|| Arabella ||
I listened to Theo intently as he poured his heart out on the rooftop, telling me about his childhood. I loved listening to him. No, I didn't enjoy his horrible memories, but they were a part of him and I accepted those wholeheartedly.
Because whatever that happened in his past made him into the person he was today. A mild jerk, yes. But also a good-hearted person. The biggest proof behind that was, whenever a beggar knocked on the windshield, he would always make donations. At first, I used to think it was because he had too much money to throw around. But gradually, I realized those gestures were from the bottom of his heart.
He knew how to stand up for his closed ones and would go to any lengths to protect them in his own way. He was well aware of his limits and boundaries. He would never intentionally pull a prank that would hurt someone.
He told me that he apparently used to have depression and suicidal tendencies. He said he was over it, but he still has a hard time talking about it. He still saw his psychiatrist every year. I wondered if that was the reason I always felt like he had walls around him and he would never let anyone in it.
But he let me in.
Why?
I kept wondering all night. I laid on my bed, wide awake, thinking about Theo until the sun rays were already hitting my face.
I sat up on my bed, running a hand through my hair. I couldn't believe I spent my entire night just thinking about Theo.
I got up and went to the kitchen to get some water. I found a familiar figure inside trying to make the coffee maker work.
"Wyatt, what are you doing?" I asked.
Wyatt turned around and gave me an exasperated look. "Apparently, making coffee is harder than making pizza."
I shook my head, chuckling. "That's because you don't know how to use the coffee maker." I set up the machine and pressed the button. "That's how you use it."
"Oh, I can do it next time," he said confidently.
"Just don't end up wrecking it," I warned and opened the refrigerator. "Why are you awake so early? You're never up before six."
"So much happened yesterday. I just couldn't fall asleep after that," he replied.
I hummed in response and drank my water. "So how's it going with you and Coral?"
Wyatt smiled at the mention of Coral. "I think I'm starting to fall in love with her."
"What? Oh, my God! That's so great! Congratulations!" I cheered and gave him an excited hug.
"Thanks."
"What made you realize that all of a sudden?" I asked, pulling apart from the hug.
A blush adorned his pale cheeks as he averted his eyes. "Last night, when she came running to me after I told her about my mom's unexpected visit. The moment she burst in through that door, I realized I had fallen for her."
"That's so cute. I'm so happy for you," I gushed.
"Yeah." His smile faded a little as he mumbled, "But I don't think she reciprocates that. I mean, it's too soon for her, I guess."
I hummed. "Maybe. But you can wait till she falls in love with you. And trust me, when she does, she will introduce you as her boyfriend."
"You think?" he asked with a puppy look.
"I'm sure," I affirmed.
His smile returned once again. "I can't wait for that day."
"Me neither."
His coffee was ready soon enough. He took a sip and asked, "So what's going on between you and Theo?"
I choked on air. "W-what? There's nothing going on between us."
"Please, I'm not blind." Wyatt rolled his eyes.
"Seriously, Wyatt, there's nothing going on."
He took another sip and said, "The air around the two of you is completely different than how you used to be."
"Well, of course, we adjusted with each other over time."
"Yeah, sure," he snorted.
He continued to drink his coffee in silence after that while I played with my fingers and pondered if I should tell him about how I was feeling recently.
"Wyatt, I have been feeling weird about Theo recently," I let it out.
"Uh-huh. Good weird or bad weird?"
"Good weird, I guess."
"Do you think about him often?"
"Sometimes," I lied.
"That means all the time." I gaped at him for his correct assumption. What was he, a psychic? "Do you find him charming?"
I scratched the back of my head and answered shyly, "He's pretty handsome, so yeah—"
"No, I meant the inside. His character. Do you think he is charming from the heart?" he asked.
"Yeah."
"You like him," Wyatt stated.
I went blank for a whole minute.
I-I like Theo? The Theo who got chewing stuck in my hair? The Theo who fed me toothpaste cookies? The Theo I have pillow fights with almost everyday? The Theo with whom I have a pact of never kissing?
That can't be right. I can't— I don't. I don't like him.
"Ara, you there?" Wyatt snapped his fingers in front of me, and I jumped out of my spiralling thoughts.
"No, you're wrong. I don't like Theo, not in that way. It's not possible," I said, taking a few steps back.
"Sure, if you want to deny it, I won't push you for it. Go at your own pace," Wyatt said and put his empty coffee mug on the sink.
"I'm not denying. It's not true—" I was making my way out of the kitchen and bumped into something hard. The familiar cologne made instant blood rush to my cheeks.
"What are you guys doing here so early?" Theo asked, and I flinched away from him.
"Just chatting. I'm gonna go back to my room now," Wyatt casually said and exited the kitchen, leaving me alone with Theo.
An awkward air made its appearance instantly.
I glanced at Theo's outfit and assumed that he was going for his morning jog. "Um, uh, I'm gonna go back to bed. Have a good run!"
He wanted to say something, but I had already dashed to my room.
For the rest of the day, I avoided running into Theo, which was by staying cooped in my room. To make matters worse, we were going to be at home for the next two days as well.
