"So, you do remember?"

"Remember what?" Rhea asked. Ember just stared at her for a while, then shook his head, "Nothing. Nothing at all," He laughed and picked her up on his back, "Darn it," He couldn't stand up properly, "Am I heavy?" She asked.
"No, you're not," He said, "I'm just not on the very muscular side, I suppose,"

She shook her head and pressed her hands on his shoulder. He walked ahead and pressed her on the pillion of the bicycle. He began paddling, struggling to balance himself. He paddled slowly, "You're like a turtle," She laughed, "So slow,"
"You're like a parking ticket," He smirked.
"How?" She asked.
"You've got fine written all over you," He turned back, gave a quick wink and then looked ahead again.

She slapped his head, "Stop being so cheesy,"
"Why? Am I not allowed to compliment you?" He laughed.
"You are," She said, "But your compliments are weird!"
"You, my lady, look rather splendid this fine evening," He said in a British accent.
"Alright, that was a bit too much. It reminds me of Loraine,"

He laughed and she looked at his blonde head, shining under the sunset sun, glowing orange.
"How long did it take for you to learn Hindi, Ember?" She asked.
"Lemme think. One year," Ember replied.
"You mean, in one year, you learnt the entire Hindi language?!" She shouted.
"Precisely" He smiled "It's not that big of a deal for me. I have Hyperthymesia"

"What's that?"
"In layman terms, you can call it 'Photographic memory'. I remember every little detail of whatever I've seen. If you show me a map, I can draw a copy of that, without looking at it the second time"

"That's so cool!" Rhea said, "That's how you remembered me even after ten years?!"
Ember smiled, "I don't need Hyperthymesia to remember you, Rhea,"
She looked at his weary shoulders as he paddled.
"So," Ember slowed down the bicycle, "Well, if you don't mind...Can we exchange numbers?"

"Sure," Rhea said and took out her phone.
"Tell me your number," He said.
"Where will you write it?"
"In my head. Photographic memory, Rhea,"
"Oh yeah," She laughed and kept her phone back in and told him her number.

"Ring me. Then, I'll save your number,"
"Gotcha," He said, "But what about your class today?"
"I'll tell mom that my leg got injured midway,"
"That works," He laughed.
"Well, skipping once in a while is not so bad," She said.

"You're a such a bad girl," He said.
"You bring out the badness in me," She said, "I skipped because of you!"
"You bring out the goodness in me," He said.
"Cheesy," 

Nobody was out in the summer heat and the streets were empty. The burning sunlight fell on them and Rhea pressed her hand above her eyes to protect them from the burning sun. She looked at Ember. His neck was red and sweat rolled down from the tips of his blonde hair. She brought her hands above his eyes. As the shadow rested upon his eyes, he looked up and then, turned his eyes towards her,

"I read it somewhere...Lighter-colored eyes have less pigment to protect against sun damage and UV radiation compared to darker-colored eyes. This means that your eyes are more sensitive to light and more susceptible to UV damage. We must protect them,"

He smiled and looked ahead, "Well, am I not lucky to have such a caring person in my life,"
"You should wear sunglasses under the sun!" She said.
"Yes, I will," He stopped paddling as they reached under the bridge, "I'm sorry, I'm tired. Can we rest?" He asked.

"Yeah, sure," He just looked ahead while she looked at his back.
"You get tired so easily, you weak white boy!" She laughed.
"Rhea," Ember said as he continued looking ahead, "Paint again, please."
She looked at him, 

"You're so beautiful when you're painting and smiling, I could watch you do that forever if I could," He said, "Art makes life worth living. People who look like they were ripped out of a Caravaggio painting make life worth living," He said and turned towards her, "Who cares if there's a void in your heart. And who cares if you can't get attached to anyone. The best thing about life is that everything you'll ever lose will be replaced by something better. You never lack...You just transition,"

She looked into his eyes. So blue like the deep blue ocean. So clear like the skies. So warm, so kind, so nurturing, "You'll make it. I promise," He smiled.

