The Gold and the Forest

XVIII

Chapter 18: Dawn

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She awoke to dawn's sunlight seeping through her window's curtains. She got up, brushed her teeth, washed her face, and went down to get a glass of water in her nightdress. Then, she noticed the soft knocking on the door.

The mailman? Why is he not ringing the doorbell?

She went over to open up the door. First, she noticed his formal outfit, then she noticed the sweat running down his face.

"F-Forrest?"

They both flinched at the name. She immediately covered her mouth and mumbled a quick apology. She kept her eyes on the floor and let him in.

The minute he stepped in he immediately began stuttering. Then he shut his mouth for a while. They stood there, the lights yet to be turned on, the sun slowly rising.

"I—I couldn't sleep." He finally formed a coherent sentence. "And—"

"And you're wearing a button-down without a hoodie?" She interrupted. He looked down at himself.

"I—"

She walked over to the bathroom to get him a damp towel. She handed it to him and watched him suck in a breath. He ducked his head. "Sorry." He uttered quickly. "I didn't think you were going to be the one opening the door."

Seeing that he wasn't taking it, she began wiping at his sweat for him. He stiffened.

"It's alright." Her voice was soft. "You don't have to explain why you're here."

She pulled the entranced boy, who uttered no more words. They walked up to her bedroom. He let out an awed sigh.

Once there she turned and embraced him. He was surprised by the sudden contact and jumped a bit. She smiled.

"This must be the better dream after my nightmare."

"V-Vivien." He was trying to distance himself. "It isn't one..."

"That can't be." She whispered. "Carl would never come to see me."

He broke the embrace, then he reached over to pinch her face.

"Ouch." She looked up at him, getting lost—once again—in his green eyes.

He cocked his head to the side, raising an eyebrow. "See?" His eyes said.

She laughed for a moment.

"Please kiss me."

"No." His answer was soft, but firm.

The smile disappeared off her face and her eyes were sobering up. She stepped away from him quickly, muttering barely audible apologies. The atmosphere was crumpled like a piece of paper.

"Why did you come and visit?" Her tone was slowly turning into ice.

Carl froze.

Why? You shouldn't be here. Why are you bothering?

"Kade told me—"

"He lied." She interjected quickly.

Carl shut his mouth. He was bothered by her reaction. Did she honestly think he had come here just to cuddle her up? He found it immature.

"You should come back to work... Eventually." He mumbled senselessly. "Unless you decide to quit."

She didn't respond. She gritted her teeth, remaining silent as her shoulders started shaking and her eyes started watering.

We should've just talked at the door.

He doesn't care about me.

She nodded slowly. And then stared at the floor until he left her room, out the front door, and into the streets. The desire to run after him was so overwhelming that she had to sit down. After she was done with her crying, she walked downstairs again.

This time she got her glass of water.

---

He got a box of expensive chocolates as thanks and her presence at work after a few days. Though she didn't bother him much, she usually tried not to be alone.

Sean suggested that he walk her home for a week or so, to ease her anxiety.

Carl didn't reject the idea, since he understood the reasoning behind it.

At the end of work, she was waiting for him in the locker room. She waited in the spot farthest away from the exit. When he arrived, she let out a sigh of relief.

"You don't have to wait in here."

She jumped.

"Oh... right."

Carl shuffled over to his locker to get changed and then he signed out on his timesheet. Once he was out the door, she was right there, next to him.

Though usually he would be relieved by the silence between them, today he couldn't help but stutter out a few questions. She wasn't herself. She responded to him minimally, the distance between them wavered as she hesitated between staying close and stepping away.

He didn't know what to do to ease the tension.

What usually happened before? I don't know. She usually makes the conversation.

Then, he remembered.

"...Coffee?"

---

She was taken aback by the sudden invitation, a word she uttered often back in high school. She blinked quickly at him, then she regained her consciousness.

"Yes—sure."

He nodded quickly and then started walking away from the bus stop she usually went to. She followed after him, feeling her heartbeat quicken. He's taking me out?

The days that followed that morning were filled by insistent thoughts of him. She was troubled. Had he done anything wrong to her? Or was she just angry by his lack of interest? Maybe it was their history that caused her to be feverishly attracted to him.

Even through all the things he has put her through, one thing remains the same—the undying desire to see him. Finally getting to see him was an ever intense high.

He took her to a café that she has never seen before. They were also serving ice cream.

"What do you want?" He asked her.

"Can I get ice cream?"

He blinked. She rubbed her arm hesitantly.

"What kind?"

They both got ice cream. He got chocolate, and she got strawberry. He eyed the ice cream with mild amusement.

"What's wrong?" She questioned.

"Min always gets pink desserts." He laughed slightly, then focused back on his ice cream.

"Have you been here with her before?"

"Yeah."

I wanted him to say no.

"She doesn't get strawberry, though." He sighed. "Like Kade, she gets cookies and cream."

Vivi smiled. "He's copying her."

"He eats it from hers anyway."

They both smiled knowingly at each other.

"Stupid couple." Vivi mumbled, putting another spoonful in her mouth.

"Stupid couple." He echoed, nodding.

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