"These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume."
- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, 2.3

∞ᴪ∞

Chapter 20 – More Promises

“Kid’s! Dinner!” Mom called from down stairs.

It startled and confused me at once. “Dinner? How long was I out?”

Leon’s soft chuckle chimed in my ears. I had that impulsive desire to stare again. I know. He’s my boyfriend now… sort of? And I probably have every right to stare but I feel nothing but embarrassment and total idiocy whenever I do.

I have always been cautious when dealing with people (I was saying this like it was a bad thing). Most of the time, it was better to avoid acquaintances altogether. But him? I couldn’t bring myself to shun even the slightest. He was a magnet that on some unexplainable turn of fate, attuned to my polarity.

He found my hands and led me down the stairs, gazing deeply into my eyes as we trudged as though in a sluggish motion in a movie. My heart leapt vehemently inside my chest.

Dinner was great! I mean I couldn’t eat… but great.

Ugh. How could I when his eyes lingered on me in a constant scrutiny? I lost count on how many times my face flushed.

And Mom. Oh, my dear mother. She kept throwing meaningful glances at me every now and then. Give me a break people!

On the lighter side, Mom and Leon seemed to get along well. When I said well, I mean, why-don’t-you-date-Mom-instead well.

“Say hi to Arthur for me,” said Mom three seconds after desert. She practically shooed Leon out the door and my poor Leon being his polite self as was ever, excused himself ever so graciously.

He could be a saint for all I knew. I know. I’ve gaped on his back for ten seconds half-expecting angel wings to sprout from his scapulae or something. Mom was the wicked witch, slash, step mother, except that she is my real Mom. And I was the ugly duckling who never turned into a swan.

“Open the package. Put it on your window,” he whispered hurriedly on my ear before he finally let himself out of the door.

“Seriously, Mom,” I groaned crossing my arms over my chest, forty seven seconds after Leon left.

Mom kept humming, seemingly too pleased with herself as I stormed to my room then slammed the door.

Slumping beside the bulky package Leon sent me, I began tearing and snatching on the paper furiously. My eyes widened when I was done. It was a climbing equipment-ish made of sturdy synthetic material I guess, very similar to those ladders attached on a helicopter ridge.

I fumbled with the ropes and dragged the ladder to my open window and found a metal bolt on each of the two ends of the ropes. I stared at it for several moments.

“Ugh. What the heck am I going to do with this?” I complained.

I found the ledge and fastened both bolts on the steel bars that protruded from it running through my window. Tugging it with an effort, I made sure that it was safely clamped enough to support my weight if I climb down. I winced at the thought remembering that I wasn’t nor ever will be a huge fan of heights.

Sleep claimed me as I threw myself to bed. A slight rap on my windowpane had awoken me, glancing at the digital clock on my side table; a force of habit. 10:36 PM.

Tap. There it was again followed by two more.

I shambled frantically to the window and tripped on the bulky jumble of ropes and bars on the floor and landed head first onto the glass panel.

“Ow,” I caught my forehead and checked the window with worry. Good thing it didn’t break (I mean the window, not my head). I sighed with relief. Mom would indisputably throw a fit if she found my window broken.

There was that tapping sound again as I opened the window, and this time a tiny pebble hit my forehead. I winced in pain and grunted.

Note to self—don’t leave your big ugly forehead scattered around.

“Sarah!” Leon called in a hushed tone from below my window. “Let down your hair! Err…” He sniggered, his breath fogged all around his stunning face due to the cold, his skin, made more exquisite as the moon light caressed him. “I mean the ladder!” He hissed, still grinning.

OKAY… I considered about it for a second and suddenly I was petrified. “What d’you want?” I hissed back exasperatedly.

“The ladder!”

Not the answer I was looking for but what the heck!

I, with sheer apprehension, grudgingly lowered my hair… err… I mean the ladder praying to God that Mom was already asleep.

