Down the Street I Met Him
Written by: Haejin
Chapter 1
Once Upon a meeting…
It was a dazzling 4pm that I was going down the street I always take to go home. I have my blue sling back on my right shoulder, hanging across my body, and a file case that carries my papers.
It was a street that I can never avoid when going home, it was a one-way street, in more ways than one. It goes all the way down, or all the way up. And my house is at the end. So it’s either you go up, or you go down. I feel so lucky for those who live at the upper part of the street, for it was straight and flat.
As I was saying, I was going down the street that I always take to go home staring at the green mango trees, and tricycles that I pass by as I go. When around the middle, the path where it separates the steep part and the flat part, I see a guy, wearing black pants with blue converse chucks, wearing a white fitted sleeveless-shirt with the words “pandagree” what? A parody of pedigree? His hair is divided at the right side of his head, one side, down like bangs the other up like an anime character’s hair, both of his hands inside his pant’s pockets.
His posture is of a man around seventeen, with jet black hair and a gorgeously built body.
Have I seen him before? I think I did. I wonder where I have.
As I pass by him, I eye him, trying to remember where I have seen him, as I notice him staring at me while I pass by him.
“Marielle?” He pronounced slowly. So I turned to look at him. Stopping a few steps ahead of him.
“Um… me?” Obviously this is weird. The sun was still out there, the very little sunlight shines on his face as they pass through leaves of the mango tree.
“Yeah you, do you remember me?”
“Pardon? I’m sorry.”
His face was rather indescribable... it was quite funny, really. At first there was frustration in his face, then a smirk appears, and later on he grins before showing frustration again. Then after all this, he looks at me intently...and smiles.
He detached himself from the cement wall he was leaning against. Slowly walking towards me he removed his hands from his pockets and… grabbed the top of my head.
Leaning down to kiss me. Due to shock, I dropped my file case, hitting the ground, the plastic cover shattering and scattering all of the paper in it.
As his lips touched mine. Flashbacks reigns over my brain, and it gets dug up just to remember this. This pair of lips.
It’s freaking Elmer, who stole my first kiss 4 years ago. He was only 13 year old and he knew how to kiss. He promised me he’ll meet me again, after 4 years. And it was… real.
“Stop,” I pushed him away. I wasn’t literally sure if I loved him or not. And now that’s a big disturbing question roaming around my head. It was his return, that sparked all of this. Again.
“Do you remember me now?” A humongous up to his ear grin forms on his face.
“I don’t, now go away.”
“Do you want me to do it agai—“
“I remember! Don’t do it again, ever,” He was pissing me off.
“I’m studying at your school, I’ll meet you soon,” He told me. This very own fact surprised me that it made me turn, dropping all of my things.
“WHAT?” Is all I can say, my mouth dropping open in a gape, And the wind blowing past my face, the leaves of the mango trees dancing… And my papers flying.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” He told me and then smiled. This, is the worst.
He disappeared from my view, finally gathering myself, forgetting that, there were at least 4 – 7 people who saw everything that happened, and a few kids whom I teach Dance helps me pick up the scattered paper all around and the papers that were blown away by the sudden gust of wind.
“Whoa, that was hot, Mari, did you know him?” Uncle Uncle said. You heard it right, Uncle Uncle, because his name was RinUNCLEsio, you pronounce it like pistachio, Reen-ahngkelsho, weird right.
“You heard the whole conversation, don’t let me repeat,” I answered him. I feel the burning hot sensation from my shoulders up to my cheeks as I hide my blush with my hair.
“Marylle! Will you go teaching later?” I heard, a very familiar voice, and my name just changed.
“It’s Marielle, dear Vidina, and yes, I will be teaching later, I’ll see you at the studio,” I told 6 year old female hip hop student Vidina, and waved. “Don’t hurt yourself okay?”
Finally, after a few minutes of procrastinating, brain twisting, and picking up papers, I managed to get them all back, and decided to venture down to my house.
Walking patiently, passing by ‘awed’ people, and then using my keys to get in my house.
“I smell… burning pastries,” I rushed inside the terrace, dropped my things in a chair, running towards the kitchen.
“MOM! Do you want ashes for a house tonight?” Putting my hands on my waist, and sighing as I look at my dark faced mother, panting and heaving after fighting the smoke off… the roasted cookies. “Didn’t I tell you not to use the oven when I’m not here?”
“Well I’m sorry honey pie. I just thought it would be fun,”
Which mother thinks that burning down your own house is fun?
“Mom… Clean this up, now, please.” Now I had more things to think off when I get to bed.
Now, wait. If that man is back in the neighborhood. Is he living…?
I rushed upstairs to my room and opened the window that goes directly to a small balcony, and was shocked to see him there seated by his table reading a book.
Chapter 2
The horror is terrifying
“Hi there,” He told me and waved a hand. Crap. My next door, no, next-window, neighbor.
I quickly closed the windows and pressed my back at the closed window frames.
“How much bad luck do I have to endure?” I told myself. When all of a sudden the window behind me opens and lets me fall to the arms that opened it.
“Are you okay, Princess?” Elmer asked. Do you have anything cheesier than that? It sends bad vibes and bad memories to my brain.
“I’m fine, Thank you, thanks to the idiot who opened the window, and the macho man who caught me,” It was easier to just say, Thank You Elmer. But, long phrases are what he hates the most.
