The Solar Eclipse

Chapter 3: The Fated Seasons

"Oh, I apologize for staring directly into your eyes, they just seemed so beautiful. I mean-" Nolleo started spouting nonsense. This was extremely unusual as it was entirely different from how she usually was. The cold and composed Nolleo had now become a stuttering mess, all because of the moment that they both shared. She had lost all her reason and looked visibly puzzled. The way she looked wasn't different from her state of mind which was very perplexed. Elicia couldn't help but laugh at the silver head, looking all cute and confused. She was amused and pleased to see Nolleo being more expressive. "What are you laughing at?" Nolleo questioned after regaining her composure. "You" Elicia replied with a smirk. She knew how to hook, line and sinker a fish perfectly, and she was not going to let go of such a precious carp. 

Nolleo was stunned. She had no idea why her heart started racing or why she had butterflies in her stomach. This was all new to her but she knew she wasn't going to fall for anyone's tricks. She looked at Elicia, straight in the eye. Elicia backed up a little, like a mouse in front of a cat. Nolleo loosened her posture and fierce eyes and gave her a smile. "Do you mind bringing me to Elicia, Rielle?" said Nolleo which hinted her anticipation to meet the girl. Elicia was in a bewildered state. She did not know whether she should continue lying or put an end to all of it, but the fact was, she didn't want to put an end to their awkward yet fulfilling relationship. So option two was thrown out of the window without hesitation and she braced herself to continue with her lies not knowing the difficulties she would be facing in the future. "I can bring you to her but.." Elicia paused. "But what?" Nolleo asked. "But I'm not sure where she will be at the moment and she is quite wary of strangers so I think it'd be weird for her to meet a stranger that I just met today" Elicia stated.  Nolleo started fumbling with her hands "I thought we had become friends" she sulked. Elicia thought that the sight of Nolleo looking down, with disappointment in those beautiful obsidian eyes, her shoulders which usually had an indifferent demeanor slumped and the corners of her mouth turned down was extremely adorable. She looked like the whining puppy near her street that Elicia used to take care of before it met its unfortunate end. Putting her thoughts aside, she gave Nolleo a mirthful smile. "We're acquaintances at most even though we do get along with each other quite well" Elicia said with a hint of mischief. Nolleo grabbed those white, petite fingers with her hand which was dolled up with beautiful, trimmed nails. She took notice of the beautiful ring on her hand which looked like an infinity symbol with white, sparkling stones in one side but the stones were gone from the other side. She found it familiar but couldn't figure out from where she had seen it. "Then let's become friends" she said looking straight into her eyes. Their heartbeats were loud enough for the other to hear, but they were trying their best to hide it from each other. Nolleo was nervous for Elicia's reply, meanwhile, Elicia was flustered because of Nolleo's boldness. "Sure, I accept the proposal" She replied. Nolleo's eyes sparkled and glimmered with hope. Meanwhile, Elicia's cheeks were glorious than the spring flowers, a beautiful shade of red. 

After the awkwardness between the two cleared, Nolleo decided to break the silence. "So.. now that we're friends, can you help me have a meeting with her?" Nolleo asked. Elicia didn't know why, but it made her feel irritated how Nolleo was only focused on the made up stories of Elicia. She sighed and said "I'm sorry, but during this time she's quite busy". Nolleo made a grieving face but she decided to remain quiet instead. "Would you like to get to know each other more?" Nolleo enquired. Elicia was startled. She couldn't tell if Nolleo meant getting to know each other as in a friendly way or in a romantic way. But after seeing Nolleo's obsession with the pseudonym Elicia and the way she had reacted innocently in her own cute, sweet way made Elicia realize that Nolleo probably only saw her as a friend. It was disappointing, but it's nothing the most talented girl in the city couldn't accomplish. "Wouldn't hurt to have another person to talk to" Elicia said with a graceful smile. "Oh, I just wanted to say, you have a very beautiful smile. Every time you smile, it feels like I've done something as close to being heavenly." Nolleo said. "Ah, well it wasn't my choice" Elicia said as she got up from the bench.

