I slowly close my eyes as I took a deep inhaled, only to enjoy the scent that burst out of his body. There seems to be a pyramid of scents. Bergamot and ice, sage, and oak wood. The mixture gives off a tremendous freshness impression that infiltrates thru my nose and possesses my brain right away. So tempting. Within this close position where I could inbreathe his scent clearly and deeply, I announced to myself that his distinctive smell now become a drug for me. I know that I will always want more and more, like never enough.
This man then gently twisted my body, with his hands staying still on my shoulder. My eyes are open. He unplugs my earphone then whispers, "Look, she's good. She just wants to find out, whether you are a threat or not, especially to her twin babies." He said almost in a whisper. Our cheeks are now only about a finger apart. Also, the moose's nose is now even closer to my face, like sniffing. I didn't like it, so I stepped back. But my head hit this Mr. Neighbor's chest. His hard chest was like a stone. "It's okay. All you have to do is just relax. I'll be right here." He continued the whisper. His cold breath tickled my ears. Calm me down. I nodded in agreement.
Mama moose finally slowly backed away after she finished examining me, she looked away, and back in her tracks where she belongs to. Seemed like she only popped out from my left to cross the main street, then disappeared through the woods to my right.
"See? Aren't they cute?" The man who stands behind me said.
"No." How can an animal like that be said to be cute? They are neither dogs nor cats nor rabbits. "And they shouldn't pass through this area. Also, there should be a kind of a border between human life and the wildlife here. So, they wouldn't bother anyone in this neighborhood." Oops, did I sound annoying? I took a glance at his eyes, worried if he thought I was in animal adversary mode. "Sorry, I didn't mean to ... well, it's not that I am hostile to animals, nor do I hate them, it's just ... Don't they think they could have been hit by a car or something? Or worry about the hunter that might be hiding somewhere nearby and already in their perfect position to shoot them?" His eyebrows raised, and those eyes were like 'really? Are you done? Is there anything else you want to blurt?' "Okay, the babies are cute." I corrected my answer and walked.
He took steps to follow me and giggled. That was the cutest giggle I've ever heard. "We're living surrounded by the wildlife here," that was exactly what I said to Davis this morning, wasn't it? Look how the table turns. "There are many creatures that live here, and we live together in peace. What you've seen is just one of them. You should be getting used to it as long as you live here."
"Oh, okay." I simply respond.
"So, where are you going actually?"
"Wait, you haven't answered my question and now you asked me?" I raised my eyebrow at him, "No way, dude. You must answer me first since I asked you first."
He frowned, "Did you ask me? When?"
"Yes, I did. Right before you interrupt me to turn around and face that mama moose." I stop and fold my arms across my chest.
He did the same as me to stop. Those brown eyes were closed for a moment, still frowning. How cute he is. I can't help but let a small smile play on my lips. "Ah, yes. I remember. But that wasn't a question yet since you haven't finished your sentence. How could I possibly give you an answer for that?"
"I know. But still, I asked you first. So, don't you try to argue it anymore, just answer me." I commanded.
His hands raised defensively, "Okay, okay, ma'am. Say it."
I cleared my throat, "How did you find me? Where have you been? I mean, I had been looking surrounding seconds before the moose approached me, and it was clearly nobody around but me. There is no doubt about that. Then suddenly you showed up from nowhere. And swiftly caught me. So, I didn't fall. Thanks to you."
He looked down, cracked a smile, and thereafter, stare at me, "Well, let's say that I am gifted." Still smiling, he walked ahead of me.
"Hey! Wait! That's not even answering at all. Could you give me a logical answer, please?" I quickly move, chasing him.
"What? That is the truth, though. Now tell me where are you exactly going to? I will accompany."
I pulled his coat on the arms to stop him, made him turn around, and set his eyes on mine. "Not before you tell me your name."
"Is that ... really necessary?"
"I won't ever walk with a stranger. Now tell me what's your name."
He swept his hair back, moving closer, and said in a low voice and a bit tense, "What a commander. You think that you're the one who runs the show, huh?" A wicked smile played on his red lips. And he gave me a deeper gaze. Hot. But a bit annoying at the same time.
Did he just try to scare me by that look or what? Cause I'm not afraid of him at all. I need him to stick around me, instead. "Okay, bye." I'm so dramatic. I walk ahead to leave him, ridiculously hoping he will chase after me.
Surprisingly, it only took him less than a second to stand right in front of me. Even though I was very sure, that he had not yet stepped on his feet when I started walking a few seconds ago. My eyes widened in shock, also my steps stopped. "How ... how did you do that?! You moved so fast!"
"I did not. It's just you. You're the one who moved too slow." He smirked. His voice has now been back to normal.
"What?! No way, I didn't. I moved normally, whereas you didn't." I rebutted.
"Look, I'm sorry that I didn't introduce myself yesterday," he was obviously changing the subject, disregarding what we were talking about earlier. "I'm Tom Hoult." and stuck out his hand.