“Just, Elmer,” He told me. I told you so. Silence conquered us, remaining on the same catching position; my back starts to hurt now, so I slowly stand up and face him as he stands on my balcony. His mouth opens.
“Did you miss me?”
“Who would?” Seriously I totally forgot about him.
“You forgot me huh?” Those fortune-told-like lines, are very well said, that’s what I like about you.
Wait, did I just say I like him? What?
“Pfft,”
“Wh-what? What’s wrong with you?” I asked him, I just made a funny expression right now didn’t I?! Stupid Stupid Marielle.
“Your face, it’s been long… pfft.”
“Don’t hold your laughter in, just make me a laughing stock go on, go ahead,”
“Your shocking face, it’s the best ever, your eye brows go facing each other, like a devil’s horn gone wrong, and you bite your lower lip, then you close your eyes, very, very, memorable.” Saying those words, half-laughing but I felt like he’s still not finished. “I missed them a lot,”
With those last sincere words, I felt a pang! Go into my heart. Did I miss him too?
“Well,”
“Yup?” He looked at me, raising both of his eye brows. He didn’t really learn how to raise one eye brow all this time?
“I missed you too,” I muttered lowly. Good thing he didn’t hear.
“What?”
“I’m hungry, want to go eat over?”
“It’s been a long time since I tasted Aunt Marina’s cooking, I won’t pass on that,” He answered giving me a big grin and made a step over my window wall and in my room, while I gave him a stop sign.
“Use the door.”
“Why?”
I looked at him weirdly and raised one of my eyebrows.
“She might misunderstand us, coming right out of my room,”
“I guess that won’t be normal anymore,” He leaned closer to my face. “Unless, we really did something we wanted to prove,”
“Why you—“
”I’ll go dress up, I’ll see you at dinner!” He told me, going back to his room and closing his own window.
“Don’t GO! EVER!” Now I just told him to go away.
This is damned. Its 5:30pm now, I guess I have to go and teach the kids a dance.
I half-jogged to the dance studio that was owned by Elmer’s parents, now isn’t this kind of cruel? Now He’ll see me teach young kids how to dance, -insert sarcasm- how I just love it by then. I saw the kids happily warming up inside as I take a peek from outside through the glasses. I see Mr. Macho man who caught me teaching them how to properly do a jumping jack.
“You start with your arms beside your body, and your feet close to each other, when you start to jump, you open your feet and clap above your head. With Straight arms.”
Magnificent, now they have an instructor brother and an instructor sister. Wait, when did he learn how to dance?
“Wow, that’s very good! Who’s your dance instructor?”
“Marielle!!”
Oh Dear.
“Really? Do you mind if I teach you dance with her?”
“Sure! What is your name Mister?” Young Vidina asked.
“Me? I’m Elmer. And you?”
“I’m Vidina!”
This is very overwhelming. I decided to enter and interrupt the fun. And throw a death glare at Elmer’s back.
“Since when did you learn how to dance?” I asked him glaring.
“Oh c’mon, did you forget how I used to dance with you?” He told me, closing the gap between us. “Kissing you and all,” This made me blush a lot. When did he grow so tall?
“S-STOP! There are kids here, let’s just get started alright?” I told him as the kids looked at us with interest.
“Elmer and Marielle, sitting on a tree K-I-S-S-I—“ Pomie was singing, she was the oldest of the bunch. And I just had to interrupt her with a shriek that I didn’t purposely do. It was because of SOMEONE’s hand who tapped my butt.
“Marielle, is Elmer your boyfriend?” 8 year old male pop dancer Chris asked, looking from me to Elmer.
He gave Chris a grin, flashing his super white teeth.
“No, No, you’re misunderstanding,” I answered but he kept on smiling.
“Okay kids, today I’m teaching a mixture of the basics and a new technique,” I told them as I clap my hands.
“Just keep your pervertedness to yourself, we still have teens coming right after this,” I whispered to Elmer. I hope he’s listening to me.
“The more I can harass you,” He told me.
“You’re pissing me off.”
“You’re so cute,”
“Grr,” I stomped out of his sight and taught the whole class the dance but he followed, watched, and helped me assist the kids.
The clock struck 6:00pm, time for the teens. They ranged from 13 – 17, while the child division ranges from 6 – 12.
“Ma—“
”Don’t. Talk to me.”
“Psh—Cruel,”
“Is cruelty to animals this bad?”
“Yup, I’m your animal, a vile creature who wants you,”
“Yiihiii~~” My head turning automatically towards where I heard the cheers are coming from. It’s the group of Teens we need to teach.
“Tsk tsk, Marielle, finally finding a man who can take her on? Is this a miracle or what?” Angie told me clinging to her boyfriend Andy. She’s my classmate, and also one of my students; she’s a very good jazz dancer.
“Hi there, my name’s Elmer. I’ll be your classmate starting tomorrow, glad to make your acquaintance,” He told them. Now this man is befriending my friends.
Exactly I don’t know what’s wrong with me, procrastinating like this in my mind. Right now seeing him befriend my friends is bothering me a lot. Did I tell them something about him years ago? That I should be careful not to mention him to them… or what?
“So you’re Elmer, the Childhood friend?”
“Well yes, indeed I am, Right Liza?” Elmer said and leaned over
“Yup, Of Course, and Welcome back Home brother,” And that reminds me, Liza IS Elmer’s younger sister. Now what have I forgotten? Ah right, I forgot to ask her, when he’ll be back. But wait, WHY would I?
