An interminable line of vehicles was ensnared in the traffic jam ahead of the open-top car where Jayden and Marie-Rose sat comfortably, basking under the warm autumn afternoon sun.
"We were supposed to be at the Department an hour ago!" Jayden informed a relaxed Marie-Rose, who didn't appear to be taking the situation too seriously. They had been caught in the jam on their way back from their hometown, where he was employed, after an exchange experience in his unit had made them late for checking in at her workplace in the Child Protection Department.
A couple of weeks earlier, she walked into the office of the department head, only to find Jayden waiting there. As she passed through the frosted glass door, he stood tall with the demeanor of a mischievous child, yet simultaneously exuded the triumphant aura of a victorious general.
"Miss Champlieu, Mr. Montigny specifically requested your presence here to discuss his proposition. He suggests that your team works on the project, even though your specialty seems to be different," she stated.
"In fact, your experience with neglected children is valuable for the project under the current conditions. They have endured prolonged emotional neglect and many have suffered from traumatic abuse." He explained, extending his hand in anticipation of an introduction.
"Jayden Montigny. How do you do, Miss Champlieu?" he teased, maintaining his gaze as she presented herself with a cold demeanor.
They discussed the details for a while before she turned to her workstation. Throughout the conversation, she had to endure being in the same room with him, all while she was enveloped in the warmth of the green hues of his irises. She managed to maintain her composure, without betraying any signs of blushing.
Amid the murmurs and cutting glances from her coworkers, she returned to her desk and took a seat, resting her hands on her temples, contemplating how to prepare herself to take on the project. Not long after, Jayden entered the room and made his way straight to where she was seated. When she raised her eyes, he handed her a small bouquet of white roses.
Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Hey Marie-Rose! Glad to see you again," he said in a low voice to ensure others couldn't overhear.
Her "Hi" was shy. Her blush deepened, causing her face to turn red for what felt like the umpteenth time that day. She could only manage to mutter, "Thank you!" before adding his name, "Jayden." She found pleasure in saying his name aloud.
"Remember me?" she surely did.
"Of course, you're the boy on the train." This was his apellative in the absence of a name.
"Glad you remember me." Jayden smiled.
"The bouquet is for this special occasion, in the hope of a fruitful collaboration. Your team has been chosen to work with us," he stated formally, his voice now louder.
Although she didn't feel entirely at ease, she accepted the gesture of attention, considering it more as a token of appreciation than a bribe, especially since there was no apparent gain from working on the project.
The others in the room fell silent at his thoughtful gesture. It was unprecedented for a contractor to present flowers to someone. Most of all, they were surprised to see Marie-Rose being appreciated by such a striking man.
Marie-Rose had no idea how they eventually ended up exchanging phone numbers.
A cool breeze swept through, momentarily breaking her reverie.
A hidden lake, trapped behind a nearby dam, lay imprisoned in the midst of the bustling city, with a cool summer breeze carrying a fine mist of water in the direction of the road, cancelling out the particles stirred in the hot air from the dust below.
"So what?" she replied, unfazed. Jayden took the opportunity to wipe off the water droplets from her cheekbone. Until now, Jayden had been focused on the road, too preoccupied to address her much.
The sounds of birds reigned supreme over the silence veiling the road, where the irate honking lost momentum and eventually ceased altogether. Occasionally, a driver, having long lost their patience, would honk in a fit of rage.
"Nothing," he replied, leaning over the steering wheel, diverting his gaze to her. He too succumbed to the atmosphere of relaxation around them. His curious, oblong gaze fixated on her eyes, which shone in the strong light, in harmony with the glimmer of her lip gloss, accentuating her dewy appearance.
Her head was turned towards him, mirroring the drowsy aspect of his eyes as she rested her head on the seat. As they sank into mutual contemplation, he reached for her face, gently caressing her rosy cheeks, eventually finding her hair fluttering in the wind.
His hands slid down to her waist, pulling her closer, and before she nestled her head on his shoulder, he placed a tender kiss on her forehead. They remained like this for a couple of minutes, acknowledging the mutual attraction, their bodies touching for the first time in a sweet embrace, the first unspoken confession of their feelings.
The wind tousled their hair from behind as the road fell into an afternoon slumber. She could feel his pulse on the base of his neck, redolent of his distinctive scent, akin to vanilla ice. Just as she pondered pressing her lips against his aromatic, velvety skin, she felt his fingers entwine with hers, and his body shifted, disengaging from their embrace.
The motion prompted her to raise her head with a swift jerk, catching sight of his other hand fumbling for the player's button. He pressed the display a few times, emitting a joyful exclamation and a smile as the notes of a song filled the air.
"Laid Back – Sunshine Reggae."
As if inspired by the relaxed ambiance, he began singing along cheerfully:
"Sunshine, sunshine reggae... let the good vibes... get a lot stronger."
She laughed, clearly enjoying the music that synchronized with their surroundings. Despite being in the city, they were immersed in an urban oasis, surrounded by abundant greenery.
The rhythm of the song captured her as well, but when he hummed the refrain specifically for her, Marie-Rose's mood soared:
"Gimme gimme... gimme just a little smile... That's all I ask of you..."
He turned his face towards her, as if pleading, squeezing her hand, which he hadn't let go. Naturally, her smile bloomed from ear to ear.
The song played on repeat, and for the next half an hour, they held hands, fingers intertwined, crooning along to Jayden's favorite tune. They occasionally exchanged glances, their smiles unwavering throughout the music.
