My Sweetest Downfall

Happiness Is

Adeera

The next morning I woke up with a slight headache, more than thankful that the fever had subsided. There was no trace of him which made me wonder whether this whole time I was dreaming or not. But the way a glass of water was placed on the bedside table along with a packet of medicines proved that he indeed wasn't a figment of my imagination.

And that's not all.

I noticed that the fridge was full and there was a basket filled with fresh fruits placed on the counter. A small note was placed right beside the basket which I gingerly took, noting the slightly sloppy handwriting.

I bought groceries for you. And fruits. Eat fruits! Eat as much as you can or I'll crash your front door with a hammer.

A smile made its way across my face, entertained by the idea of him smashing through my door with a hammer. People would surely think he was insane.

***

I encountered him a few days later when I had just finished my work and was about to head home. My coworkers were right behind me, casually planning on where they should have dinner before going home. I was used to this, being alone and excluded from whatever plans they were planning and I didn't mind it in the slightest. It's not like they were being rude or anything. They knew I preferred to be alone and they respected my decision. And even if there was anything important related to work, they would never exclude me.

The breeze was cold, making me shiver despite the trench coat wrapped around my body. I was halfway through planning out how to properly rest when I noticed him on the sidewalk. His back was facing me as he leaned against the street lamp, seemingly idling without having any purpose. Everything drowned out into nothingness; the roaring engine of the vehicles, the murmurs of people talking and the sound of children playing somewhere behind me—all I could take in was him.

He was exceptionally dazzling tonight.

When he stood up properly and was about to walk away, I noticed how he was holding a cup of iced americano, the edge of the straw dangled between his thin lips. His jet black hair was styled in a side part and beneath the dark blue overcoat, a white sweater hugged his figure nicely, paired with light beige pants, looking like he had just finished modelling for some kind of famous branding and was waiting for his manager to come.

Forest green eyes met with dark brown ones.

Thin lips stretched into the widest grin. The corner of his eyes crinkled, shaping his eyes into crescents.

"My love!"

His voice echoed throughout the whole place.

Blood rushed to my face. Suddenly I became hyper-aware of my surroundings. The tall woman who tripped right beside me the moment he shouted that, the way my coworkers went silent behind me, and a girl who was enjoying her ice cream just a feet away from us suddenly halted her steps and stared at him comically– it felt like everyone's attention was on us.

I slowly turned my head, glancing at my coworkers only to see them looking back and forth between me and him. This kind of thing can lead to a series of misunderstandings and false inputs and as someone who had never once been caught having a relationship out in the open (only because I never dated), being exposed over his simple yet controversial words managed to make me more than ashamed to face my coworkers.

I hastily ran away.

"E-Eh–darling, wait for me!"

I winced.

He doesn't need to shout like that!

Running to the corner, I finally stopped, covering my flushed face with both of my hands. Panic rushed to my veins as endless thoughts started to run through my mind. It was my first time being thrown out in the open like that. I was never a transparent person in the first place. Rather than someone who tells, I was someone who listens especially in a work environment. They knew nothing about me outside of work matters, except for some details here and then.