“Well, so who dumped who?” Elmer had asked practically, when
“What do you know?” I asked him, half-glaring at him. Though
“I know everything, from a third person’s point of view,” He answered me, almost arrogantly. That it got on my nerves.
“So you’re just a plain gossiper who wants to gossip about other people’s life then?” I tried to strengthen my voice, to make him hear, that he doesn’t give a damn with my life.
“We’re not going anywhere, I’ll see you at dinner,” His eyes were dark, his shoulder were broad as he turned his back at me. He walked away slowly, never giving off a sound from his foot steps. Softly backing off a fight. Then this is another aspect of him that I like. He never wants us to quarrel.
Right outside of the dance studio, I looked at him. He kept on scratching his head.
“You’re so stupid,” I read from his mouth. Thanks for my talent in mouth reading. “You shouldn’t have said that, you only wanted to boast out your ‘childhood friend-ness’ I hate that braggart Lawrence,” I giggled a little, so little that my students aren’t able to notice.
They kept being quiet. They stared at me, and Lawrence, and at the door, where Elmer had passed going out. When I glanced at the window, Elmer was now gone.
Well about what he had asked, it was actually a little bad of a first boyfriend experience for me.
I continue teaching them the dance that was scheduled for today, the awkward atmosphere, has been long gone since Elmer left the room. Until we finish at around 7:04pm.
It was Lawrence who broke up with me, because he was cheating on me. Weird right? I knew he was cheating on me. And all I do was become a hypocrite and ignore it. When we became a couple, he started dating a 16 year old girl, who’s prettier, and sexier than I am.
After 5 months of being us, he broke up with me and told me, “I’m sorry, Mari, but I don’t love you anymore, let’s break up,” And I said yes. I always knew it would come. So I agreed to his proposed break up. And it did me better, but for a few days, a few weeks. I was like, a zombie.
Liza, was a witness of all these happening, no wonder Elmer was informed about this. I don’t regret her presence being there, but I want to know why. Why Elmer was so interested, and was so pissed off.
Without realizing time passing by, we had overtime to 7:15pm so I quickly dismissed them, not to miss tonight’s dinner. Well not because Elmer was there, because I’m hungry.
I came home and found all of them rounded at our square table, with my younger sister Kristel, waving at me with both hands, and pointing at the empty chair in-front of her, which is beside Elmer’s. Golly Great.
“Hey,” He said to me, flashing me a smile.
“Hey,” I answered him, dropping my bag at a nearby chair, and rushed up to my room to get changed out of my sweaty clothes.
After changing clothes, I half-sprinted down the stairs when I heard them talking.
“I’m actually surprised you returned earlier than you’re supposed to go back, What’s the reason?” My father asked.
“Well yes, I was scheduled to return here when I turn 21. I just made a surprise comeback, and everything, cause I missed everything in this place,” He answered.
“So how was your province? Did you find any girls of your type?” My Mother asked this time. Stupid. Stupid Mom, of course he di—
“No.” His answer was abrupt. No?
“No? Why not?” Kristel asked him this time, the silence has come. It was deafening.
“There was no one in that place that ties with the woman who was already in my heart,” He answered them. Those words, made my heart skip a beat, and I felt like a blush creeping to my face. Even if it’s not me. Did I just like what I heard? Impossible. I feel like I’m blushing. Now how am I going to go down the there?
“I’ll go get her,” I think I heard him say that, so I immediately went down the stairs, stepping wrongly on a step, I landed over him.
“Ouch,” My head hit his broad shoulders, while his arms are wrapped around me over-protectively.
“Are you good?” He asked me.
“Are you stupid? You hit your head.” I whispered on his ear.
“As long as you’re good, then I’m better than you,”
“You’re an idiot,” I told him and struggled from his grasp. Rolling to my side, and I got up.
“My, my, don’t you think it’s getting hot here dear?” Mom said while flapping her right hand in-front of her face like she’s sweating so much.
“Well, Mom, I’m sorry for falling off the stairs,” Sarcasm escaping my mouth.
“And thanks to the Macho Man who caught me,” I saw one coming.
“Just Elmer,” He told me standing up to go back to the dining table. That, I saw that one coming.
The dinner went smoothly. It was past 8pm when we finished eating and was now having a dessert of Rocky road ice cream.
“So thisgirl in your heart, who is it?” Mom asked again. My, mom, aren’t you a curious bee?
“That,” This is making me nervous. His face is indescribable, later then his expression becomes a smile. “Is a secret.” And he glances at my side, winking at me.
“Huh?” Not knowing, that I had said that, all heads were on me.
“Sister! What do you mean, huh? What’s wrong?” Kristel asked me. Something must’ve been REALLY wrong with me.
“No! No, nothing’s wrong, why? What did I do?” For a second there my mind went blank, and I seriously spaced out. I don’t usually space out. I guess something might really be happening to me, that I’m not conscious of.
“Anyway, Aunt, Uncle, I’ll go now, I’ll see Marielle later on the balcony,” He stood up, shot me a sweet look and went to the door. “Thank you very much for the awesome dinner! I’ll be glad to come over again sooner or later,”
Don’t come back. It gives me the chills, the creeps, and the sweets? What? I’m going insane. I think sleeping will help me go through this.
After changing my clothes, preparing for bed, I switched off the lights. Suddenly, there’s just the moon’s light passing through the now open window, with the curtains swaying in my room with the soft breeze of the wind blowing it. In a matter of seconds I hear creaks of footsteps coming from it, and there he is. Elmer.
