"Woah," he exclaimed, grabbing my arms to support my weight. A rush of heat invaded my chest, extending all the way to my fingertips and throughout my body. I composed myself, straightened up, and looked at him fiercely in the eyes.
"I thought you'd never ask me," I replied. My voice cracked, and I felt a tear of joy mixed with a tinge of sadness fall down my face. My feelings for him were so strong that I had never in my life experienced anything like it before. I felt like I'd do anything for him if he only asked. Lower the moon? Sure, easy. Rip out my heart from my chest and hand it to him? No problem, easy. Of course, I was going to do it anyway, in the figurative sense. He had never expressed his feelings so clearly to me, and I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with love.
He caressed my face and wiped the tear away. He examined it on his fingers and brought it to his lips. With one kiss, it became part of him. I could only stare, awestruck, while he did this. People around us had stopped to look for a second but then moved on quickly. I asked myself why it didn't bother him that people would see us now. I didn't care enough to look around, but I could see it through my peripheral vision. As soon as he was done savoring my tear, he gazed back at me and chuckled. Everything seemed so easy when I was around him.
"Shall we go?" He asked me, and after waiting for me to nod, he carried my red suitcase with one hand and grabbed mine with the other. He was leading the way to the car. I was curious to find out more about his sister's visit and if I was going to get the chance to meet her. Had he told her about me? I figured he hadn't, considering I was still sort of a secret.
"So is Eva still visiting?" I asked him as my eyebrows arched slightly.
"Yes, she'll be here for a little while longer, but don't worry, we'll have plenty of time alone together," he replied as though I needed reassurance. And I guessed I sort of did, that we were going to spend time together and most of all alone. "Always the gentleman," I thought to myself.
"Actually, I'd like to meet her," I told him, biting my lower lip.
"Oh, well, that can be arranged," he said. "Let's go, the car's close by."
We walked a while longer through the parking lot until the metallic blue Mercedes stood out among the others. He opened the passenger's door for me and loaded the suitcase in the trunk. I got in the car, and the smell of the leather invaded my nostrils. I breathed it in, closed my eyes, and tried to keep calm after Edmund's proposal. I felt my mind spinning, and the scene replayed over and over again. My daydreaming was interrupted when Edmund hopped in the car and asked, "Is everything alright?"
"Absolutely… as long as I'm with you," I replied, while my heart thrummed inside me. The engine purred to life, and as soon as we were on the highway, he eagerly looked for my hand. I cringed when I felt it clammy and warm, but he didn't seem to care because he didn't let go of it. I used the drive back to catch up with him regarding these last weeks we had been apart.
"What did you do these last weeks while I was gone?" I asked him.
"I already made the big confession, Levi, and now I'll be honest with you. I'll pour my heart out in front of you, the way I always should have. I need to be the gentleman, for once. I didn't tell you any of it before because you were away, and I didn't want to worry you, but you deserve to know, and I feel the need to let it out," he replied and looked at me to gauge my reaction, his eyes heavy. Personally, I felt my chest tighten, and a shadowy hand gripped me around my throat. What did he mean by this? Was he okay?
"Are you okay, Edmund?" I asked him while I gripped his hand a little harder.
"I am, but these two weeks were challenging for me. A lot was going on in my head. During the first few days, I had to come to terms with the fact that you were away. I knew I was going to miss you terribly. But I tried to keep myself occupied with things I like, such as playing the piano, composing and spending a lot of time with my sister. That helped a lot, but there was something I couldn't easily shake off —the fact that by pulling away from you, out of fear of accepting myself and being accepted by others, I was hurting you," he paused, looking out the window as we waited for the green light.
"Edmund, it's ok…" he cut me off and continued with his story.
"I kept reliving certain scenes we had shared, and I couldn't stop blaming myself for certain outcomes. For instance, our first kiss, Levi. I was about to leave the grove, overwhelmed, and I reacted poorly to my feelings for you. If you hadn't said those very meaningful words to me, I don't even want to imagine what would have happened," he confessed, and for the first time, I saw droplets slowly falling from his eyes. Seeing him sob softly like this broke my heart into a thousand times more than he could have hurt me before. After all, I was well aware that patience was key, and I supposed I have always been right because look at us now. His confession was interrupted by our arrival at the college's housing buildings. I took a napkin out of my travel backpack, closed the distance between us, and dried off his face. His blue-green eyes weren't puffy, but they were red; I almost shed a tear myself but I controlled it on time, thinking that I would only make him even sadder.
"Edmund, could we please go upstairs? I'd like to keep talking to you, but I'm not sure if the car is the perfect place for that," I asked him, doubting that Jacob would be home this early. According to the car's clock, it was Saturday afternoon, so Jacob was probably out with his friends.