It surprised me how agile and lithe he climbed the rickety ropes one hand after the other. He made it look effortless; I wondered if I was still asleep and was just in a rather odd dream.

Leon gasped for breath when he reached the ledge and hurdled up the window, then pecked me on the forehead where his pebble hit me.

“Sorry about that.” He flooded my vision with his effervescent smile and I realized I was hyperventilating in front of him. He removed the cap and the glasses right away before he slumped on my bed again.

“And who are you supposed to be? Spiderman or something?” I folded my arms on my waist and managed an aggravated air.

He pressed his lips together, like he was holding back a sneer. “No. I was thinking Romeo,” his gentle but masculine voice rang through my ears.

My heart skipped a beat. I had no idea why I couldn’t desensitize myself with him. It was getting old, really, but I still appeared to be unable to refrain from panic whenever I was near him. My cheeks blazed and I shifted my eyes from the ceiling and to his face to conceal the blush.

“T-this better be good,” I stuttered, sounding more nervous that irritated. “I still need eight hours of sleep if I were to grow taller, you know?”

“You’re fine just as you are.” A melodic laugh left his lips. “I was thinking maybe we could compromise,” said he as the smile faded into oblivion. “Last night, I was thinking of going back to L.A. to confront Nathan. But then, I decided not to. Not just because I’m afraid I might snap his neck if I find him.”

His eyes smoldered as his jaws tensed. Gradually, he took a few deep breaths, then his eyes softened, almost with anguish. “But because I couldn’t bear imagining what you could possibly do to yourself while I’m gone.”

I felt a twinge of pain in my chest. I swore I wouldn’t cause him pain ever again, but I failed. Shame overwhelmed me. He was undoubtedly unreal; too implausibly good for someone such as myself.

My train of thought swerved to his estranged brother. Could he be as magnificent as Leon? Otherworldly beautiful inside and out? Or was he the opposite?

Suddenly, I couldn’t imagine Nathan as anything close in resemblance to him. Nathan’s wickedness frightened me, though I could not condemn him considering the circumstances of his childhood. But then… if Leon could be such an angel, can’t his brother at least try?

“What are you thinking?” he said urgently, blue eyes still fixed on me.

“Your past, Nathan, about last night,” I shuddered as I enumerated my thoughts.  I avoided his eyes as he pulled me to sit beside him. I finally met his gaze and gave him a genuine smile. “I’m glad though…”

“What?” he blurted incredulously. It was the first time I saw him so very frantic. He always seemed so composed, calm and collected. “This is serious Sarah! Do you think this is just some kind of—“

“I’m glad Arthur raised you…” My cheeks went all warm and I knew he saw it on my face. I was telling the truth.

His delicate fingers trailed on my cheek. “I’m glad too.” The corners of his lips pulled up into that serene smile I’ve always loved.

“You’re a good person, Leon. You know that?” I replied absent-mindedly as I slowly lost myself in his eyes.

He backed away a little and stared at his own hands. “But you’re afraid… of me.”

“As a matter of fact, I was…” I was surprised at how calm I could discuss this with him. “It was hard for me to see you so angry…”

“And because of this you decided to freeze yourself to death in the shower?” he retorted bitterly.

He was irate because of my idiosyncratic impulsiveness. I couldn’t blame him. Even I thought it was stupid. He couldn’t blame me.  I had been insane ten long years before he stumbled upon me.

“No.”

“Then why?”

It took me a few seconds to compose myself as a lump started to throb in my throat.

“You were saying goodbye,” It wasn’t a question. My lips quivered as the pain wrenched in my chest again.

“I’m putting you in danger. Nathan is using you to get through me. You were nearly—“ He gritted through his teeth. “I would never forgive him if something happened to you. I’d never forgive myself. I was so ready to leave but when I heard your voice…”

There was a silent pause as he calmed himself. “It kills me whenever I remember how terrified you were last night. I swear I don’t have any idea how he found out about you. Maybe he was using Larkin to spy on me but I couldn’t possibly put your safety at stake. I couldn’t bear it. It was my fault you were so… miserable.” His last word reflected on his face as he avoided my eyes.