“Hey,” He told me and raised a hand signaling for a ‘Hi.’
“Seriously, are you a lizard?” I told him. He’s really irritatingly cool.
“Why do you say that?” With the slight lighting from the moon, I saw his eye brow twitch.
“Cause you’re grips too strong to open the window from outside, because the handle is in.” Seriously. He could pass off as a thief.
“Well, I know that you’ll always leave the handle, unhooked for me.”
“To be honest, you broke it yesterday,”
“Don’t be kidding me. There wasn’t a hook at all,”
He was too sharp. And he was right. There wasn’t a hook on the window at all. Just… a handle. I sighed in defeat. I looked at him helplessly. Cringing at his grin, staring at his white teeth. He’s now wearing a sleeveless black shirt that fit to his body and green shorts.
“So, what is it?”
“Is it bad to just see you, before I sleep? So I dream of you,”
“Pervert.”
“I’m not thinking of those things.”
“Liar,”
“I’ll tell you when I need to think about them.”
“Don’t tell me it’s grossing me out.”
“Then, I won’t tell you,”
This is truly tiring me, its 8:30pm, I’m past my body’s curfew for sleeping, usually at 8pm I’m down at the sack already. I slowly closed by eyes, and staggered a little. I have a drowse syndrome. It was a syndrome where you get dizzy and stagger a little when you’re mind and body are both tired for the day. You can call it the opposite of Insomnia. There are bad cases for me, when I just suddenly collapse, and down boom, I’m sleeping. I also have low blood pressure, and then it’s all the same in the morning.
“Save this for later, I need to sleep,” I told him, closing my eyes, and slowly sitting on the side of my bed.
“If I can, I will,” he answered me, showing me that playful grin.
“I’m really tired. Elmer.”
“Oh yeah, you have Low Blood Pressure,”
“You know I do. Now go away.”
“No, until I see you sleep,”
“Alright, good night,” He stood there, still grinning. I stared at him for a while, trying to open my eyes.
Chapter 3
And so on…
I crept up to my bed, and pulled up my covers. And slept. It was a good day. Though having low blood pressure doesn’t change anything, I still feel the same like last night’s.
“How long will you keep on sleeping?” a sheer voice asked me. I opened one of my eyes and looked.
There stood Elmer, wearing our school’s uniform, 2 buttons at the top of his polo open seeing a clear view of his white undershirt. His weird and messy hair, now brushed up like a nerd’s and he has eyeglasses. That was it. That’s what is different. He wasn’t wearing any eye glasses. That’s why I didn’t recognize him.
“Were you wearing contacts yesterday?” I asked him, groggy, standing up and grabbing a towel.
“I am, why do you ask?” He answers me, cocking his head to one side, crossing his arms in-front of him. I’d noticed he was wearing a body bag that hangs from his left shoulder to his right side.
“You look better in them, why are you wearing glasses now?”
“Because I don’t want to look good at school,”
“Why?”
“I only want to look good in-front of you.”
I forgot my words, practically maybe because when I heard that I had already slammed the bathroom door behind me. Look good for me? For what? Impressing me? What’s the use? This man truly is weird.
I went out of my bathroom fully dressed for school, when I see him sitting on my bed staring at a picture of us on my bed side table. I saw a smile crept to his face.
“What are you smiling at?”
“You kept this.”
“I did. So what?”
“I didn’t know you cherished this too much.”
It was a photo we took when he had saved me from falling into a deep pond. We were covered with banana leaves, and dirt. It was Mom and Dad’s idea to take it as a remembrance, that it was a near-death experience, and I was right out saved from it by a child-hood friend.
“It’s just to commemorate that I’m still alive,”
“Do you think it’s a good idea to go to school together?”
I kept on talking to him as I prepare my things for school. 6:45am alright, still got a long time to prepare.
“Have you eaten breakfast?”
“Yeah, well I’ll wait for you down stairs, it’ll be awkward for them to see me from your room, See you later.”
“Thank God, you thought of that.”
“I’m smarter than you think I am,”
He went out the window, then into his room. He disappeared then. Ever since he came back, which was yesterday. I’ve been disturbed. It’s like… something is bothering me, which I do not know of. And I can’t figure it out, that it’s irritating me. I’ll be out of this world for a while then, until I figure out what’s bothering me. I did everything on a swish.
Eating breakfast, fixing my hair to its natural look; down and wavy. Brushing my teeth, and scurrying over to the door.
“I’ll see you later people,” I told them and went out. There stood Elmer leaning on our gate’s wall reading his student passbook.
“You really won’t change the way you look like?” It’s weirding me out. His outfit and his looks are.
“I told you, I only want to look good for you, there’s no reason for me to look good for others.”
“Then why is it really? Why… look good just for me?”
“God knows. Because he’s everywhere.”
He’s got a point. God sure is everywhere. But no! That’s not the point! Seriously, I might know why, and how, or whatever it is his reason for doing this. And I’m just refusing to accept them. Now… what was it?
We both arrived at school, my classmates and upperclassmen that saw us yesterday, hooted at us.
“Hey there babe.”
“I guess I’ll see you, I need to report to the Office first.” Elmer told me, waved me goodbye and ran towards the Principal’s Office.
Beside me,
“I’ll see you later honey,“
It took Elmer 2 hours before he came to class. Looks like our principal went over board about the rules and regulations again. He told me that he was told to go back during lunch break. Now that I think about it, the Principal might’ve liked his company. He truly is a good joker up to date.
