Phərømoneş; The Fællën Ælphå

Chapter 12

Keith's POV 

Today's the day, I'll be meeting my potential partner. I'm wearing my mask, I've made sure to take my medicine, I'm nervous but it's gonna be okay. 

I step out the car my dad walks from around the driver's seat, feeling nervous I hold my father's hand he looks at me surprised at first but smiles softly and continued walking.

We both walked into the restaurant then spoke with clerk and soon guided us to the reservation room, the room was a bit closed off from the others. It was empty with barely any windows and mostly the Ac, it was neatly decorated in here and I could barely hear any disturbances outside in fact I couldn't hear much. 

I look at my dad who was still warmly looking at our joint hands, he must feel great. 

We were here waiting, the waiter came to us asking for services.

"Do you like anything, Pip?" 

I shake my head and he turns back to the waiter, "just a smoothie please," 

The waiter look at our hands weird then at us as if judging, but said nothing and eventually left. I don't speak much, I don't like talking to strangers. 

It wasn't long before my potential partner steps through the door, for a moment time went slow as I look at him. He had a familiar silhouette, he was tall, huge even he looks around the same age as Ruth and Kurth, his jawline was straight his hair black as a moonless night, his eyebrows neatly arched over his eyes, his nose straight and slightly pointed his lips soft and naturally colored. His eyes… his eyes… how could I forget, that day the last instances of safety… by the sea at sunset. 

His abyss like eyes lock on my and for a moment everything stops moving I look away breaking eye contact, I feel weird inside. 

My father soon looks at me and taps my leg, "your pheromones," he whispers.

I wide open my eyes I didn't know I unconsciously released my pheromones. Soon the man sits with two others standing behind him.

"Good afternoon, you must be Fernan Alexis and Keith Alexis?" He inquires.

"Yes you are Mr. Luxe, it's an honor," 

"An honor to meet you too, Mr. Alexis" 

He offers his hand to me after shaking dad's hand, I only look at it for a moment my dad was about to say something when I shake it.

It must been a real surprise as dad eyes widened, I didn't feel discomfort by his touch in fact I was more comforted by it, I unconsciously interwine fingers feeling his warm and heated palm I soon look up at him.

He had no expression on and simply looks at me, my dad soon cleared his throat. 

"Um, sorry Mr. Luxe but my son due certain circumstances doesn't speak, much and please don't be discouraged by the mask. He has a rare disorder that makes him quite sensitive to pheromones." My father explains.

"No need to worry Mr. Alexis I am not disheartened, I here to marry him. Getting to know my partner is least expected after all otherwise from matching pheromones we are strangers." He said. 

My dad let's out a sigh of relief, "thank you for understanding Mr. Luxe," 

Soon he release my hand, giving me a sense of loss as I look at my palm. I then look at my dad, he returns a look at me and nods as if he understood my silence message.

Soon the man leans forward on the table then clasp his hands into a fist tand his chin on the top of it, "now, why don't we order something to eat while we discuss matters Mr. Alexis?" 

"Right," 

They call the waiter back in who as soon as he saw Mr. Luxe begins to stare as if entrance by him, I know that stare, I've seen it before a lot in high-school. I begin to play with my fingers as the memories I surpress came resurfacing, I try to avoid thinking of him because thinking of him always leads back to that day. 

I slowly begin to shake as I play with my hands under the table, keep calm Keith, you're in front of a potential partner you can't ruin your only chance. 

"Pip, Pip, Pip…" 

I wanna go home…

As my mind about to head into turmoil, a small whiff of the seaside sunset got pass my mask and into my nose. My heart begins to calm, I slowly remove the mask smelling it and my body soon relaxes. Yes, that smell is very comforting…