I opened my mouth to speak but the lump in my throat prevented me, then trying again, I croaked.

“Not as much as I would be if you leave.” I held back the sobs and caught his face with my hands. “Look at me.” I managed a determined tone. “Can you promise me one thing?”

He hesitated then nodded.

“Promise me that you’d only think of leaving if you don’t love me anymore.” My lips quivered at the thought.

If he didn’t love me…

The thought stabbed at me for several moments. But then I didn’t wish for him to stay against his will. His happiness mattered to me above all else in the world.

It didn’t matter to me that I might not see him ever again if that happens. But it would be consolation to know that somewhere else, he could still smile.

“That would never happen,” he admitted sincerely then his eyes flickered and the corners of his lips twitched as he held back a sneer.

My eyes narrowed irately. “What’s so funny?”

“I knew you were awake. You’ve been eavesdropping.” The smile widened. I realized he was talking about what happened last night when he had the talk with Mom.

“Well…” My heart raced as blood rushed to my face. “You know what they say. Walls have ears.”

“Could you promise me something too?” said he as he looked deep into my eyes.

I was lost in his gaze again and I had to blink myself back to reality before I could nod.

“Please don’t do anything stupid,” he was asking this time.

“That, I cannot promise. Stupid is my middle name,” I blurted without thinking.

Ugh. Great idea. Really attractive there, Sarah.

He chuckled softly like chimes to my ears as he pulled me to his side and kissed my hair. “You’re nothing of the sort. You know, Sarah, when you eavesdrop, you really should pay more attention.”

“She’s a pretty and smart girl.” Mom said.

“Though she doesn’t have a clue about it.” Leon replied with a quiet laughter.

The words of the two most important people in my life rang like bells inside my head. It felt good to know.

I felt an involuntary smile at the thought. “Err… Maybe the walls have ADHD or something.” We both laughed but his smile entranced me, making my heart race above speed limit.

“I’m sorry though… that I don’t seem to tell you anything. Sometimes it’s just difficult to say what I want to say.”

Ugh. Blabber, blabber ha!

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he whispered as his lips touched my forehead; it made me jolt upright as the pounding in my chest grew louder it almost deafened me. “But not exactly what I want to hear.”

I lifted my eyes to his face and saw an anticipating smile trailing on his lips.

I cleared my throat, took a few lungfuls and found myself trembling as I was getting ready to say it. All the blood in my body seemed to gush to my cheeks all at the same time.

“It’s that really hard to say?” He laughed softly. “I’m not obliging you to. But know that I meant every word. I’d never love anyone else more than you.” His voice was so tender as his blue eyes told me a story so ancient I couldn’t comprehend it.

Time stopped and there was a static noise. All I could hear was the thumping against my chest.

I realized I wasn’t breathing.

Leon bent a little then inched his face closer to mine. Our lips welded for several moments sending sparks flying all around my eyes and I was kissing him back. All I could feel was his soft lips against mine, his sweet breath and the violent pounding of my heart. This time I didn’t fight back the yearning that had welled up inside my chest. I could do this all day. Well, in fact, I could do this forever.

He caught my face with his hands, pulled his lips from mine then kissed my eyes.

I gasped for breath. I had to blink my eyes rapidly to clear my head of the imaginary fireworks that burned in my vision.

“Now, do you promise? You’d only think of leaving if you didn’t love me anymore,” I managed in a hoarse undertone.

His arms wrapped around me letting a deep sigh of retreat as he did.

“I promise,” he replied as his breath played on my hair. “Not that it’s actually necessary though.”

“I love you.” I whispered bashfully.

A grin spread across his faultless face. “I know.”

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Last chapter for the week... Probably going to post another 3 on Sunday. If the votes are more than 15 maybe... if you're reading this then thank you from the bottom of my heart. I really am.. your support means everything to me :)

lotsa love--shim