"I don't want Jacob to see me this way," he confessed, his voice a low murmur.
"Don't worry about that, Ed, I'm sure Jacob isn't home yet. But just in case…" I took a pair of glasses from my backpack and put them on him. They looked wonderful on him, much better than they could ever look on me. "They may not be Gucci or Ray-Ban, but I think they'll do," I added, and he gently pushed me by the shoulder, playfully.
We exited the car, he took my suitcase out of the car's trunk, and I placed my arm over his shoulder. He put one hand around my shoulder and we walked together towards the building, "I'm going to give up heaven so we can be together, I might as do it thoroughly," he said, while made our way up the stairs. His sudden response made me laugh to myself. When we reached my dormitory, I approached the card, and the door clicked open. As I had predicted, no one was home. The dorm was deserted.
"See? I told you, Jacob isn't here. We have alone time and privacy to talk, now," I grimaced at the thought of the conversation that I knew was coming. We both sat on the bed, and I rested my head on his shoulder, trying to provide him as much comfort as I could. He embraced me with his arm, and we slowly descended onto my bed. I moved and pressed my head against his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat. Thud thud thud.
"Levi, I'm so sorry," he choked. It was hard to keep it together seeing him like this.
"It's okay Edmund, please don't cry for me, seeing you like this hurts me much more than anything you think you might have done," I tried soothing him, while I felt his chest heave.
"Please, let me resume," he said, "After that memory and nights of crying myself to sleep, I was also reliving our last afternoon together in which I told you I wasn't ready to be more than we were, and while that was true at the time, your reaction and your absence were destroying me with guilt. I couldn't make sense of how I hadn't tried harder to comfort you, to be there for you! And I still don't understand why I didn't offer to take you to the airport the next day, I was so confused. I am so sorry" he kept apologizing, while tears streamed down his face.
"It's okay, it's okay. I'm happy where we are right now. Shh shh," I said.
"Are you sure, Levi?" he asked, his voice cracking ever so slightly.
"One hundred ten percent. May I get a kiss?" I asked him. I moved my head slowly upwards, looking into his endearing, tear-filled eyes as he closed them. I approached his lips, caressing them with mine softly and carefully. I wanted to soothe, rather than passionately kiss. We heard the door click, and our contact broke, interrupted by the only other person who had access to the room. I rushed to the bedside table and put the glasses back on Edmund as I sat down on the bed.
"Hey, Levi! You're back!" Jacob exclaimed as soon as he stepped into the dorm and saw me. I stood up as he approached and gave me a bear hug that made the air flee from my lungs.
"Jacob, I can't breathe," I choked, and he let go of me. "It's good to see you too, my friend," I added as I could breathe normally again.
"Edmund, what a surprise!" Jacob said casually, though he looked slightly puzzled at him. I figured it was due to the fact that he was wearing sunglasses indoors in the evening. By then, Edmund was already completely composed and sitting on the bed. Nevertheless, he had not removed the sunglasses. He shot a furtive glance at me and offered a soft, crooked smile. Naturally, I understood what he meant by this; I thought we would have longer to talk and that we wouldn't be caught like this. To be fair, there was nothing to worry about because as soon as Jacob got distracted, he'd completely forget all about it.
"Hello, Jacob, it's a pleasure to see you as well," Edmund replied dryly. His emotions didn't betray him; it seemed like he was trained for these scenarios. I supposed he was; at this point, nothing surprised me about him anymore.
"How long ago did you arrive?" Jacob asked me, shifting his body to face me.
"Not long, actually. Maybe half an hour ago, I'm not sure. I'm not keeping track of time," I tried to chuckle in response, straining to sound casual, but it ended up sounding fake.
"I can see that," Jacob replied cheekily as he burst out laughing. "Okay, let him think we were doing something more intimate. It might not be the truth, but that's none of his business," I thought to myself. "So, what are we doing tonight?" He pressed.
"Oh, I was just leaving," Edmund replied as he stood up and headed towards the door.
"Already?" I pleaded, shooting an angry look at Jacob while he raised his palms in a peace gesture. I stormed off, following Edmund. When I reached him at the stairs, I grabbed his hand, and he spun around. "Don't leave just yet, please! We just arrived," I implored him.
"It's okay, we'll have plenty of time. I'll come pick you up tomorrow, and we'll head to my apartment, I promise," he said as he approached me and kissed my left cheek. His lips were warm against my skin; his breath minty. "For now, I just need time to fully compose myself and feel better, okay?" I nodded.
