Whimsical Perfection

10. Square One

"My tongue will tell the anger of my heart,
Or else my heart concealing it will break."
       —Katherine, The Taming               Of The Shrew

~♤ ▪︎ ♤ ▪︎ ♤~

Five excruciating hours later, with minimum interactions with Isaac, we were finally done with the very first rehearsal. But I couldn't heave a sigh of relief just yet, since the Devil was the main character. He would be present every fucking time I hold a rehearsal. As I got up from my seat in the audience, feeling my body getting cramped all over, I felt the dire need to go cuddle my dozen pillows in bed at home, along with a cup of hot chocolate.

Feeling the need to set up the date for the next rehearsal, I told my assistant Stacey to go tell the others. Picking up my bag from the ground, I started to leave, when I saw the main actress of the play, Evangeline, cozying upto Isaac. Rolling my eyes at her obvious but pathetic behavior, I made my way towards them. In those brief moments, I could see her eyeing him like a piece of candy, while he soaked up all her attention with a smug smile on his irritating face.
Shameless bastard.

Not realizing that I was way too bitter for them, I abruptly interrupted them, "Excuse me for the interruption, but you both need to be present the next rehearsal two days later, same time as today. Have a good day."

As I was speaking, I could see her lips purse in a thin line, as if she couldn't believe I was even here, while Isaac eyed me with renewed curiosity. What the fuck?! Wasn't he like... leaning towards this Evangeline a few seconds ago?

"You shouldn't have bothered to interrupt our important business so rudely. A text message would have done the deed, don't you think?" Evangeline snapped at me with a disgusted look on her face, as if I had done great damage to her.

Narrowing my eyes at her, I snapped back. "Excuse me for being rude, but I don't give a fuck. The only reason you can stand here and pimp yourself out to him is because I appointed you as female lead. Don't ever forget that."

Part of my lips rose in a smug smile when I saw her jaw drop and cheeks flush with embarrassment. Serves her right for thinking she could mess around with me. Giving one last impassive look at her, I walked away from them, somehow feeling more irritated than before.

Why was I feeling this way? Was it because he was talking to a girl? No way. Was it then, because I had never seen this side of his, and it was making me feel.... bitter? Maybe. But he could do as he pleased, I had no control over his personal life. I could also not afford to judge him, because I was the same when it came to men. I wouldn't relent from fucking a man if the opportunity presented me, so why bother about others business? Let them have the time of their life.

While exiting the building, my concentration was on a work email which didn't allow me to see the sudden changes, but as I pocketed my phone, I could hear faint noises around me. A silent but constant pitter patter of water falling lulled my ears, but also filled me with dismay. I just had to skip the umbrella today. And I just had to park my car far away from from building. And I just didn't want to get wet in the rain today.

"May I help you?" Came someone's voice from behind me.

Turning around quickly, I found Isaac standing close to me. Way too close. Up from here, I could see the little specks of gold in his hazel eyes, giving them an otherworldly shine. I could also see the faintest of freckles dancing upon his cheeks, and the stray piece of blonde hair that had rebelled and flew out of order to frame his face in the most stylish manner, making my heart flutter uncomfortably.

Behave girl. He is just another man.

"Um... help me with what?" I asked, unsure of what he was saying.

Giving me a smile of sorts, he continued, "Its raining outside and you don't seem to have an umbrella. Should I drive you home?"

I narrowed my eyes at him at this request. What was he trying to achieve? Why was he here, when he was supposed to be with that other girl? Why did he want to do such a thing for me? Most of all, why was he not killing me already for being an intolerable person?

A plethora of questions rose in my mind, swirling vigorously until I couldn't keep them at bay from coating my expression, and obviously, the smart bastard caught onto it.

"It is just a gentlemanly act. Because I saw you helpless. I think we can at least be a little bit more amiable towards each other, no?" He said, hoping to ease my worries but I was more suspicious of him now.

And I think that you are being too domineering in our new found.... agreement to be amiable with each other.

But I said nothing of the sort to him. "Very well then. But you won't have to drop me home, you can just walk me to my car parked a few blocks away. If you wish to."

"Of course I do. Let's go."

Now, I was totally sure that this man was more dangerous for my soul than I thought. Overnight, he had changed his tactics so drastically, that it left me wondering if I ever met a man like he was before. He had totally wiped out that murderous and callous instinct of his whenever he was around me, and experience only told me that this was never a good sign.

But if he thought he would be able to fool me, he has a damn good surprise coming his way.

Because we might be making progress in his eyes, or Aaliyah's eyes, but in mine, I knew we were completely back to square one.

~♤ ▪︎ ♤ ▪︎ ♤~