A Remaining Podeshire 1

Chapter 8 (Part 1)

     Pure silence struck the crowds. The guests looked around, their faces a mixture of confusion and shock. The silence became suffocating—as if the quietness sucked every air out of the room.

     Oliver and Sophia exchanged smiles as their eyes met. They were aware of what had to be done. Taking a sharp breath, they hastened towards the church's backdoor.

     However, it was no ordinary escape for Oliver and Sophia. It served as an escape from a restraining life and the crushing pressure of their society's anticipations. The countless rules and demands had left them feeling entrapped and smothered for years. But now, they rushed away from the church and the life they were familiar with, beginning to feel a sense of liberty.

     With each passing mile, Oliver and Sophia felt the weight of their parents' expectations lifting off their aching shoulders. They are no longer in the bounds of demands. And they are no longer limited by the narrow vision of those who controlled them.

     As Oliver and Sophia reach the outskirts of the massive town, the scenery begins to change. The streets give way to open fields and sprawling parks, the air growing fresher and the sky warmer with orange hues. The sun shined on their faces as they ran, and the grass was cool and smooth beneath their feet.

     Sophia's skirt flutters in the breeze as she sprints through the lush green grass of the park, and her long white veil trails behind her like a cape. Meanwhile, Oliver follows her from behind, and the wind tousles his neat hair. But neither of them cares, for they are free, alive, and unencumbered by the world's weight.

Oliver turned to Sophia and asked as they ran together, "Hey! Where are you going now?"

Sophia grinned mischievously, her eyes sparkling with thrill. "I'm going to hide in my room in our apartment! Haha! My parents might kill me!" she replied, her voice laced with sarcasm. Sophia then nodded and waved as she bid her quick farewell and cut to the streets' corners. "See you again, Oli! Thanks for everything!"

     Oliver watched Sophia race towards the horizon as her form became smaller and smaller until she was only a speck in the distance. Oliver's smile gradually grew thinner. He remained still for a quick and brief moment as a wave of bittersweetness swept over him.

Suddenly, a familiar voice from behind called. "Hey, Oli!" the voice echoed through the outdoors.

"Hm?" Oliver swiftly looked back and saw Gregory trailing behind him. "Greg?" he gasped with a light smile.

"Where are you going?" Gregory panted and paused as he stood before Oliver.

Oliver glanced in the direction where Sophia had gone before looking back at Gregory. "I must go home and hide in my room. I am confident my adoptive parents will rip me apart," he said, his voice tinged with anxiety.

"Hm, good luck, then," Gregory said with a smirk. "If you want, I'll escort you back home."

Oliver glanced at his friend. "If you insist so, then we should do it fast!" he replied.

     Oliver and Gregory grasped each other's hands tightly as they sprinted through the park. Their breaths came in ragged gasps as they pushed themselves to the limit. They had been running for an eternity, and their muscles burned in exertion as their clothes became drenched in sweat.

     Despite their bodies screaming at them to stop, Oliver and Gregory pressed on, driven by determination. They must reach the Fuers' household before Oliver's adoptive parents arrive home. Finally, they saw the familiar shape of the house come into view from the streets as the sunlight glinted on its windows.

     Looking at each other, Oliver and Gregory grinned as their smiles beamed. A river of sweat washed down their flushed face as they stared at each other in the eyes. They giggled as they gasped for air.

"Heh! Thanks, Greg!" Oliver grabbed Gregory's hand and shook it.

"Hehe, you're welcome," Gregory responded as his crimson face turned brighter.

"I guess..." Oliver panted. "...This is a goodbye," he said, catching his breath. "I'll see you again next time, Greg."

"Take care," Gregory said.

"You, too," Oliver smiled. He then placed his other hand on Gregory's shoulder. "Now, go home... quickly... before my adoptive parents spot you here."

"I will," Gregory replied as their hands slowly let go of one another.

     As they stood on the sidewalk, the sun setting behind them, Oliver and Gregory gave each other a quick nod. The two men stood motionlessly, frozen in time, as their hearts felt heavy with emotion. After a long pause, Oliver slowly raised his hand, and his fingers curled into a tight wave.

     The outdoors bathed in a warm glow as the sun gradually set behind Oliver and Gregory, painting the sky with pastel pink and orange hues. As they parted ways and walked away, Oliver and Gregory looked at each other with light, timid smiles. Taking quick, sharp breaths through their noses, they turned from one another.

     Oliver hastened to the backyard and climbed his way into his bedroom window. He hurryingly slid the window open and slid through. Then, he hopped onto his bed and gasped for breath momentarily.

     Sighing, Oliver closed the window. He then jumped off his bed and rushed towards his bedroom door. He quickly locked the doorway and stepped back into his bed.

     Oliver quickly changed his damp clothes, drenched in his sweat. He switched into his casual grey shirt with ruffled sleeves and an unbuttoned black waistcoat with green linings, leaving his dirty clothes on a chair. Oliver then stood before a mirror and fixed his hair, flattening every frizzy strand on his head. 

     Oliver proudly smiled at his reflection in the mirror before turning towards a chair and sitting next to a window. Oliver then gazed at the sky, watching the atmosphere as the sun slowly sank below the horizon. The forest beyond his window was ablaze with colour as the trees' leaves turned into shades of scarlet and gold.