Coincidences

Act LIV

The thundering sound of friction between my shoes and the linoleum floor echoed everywhere through the halls. People may be staring at me, but that's the least of my concern. If he and my hunch were right, I could be losing the one most beloved person I have right now. I am not losing her at any cost. She is mine, and mine alone.

I love her with all of my shattered heart.

The rooftop. My institution is telling me that she is still there. The flight of stairs were endless, according to my perspective. My thighs grew heavy, and my breath, I kept on trying to catch it.

I pushed the door, the rusty door. What else is there to expect? Zoey was there, alright, but with nobody else. That's good, since there will be no one in the way. That's also bad, since it's just the two of us, alone.

That was no reason to hold back. I let all of my thoughts go, and said, on the top of my lungs, "Zoey! Go out on a date with me!"

She was already surprised to see me running to her, let alone hearing such a statement made her much more alarmed. Her face reddened, and she took a step back. "What's with that, all of the sudden?"

I continued to speak, "I don't care if you don't have any more feeling for me, but I still do, and and I'm not letting go."

"What are you talking about, Martin?"

"This time, go on a serious date with me. I want you to be mine, and mine alone. Promise, I promise you won't regret it, being with a guy like me. I'll make you feel like you can't get enough of me. Zoey, I mean it!"

She was standing there paralyzed, and I could tell her heart was beating at the speed of light. Words were trying to escape from her mouth, but she did her best to keep it shut. She was shivering and couldn't stop from doing so.

"Martin," her voice squeaked, embarrassed from what she just heard. "What... are you... trying to tell me...?"

"Look, I know it's cheesy, but I mean it. I don't want our relationship to be just friends." I eased my muscles, and toned down my nerves. "I really do love you."

Zoey, still taking in all of this, asked, "Did you... saying this to me..., even after all that I said? You're willing to put our friendship on the line?"

"Yes," I simply said. There was no need to add anything else. I am prepared to take any risk. I'm even ready to eliminate any competition, even if it means the end of the Rimsons. Tyrone and Rocky had enough of this already; they better start to stand aside in my favor. I will not pushed around anymore. My childhood with them for a future with Zoey.

"I... don't know what to say," she said.

I am not waiting anymore. "I expect an answer now."

"Now?!"

"I gave you enough time and space to reflect on your thoughts. Trust me. You know me. I would have taken action a long time ago."

"Then, why didn't you?" she questioned, looking down on the ground.

"Various reasons. One, we were electrocuted, remember? Two, you shut yourself out of society from quite a while, not communicating with anyone at all."

She felt ashamed and shifted her view away from me. She exhaled, her chest compressing inwards, and softly muttered, "And three?"

It took a few moments before I was able to respond, "Johnny told me to do so."

"Who's Johnny?" her eyes darting to my direction.

"Mr. Reed. Or Dr. Reed, I dunno. The doctor, the principal, cop, you name it."

She chuckled, "Hehe, it's funny if you think of it." That seemed to lighten up the mood. I was relieved.

"Yeah," I smiled. "You're right."

Although we were avoiding contact since I told her that proposal-like shoutout, we were able to speak with each other straight in the eye. The everyday tension that we felt all the time looked like it was losing its effect. I walked up to her and held her by the hands. They were soft and delicate, kind of like cotton. Not afraid of anything, I invaded her comfort zone and rested my forehead gently atop her fluffy brownish blonde hair. Our gazes were close and intimate, with no obstacles and diversions. Her pupils glistened a dark blue so relaxing, that, as those wonderful spheres looked up to me, it resembled the deep ocean we saw everyday as we rise up from our beds. Her childlike face projected in full view, lips so flawless and morbid, so much that I wanted to experiment with them all types of different ways.

She started, "Martin..."

"Don't worry. As I said, I'll help you. I'll help you get by everyday, making it as fun as it could possibly be. Just go on a date with me."

"I can't. I'm busy."

"Then, just cancel whatever plan you have. Let's go... tomorrow. How does that sound?"

"Martin, I really can't go."

"Ok. Tell me why."

I'm all ears, but I have to keep pushing for it, if I want the chance. I mean, come on. Just as I thought. She can barely answer me. Now's my chance, and I'll gladly take it.

I held her firmly around my arms and kissed her. I made it long enough to excite, but short enough to not make it too cringeworthy. I pause for a moment and told her, with the most gentle and convincing voice I can manage, "I do it better than him, huh?"

"Stop it," she softly rallied, pushing me away, but with minimal effort.

I resumed to kiss her, hypnotize her with my charm. I was hoping I can at least do something here.

"Martin, please, I beg you. I don't want any of this."

You don't want any of this? How is that possible? Surely, our time together had some sort of meaning. It wasn't for nothing.

She stepped back, but I held her closer. I was not willing to let her go. I'm starting to get obsessed with her, like she is a crucial part of me, my identity, myself. She tried to set herself free, but that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. My grasp gets tighter and tighter. I won't let it end like this.

The door behind us suddenly crashed open, resonating a loud metallic screech, enough to impede me from continuing. Zoey and I turned around and found ourselves a bunch of eavesdroppers getting themselves a handful of what happened. Girls, boys, some even from different classes; everyone saw everything.

While we all stared at each other, a groundbreaking silence whistled as the passed by. Then, the next thing I knew, a guy, don't know who, jested with a mocking, "Ooh!" After that, the rest cried the same expression in unison.

Zoey and I were stuck in a scandalous situation. And I don't know how to get out of it.

The crowd surrounded us with the eagerness to satisfy their curiosity. It was full on chaos out here. Some asked us questions like, "Are you two official?" or "When are you going to a date?" or "Is this ship for real?" Zoey's friends were there, too, all hyped up and happy for her. Daisy was with the group, posting a live video on Facebook.

Less than twenty-four hours, and a lot has occurred. Seriously, I think it's impossible to not be stressed out about this. But I think, in the end, I did well. Now, since she didn't say anything to call off the date, I'll keep this up tomorrow, go to her front door, and take her out on a restaurant, a movie, or something like that.

This will go well. You are mine.

But, first, I have to deal with this situation. If I don't do something about it, the news will spread like a plague.