Forehead Kisses (ONGOING)

Part Twenty-Three

     "Elizabeth! Are you okay?" Sev cupped a hand on my cheek. His face turned red though and he took his hand away from me. I realized I'm on the couch and a blanket covered half of my body. "I carried you. A guest deserves better than the carpet," he said. 

     How sweet of him.

     Right then, his eyes darted towards me. "You owe me a massage. You made my shoulders sore."

     "Okay Pembleton. You are such a jerk!" I stood up and realized I did it too soon and then Sev caught me as I fell off balance. I gawked at his face as he gave a wry smile. "No, I'm not," he said proudly. His smile... his smile is beautiful.

     "You're so beautiful, love," he continued. I snapped out of those magic words that haunted me. "You're ugly," I retorted, regaining balance and tried walking away.

     But I would be lying if I put meaning to it, right? 

     He helped me compose myself up and led me outside. Along the wall was a flower patch composed of different colors of roses. He left me standing by the pathway as he went to go and pluck out a white rose. I watched him approach me, eyeing the rose with an eccentric air of delight followed by a grin towards me. "So... you're a gardener now?" I asked, arms crossed.

     "What can I say? I'm wealthy enough to grow my own flower patch." He shrugged his shoulders. Once he was close, his eyes looked at mine and his hand extended the rose, awaiting a hopeful reception. "I keep thinking of you too much, Liz. It drives me crazy. I think I'm liking you more and more as someone... special." I looked at the rose and hesitated to take it.

     I want it. But I just couldn't.

     I feel my eyes tearing up but all I could ever think of right now was the haunting sensation of utter frustration. After years of trying to piece myself, would I still be willing to take the risk now? This person confessing his liking  to me... can either complete me forever, or leave me in desolation. I know I'm determined to never get attached to another man. I know I'm able to live enough with the experiences I have witnessed. I know how it feels to be in love and the pang that comes after being out of it. But most of all, I can't believe that after all that, I still found a way to like him as well.

     "I can't accept that rose, Sev. I'm sorry." The rose fell on the ground and for a moment, everything went quiet. The wind blew between us. It played my hair for a while that it masked my eyes from his view. Here, a tear broke down and a tiny bundle of hair diminished its round structure. Sev won't have to see me cry after all.

     It's over. I'm sorry.

     At least I thought it was until I felt two warm arms embracing me. "You put me in the trouble of getting a flower not realizing that all you really needed was a hug. You're so cruel, Elizabeth West. I really wish I know why." His two hands covered my cheeks like I was the only one that mattered out of all the people he should be more concerned about. I've been here. And I got lost by this as well. Sev wiped away the remnants of the tear that rolled slightly astray from my eye. "I want you to know how much I want to make you happy." He pulled me closer and kissed me gently on the forehead.

     If you keep doing this, Pembleton... I'll fall for you for sure.