Ups & Downs

Ups & Downs- 9

Trevor doesn't let go of me easily even after Mag and Dave said their goodnights and went upstairs. But when he does, he pulls me towards the leather couch in the far right corner of the shop, dedicated for customers who wants to relax.

We both sit there, none of us starting a conversation. Trevor still holds my hands tightly and he has his eyes closed while his head rested on the back of the couch.

"What have you heard about me Rina?" he asks me. His eyes still closed.

"Not much. But I overheard Mag on the phone the other day," I admit shamelessly.

He throws his head back and laughs.

I give him a glare. What's so funny about what I said?

"Ever the honest person. Honesty isn't always the best. You do know that right?" He asks while ruffling my hair.

I force his hand away from my head and try to smooth my hair back down.

Trevor remains silent again. His eyes going distant. The humour that was there just seconds ago has now disappeared.

"Do you know who I am, truly?" he says turning his head to look into my eyes.

"Trev, I don't care who you are. For me, you are Trevor. The guy who is good at everything and the one who makes me laugh."

"Well said Rina," he tells me.

He closes his eyes and his face graces into an intense frown. Even when he is distressed, he still looks beautiful. Dishevelled yet bewitching.

"What's wrong Trev?" I ask him.

I fold my legs onto the couch and turn to face him.

"Tell me," I say as I take him larger hands into my smaller ones. His hands are calloused from spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

He shifts his eyes out the window.

He tilts his head out towards the murals. "Those were not drawn by my ex-girlfriend," he confesses. "I did."

Shocked, I look at him. I suspected him to be a great artist but I have never imagined him to be the one who drew that complex yet intriguing piece of art.

"I may have drawn it but she was the one who inspired me. She once told me that she wanted to leave her mark on this world and she would start with the mural of her life. But she couldn't. She died even before she could start her journey on becoming known by people."

There was a brief silence.

"She died on the day of her wedding," Trevor gives a dry laugh.