Though the car remained stationary, the wind tousling their hair created the illusion of speed, imprinting a sense of freedom upon them. Time passed slowly as they reveled in the positivity of the lyrics, hand in hand, hearts in sync, eyes locked on each other. They had never felt this relaxed before.
Enchanted by his presence, Marie-Rose at one point drew her hand to run through his golden curls, now tousled around his head like a halo, giving him an almost mystical aura. He seemed like the product of her spells, an apparition from heaven projected onto earth.
He maintained his cheerful demeanor as he leaned over to plant a small kiss, this time on the corner of her lips. Her anticipation was as patient as her wait for the road blockade to clear. She knew he was trying to be cautious, afraid of making a wrong move, but she didn't want to rush things. She would let him kiss her when he felt comfortable. With the mischievous air on his face, that moment seemed to be approaching.
Perhaps he lacked the courage, but at the moment, she had no idea how to encourage him. He leaned back in his seat, adjusting it to the right angle. She mirrored his action.
The wind lightly caressed their skin as they found peace in the rhythm of the relaxing music.
"Aren't you hungry, babe?" he asked, clasping her hand in his fist. It was the first time he had used such a sweet term. With the press of a button, he let the tape play the other tracks, all in the same mellow range as his previous choice.
"I am. What do you suggest?" she replied, making a mental note to herself: 'This guy is so sweet that I could devour him instead.' The thought of devouring his mouth was that enticing.
Meanwhile, he rummaged in his backpack and produced a bag of chips.
"A snack," he answered after another peck, opening the bag and handing it to Marie-Rose to help herself. Baked chips. She loved baked chips.
"This won't be enough," she complained. Her prediction proved accurate before long.
They happily munched on the junk food to the tune of "Sunshine Reggae." What a divine taste for a laid-back afternoon. Piece after piece disappeared until they finally had to call it quits. Enough was enough. They had both been acting like children, snacking between meals. However, the whole scenario only added to the good time they shared.
Back to holding hands, they sat quietly, enjoying each other's company. Jayden grew tired of sitting upright, supporting his head with his hand. After turning on the radio, he reclined against the wheel. The radio was discussing the traffic jam in Constance City.
Marie-Rose watched Jayden tilt his head back as if basking in the sun on a beach. He was contemplating Marie-Rose, pondering if it was the right moment to kiss her as he desired. The atmosphere was so serene that it felt right, but he didn't want to rush things. He feared it could lead to unintended consequences, and he still had something on his mind that he needed to tell her. The sooner he let it out, the better. But he didn't want to spoil this peaceful moment.
In the depths of his mind, he was already making plans for the evening, considering taking her to his favorite spot when he accidentally brushed against the horn, producing a shrill noise that amused Marie-Rose. In response, the car behind them honked in unison. The driver had grown impatient with the long wait and seized the opportunity created by Jayden.
Jayden, on the other hand, was not amused.
He was exceedingly relaxed, and spending these hours with Marie-Rose felt like bliss. He wished for this moment to never end. Opening his eyes, he glanced back at the car behind. The man was continuously pressing the horn, clearly annoyed by the delay.
"This man is ruining our day of relaxation!" he voiced his displeasure. He was not about to let the irate driver ruin their mood. He longed for the magic of the moment to last forever. After pondering for a moment, with his index finger on his upper lip, he found a solution. "I'm going to do something about it," he said with a serious expression.
He assumed a solemn air and reached for the door to open it. In an instant, he stepped out of the car, standing tall, and headed toward the other car, which continued to honk loudly, disturbing the peace.
Marie-Rose had to witness the show, whatever Jayden had in mind, hoping it wouldn't escalate into anger and a physical altercation. She turned to watch her newfound lover in action, sensing it might head in that direction, despite neither of them voicing their thoughts.
Jayden stopped confidently in front of the driver's door, the man's hands hanging out of the widely opened window. With a relaxed demeanor, he addressed the driver, his appearance betraying no hint of amusement. "Hey, the cap you're wearing. That's my cap!" he asserted, perplexing the other driver, who said nothing in return, merely checking the baseball cap on his head.
Undeterred, Jayden continued in a more convincing tone. "Give me back my cap! I want my cap back!" he insisted, repeating his demand persistently.
The man's eyes widened, his face changing colors like a chameleon. He quickly fell silent and apprehensive, closing the windows of the car, despite the sweltering weather. Shrinking in his seat, he was taken aback as Jayden continued to insist that the cap was his, throwing a tantrum akin to that of a three-year-old demanding his possession.
A vague notion about the identity of the other driver crossed Marie-Rose's mind. He seemed familiar, but she couldn't pinpoint where she had seen him before.
After receiving no response for a while, Jayden finally seemed to give up. Pretending helplessness, he simulated kicking a rock before returning to the car.
Marie-Rose was already laughing, entertained by his theatrics. She greeted him with, "You're amazing, Jayden. I would have never thought of putting up such an act," complimenting his performance.
The honking ceased, and the man sat still in his car, presumably still mulling over the antics of the seemingly mad man, uncertain whether he was the true owner of the cap.
When Jayden returned to his seat and resumed his previous position, she took the initiative to peck his chin.
He had just finished laughing, boasting about silencing the man, "Yes, babe. I'm great at silencing people."
"You truly are," she admitted, finding his overall persona adorable, his demeanor silencing her, making her content to sit and observe him and each of his masculine gestures.
He gave her that look again, his hand caressing through her hair, but couldn't articulate what he truly desired. He invited her to rest her head on his lap, and they waited until they could pass the busy road.
"Do you know what I wish for right now?" he asked her.