And there was no way I could avoid not seeing him during meal times.
Unless I pretend to be sick and not come out of my room at all.
Nah, that wouldn't work. Theo and Wyatt would be rushing to call a doctor first.
But I didn't want to face Theo. I wanted to clear my head before I did. The idea Wyatt put in my head was ridiculous. Not true at all. It couldn't be.
There was a knock on the door.
Dreading, I opened it a little to find Theo outside. I peeked my head out and asked, "What do you want?"
"Don't you have a shift today?" he asked.
My eyes widened. "Fuck." I was wondering why I didn't have anything to do, and here I was missing out on work shifts. "I need to hurry," I panicked.
I was about to close the door when Theo said, "Uh, your shift starts at two. It's only one now."
I wanted to bang my head for being so silly and panicking without even checking time. "Right, I'll get ready steadily."
As I was about to close the door again, he spoke up, "We didn't have lunch yet, and you won't have the time to cook. You wanna grab a bite outside?"
Oh, hell no.
I should make an excuse about saving up.
As if he already knew my intentions, he added, "My treat."
Great. No escape.
"Okay," I simply said and closed the doors.
Grumbling to myself for a few minutes, I got ready into a baby pink ruffle skirt and white crop top. As I looked at myself after brushing my hair, I gaped at myself with a jaw drop.
"Why did I dress up so nicely?" I questioned myself. It was like I got ready for a date, rather than to sweat and be bossed around in a hot kitchen for hours.
I shook my head in hopelessness as it was too late to change again. I grabbed my purse and phone to head out.
Theo was playing games on his phone in the living room when I said, "I'm ready to go."
"Okay." He put his phone in his pocket and stood up. "Oh, by the way, I sent my car for servicing. So we have to walk."
I nodded and followed him out.
We were silent for the most part until we reached the nearby restaurant. We sat at the corner table and placed our orders. I was nervous the whole time. I couldn't see Theo's gaze and kept playing with my fingers.
I didn't understand why. I had gone out to eat with Theo so many times before.
"You like him."
Shut up, Wyatt. You know nothing.
"I'm sorry," Theo said all of a sudden.
I finally looked up at him. "Huh, why?"
"You're being all awkward around me because of what I said yesterday. I'm sorry about it. I shouldn't have told you about such crappy stuff. It must have been too much for you to take. I ruined our—"
"What are you saying?" I let out. I felt guilty for making him feel like any of it was his fault when I was the one being an asshole. "I'm not being awkward with you because of any of that, rather I really appreciate that you could open up to me." I reached out my hand to place it on top of his on the table to emphasize my point, "I really mean it."
"Then why are you being weird around me?" he asked.
I averted my eyes and said the first lie that came to my mind, "I'm on my periods, that's why."
His mouth formed in an O. "No wonder."
I nodded and removed my hand from his since it started to tingle my fingers.
"Are you sure you want to go to work in that condition?" Theo asked after a moment.
"I have periods, not military tuberculosis." I rolled my eyes.
"I don't know. I don't have much experience with girl problems." He shrugged. I was about to retort, but he beat me to it, "But I would like to learn."
"Why?"
"Because you're a girl, and I need to know stuff to be prepared in case something happens to you," he explained.
God, why does he have to make me feel like this when I'm trying not to feel anything?
To my rescue, the waiter came to serve our food. The two of us ate while talking about random stuff. The awkward air around us had dissipated a little, and I was glad for it.
After Theo paid the bills, I got up and said, "Thanks for the treat. I'll see you at home."
"Save that for later. We will take a cab to your work," he stated, leaving no space for argument.
"But why?" I almost whined.
"I have heard some women faint due to cramps. What if you faint?" he asked, and I stared blankly in disbelief. "Seriously, what a great day to not have my car," he complained, and I wanted to cry.
Out of all the things, why did I have to lie about my periods?
"Let's go, or you'll be late for work," Theo urged, and I forced myself to get out of the restaurant.
I was looking for a cab when Theo had momentarily disappeared to buy something. When he came back, he handed me a big chocolate bar.
As I raised an eyebrow, he quickly said, "Um, I've seen in movies that girls like chocolates during periods."
I wanted to stand up on my tiptoes and kiss his cheek for the cute gesture, but I slapped myself internally for the thought and settled for a normal thanks with a big smile.
After that, we got into a cab. On the ride, Theo kept asking me questions about how to take care of a girl during periods. I swear if I was actually on my period, I might have gotten irritated, but right now I found it extremely sweet.
However, my sweet journey came to an end when I reached the restaurant where I work. Both of us got down from the cab as Theo insisted on walking home on foot.
I was about to bid Theo goodbye when a colleague of mine approached. He was a first-year university student, and we got along pretty well.
"Hey, Jack," I politely said with a smile.
"Hi, Arabella. There's something I wanted to ask you. I need to do it now, or else, I will lose my nerves later," Jack let out.
"Yeah, sure. What is it?"
Taking a deep breath, Jack took out a rose from behind him and held it out to me as he uttered, "Will you go out with me?"