"Edmund, all is good, and…" I looked around; the coast was clear, "you're my boyfriend, alright?" I didn't give him time to reply. I grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him forcefully towards me. He yielded, and I passionately kissed his lips. I grabbed his nape and hair while he embraced me with his arms. When we broke apart, he hugged me hard. We had missed each other so much that I was just realizing how immensely we had needed each other. Equally. Maybe in our relationship, equality was a good thing, right?
We looked at each other one last time. He turned around and started to descend the flight of steps to the ground floor. I resolved that even though we were getting together tomorrow, I was going to have a word with Jacob. I spun and headed back to our bedroom. When I came in, Jacob was already in his PJs and in bed.
"Jacob, why did you make Edmund leave that way?" I asked him vehemently.
"Whoa, hold on. I did no such thing. I simply asked if we were doing something tonight," he replied, defending himself.
"You knew that was going to make him uncomfortable. Also, there was absolutely no need to joke that way with him; you know what he is like," I told him, my brows furrowing slightly and my lips turning downward in a subtle frown.
"Whatever," he replied, and I just rolled my eyes at him. I went to put on my PJs and head to bed afterward. It had been such a long and emotionally intense day that I needed a good night's rest. I didn't realize the moment when I hit the bed and fell asleep. It seemed immediate because as soon as I did, the white snowy light was pouring over the windows, and I heard Jacob's snores from the bed next to mine. I sighed and turned to my side, trying to sleep a little while longer.
The soft rays of the morning sun, seeping through the window, nudged me awake. As I yawned and stretched, a soft smile played on my lips. Edmund. The thought of him filled me with a sense of joy, one that seemed to flood every corner of my being.
Sitting up in bed, I looked around the dark room and strained to grab my phone from the far side of the bedside table. The screen read 10:15. "Sheesh!" I thought to myself. It was late. There was a message from Edmund from 6 a.m., "Hello love, hope you rested well. Get ready for me to pick you up at 10:30, and bring some PJs and your college laptop. Eva is away for the night. See you, xoxo." What? I had just 15 minutes to get ready! I couldn't believe I had overslept so much.
I jumped out of bed and turned the lights on. Jacob groaned in his sleep, but I paid him no mind —it was high time for him to wake up too. I rushed to the bathroom, combed my hair, and quickly brushed my teeth. After dressing, I checked the time again: 10:23. I needed to hurry.
I donned a casual denim shirt paired with black jeans and sneakers. I gathered my school things, some underwear, and spare PJs, and stashed them in my backpack. Hastily, I made the bed and then sat on its edge, my breath ragged. Checking the time once again, I noted it had just ticked 10:30. Taking a few deep breaths to calm my nerves, I heard a knock at the door.
"It's okay, you've got this," I said to myself, trying to look nonchalant. I ran my hand through my hair, sighed, and headed to the door. Opening it, I found whom I was expecting. Edmund stood there, looking regal in a pearl button-down shirt, Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses, tucked on his shirt, dark blue dress pants, and a black overcoat, suited for the intense cold outside. As he saw me open the door, his blue-green eyes met mine, and the edges of his lips curled into a soft smile. He removed his glasses and kissed my cheek, "Looking stunning today, aren't we?" he asked.
It was at this moment that I realized he was mental. I had gotten up as quickly as I could, hastily dressing and brushing my teeth so quickly that I hadn't even had time to shower. Meanwhile, Jacob had merely shifted to one side, covered his head with a pillow, and continued to sleep. The sound of his snoring filled the room as I stared at Edmund in disbelief. It took me a moment to realize that my mouth had dropped open until Edmund reached out, gently closed it, and caressed my cheek.
"Shall we go?" he asked, gripping my hand. Seeing my lack of response, he sounded anxious as he pressed, "Levi, are you okay?"
"Oh yeah, totally okay, just...uhm, dazzled," I admitted, slipping on my winter jacket. He chuckled at my response. Apparently, I was amusing now. We made our way down the stairs, and his car awaited us, as pristine as ever. He held the door open for me, just as he had the previous night. By this point, I didn't even attempt to open it myself. I simply stood by and allowed him to continue his chivalrous display. It was unnecessary, but I felt entirely flattered by it. It was just another facet of Edmund's charm —a trap into which I fell willingly, like a fly to a Venus flytrap.
I hopped into the car, thanking him as he shut the door for me. I waited for him to circle around to the driver's seat. Once he was seated, he reached for my hand—a gesture that seemed to have become our new routine, and one I immensely enjoyed. He pressed the start button, and as we drove away, the Housing Building became smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror.