"I don't know what's wrong with me. Whatever I paint, it just dies. I painted Alicia once and right after that, she died. And I don't want to kill anyone again," She looked down, "It gives me anxiety. Painting makes me weak,"

She didn't look at him. Why he didn't speak, she didn't know. What was he thinking? She didn't know. She just wanted to open her heart out, so she did, "I want you to close your eyes," He said after a long pause.
"Why?" She asked.
"Just do it," And she did.

"Arorhea," He spoke, "The risk you're afraid to take will change your entire life. You can't let your anxiety fool you into thinking you're not strong enough for that change. Never let your anxiety fool you into thinking that you can't achieve your biggest dream. Never let anxiety convince you that you're not loved or that there's something wrong with you. Never let your anxiety fool you into thinking that this is how it is gonna be for the rest of your life. Never let anxiety control you.

You have the power to control what stays within you and what to let go of. So let go everything that holds you back and focus on yourself. This is your life, Rhea. You make it. You will live as Arorhea Laghari only once. And all these moments you're living, will only be memories one day. You'll leave everything behind before you know it. After all, none of us is getting out of here alive. But I won't let you fight alone.

I will fight for you.
I'll fight with you. We're in this together, Arorhea,"

As her eyes enveloped the dark, all her other senses grew sensitive. She could hear him move closer to her, his sweet voice, the fragrance of sweet autumn Clematis surrounding her and the warm evening breeze brushing her face.

"Open your eyes," He said and she opened her eyes slowly. All she could see were those Persian cat like-Blue eyes staring into her soul.

"Let's go now. I'm not that tired anymore," Ember smiled and began paddling again. They soon reached the abandoned buildings and moved past it. "I'll drop you home. You're injured,"
"It's not very far from here anymore. Take a right," Rhea said. They were a few meters away from their apartment when Rhea asked him to stop.

"But why?" Ember asked as he got down along with her.
"Because, if we're gonna go to my house, some aunty is definitely gonna see us," Rhea said.
"So?" Ember asked. She slapped her forehead "Nevermind,"
"Fuck!" Someone shouted from behind. They turned back, it was Jessica. Ember looked at her for a bit.

"Jess?" He asked and Jessica hugged him tightly, squeezing his skinny torso by her muscular arms, "Je-Jessica, you're gonna break my ribs!" He said.
"A few broken ribs won't kill you!" Jessica hugged him tighter. Rhea just stared at them until Ember pushed her away "Nice cologne," She said.

"I don't do cologne though," Ember sniffed his shirt.
"Well, nice pheromones then," Jessica smirked and Ember laughed, "Pheromones, totally,"
"How are you still so cute!?" Jessica asked, excitedly.
"Cute? I even have a beard now, what do you mean?" Ember pointed at the peachy fuzz on his face. Should we tell him even women have that amount of hair on their face and that it's not a beard? Let's not break a teen boy's heart.

"Pretty sure that's not the only place where you've become hairy," Jessica smirked.
"Ah yes, you're still disgusting," Ember said.
"I'm just curious so answer me,"
"Yes?"
"Are you blonde down there too?"

"That is so rude to ask someone!" Rhea yelled.
Ember began laughing, "But of course, I am,"
Rhea blushed, "You were not supposed to answer that, you idiot!"
"You're just jealous that I'm closer to him," Jessica wrapped her arms around his neck.

"These were the kind of aunties I was trying to avoid," Rhea pressed her temples.
"I'm not an aunty. I'm just nineteen," Jessica said.
"Why are you even here?!" 
"I wanted to try some more clothes on you. Oh yes! Ember, are you free this Saturday?" She asked.

"Yes, I guess" Ember replied, completely shocked out by this unexpected turn of events.
"Wanna come fabric shopping with me?" She blinked her eyes as if casting a spell on her.
"Are you trying to flirt with me?" Ember asked.
"And what if I say I am?" Jessica smiled. He looked into her eyes and she looked into his.  

He smiled as he touched her hands and moved her away,

"Then don't,"

-To be continued

Jessica Laghari
Can't I Touch Your Heart?

Here's a fun fact
Sweet autumn clematis is the only plant that sprouts again after ten years of disappearing.