 Nolleo wondered, was this girl attractive because of her peculiarity? It was amusing how a person with such a cheerful face could spout depressing words as if it was their second nature. "You getting up?" Elicia asked as she held out a hand to Nolleo. She took the girl's hand with a smile. "Has anyone told you how pretty you are?" Nolleo asked. "Every person on the street who encounters me says that so I don't even consider it a compliment anymore" Elicia said with her eyes drifting off somewhere. Nolleo grasped the girl's hand with her own and said "Well, I've gotta think of a better way to compliment you then!" Elicia was shaken by that one sentence. Her whole, dark world which always had a set of eyes gazing at her, trying to pull her down into the abyss, suddenly had a ray of light. The world she had been stuck in for years, the same things repeating over and over again made her feel useless. She was the center of attraction and she always felt that that she was prey to the eyes of people that she didn't even have to care about, but she did. It felt like Nolleo, whose black eyes were contrary to her soul, reached out a hand for the girl and started pulling her back up. Her savior, really was doing a great job on saving her. "Oh, also I meant you as a person, not by your looks" Nolleo added. Elicia felt a flutter. A tingly feeling that made her smile every time she thought back on this scene. She knew she could never forget this moment. She smiled hopelessly, looking at the silver head who didn't have any idea of what she was thinking. "I hope you didn't say that just to compliment my fashion skills" Elicia said with a hint of sarcasm. "No, no! Your knack for fashion is extraordinary.. compared to mine at least" Nolleo said politely. "I could see the extent of yours very well. You can't even call a black sweater that looks like what a grandma would wear at her cat's funeral and those granny glasses as fashion can you? You're not giving credit to your beauty" Elicia said looking up and down, scrutinizing all the details even the tiny ones of the girl on her opposite. Taken aback by what Elicia said, Nolleo let out a little cough. "Thank you, but I'd say you're the beautiful one here" she said. "Definitely, it runs in my family" Elicia said and went radio silent. 

"So, let's spend time together to get to know each other! Let's become close friends" Nolleo said. "I guess I don't have a reason to refuse an invite since I definitely could experiment with your fashion and beauty, it's a win-win situation since I'm pretty sure you're doing all this for meeting Elicia, no?" Elicia replied with a smug smile. "Well... not partly wrong but I just want to go on a date with you, like normal friends do" Nolleo replied. "Date and friend don't go together in the same sentence" Elicia made a sarcastic remark, she winked and continued "Though it could be a date if you want it to"

Nolleo's heart took a deep dive. Nolleo's straight brain started trying to interpret things. "Surely, she didn't mean it in that way... after all, this was a plotline with characters who had unparalleled beauty but were straight as a ruler. No way such a beautiful and cute girl would like me." She thought to herself. 

Elicia looked at Nolleo's flustered face. Her eyebrows slightly frowned, a red shade gracing her cheeks and her beautiful eyes looking confused. "Well I might definitely have a chance with her if I keep this up. Except she's a bit too straight, but I surely can change that, right? Though, she's too obsessed with this 'Elicia' for some reason. It wouldn't hurt having some fun with her, would it?" 
 
They both thought about the each other, their perspectives varying but the red shade in their cheeks did not lie.

"If you're free, let's go on the date right now, Nolleo" the girl said with a smile. Gotta strike while the iron's hot after all. "Sure, where to first?" Nolleo asked. "Let's get you a change of clothes first. You're not thinking of going on our first date looking like this, right?" Elicia said and rolled her eyes. "I didn't think I had to change" Nolleo said. 

The ginger head grabbed the tall girl's hands tightly. "Let's take our leave then" She said. They started walking through the streets. They had just met, but one considered the other her savior and the other was looking for her without even knowing her. Surely it was fate that played a role in their life. The snow on the withered branches came pouring down as the sun gazed upon it. Finally, a warm, fuzzy feeling came over after all the coldness and suffering it had to bear. It wasn't going to part with the warmth that easily, the sun that shone brightly. Yet, it didn't know that the sun will only burn above and melting it would be an insignificant thing. 

"The snow has started melting already, seems like it was just a short spell" Elicia pondered and said. "Yes, just a short spell. After all, sometimes even the frost can't bear the coldness" Nolleo said. Nolleo's optimism felt weird to her, but it wasn't a bad interpretation. Maybe the winter in her heart was also fading away because of her savior's sunny and spring like heart. The seasons were changing, and it was time to accept change. Though the sad spring is short, and winter might peek a visit, they will never be constant. It takes time to realize it, but happiness after sadness is just like a season after another season which keeps going.