Lunch time came. I didn’t wait long for it.
I was alone this time, well I’ve always been. Upon turning to a corner, I saw
“Hey there sexy,” He told me and placed his arm over my shoulder. Don’t tell me his drunk within school grounds?
“H-hey, stop it.
I suddenly got a chill go up my spine. In these cases, it’s not bad to think that I’m on danger right?
“I- I’ll go now.” The bell rang the moment I spoke my last word. But they all blocked my way.
“No you won’t” The 4 of them is cornering me now on a wall. I don’t think I can do anything about this. I’m not sure what’s really going to happen. Like I said, I’ve been bothered by something recently. And it’s a something that made my brain function all so wrong.
I tried to shove past them to run away. But I was just dragged by the hair and slammed my back to the wall.
“No, you won’t go away.”
Forcefully, he kissed me, and the 3 of his men helped him to me. I don’t know how to react to this, my mind’s been blank, I didn’t know what I will do I feel like I’m collapsing, it’s so hot. Too hot. When suddenly I heard 3 slumps on the floor. Thud, Thud Thud. And a last, thwack. Nothing heavy was on me anymore.
There were people all around me, staring at me, when a man I recognize went over me. His previously combed up hair and glasses, are messy. His glasses down hanging on his neck like a head band, and his hair down to his face.
“Heat stroke?” He told me and gently placed an ice pack on my forehead. It was TOO COLD. But it felt good.
Ms. Jennifer, the nurse had come and assisted him to help me to the Clinic.
“Elmer…” I blurted out, finally getting to talk.
“Rest. Rest much.” He told me.
“How did you know I was…?”
“I heard them, when I was returning to the Office, so instead of returning, I followed you, got lost track, and then found you, right at a critical time.”
“You saved me. Again.”
“It was my job.”
“What?”
“The picture,”
“What about it?”
“You didn’t look behind the picture?”
“Why would I?”
“Then I guess when you go home you should.”
“Just tell me.”
“No way, woman.”
“Go away.”
Chapter 4
And I didn’t even expect this…
He assisted me home. It sure was a critical time, and heat stroke almost knocked me out. Thanks to Elmer. I came home, and after all that happened, he gave me privacy, it was good that I had silence. I remembered what he told me, so I shushed to the picture. Removed the frame and looked at the back of it.
There was writing.
“I couldn’t resist seeing you like this. I just felt like I wanted to protect you. Then from now on, I will always do. I promise that to you.”
“Elmer.” Why didn’t I ever think of looking behind it? Was I afraid that the words written there might hurt me so I never looked? Because he moved away? What was it after all? Was it because I loved him?
But then, Love can be out of the question. It was not conditional. Love is not conditional. I might just be infatuated. This is all a dream. Though perhaps this is not. But I have one thing for sure. This is not lust. I guess being infatuated is better than lusting. That’s just… gross.
“Then what’s wrong with you?!”
It was a high pitched and angered man voice I heard.
“YOU started THIS!”
What is this? Bullying? I went out to my room’s balcony and took a look outside.
It’s Elmer, facing Lawrence and his twerps. I hurried down to stop them, but Elmer had already punched
“Stop this, Elmer!” I told him, stretching my arms in-front of him, behind me, Lawrence, who has blood beside his mouth.
“I’ll get back to you, gay.”
Elmer pushed me to his side and shouted at them, “It’s better to be gay than to be a RAPIST!”
“Why are you doing this?!” I told him, my voice filled with anger. It might be the stress to what happened to me awhile ago, heat stroke and exhaustion.
“Because I promised I’d protect you!” He answered me. His voice filled with anger and frustration. On the other hand, it felt like, he has something he fears. Was there fear?
“Then why are YOU protecting ME?!” I asked him in a voice higher than I previously used.
“Because I love you!” He faced me, anger on his face. A few seconds passed, I noticed my jaw had fallen open. And his mad face turned into, shock. He shifted his glance from my eyes, and tried to hide his blush, that I saw.
For some reason, I let out a soft giggle. He turned his back at me, and slowly walked away.
“I… love you too.” I murmured. I wonder if he heard me.
“Wh-what?” He faced me, with the same shocked and shy expression from a while ago.
“Did you hear what I just said?”
“No, what was it?”
“I told you to, go home.”
“I think I heard ‘too’,”
That caught me off guard. With shock, I involuntarily stepped backwards. My head spun, my vision blurred. And after that. It was darkness.
I opened one of my eyes, and heard the whistles of the bird. I must’ve fainted last night. I scanned the room scantily, and noticed that it was mine. I looked at my bed side, and saw a man, his elbows on my bed, face on his right hand. Left hand tangled with mine.
“Who told you, that you can hold my hand?” I unconsciously said. Obviously groggy with all this that happened.
He immediately pulled away and blushed. Some unexpected side you’ve got there Elmer.
“A-are you feeling better?” He asked me. Obviously, his eyes, his clothing, he hasn’t gotten any sleep since yesterday. I glanced at my bedside clock and saw 10:03am.
“ohmygod!” Quickly standing up, my head spun, and Elmer pushed me with a soft push back down to the bed.
“Teacher’s day, idiot.” He told me and smiled sheepishly.
“Who told you that you can call me an idiot?”
“I did.”
“I read that behind the picture.”
“Sure you would. That’s like you.”