"Levi, I don't think I ever asked you —do you drive? Do you have a license?" Edmund's tone was palpably curious.
"I sure do," I replied eagerly. "But we only have one car at home, and my parents usually drive it," I added.
"Well, you could always drive my car if you ever need it. You just gotta ask," he responded, as he turned towards mine and offered me a warm smile playing across his lips, conveying his genuine willingness to help.
"This car?" I asked, and he nodded affirmatively. "But if something were to happen to it, I could never afford it," I confessed, feeling heat flushing my face.
"Oh, this? Nothing to worry about. Haha," he laughed sardonically, as if the car was worth nothing to him. I could only stare, wide-eyed. It was astonishing, his nonchalance towards a car as impressive as this one.
The remainder of the drive was relatively quiet. Yet, the silence was comfortable, not awkward. Both of us seemed engrossed in our thoughts. Every so often, Edmund would flash me a reassuring smile or nod, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. After merging onto the highway, heading toward his penthouse, I noticed that the snow had ceased falling for the time being, and the sun had made its appearance, though the air remained freezing. I commented on the quietude of the sea, my attention held by the soft lapping of the waves against the shore.
Eventually, we arrived at the magnificent building that was Edmund's home in Empiria. It stood tall and proud, its modern, intricate architectural details never failing to seize my attention. We descended swiftly into the parking area, and he stopped the car. We took the elevator, and he gestured for me to turn around since we would be exiting through the other elevator door. The ascent was as rapid as the last time, not granting me enough time to feel claustrophobic before the correct doors opened, revealing the exquisitely decorated common space between the bedrooms. As we approached the sofas, I could see that the once calm sea had transformed into violent waves, crashing one after another.
Edmund's apartment had always been a true reflection of him - classy, sophisticated, yet welcoming. He made tea for us, and just like the last time, we settled on the sofa and talked for hours on end. We debated over mundane as well as deeper topics. The conversation flowed gradually. We discussed our favorite foods, our aversion to mornings, and so forth.
"So, what's your favorite book?" Edmund asked me eagerly.
"Oh, it's Fire and Blood by George R.R. Martin. Have you read it?" I countered.
"Oh, gods," he said in his almost-British, refined accent. "I loved the book. I don't know if I could call it my favorite, but now I have one more reason to like it." He offered me another warm, loving smile. I laughed at his cheekiness.
"The Dance of the Dragons is such a tragedy. So much dragon blood wasted. It could have been easily avoided. The King should have just surrounded his council with his daughter's supporters," I said, immersing myself in the plot and drama of my favorite book.
"That is true," Edmund replied, gazing over the horizon. "Viserys thought everyone would just get along, and when there are opposing interests at hand, that rarely happens. I blame him for the death of most of the dragons. I wish the author could have found a way for them to survive, though it was crucial for the later books."
"You have a point, Ed," I conceded. I moved closer to him as he opened his arms to welcome me. We lay there on the couch while I rested my head on his chest. We continued talking about the most diverse topics for hours. The teacups had completely dried by then. We watched the sunset as the sun dipped far below the horizon, filling the room with bright orange rays.
We avoided the heavy topics, and for a moment, everything felt light, almost normal. Later, I took a shower and we watched a movie. We decided on a rewatch of the Narnia series. While it was a rewatch for me, Edmund, having read the books, had never seen the films. The movie continued to play, but we were lost in our own world, basking in the warmth and assurance of each other's love. As I closed my eyes, resting my head against his chest, I realized that this —right here, right now, was my happy place. We spent a good portion of the night doing that until hunger pangs set in. Assuming Edmund was also hungry, I wasn't surprised when he paused the movie at the sound of my stomach rumbling to prepare a homemade pizza. It was delicious; it seemed as though he had taken a cooking course because the two meals he had prepared for me so far were outstanding.
"Edmund, this is mouthwatering. How did you learn to cook pizza so well?" I asked him, finishing a slice at the round table in his kitchen.
"Oh, well, I guess I'm just good at cooking," he replied, his shoulders relaxing as he broke eye contact.
"What aren't you good at then?" I asked, to which his only response was giggling.
After dinner, we washed the dishes together. Surprisingly, he allowed me to help, even though he wanted to use the dishwasher for just a few utensils, which seemed a little excessive. Once everything was clean, he kissed my cheek and gave me a light hug. As I reciprocated, he caressed the back of my hair. His fragrance was masculine, a mysterious blend of warm spices, rich woods, and a hint of sweet vanilla. I breathed it in and out. I felt satiated, complete in his company.
"Edmund, where am I sleeping tonight?" I asked him, my tone bemused.
