'knock' 'knock'
Outside of Solana's room, Henry leaned, resting his ear on the door, he said "Solana, come down! Breakfast is ready!"
Inside, Solana rolled, lying on her chest, with a blanket over her head, she peeped through; squinting her eyes, it was six-thirty in the morning. Under the blanket, Solana said, in a muffled voice "Okay Dad, I will be down in a minute"
Henry voice travelled though the door, said "Fine" the floor creaked, the heels of his shoes clicked against the hard floor, slowly diminished as he departed and walked downstairs.
Solana rolled, as thoughts ran through her mind, hugged her knees, huddling herself like a turtle and sighed. She took a deep breath and exhaled, breathly said "Robby". "Robby...Why?" Confusion framed her face, soon sadness overtook and clouded her features as she stared at the open window.
A light breeze flew in, blowing the curtains; her eyelids shut at the sudden light and recounted their evening walk yesterday.
The wind blew, rustling the leaves, their hair whistled and swayed along, she pushed her stray hair behind her ears. At the same time, his lips parted, mouthed his words and said "I like you..."
Solana's eyes widened and gasped beneath her petite hands and froze, she screamed in her head 'What?' 'Did I misheard?'
"I really like you maybe even love..."
'Ahh, No but why?'
he lightly chuckled "actually I have liked you for a long time, since young remember that day, you were swinging the swing in my backyard, the swing suddenly broke and before you could fall, I ran and caught you, haha I mean we both fell. And you said 'Will you always be there to catch me?' and I said 'Yes' and you hugged me and chanted 'like a prince, from Rapanzuel... and me and my prince will live happily together forever and ever'..." he paused.
Solana lips quivered, unconsciously blurted and said "Did I really say that?" she covered her mouth.
He glowed, a gentle smile hung on his lips, said "Yeah, it was funny yet cute but we were probably eight... from that moment I realised, to me, you were more than just a friend."
She flipped her slippers on, his last phrase echoed in her mind, she walked to the washroom, on autopilot she brushed teeth while her mind continued playing yesterday's scene.
Solana paled, she said "Why?"
He said "What?" "Why are you telling me this now?" Solana said, tapping her fingers on her leg as she leaned on her arm.
Robby said "I wanted to confess my feelings many times, but didn't have the courage to do so and buried them until I got to know you were secretly dating Cameron... I was so jealous and felt like doing everything to separate you two. And when you fought for him, that was my breaking point."
He turned, boring his eyes into hers, with serious expression and said "And before anyone else gets a chance to ask you for prom. I want to ask you, Solana 'Will you be my date for prom?'"
Bewildered and confused, Solana blinked, 'What should I do? What should I say? What would she say? I have no idea... He seems sweet but I don't know him enough to like him, then how will I reject him gently? I can almost feel an incoming headache!' she rubbed her forehead, trying her best to remain calm and went poker face.
She looked, realized he is too close her and when she saw her hands within his, a flush crept up her face. 'No, don't react!'
With the awkward silence, Robby coughed, said "Solana will you be my dance partner?"
Before Solana opened her mouth, an idea struck her, her eyes sparkled.
'Ametria once told me her step-mother, one of the King's Concubines, Lucy Dullweed used to faint or fake an illness whenever she used to find herself in different situations. Maybe, I should faint...Yes, that will do!'
She said "I...think that..."
Stealthly hid her grin, her face contorted, she held her head, stiffed her legs and allowed gravity to bring her down; she fell. Her forehead puckered, pinching her eyes shut and heaved.
He reacted and caught her mid-air and held her in his arms. He looked and saw her state, alarmed, his hands trembled and said, "Solana are you ok? Solana? wake up!" he shook her body.
She risked a peek through her closed eyelids and silently watched him.
Terror overtook him, he breathed heavily, resting his hand on his chest and calmed himself. Rationality flashed through his eyes, his index finger on her neck, checked her pulse. He said "It seems normal but why did she faint? and she breathing too fast? Is it serious?...nope maybe she just skipped a meal or two." he pushed her hair back, shortened the gap between their lips.
Solana internally squealed and pleaded 'No, don't kiss me? I'm too young... please I was saving that for the right one!'
He stopped, touched her forehead with his, to check her temperature.
'Ahh! Noo!! Once he kiss me, I have to marry him, no I don't want to marry him!' His breath grazed her cheeks, her brows furrowed, she felt his gaze and closed her eyes shut for real. She chanted in her mind 'Please don't kiss me! Please don't kiss me.' Anticipating his kiss, heating her cheeks and blushed.
He leaned away, he puffed and said to himself "I guess a slight fever. Now, I have to carry this idiot!"
Solana waited for the kiss that never came, her nose wrinkled and sneaked a glance. And internally sighed. 'Whew... I am safe, he was just checking my temperature. I almost blew my cover'
He stared at her face and grinned "This is the only time where I can take advantage of you, haha" he kissed, pecked her cheek, he carried her home, in his arms and along the way, a smile was plastered on his face.