“Was it true? Last night…”
Silence shrouded the both of us. I guess that was too straight-forward, and clichéd. I had caught him off guard.
“That, I didn’t mean to say it. I promised myself not to tell you, even if I ended up hurting myself. As long as you can be happy, if it’s not with me, I’m fine.”
Here comes one of Elmer’s sweet desires. At least it’s for me now.
“But, if I feel like, that you’ve showed me hints, that it’s me you need, then I’ll confess properly. But seeing last night, Is… I-is it fine to think that you still like
He momentarily paused, scanning my clad expressions lightly. He continued explaining.
“I don’t want to interfere with you two. But, what he’s doing is just… wrong. I hope you… you don’t hate me for that.”
For some reason, again, he made me giggle.
“Wh-why?! You’re giggling again!” He told me. Giving me his ‘don’t-laugh-at-me’ expression. Both eyebrows raised upward, and his forehead a little creased.
“Your… pfft… hahaha… expression changes… pfft… are the best… snrk… ha…hahahahaha!”
“This girl really, you’re evil-er than the devil.” He released his previous expression and looked serious. Glancing towards the window.
“Where are you sitting?” I asked him. I’ve been curious, I know that this bed almost reached the ground, and he’s sitting as if, he has some small chair.
“On the floor.” He answered me and smiled. I like that smile, when he shows me his white teeth.
“You must be hecka tall.” I told him. I never really knew how tall he was, until now. “I want you, to… properly confess to me…” I mentioned to him suddenly. Who would’ve thought, that I wanted to return his feelings too?
“Huh? Could you please stop talking like a whisper woman?” He told me and leaned himself on my bed to look at me.
I bolted out of my bed on a sitting position, shocked that his head was there. I accidentally kissed him.
Both our eyes open with shock. It was an accident sure. We parted, and blushed deep red.
“S-so, what were you saying?” He continued.
“I want you to confess to me properly…” I told him. Was my voice really that low?
“Wh-what? I can’t hear you properly. Marielle, I’m serious.”
I unconsciously grabbed his collar and looked at his face. He was almost standing from the ground. We stared each other for what seemed like 5 minutes, his expression shocked, my expression shocked. I released his collar and he fell with down on the floor with a loud sound.
“I…” I trailed off. We heard multiple footsteps rushing on the stairs.
I pulled Elmer from the floor and dragged him up to my bed. My Mother and Father came rushing in the room.
“What’s wrong dear? Is there a burglar here?” My father asked. I peeked at the side of my blanket and pretended groggy.
“What? Sorry mom, dad, my book just fell, I must’ve hit it.”
“Alright, Sleep tight, Honey, Elmer’s coming over soon, so sleep tight.” Mom told me, and they both closed the door. Footsteps went down the stairs.
Mom, Elmer is already here. His head was resting on my chest. He was ‘over’ me all this time. I kicked him off, and he fell down, again. But this time it was a soft fall.
“Are you for real woman?!” He half shouted at me. That was surprising.
“About what?”
“KICKING ME OFF YOUR BED!” He still half-shouted at me, but it was loud.
“It was my bed, so it’s not wrong to kick you off it.”
“Don’t ever pull me in there, ever. It makes me become a maniac.”
“What?”
“You know I-I almost wanted to touch you, kiss you, and do everything with you. And you ask me ‘what?’ Aren’t I dangerous to you?”
“It’s fine. Like YOU can do it.”
“Sure, woman. I can do it.”
“Not now, please. Go away.”
“Sure, Sure.”
Silence. Again. This very unbearable silence.
“I’ll be going now, because I still have to ‘visit’ you later. I’ll go change.” Elmer told me, standing up to go out of the window. I grabbed the end of his shirt.
“Wh-what?” he asked me. I signaled for him to read the words in my lips. And so, I started to talk slowly and he starts reading it.
“I…”
“Want you… to…”
“Confess to me again…”
I saw a smile creep across his face. His eye brows raised a little, and re-assured me.
“I’ll make it formal next time.” And then out he goes to his window.
I’m still a little sleepy. So I went ahead and sleep.
When I opened my eyes, I see Elmer staring at me. I blinked once, twice, and thrice. And he’s still looking at me. His expression told me ‘how long you would still be sleeping?’ I stared at the alarm clock on my bedside table and read 3pm.
“OMGOD! I’ve been sleeping for what? 4 hours?” I bolted out of my bed, and immediately felt dizzy, and down back to my pillow.
“Hmm… just 8 hours, including last nights… 16 hours to tie.” Elmer answered and smiled at me.
“You… why are you here anyway?”
“I ‘officially’ visited… and your parents told me to ‘do whatever you want’ so here I am, staring at you.”
“Wh-what?”
“I’m staring at you.”
“For what?”
“Cause I want to tell you something.” He smiled again.
This… cocky smile. It’s scaring me.
“Uh…huh.” I told him. Swallowing a little hard. So, he’s confessing again, huh?
“I… uh… I love you.” He told me, his voice sweet, and slippery. I looked at him, he is still blushing.
“You’re really funny.” I told him.
“What’s funny with confessing to the girl you love?”
“No it’s not the confession that’s funny, it’s you.”
“Huh, me?”
“Yes, you.”
“Why me?”
“You didn’t realize?”
“Realize what?”
“My feelings,”
“Your feelings?”
“My feelings for you.”
And a long pause occurred to him. By so far, I’ve given him a lot of hints, lots of hints for him to figure it himself.