"With me, of course," he said, an air of overconfidence in his voice. I couldn't help but laugh heartily as my heart raced, its relentless beat echoing in my chest. We had never slept together; we had never been this intimate. It was exciting yet intimidating. I wondered how I appeared in that moment. "If you don't want to, you don't have to. I can sleep on the couch," he added, looking down.
"Oh, come on, Ed, I'd love to," I said, grabbing his shirt and pulling him towards me. I eagerly pressed my lips to his. "We're just sleeping, right?"
"Right, right," he answered, his breath evening out after my kiss.
We went to sleep shortly thereafter, following a little more conversation. I had previously been in his bedroom and knew it was modern and classy. It had windows overlooking the sea and a king-sized bed, which accommodated both of us perfectly.
"I sleep on the right side," he told me, "but make yourself at home. Because this is your home too, Levi." I nodded and went to the bathroom to put on my PJs; I wasn't quite comfortable being naked in front of him yet. When I exited his en-suite bathroom, I found him already in bed, reading a book. I lay down next to him.
"What are you reading?" I asked.
"The Picture of Dorian Gray," he replied.
"Ha, perfect for you. You're certainly Dorian, because you're beautiful. You're not just handsome, you're much more than that. You're beautiful, my love," I told him, admiring his striking features. After my compliment, he kissed me on the forehead. It was well received, and I couldn't help but smile to myself. I liked that.
Suddenly, fatigue hit me and I lay on my side, while he embraced me in a cuddle, his warmth melding with mine. Just as I felt my heartbeat slow and even out, I heard him whisper into my ear, "I love you, Levi. More than life itself." After that, I fell into a deep sleep, never knowing if he had actually told me that or if I had dreamed it.
The next day, I woke up thinking it had all been a dream. First, I noticed the light hitting from a different angle than usual. The smell of fresh pine was something my dormitory lacked. However, what definitively convinced me that I was not at home and everything had not been a dream was the absence of Jacob's loud snoring. Suddenly, I shifted on the bed, refusing to open my eyes, and sighed. I felt a pair of lips and a nose caress my cheek, and I became conscious of who was right next to me. Edmund. With a sudden surge of energy, I opened my eyes, rubbed them, and jumped at him from my end of the bed, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Good morning," he said, initially alarmed by my reaction but quickly giving in and reciprocating. "Someone woke up feeling good today, it seems."
"I'm just very glad to be here," I told him, and indeed, I was. Everything was perfect just the way it was.
"I thought you were going to oversleep. I wouldn't have let you, of course, but you seemed really peaceful when you sleep," he added.
"Well, I had a very good dream, Edmund," I confessed, recalling how the feeling of him loving me the way I had dreamed was an otherworldly experience—one I hoped would come to pass very soon. A warm, yet welcoming sense of happiness overflowed my chest. I sighed and sank back down into the bed, smiling with my eyes closed.
"Oh yeah?" he said. "Tell me more about it."
"Well, no," I laughed as embarrassment slowly crept in. What was I supposed to tell him anyway? That he had told me he loved me? I really didn't think so. Not if I could help it, at least. "It's too embarrassing to talk about," I added.
"Am I involved?" He asked, and I nodded quickly. "Oh, come on. What could possibly be so embarrassing that you wouldn't want to tell me?" He pressed. I shook my head and covered my face with a pillow while hugging it.
"Please?" He insisted once more, using the tone he employed when he wanted to be charming.
"Alright!" I replied, a hint of irritation edging my voice. Without removing the pillow, I said, "You said something very beautiful in my dream." I felt the rush of heat in my now-flushed face, undoubtedly coloring it, and I was glad I kept it covered.
"That I loved you?" He asked, prompting me to peek from my pillow. A soft smile graced his lips. "I am happy to tell you that was no dream, Levi." Once again, I pushed the pillow aside, and this time I aimed for his lips. I pressed mine against his, closed my eyes, and placed my hand behind his jaw.
"I love you too," I said, our faces just inches apart. "A lot. I wished I could have told you that last night." He maintained our proximity, gently rubbing his nose against mine.
"We have to go now. Don't forget. I'll go and make breakfast," he said as he rose from the bed, donned a robe, and exited the bedroom.
I stayed in bed, checking my phone. I had messages from both Jessica and Jacob. Jessica was asking me if I wanted to meet for breakfast so we could catch up after the two-week break. Regrettably, I couldn't since I was going directly to school from Edmund's apartment. Jacob, on the other hand, wanted to know how I'd spent the night, embellishing his message with several winking emojis. I rolled my eyes and told him to mind his own business, chuckling softly. He was always so nosy, making a hobby of putting people on edge. He must enjoy it, I figured. Through the bedroom window, I noticed the clear, sunny day. There was no snow to be seen, and the turquoise sea was calm, with ships dotting the horizon.
