaned back on her seat, staring out as usual.

  "It’s a Reventon, drive it like one." She muttered.

  I increased the speed unwillingly from sixty miles per hour to a hundred. All I could see from my window was a faint blurred painting of the suburbs. I felt uneasy. I was not used to drive with such a great speed. The abrupt silence had started to pierce my ears, so I switched on the radio for the atmosphere to lighten. Surprisingly the station played one of my favorite songs.

  �
�Everything I ask for.’

  I concentrated more on the lyrics, since the song had just started. We had missed a line or two.

  Just then I heard her humming along with the song, wow. She was a singer too?

  I muted the radio so I could hear her sing, but she stopped, unexpectedly. She turned to look at me with those beautiful big eyes.

  "Your voice is fab." I smiled. Hoping she would return me the same thing.

  "Thank you, this is a beautiful track." She blushed and blinked her eyes. Smiling like a child. Yes! The stupid jumpy jittery Oceana was back.

  I took a sharp left turn, and continued to drive on the now sophisticatedly groomed lawn. The castle was now in sight. And the guards were checking in.

  Oceana took a long look out of window and then back at me, puzzled.

  "Are we here to take a tour of the museum? Is this your surprise?" She was staring at me with her wide eyes.

  "This is my house." I rolled my eyes off into space. My house doesn’t look like a museum… Does it? No. Of course not.

  "You gotta be kidding me." she gasped. I wouldn’t blame her, the castle was embarrassingly big. And her shiny eyes, efficiently working with her brilliant brain were taking a usual guess as to why just a small family like ours would live in a castle where an approximate number of seventy people can live comfortably.

  "I am not." I glared at her.

  I parked the Reventon just a few yards away from the castle. So she could surely admire one of the most beautiful pieces of history. What would one expect from a student who has taken history as one of her majors?

  "Christ!! This is an entire castle!" She looked at me in an instant, her mouth had dropped open. I wanted to stay calm, but I couldn't help but giggle.

  "You liked it?" I breathed.

  "I love it." Her eyes twinkled like never before.

  "You've yet to see the inside." I reminded her.

  "Wow Orpheus, I can't believe you're taking me in for a free tour!"

  "Me too. I am usually not so generous." I winked.

  "Very funny." She shook her head. And opened the door of the car, and my grandmother was inside my head in no time. The horror I would be facing if she got to know from Oceana that I didn't act like a man was unimaginable.

  "Be seated." I must have surprised her. She was shocked.

  "Are we going back?" Her left eyebrow cocked up and her lips were pressed into a hard line.