Chapter 5
It’s for the best.
“Oh.” Was what he was able to say.
“If I tell you that I can do whatever you want to do with me today, right now, what kind of girl am I to you?” I asked him.
“A slut?” He answered, I glared at him. “Kidding, Kidding, I knew already, I just want to see you embarrass yourself too.”
“What?! No way… I can say those.”
“Oh. Look at you, flushing red. I’d like to… hear those 3 words.”
“I…”
I stared at him, His eyes melting my gaze. H-how, could such a guy… make me realize my true feelings, in just 3 days of returning to my life. I guess it’s the magic of suppressing huh?
“I… I love you.” I felt my voice get all slurpy and a smile crept up to his face, while blush crawled up to my cheeks.
My room’s door bolted open, revealing my mom, my dad, and Kristel.
“Did you like what you heard?” I asked them with an irritating tone.
“Uh... uh... Next time! Learn to lock the… door?” Kristel answered me, pointing here and there.
“Riiiiiggghhttt… Like you don’t have a key,” I answered them seeing a key on the door lock.
“Um. Excuse us please. Continue what you are doing!” Mom said and closed the door, and locked it from outside.
Silence conquered us again. Like I don’t expect something like this.
“Why was the door locked in the first place?” I turned to Elmer raising an eyebrow.
“I locked it.”
“Why?”
“Cause… I felt the need to.”
“Well, it didn’t work.”
“I know.”
Silence again, what do… couples talk about?
“So, we’re a couple now.” He told me.
“No, I demand for us to go out first.”
“So you want me to date you for a few times first?”
“Right.”
“But I just got back.”
“That’s the point.”
“You want to know me, huh?”
“Yup.”
“So, why don’t you get up from there? It’s almost evening. You’ve been there all day.”
“Where are we going?”
“On a date.”
“Cool.” I looked at him. I slowly stood up from my bed, and pushed him away.
“Why? What?” He raised again, both of his eyebrows and looked at me.
“S-stop staring at me too much. And go away now, I need to take a bath, wash my face, I might look ugly now, I’ve been sleeping for 16 hours.”
“It’s okay. I’ll wait for you here.” What? He’ll what?
“Have you no sense of decency? I need to CHANGE, give me my privacy. Please.” I told him, and begged him.
“Well then, I guess I’ll follow your words, I’ll see you later. Marielle.” He then opened the door and went out of the room.
The way he said my name, made my heart skip 2 beats in a second. I feel the heat on my ears, and myself smiling. I guess… this is what I should be feeling. It’s really different with
I half-hurried to prepare myself. I dressed in casual clothing, like we’re just going on a park. He took me to a small park, with a great view of trees, and a good amount of benches. Around 6pm, we stargazed at the same place. Not holding hands, or not leaning at each other. I guess this is his promised ‘go out’ first. Though I don’t mind.
Because I know that he’s mine, and I’m his.
We went to walk our way home at around 8pm. When Elmer suddenly stopped walking a few feet away from our houses. He softly pinned me to the wall behind me, his hand on the wall beside my hand. Staring intently to the doors of my soul. My eyes met his gaze. He starts to lean close to my face… his face makes his way down to my lips…
“Ah… dear… there… there… OH!”
Both of us… became red.
“Ah… Continue oh oh! Don’t stop!”
I felt Elmer’s hand on the wall clasp into a fist. His face down, staring at the floor. I sense myself smiling at his sudden actions.
“Tempting?” I told him leaning my head to one side trying to peek at his expression.
He looked at me and raised an eyebrow.
“Wow! You raised an eyebrow!” I told him, I saw him smile. It was a split second. He grabbed both my shoulders, and his lips softly clashed to mine.
We were kissing for what seemed like 15 minutes, until we parted for some air., while walking towards our houses.
“Th-that… by the house behind you… I almost lost my mind.” He told me.
“So I guess… little things can be too dangerous.”
“You so little, can be dangerous.”
“What?! I’m little?!”
“Yes you are.” He smiled at me. Knocked me off my feet, and carried me to his arms. We went inside his house, and straight to his room.
It was the first time that I’ve been in this room, ever since 4 years ago. He softly laid me down on his bed. He stood up beside the bed and went over the window, with the rays of the moon shining inside his table he looked out for a moment, and stared back at me with a smile.
“So, what’s happening?” I asked him, I’m not thrilled or what, but if ever we really ARE heading that way…
“Up to you. What do you want to do?”
“Umm… go back to my room?”
“Not a choice.”
“What are my choices?”
“One. Four. Three.”
“One, Four Three?”
“You gotta choose between, I, Love and You.”
I think I’m getting his point. But exactly, if I pick love, I or You, what’s the difference?
“Doesn’t that signify all of your desires? We’re not even a couple right now. I returned your feelings though you haven’t proposed.”
“Just pick one. Please.”
“You.”
“Wow, wasn’t that straight forward?” He told me and walked towards me who’ is still lying on his bed.
“N-no, t-that’s no-not what I mean. I—I.” I stuttered, I wonder where I am getting at.
“Silly. You perv. You think I can do that to YOU? Like so easily?” he told me, breaking off his gaze from me as if avoiding something.
“Then what’s this one four three thing?”
“Its how I’ll ask you to be my girlfriend.”
“I picked ‘You’ what happens?”
“You, the sunshine of my life, the moonlight of my night, and the endless realm of my mind. I ask thee, will you be my girlfriend?”
“How long did you study for that?”
