It was a late afternoon. Ashton was in his room, sitting in front of his laptop with his legs crossed as he scrolled through the web. He at times blew on his sweat soaked shirt, unbuttoned till the middle, trying to cool down the hot air which gusted straight on him from the table fan kept on the side.
"Wall Lizard, Search!" He told to himself as he typed and clicked the enter button.
"Hmm…Let's see!…"
"...'Podarcis muralis!'…Nice name…"
"Kingdom Animalia, Class Reptilia…Blah blah… Not what I need…
"Well, here's something interesting."
"Hate the smell of eggs…Ahh. Explains the breakfast incident…!"
"Rendered immobile with sharp temperature changes…huh…" Ashton said in a curious tone.
"Can be found in every continent except Antarctica…"
Ashton kept on reading out what he saw on the screen with every bit of enthusiasm he had. He didn't notice Lyza coming over to his room with an empty packet in hand as she sat beside him.
She gazed at the 'magic box' showing vibrant colors in wonder while she poked him.
"We are out of bread." She told still glaring at it.
"How come?" Ashton asked with his eyes glued on to the screen.
"I had kept some extras in the cabinet. Did you check thoroughly?"
"Yes. I used them."
"Used them for what?"
"Ahh…Feeding…"
"Feeding who..?" Ashton looked at Lyza skeptically.
Lyza looked around to avoid Ashton's eyes.
"I should not bother you when you are working this hard. Bye!"
As she tried to walk away without answering, Ashton held on to her hand from behind.
"Lyza… What are you feeding?" Ashton asked as if he was questioning a mischievous child about her misdoing.
"Ahh…Some of my friends. They are there outside! You are welcome to say hello!"
"What? Which friends?"
Ashton paced to the front door and opened it wide and took a look at what Lyza was talking about only to be left petrified.
"Oh my sweet God! Lizards! And there are a hell lot of them!"
Ashton's reflexes where quick to act. He cried out in panic and fled to his room with all his might. Lyza didn't expect this kind of reaction from him. She was angry.
"I don't treat your friends this way!" She exclaimed as she stomped off in fumes.
"And guess what! They don't like you either! Even me… I hate you!!"
She realized she had said too much, but she didn't want to lose her face in front of the only person she cared deeply about.
Ashton lost his temper as he heard Lyza's remarks.
"Yo…Podarcis! What did you say? You hate mee??"
Ashton called out from inside as Lyza stormed off to her room.
Ashton was quick to follow her as he shouted at her. He kept a note to look at the open front door at times to check whether her friends were still friendly.
"Where are you going? When was the hate part? When you thrusted your mouth on mine?!" Ashton cried out in anger.
Lyza slammed the door behind her before Ashton could reach it.
It was their first argument.
Ashton tried to comprehend the weird feeling that surged through him.
It was sweet yet sour.
It was happy yet sad.
It was like a strong wind that squeezed its way through the delicate petals forcing them to shed. A scene so beautiful, yet equally sad.
He didn't want to linger around it anymore. He didn't want anything to keep its bitter hands on his sweet and fresh romance, no matter how normal it felt afterwards.
"I am sorry!. What can I do to make it up to you?" Ashton asked while weakly knocking on the door, still panting from climbing the stairs in haste.
"Those were my reflexes. I couldn't help it." Ashton tried to reason his actions.
'Wish the internet people had put some information on her mood swings!'
Ashton thought as he stood there for a while waiting for her to calm down and spoke,
"You are not going to open the door, right? You won't ever forgive me, right? This is heart wrenching!"
Lyza heeded to hear what he was going to speak next.
"Guess… I will have to leave the house to make you happy!"
Ashton exclaimed as he let out a deep sigh.
Lyza was quick to hop on her legs from the bed.
She heard his footsteps fade away as she tried to dry her mist filled eyes.
She didn't know what to do.
'What if he really left me?' The thought itself crumbled her small, friable heart into bits and pieces.
She didn't think much. She sped to the door, anxiously pushing it open and sprinted towards the stairs. She was startled to hear a cough from behind as she was about to descend them. She turned around as she exuded with hope.
Then she saw Ashton leaning towards the wall next to her door with his arms crossed. He looked straight at her and with a teasing smile spoke,
"Antarctica was my first option!"