I slowly tip-toed into my bedroom and I saw …..Charlie. He was standing there with a lit candle in his arm. All I could see was how his skin glowed because of the candles. He was wearing a dark blue suit and I couldn't recall how charming he looked in it. For a moment everything but his face went blank, his beautiful flawless face. His best features were his unreal marble grey eyes; one look was enough to make me weak. He has the most perfect lips and to be honest I forgot what they felt like on mine.
It took me a minute to break the spell I was under. I lowered the baseball bat and screamed "Charlie, what are you doing here??"
He was startled; I don't think he knew I'd be back this early.
"Shouldn't you be at work?" his voice cracked in between words.
"Well Mrs. Rosew… wait what are you doing here?"
He takes his eyes off of mine and looks towards the right, signaling me to do the same and when I saw it I was mesmerized. There were almost a hundred candles and white roses everywhere, I can't believe I was so blinded by his beauty I didn't notice all this. There was a table in the middle of all this and it seems like he made us a candle light dinner.
"I thought I'll surprise you with a relaxing dinner since you've been working all the time"
"That's really sweet of you" I could see him blushing from all the way here.
"I have a better question for you, why are you holding a baseball bat"
"Ummm… it's a long story. I thought you were a burglar"
"Since when do burglars look this good?" he said with a smirk on his face.
We locked eyes again, but unlike before this time it felt real. For a moment I felt like we could go back to the way things were.
"I reek, I'm gonna go take a shower"
"Yahh sure, the food isn't here yet so take your time" he said and went back to lighting the rest of the candles.
(30 minutes later)
I took a long shower than usual and stood in front of the bathroom mirror. My face really showed how tired I was but I didn't want Charlie to think I'm not happy with him. I put on a basic black slip dress and some hoop earrings. Then I decided to wear my hair in a bun and wore some gold rings. I put on some makeup to hide those baggy eyes. I got to a point where I seem a little bit presentable. I stepped out of the bathroom and the sight I saw was breath taking; it was ten times more beautiful than before. The table where we were gonna have dinner was draped with white silk cloth and it went perfectly with the rest of the decor.
He was standing in the middle of all that beauty holding a red rose in his arm. His eyes trailed every inch of my body until it met my eyes. I couldn't help myself but look away, his eyes were brutal.
"You…look exquisite" he said with spaces between words.
"You're quite handsome yourself"
"Do you remember this suit?"
"How could I forget, it's the night we met. I can't believe it still fits you"
He giggled, he snorts every single time he giggles and I love it when he realizes what he did and gets all embarrassed.
"So shall we my lady"
He waves his hand towards the dinner table. There was two plates and a McDonalds take out. I gave him a skeptical look at him.
"All right, don't get all judgey. I tried to get steak and wine but all good restaurants needed early reservation, so now we have a big Mac and coke"
"A burger and coke is good for me"
We both sat down facing each other. He asked me how my day was and I told him about all the things that happened at the office that day while tearing into the big Mac. I didn't realize how long I talked and the fact that he didn't even interrupt me, not even once. He was the best listener I've ever met and that's one of the reasons I love him so much.
"So you're going to Ireland?"
"Yah...I have no choice and I think you should come along"
"What!"
"I think it'll be good for us"
"Yah …I'll think about it"
We then talked about our jobs and family…just the usual. After a few minutes he leaned forward and said
"Ummm I know things haven't been good between us lately and I was hoping we could fix that"
"I feel exactly the same way and that's why I think this trip will be good for us"
"Well then I guess I'm going to Ireland"
"This is going to be great" I said and we both drank coke to it.
After dinner he insisted he'll do the dishes while I cleaned up the candles and roses. I still couldn't believe he put so much effort into all this. And I truly believe Ireland is going to make things right.
It took us a while to clean up. And Charlie thought it'll be best that I get a good night sleep so after cleaning up he picked up his things and decided to leave. I walked him to the door and suddenly we both were ripped from words. I had no idea what to say.
"I call you in the morning" he said
"That'll be great"
Again we locked eyes but this time I didn't look away. He slowly leaned forward and kissed my forehead. These forehead kisses drives me crazy. Both of his hands were holding my face, he didn't let go after the kiss. He kept looking into my eyes and I don't think this time I can keep up.
"I love you, C" he said with a husky voice "I've always loved you and I will continue to love you till the end"
I tried to fight the tears but I lost. He brushed off the tears with his thump and let go of my face. He stepped back and turned around to leave.
"I love you" I haven't said those words to him in a long time and now it felt strange and effortful.
He smiled and walked away, I watched every step he took until they disappeared.
I went back in and changed. I laid on the bed and all I could think about was Charlie. His words kept on playing in my head; "I love you, I've always loved you and I will continue to love you". I knew he meant every single word but what worries me is that; did I mean what I said? Do I really love him anymore? I drowned in my own thought, questioning myself if anything is real anymore.
All of a sudden I heard my phone ring. Who could be calling me now? I picked up the phone and it was an unknown number. I said hello but all I could hear was the wind and static. Everything just went cold and silent for a moment. That's when I heard something but it wasn't clear, it sounded like a girl but I couldn't quite figure out what she was saying. The call cut off after a few minutes but at the last moment I heard her say "clock is…" I didn't get the rest. It felt strange and cold.
I put down the phone and try to go to sleep but this time it wasn't Charlie I was thinking of , it was the strange girl from the call. Who was she? what was she talking about and most importantly why did she sound so familiar?.