At that moment, Edmund returned with a breakfast tray. The fresh aroma of brewed coffee wafted into my nostrils, mingling with the scent of warm croissants from the oven. He sat next to me on the bed and stroked my cheek.
"Breakfast in bed!" He announced, and I chuckled.
"I love you," I said, gazing into his tide-like eyes.
"I love you too, Levi," he responded, matching my stare. "There was something I wanted to discuss," he added, suddenly averting his eyes and looking away.
"What's that?" I asked, worry creeping in.
"Well… I really don't want to hurt you. You know that's the last thing I want," he began, causing me to brace myself. "But today when we're at school, I'd prefer, if it's okay, that we act as though we're just friends, as we used to," he explained. I sighed, relieved that this was all it was. You never know when heartbreak might be on the horizon —just a bit of dark humor. Anyway, this didn't hurt me; it was actually preferable. Though we had held hands before, and we were already the subject of school gossip, it was best if that remained buried. I didn't even want to imagine what would happen if the college's religious authorities found out about us and contacted our parents. A real tragedy…
"Yes, you're right, Edmund. As always," I responded, somberly.
"Don't be upset," he exclaimed, somewhat vehemently.
"Oh, I'm not. I truly understand. But we have kissed in public before, though," I pointed out. It was a bit contradictory, as we had indeed shown affection in public before.
"It's not the same in college. People know me and my parents there. I'm just not ready to come out like that. Please understand," he implored. I stood up after finishing breakfast, kissed his cheek, and got dressed. Honestly, I understood. There was nothing else to be said on the matter, and I didn't want to upset him at all.
We left his apartment in a rush. It was the start of the second semester, and we had planned our classes so we could take them all together. This semester we were studying the History of Psychology, Statistics, Cognitive Psychology, and finally, Developmental Psychology. However, I carried a heavy conscience, feeling guilty that I hadn't checked which classes Aimee had enrolled in before choosing mine. I had left her alone. Yet, she did have that other group of friends, who I assumed filled the void left by my absence, due to spending so much time with Edmund. My priorities had shifted, I realized, as I stared out the window of Edmund's car.
He parked in his reserved spot, and we quickly made our way to our first class of the day —Cognitive Psychology, an interesting way to start the morning. The professor, Mr. Wilson, was a burly man in his early fifties. His classes were engaging, though he seemed perpetually annoyed. He leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and expounded on why statistics were extremely relevant in our field of study and why his class was one of the most important for our entire degree. Every professor always claimed the same thing: their classes were of the utmost importance. Apparently, one couldn't be a therapist without them. It got repetitive.
Throughout the day, Edmund and I, much to my chagrin, maintained a healthy distance from each other while sharing a desk. Underneath it, though, our hands found each other's. I didn't see Aimee during any of our classes, but we didn't have all four that day, so there was still hope we'd end up in at least one together. The rest of the day flew by uneventfully. We found Aimee and Jessica in the cafeteria and joined them for lunch. Unlike usual, Edmund didn't seem to mind us spending time as a group. Perhaps it was because I hadn't seen either of them in a week. If so, his consideration made me feel grateful, and deepened my affection for him. Once classes were over, we retreated to our shared grove to exchange goodbye kisses. The tree glowed with its golden and silver leaves, creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. I soon noticed that in certain spots, the snow was melting, revealing immaculately green grass underneath, as if it were already spring. "Hey, isn't that interesting?" I said to Edmund, pointing towards the grass.
"What is?" he replied.
"The grass is untouched, unburnt by the snow," I observed.
"Huh. That is indeed very interesting. I wouldn't have noticed it if you hadn't pointed it out," he answered, his expression one of puzzled interest.
After our kiss goodbye, I trudged back to my dorm with a heavy heart. As I crossed the school campus, I observed that spring was beginning to gain ground over winter. The snowstorms were dwindling, and the trees were starting to bud. I knew I'd miss spending time with him as we had over the weekend. However, we had agreed to meet this upcoming Thursday for breakfast at Starbucks. I welcomed the plan; it provided me with a couple of days to spend with my friends in the mornings. As the event approached, anticipation surged through me. I yearned for it to arrive. Thursday felt like it was ages away. With my head down, I made my way toward my dorm. Approaching the door, I used my card and, as usual, it clicked open. The familiar odor of sweat and teenager wafted toward me. I grabbed the deodorant and sprayed a bit around to disperse the smell. I threw my backpack toward my desk and sat down on my bed. Resting my head on my hands, I remembered every single moment I had spent with Edmund. I couldn't help but laugh, smile, and cry, all at the same time. I tried to make sense of it all. I felt bliss, happiness, and sadness for I already missed him.