At this point, my focus is truly divided. What I have in my head right now is, finally, I got what his name is, which is Tom, and the other one is, how did he move extremely that fast? There is no way humans could run that fast. Even the fastest runner in the world. Still wondering, I immediately shook his hand. "I'm Delilah. Delilah Bloom."
He flashed a beautiful smile and pulled my hand. Brought me closer to him, and made me jolt. However, I love being this close to him. "Delilah. What a lovely name." Every now and then we got this close, strangely I can feel my blood streaming faster, and my heart races. And I have no strength to look away from him. That's why our eyes are easily locked. "Now would you tell me where exactly you are going, beautiful?"
Oh, I can't handle this. Not only his eyes that drove me crazy. His voice, his smell, and also his kissable lips. I stepped back. If I didn't, I don't know whether I can afford not to touch him or not. This is embarrassing. "Oh, actually I - " Wait, I won't tell him that I was about to go to Gloria's house. That house is only a few meters away from here, meanwhile, I don't want this moment of closeness between Tom and I to end quickly. So, I say, "Actually I was looking for the nearest local coffee shop and grocery store. But I didn't find them yet."
"Don't worry, Delilah, I can show you the way. Only if you will."
I am very excited to hear that since that means I would have a longer time to be with him, but I'm trying so hard to stay cool. "Sure. And you can simply call me D. I know that there are more than two syllables to my name, and it can be a quite troublesome word to mention in a conversation." I force myself to put on the sweetest smile, where I excitedly grin inside.
He chuckled, "Got it, D." Plus gave me a wink. Gosh! He's such an extraordinarily handsome man. Thank goodness it's cold in here, so if there's someone who watched us walking together, they would not think of my red cheek as coming from an embarrassment but naturally from the cold.
We're walking with him by my side. I often took the chance to glance at him. My heart goes races whenever our eyes accidentally collide. And he'd always be the first one who broke our locked eyes. Seemed like he already knew that I would never be capable for do it first. And whenever it happens, it adds more blush to my cheeks.
After about fifteen minutes of a long walk, we arrived at the local grocery store. As I stepped in, I was impressed. It's very different from every store I have visited before. It's small. But looks like they have everything that the household needs. Furthermore, I don't know exactly what to buy. Obviously, I previously mentioned the grocery store only for a certain mission. Now I'm confused. I usually went to a place like this with Davis, since he's the one who always knows what we need to buy.
I slowly walked around, while racking my brain to decide what to buy. That definitely made me more unfocused. I felt like everything I saw on each stack was blurry. The veggies, fruits, spices, and other ingredients, they are looked fucking the same. I have no clue and only whirled around here. Also take them out then put them back in their place for some types of veggies, like several times. What will he think of when he found a woman like me? The woman who can't decide what to buy in a grocery.
Shame on me! Darn it!
This feeling is not so me. I usually didn't fucking care about what people would think of me. But now, I care a lot. Only if it has to do with Tom. It's bizarre.
"You already made three circuits since we were here. What are you exactly looking for, D?" then his voice broke my mind.
Shoot! I haven't found anything yet. "Umm ... just wait. You know, I have to make sure that everything I buy later is in a good condition."
He pursed his lips and said, "Okay. But you literally haven't picked up anything yet. Are you sure you want to buy something here?"
"What? No. I mean ... yes. I really need something to buy from here. Just be patient, you Mr. Grumbler."
"Okay, fine. I'll zip it off." He made a gesture as if he was zipping off his mouth, by clasping his thumb and index finger, then sliding it from right to left. Made me giggle.
"Ah, there you are." My gaze then sparkled at the stack of green apples. "See? I finally found what I really need as you zipped off your mouth." I said while walking towards the apples.
"Really? Those apples literally stood over there since we were here. How couldn't you see that? You should be asked me in the first place so that you can find it earlier instead of whirling around for a day long."
"Hey, don't forget about the mouth zipper. It's currently closing." I never thought that he literally such a grouch. He just smirked for giving me a silent response.
I shook my head and flashed a small smile at him.
The old woman who stood behind the cashier counter alternately launched her gaze at Tom and me as I was about to pay. But took a bit longer at Tom. When she did it, I turned to Tom who was standing right after me, then back to the old woman. At that time, I just realized that they were exchanging a meaningful glare. There seems to be something between the two.
Maybe it's just because they're acquaintances, but haven't seen each other for a long time, so they were just trying to remember or something like that. Well, that's only my assumption, though. What else would it be then?
Seconds later, Tom stepped out of the store before I finished with the cashier. He waits for me outside. Still with his certain face. Kind of worry, dislike, and maybe a bit anger. I don't know why, and I want to know.
"Be careful you, young lady." That old woman whispered as she gave me change, and held the money a moment, glared at me. I'm sure she did it because she wanted me to catch what she said, clearly. She looks worried.
I frowned. I don't know what she was talking about. So, I didn't say anything. Just nodded as a sign that I understood what she was saying, even though I didn't know what she meant, and stepped out of the store, and headed to where Tom was.
"So, coffee shop?"