----------
Solana suddenly laughed, as she walked down the stairs. 'It was funny to see him panic, though I do feel a bit guilty for tricking him. but he still kissed my cheek, so I don't feel to bad. Why did he have to confess? Why? Now, I don't know how to face him? Great..."
She flared her nostril, sat and pulled her chair in the table. Henry glanced at her while, he served her breakfast, put the plate down in front of her and said "Why are you pouting so early in the morning?"
She took a slice from the bread basket, he pinched it together with a piece of her egg and bacon. She ate, after she chewed and swallowed her food, she growled "Rrh, I can't tell you!" and continued eating.
He sat opposite of her, his mouth curved into a grin, he buttered his toast and said "Oh really?"
Solana squinted her eyes, she imagined his laugh 'I swear, I think is secretly laughing' and snorted "Yes, it is a secret"
Henry said "But it isn't a secret, are you still hung about what Robby did yesterday?"
Hitting the bullseye, her eyes went round. 'Damn it, how does know? Am I that easy to read? Or is he a psychic?' She furrowed her eyebrows, the corner of her mouth twitched. Solana said "How did you know?"
Henry said "Look at me"
Bewildered, Solana batted her lashes and threw a dirty look. She said "Ahem, Look at what?"
Henry wrly smiled, scratching the back of his head and explained "Don't you get it? I am your Dad"
Solana cut in, said "Yeah, I know"
"Hey, let me finish... I am older than you, so I have more experience than you in certain areas and can make a guess" Henry said.
Solana nodded, he cleared his throat and straighten his posture, to look wise for his daughter.
Solana saw him and lightly joked, she said "Dad, I didn't know you take pride in being old?"
Henry reacted and said, raising his voice "Hey, I didn't say that!"
Solana waved her hand, said "Yeah, yeah" She ignored him, drinking her coffee.
Before she left, he pulled her hand, Solana glanced and saw his hardened expression. "We need to have a talk?" She listened and sat down. Solana said "Yes, Dad"
What he said next, distorted his serious image.
Henry said "Okay, now share me the good stuff!" he winked.
'Well, two can play that game'
Solana whined "I can't, it is embarrassing"
Comically, Henry said "Please, it is just me, your man" he begged, with his hands together and faked a tear. "Please"
Solana sighed, said "Fine"
-----
After a few minutes of explaining, and his forehead creased; he heartily laughed, breaking the stiff silence between them.
Solana folded her arms, she pouted and said "It's not my fault, it is that idiot!"
"Yeah, it seems like, he will make a good doctor! Haha... he couldn't even notice that haha" Henry said.
Once he stopped laughing, Solana said "So, aren't you mad?"
"No, way" Henry said, he smirked. "Why"
"Cuz, I know you don't like him and nothing will ever happen between you two, so I'm not worried" Henry explained,
'I didn't know my new dad is a cunning fox, well he is experienced, I wonder how amarous was his love life when he was young?'
Solana sighed in defeat, said "Is that the reason, why you were hostile with Aaron and friendly with Robby?"
Henry comically said "Ting Ting !! Correct"
Solana ran a hand down her face, said "Robby Oh Robby" could see a sorry smile through the gaps of her little hand.
"So, you were giving Robby a false sense of hope the whole time"
Henry said "Bingo... he isn't a bad kid, but I don't want you to waste your time and energy with love and drama when you could use it productivity. Like to find your purpose, college and your career..."
With a raised brow, Solana said "You mean you don't want me to waste time on love stuff like you?"
Henry said "Yes...Wait no I didn't" he rose from his seat.
Solana giggled, said "Calm down, Dad... there is no point in denying it!"
Henry sighed. "Yeah, it is true. We..." he sat down, he melancholy glanced at Solana and turned, gazed sideways. Without looking, he said "Can we bring this to an end?"
Solana nodded, said "Yes, Dad" she walked and before her feet exited the kitchen, he mumbled under his breath. "My dear, our girl looks more and more like you"
====
Solana spent most of her morning playing, practicing her guitar.
While she was playing, she sighed, a line appeared between her brows, she stopped midway. 'It is so frustrating, I still can't get it! either my fingers are too slow or they hold long enough!.'
She paused to look at her fingers "Curse these tiny...baby fingers" winched, tried hard to find something bad to say.
"Sorry, I didn't mean that... maybe, the reason for my awful mood swing is that idiot, Robby" she growled, gnashing her teeth.
'First that swindler 'Cameron' and now Robby... I don't want to involve myself with a complex thing like romance so early in this world.' 'Whatever, I have to keep practicing' Her nose flared, she strummed her frustrations on the guitar.
====
Somewhere in the neighborhood, in a dimly lit room, his fingers raced, tapping the keyboard, as he played a game, behind the computer screen. Suddenly, he paused, quickly turned his head to the side and sneezed.
The screen-light fell on his features, reflecting off his eyes, he rubbed his nose "Damn it! is someone thinking about me? I hope it is Solana" he gave a lopsided grin, thinking about his previous rendezvous with her.
And a minute later, he continued, toggling his keys to quit the game. He switched off the computer, and sat, staring at the closed window. "I wonder, what she is doing right now?"