Once I broke out of my reverie, I stood up and donned my PJs. I headed toward my bed and thrashed around for a while, not really sleeping or napping, just existing, meditating, reliving everything in my mind. I had homework to start, but it didn't matter. Everything was so overwhelming. Was this what falling in love feels like? If so, it is extremely confusing. At some point, I must have fallen asleep so deeply that I didn't notice when Jacob entered the dorm. I woke up at 3 a.m. —the hour of the devil, as some call it. I sat up in bed, checked my phone, and saw two texts from Edmund; the first asking how I was doing, and when I didn't reply, he wished me a good night's sleep. I opted to reply tomorrow, in case I woke him up. There were no new messages from Aimee or Jessica. I wondered what they were up to and resolved to have breakfast with them the next day, hoping Jacob would join us. I knew I could count on them if I needed, and so could they with me.
A sudden burst of snores startled me, and I almost yelped. I shook my head and decided to try to get some more sleep. Fortunately, rest didn't take long to come; the light of the sun woke me up. I rubbed my eyes and noticed Jacob was already taking a shower — something unusual for him, since I always woke up earlier. I checked the clock, and it ticked 6:45. I made sure to answer Edmund and invite Jessica and Aimee. I headed toward the window, sat down in the sitting area, and noticed that the snow was definitely melting. I hoped summer would arrive soon. That was when Jake came out of the bathroom, his torso bared and wearing just a towel around his body. It didn't surprise me anymore at this point.
"'Oh, wow, Levi, I wasn't expecting you there," he said, suddenly taken aback. Most likely, it wasn't due to him being shirtless, but probably because he just didn't hear me getting up.
"Good morning to you too, buddy," I said sardonically, as I headed towards the bathroom. "Someone's a bit moody," I heard him say. I shut the door and took a prompt shower. As soon as I finished, I tried to comb my hair, but it was useless. I brushed my teeth and got dressed inside the bathroom, because, to be truthful, I lacked Jacob's confidence. I chose a red polo shirt, some jeans, and canvas sneakers. I exited the bathroom to find Jacob listening to music on his earbuds. I saw that my phone had several notifications. The first and most important was from Edmund; it read, "Good morning love, I figured you had gone to sleep. I can't wait for Thursday. Love you, xoxo!" I replied that I was more excited than he was and that I loved him more. The second message came from our friends' group; both Jessica and Aimee responded that they'd be glad to have breakfast with us. I chuckled to myself and turned to Jacob, who was the only one who remained unresponsive to the text.
"Are you expecting a formal invitation?" I asked him, resting each hand on my hips.
"I'm actually expecting an apology," he said, pouting ever so slightly. Guilt kicked in, and I figured that he was right. If I was moody, it wasn't his fault.
"I'm sorry, Jake, really I am," I said, making the heart symbol and a silly face. Right after, his face lighted up and his pouted lips disappeared.
"Ok ok, I'm going, alright?" he replied. We both headed towards the door and made our way to the stairs, up to the fifth floor. Exhaustion welled up inside me, while as always, Jacob was unaffected by the two-floor trek. The cafeteria was bustling with students, as classes were about to begin. We quickly picked up our breakfast and headed towards the girls. I greeted both of them with a light hug, and we sat down.
"So this is exciting, our first official meeting since the holidays," Aimee expressed, her expression joyful. Ours were as well.
"Yeah, yesterday we didn't have time to talk about much," I added, somewhat sorrowfully.
"Well, neither do we now, to be honest," said Jacob.
"It's better than nothing. We'll find time to hang out," Jessica decreed.
"So what did you do these past two weeks? Aimee! How was your trip to Canada? I completely forgot to ask you yesterday," I asked her, feeling regret inside my chest.
"It was very beautiful. We went to the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls, and that was quite a stunning view. You should travel there when you get the chance. After that, we just went to Toronto and Montreal. Both are impressive cities, though I missed Empiria. I missed you guys too," she recounted, while I reached for her arm, touched and sincerely flattered by her words.
"In my case, I stayed here with some friends I made, ones I have yet to introduce you to. We had many sleepovers; it was pretty fun. Until Jacob returned and kept me company for a while," At that, they exchanged confident glances, and I wondered what exactly that meant.
"How was your trip back home, Jake?" I asked, as curiosity wound its way through my thoughts.