“I take that as yes.” Smirking playfully, he jumped onto his bed and swiftly made himself above me.
“
“Nuh-uh, you won’t kick ME off MY bed, woman.”
“Uh-huh, then we’re not heading that way.”
“Huh? Which way?”
“YOU KNOW IT!”
“Of course we’re not.”
“Then, what are you getting at?!”
“You.”
“What do you mean me?”
“C-can I…?”
“Wh-what?”
He suddenly blushed. This thing made me blush myself. What is he asking? Why suddenly become shy and blush?
“This is SO NOT you.” I told him and smiled trying to knock him off me by using my fists to hit his broad shoulders.
“I just thought that I was rude back there.” Back there? Oh… the kiss. “So, uh. C-can I… kiss you?”
“Did you really think that you needed my permission to do that?”
“I’m a good boy! I need to ask for permission.”
“WHO’S A GOOD BOY?!”
“I am.” He playfully told me, and sniffed at my neck. I let out a soft giggle.
“That tickled, dork.”
“S-so… I-I’m kissing you… okay?”
“You’re weird.”
“It’s your fault.”
“Fine. My fault. Yeah. Right.”
“Yup. Right.”
The day passed by. We went out of his house, and he ‘officially’ let me go in my room, my house. This was totally… a day, I couldn’t forget, even after sleeping for 16 hours, just having a heat stroke. Thank you, heat stroke.
The next day is something uncalled for. It seemed too normal… and happy for any other days. I softly stretched my arms, and blinked a few times. I went down from my bed, and opened the curtains and the window.
I see, a wet macho body, and a see-through boxers. Seeing some guy, putting on his pants, seeing his body, and his… see-through boxers. I gaped for some reason I didn’t know. The guy looked at me, he froze, his face flushed. And I rushed to close down the window that I had opened and rested my whole body on it.
My brain was too slow to react to… what I saw. And then later on, I felt the window open again, and I softly fell onto some man’s arms.
“Whoops. You know… if you want to do it. Just tell me.” Elmer told me, with a funny smile on his face. I’m grateful he already had his pants and uniform with him.
“I didn’t mean it!! I SWEAR!” I told him, immediately standing from his grasp, after all this happened, I can’t look onto his face. But not just face, ANYWHERE that includes him.
“C’mon… look at me.”
“NO!”
“Please?”
“NO!”
“Will you kiss me?”
“NO!”
“Do you like me?”
“YES!”
“Then look at me.”
“NO!”
“You are… TOO funny.” He grabbed my face and forcefully turned it so I can face him.
I immediately felt my face go red, my ears go hot and me… avoiding seeing him.
“If you wanted to see that again then I will—“ He started grabbing his pants and his shirt.
I by some knee-jerk reaction grabbed his hands and looked at him. “NO PLEASE! DON’T. DO. THAT.”
“Why are you overreacting?” He asked me, keeping the same position.
“Because…”
“Isn’t it normal?”
“IT’S NOT!”
“Why not?”
“WE HAVEN’T GONE THAT FAR!”
“You want us to go that far?”
“YE---“ OOPS. “NO! NO!”
“Isn’t it too early?”
“YES! NOW GO. AWAY!”
“Will not.”
“Will to!”
“Will not.”
“WILL TO!”
“Will not.”
“Please… Elmer, I need to go to school too.”
“I’ll wait here.”
“NO!”
“You saw me half-naked.”
“I didn’t!”
“Too bad I had my boxers.”
“NO IT’S NOT BAD!”
“So I think I need to see you half-naked too, so we’re even.”
“NO!”
“Why not?”
“Who knows what you’ll do?”
“Only God knows.”
“Stop this Elmer.”
“Who started it?”
“NO ONE!”
“Really?”
“YES REALLY!”
“Who opened the window?”
“I did.”
“Who overreacted?”
“I did.”
“Who’s wrong?”
“No one.”
“Why?”
“Because I have EVERY RIGHT to overreact.”
“Why?”
“C-cause I’m…”
“You are…?”
“I’m not used to these things.”
“What things?”
“…A…adult... stuff.”
“Oh… right. Then I’ll teach you.”
“S-STOP IT ELMER!”
He started pushing me into the shower room, as I try my best to push him away. He locked the door after I was in and how grateful I am for he is outside.
“It’s really so much fun to tease you.”
“Yeah, right, you’ll go through this everyday, especially when I have my period.”
“Right, I need to take note of that too, when do you start?”
“Grrrr…”
And that’s how everyday went. With Elmer. Who would’ve thought that suppressed feelings could be this powerful? When they are suddenly sent out in just a matter of days? Isn’t it good to realize them first before jumping into a band-wagon full of wolves? Or the band-wagon was actually filled with apples? It’s never bad to not take advantage of opportunities to love. Because the true feelings, will only come once, with two people.
A/N: This is my longest oneshot. EVER! I think it’s one of those that it took me time to write. It’s been fun writing this. And I hope people learned a lot from this story, even if it’s not really, like, educational. But I hope this gives you more courage to think for yourself on what’s good and what is right. Well then, as usual, if demands go up. For… hmm a second season. Then I’ll see to it, though do NOT EXPECT SAME CHARACTERS. For some reason, I’m having a hard time with ‘sequels’ lately. I’ll see you soon~ - Haejin
Date Started: November 30, 2008
Date Finished: December 27, 2008
Editing Started: December 29, 2008
Editing Finished: January 2, 2009
