Hidden Meanings

Never Ever [Madimo]

[[ apologies if this sucks because I'm in a burnout phrase. also modern au... ]]

She's too tired for this.

Shikimo never had been the type to stay up late into the night, but today's different.

She lay on the couch with her body turned towards the skies, to the ceiling that glows in blue and white. He had painted it for her.

He. Him. Maddox.

Maddox.

It's two in the morning, she shouldn't be feeling this way. Everything is dull to her, but even at the mere thought of him causes the world around her to pick up. A smile tugs at her lips, and Shikimo's heart lightens.

She pulls herself up off the couch, resting herself on her elbows. The room isn't any lighter, with one lamp on. It's a small apartment, she knows, one that her boss had bought out for her.

There's a sliding glass window, and Shikimo can see clearly out of it. Across from her building, there's the building that Maddox lives in with his younger sibling.

Beside her, her phone vibrates.

maddox - 2:03 AM

'Why are you awake? It's not like you to be awake right now?'

She looks out towards the window, and there's a small light in one of the other building- Maddox's room. Shikimo can clearly see his form, seeing how the buildings weren't that far apart.

He taps the window in curiosity, raising an eyebrow. In comparison to her, he doesn't look that tired.

She smiles tiredly, tapping her own window.

to: maddox - 2:05 AM

'CAN YOU COME OVER???'

maddox - 2:06 AM

'I suppose? promise you'll go to sleep after I do.'

to: maddox - 2:06 AM

'yeah I promise <3'

maddox - 2:07 AM

'uuu... Shikimo...'

Shikimo let her finger ghost over the screen again, a blush rising to her face. She doesn't get flustered easily, no, but this is Maddox.

She has never been in love before. Is that what it is?

Is that what's happening? Whenever Maddox smiles at her, Shikimo's entire world lights up in color, of baby hues and happiness.

Her favorite place had started to become a person. He's not perfect, then again, neither is she. They're human, humans with a life, with a beating heart, with flaws, with mistakes.

He's why she knows what having butterflies is like. It's like her heart is whispering 'Yes, that's the one'.

She can watch him for a minute, a moment, for even a second, and she can find a thousand things she loved about him.

The light in his eyes when he smiles. That little scar upon the corner of his lip. The expression he makes when he's trying not to smile. The way Maddox says her name. His tone of voice when he talks about Isaac, when he talks about his family.

A knock on the door.

Shikimo pulls herself up to go towards the door, and he's standing there.

His hair is flattened on one side, but there's a softness to Maddox's eyes. A politeness that melts away to reveal that he recognizes Shikimo as a friend.

"Maddy!" She greets with a bird's chirp to her voice, latching onto him immediately.

He laughs in response, one hand threading through her hair to pin it behind her ear. "... Hey, Shikimo."

I want you to grab my hand and lead me into the most beautiful path you've ever known.

"Are you hungry? Thirsty?"

Life is restored to her body, one that had been lit up in flying, happy colors at the sight of someone, at the sight of the person that made her so happy. She couldn't stand it, she couldn't stop her smile.

"Um... I mean, not really, but-"

"Do you like tea or hot cocoa, Maddy?"

Shikimo's already gone from his side, taking several dainty steps into the kitchen. He watches her back for a moment as she stretches towards one of the cabinets which she can't reach.

Suddenly he's there, one hand ghosting over her own arm to reach above her. There's an electric current between the two, and they can feel it. Maddox pauses, letting his hand hover above hers before retrieving the bag of hot cocoa powder.

"If I had to choose, hot cocoa," he replies, cocking his head to smile down at her. "But just do what's easier for you."

Meeting his eyes, Shikimo smiles, the expression beaming as it splits her face.

"Coming right up, Maddy~!"

He moves away from her to sink into the couch, crossing one leg over the other in form of a four.
A minute later, Shikimo set one mug in front of him.

"Are you going to have any?"

The tired woman smiled, letting her short hair sway side to side.

"No, actually. But..."

Sweeping up the cup, she presses her lips against the rim of the mug, the warm of the surface spreading to her lips as she took a sip. Maddox jerks, startled by the sudden movement as she hands the mug to him.

"S-Shikimo..! I can't have this now."

He's fumbling with his hands, words laced with a small stutter and pink to his cheeks.

"I was just trying it, that's all!"

It's clear, oh-so very clear that the two are close friends, almost best friends.

Maddox takes the mug carefully in his hands, letting it rest upon his knee before meeting her eyes.

"Your rest is more important," he suddenly says, placing the mug back on the table. "C'mon."

With that, he pats his thigh- a gesture for her to come lay down. He can't pull his eyes off her, but when Shikimo comes over and sits next to him, he smiles.

"Do you want anything?"

Her eyes drift side to side, fastening onto a book with a pearl white cover.

"Can you read to me?" Shikimo hums. "I really like your voice, Maddy. It's soothing. Makes me happy."

Maddox reaches over to grab the book, desperate for an excuse to hide the shade of his cheeks, of which is changing every passing second.

Turning so that her head rested upon his thigh, Shikimo let her eyes drift shut. Everything around her is calm and peaceful, ignoring her heart that fluttered constantly.

Opening the book to a page where a flimsy bookmark lay, Maddox places his hand on top of her head, combing her fingers through her short hair.

"Maddy, can I tell you something?"

He pauses, eyes glancing up from where he's reading.

"... yes?"

"Actually, nevermind~! You ready to read?"

No one has ever made me feel this way before.

Maddox clears his throat, starting to read. Just the sound of his smooth voice and the feeling of his fingers running through her hair. It's only several minutes later when Maddox finishes the chapter and looks down at her.

She's sleeping, eyes shut and mouth slightly parted, deep in sleep.

Maddox's eyes linger on her lips until he shakes his head, ridding himself of the thought. Instead, he reaches for the blanket that spills over the side of the couch, just to drape it over Shikimo's sleeping form.