"Oh well, I went back home driving on my own. It was pretty exciting because it was my first trip of such a long distance, driving for so long. I spent time with my siblings. We played a lot of football, and sooner rather than later, I was already back. Since we were the only two of us from the group here, I spent a lot of time with Jessica…" he replied, giggling.
"What did you do, Levi?" Jessica promptly asked.
"I also went home. Guys, I was finally reunited with my brother. It felt very nice to be once again with my family, petting my dogs. But I missed Edmund, terribly…" I was interrupted by Aimee's sudden cough, and I quickly realized, "I missed you guys, too, terribly," I dramatically emphasized the "terribly."
"Did you two kiss already? Spill the tea already," Jacob interjected, creating brisk anticipation at the breakfast table.
"Jeez, Jake," I immediately reacted.
"Spill it!" he pressed. "Okay, yes, we kissed. And it was beautiful, alright? I couldn't stop thinking about him throughout my entire stay at home. But, you know what he is like, he wanted to take things slow, probably afraid of public opinion. So, I took it easy, until the other day, when he picked me up from the airport, he went bam! And asked me to be his boyfriend. So, we're dating, guys, it's official," I concluded, while Jacob hooted in excitement and Jessica and Aimee applauded together. I applauded as well, smiling from ear to ear. They all congratulated me, and Jacob gave me a "bro" hug of success. I had achieved it. I was the winner, the champion. My trophy was Edmund, and I was going to treasure him until I ceased to exist. It felt like the sun on my skin. Soon after that, we realized it was already 8:50, and we had a class in another 10 minutes. We got up and dashed towards the Humanities Department. In record time, we crossed the Apartment's gate, the campus parks, and arrived at class, delayed by only five minutes.
The rest of the week, until Thursday, passed slowly, but smoothly. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see Edmund again that week; even though we were sharing most classes, he was accompanying his sister on a last-minute trip. Although, he reassured me that Thursday was still happening, no matter what, but gave no further details, increasing my excitement to know about his whereabouts. Thursday morning, I woke up briskly. I hadn't slept that well the night before since I had been constantly checking the time, not wanting to oversleep, and because I was excited to see him again, after three days. I took a quick shower, letting the warm water seep into my pores until I felt relaxation creeping in and my fingers wrinkled. This time, I combed my hair nicely, put on my perfume, dressed in dark blue chinos, a shirt with leaves being blown away by the wind, and a formal, yet warm jacket. I informed Jacob I was going to meet Edmund; he winked at me and gave me a thumbs up. I smiled, shook my head, and headed out. I descended the stairs, greeted Sarah, the receptionist, and exited the building. I made my way towards the corner, where Starbucks lay.
As soon as I entered the building, my eyes immediately zeroed in on an auburn-haired boy standing tall with his back facing me. I looked him up and down and soon noticed that other people were noticing him as well. Both men and women. The cashier was just as lost for words as I had been the day I contemplated the most beautiful man that ever walked this earth — my boyfriend, I mean him, of course. I stood behind him, cleared my throat, and he immediately turned around and exclaimed, "Levi!" Even though people were watching us, he laid his head against my shoulder and hugged me warmly and softly. I quickly made my order, and we headed towards the table that we had used the last time we were here. We sat side by side, our legs rubbing against each other, our hands interlaced.
"So what was this trip all about?" I asked him. It was now time for him to spill the beans. "You can't just disappear like that, or well, next time take me with you."
"It was just one of my sister's whims; not much I can do about it. Without anticipation, she arranged for a trip to Egypt. I had barely arrived from school that Monday when we were boarding our plane to Egypt. I humored her; she had even packed my bags for me, can you believe it, Levi?" he said, and I believed I could feel a sense of irritation and surprise hidden in his tone. "I brought you a little something as well…" he added, and a warm feeling of anticipation and insecurity seeped in.
"Oh, Edmund, you didn't have to. I missed you terribly," I said as he handed me a package. I opened it to find a miniature silver representation of the Pyramids, inscribed with hundreds of tiny hieroglyphs. "This is otherworldly. What is it made of?" I questioned him.
"Pure silver. I saw it at a pawnshop, and the owner said it belonged to some long-lost pharaoh. I immediately thought, 'now it can only belong to my pharaoh,'" he replied eagerly, giving me a very devilish smile. In all truth, I couldn't contain myself; I jumped at him and kissed his lips softly and then added more force. He didn't resist. He took the initiative, put his hand behind my neck, and pressed his lips against mine. My head was tumbling in and out of consciousness. I thought for a moment that he would resist me, being in such close proximity to school.
"My, my, what do we have here?" a female voice, velvety, formal and nearly British in accent, that startled both of us from behind.