Chapter 13: Red
1348 Words
Chapter 13: Red
I have always been doubtful of the spectrum of the supernatural. Ghost? Don’t believe them. Vampires? If it’s as hot as Edward Cullen, nah. Wizards, oh they exist. But time-travelers? Their presence sets off the idea that all the things in the world is predestined that all things have their own fate. The future had been written and I might have been just an echo. And that’s the problem with time-travelers. It makes me philosophical about the reality of all things.
“Elois, are you alright?” Jasper shook my shoulder.
“Yes, I’m alright,”
“We need to go out of here soon. The flow of water is rising fast,”
He was right. All the other people in the grocery store are panicking as they face a dilemma. Some were brave enough to go outside and face the ankle deep flood because it’s becoming late now. It’s a pity that the road workers haven’t controlled the situation as soon as possible.
“What are we going to do?”
“We’ll enjoy some splash of water,” Jasper answered.
“Wait, we’re going outside?”
“Yeah, it’s just a little flood.” Jasper took all the things that we’ve bought and lead the way. I was glad that I’ve worn my baby pink khaki shorts but my nifty converse shoes would surely get drenched. I followed Jasper outside and that’s where I noticed that flood reached until the corner of the main street. The flood water is murky brown and some trashes floats away. While it’s dirty and ugly down on earth, looking up takes away all of it as the sun had already set and the sky is at a picturesque purple with pink lofty clouds that drifts slowly to somewhere.
We continued to walk exhaustingly. We were halfway till the end of the flood when I stepped on something hard like a rock and fell fast. “Ow!” I winced. I used my hands to cushion the fall but now it burns. Jasper ran to my side and brought me up to my feet. So much for my khaki shorts not being wet.
“Elois, oh my God, you’re bleeding!” I spun to look to where Jasper is pointing at and immediately saw blood dripping from my legs. The scratch must have been bigger than I expected. “I’m sorry Elois, I made you walk like this,” Jasper apologized.
“No, it’s my fault. I’m being clumsy again,” Jasper turned his back to me and squatted. “What are you doing?” I asked.
“Come on, I’ll carry you on my back,”
“Why? I could walk Jasper. It’s just some scratches.”
“Yeah, but we’re in a middle of a flood. You know you can get that disease. What is it called? Leptospirosis?” I was held back by his offer.
“What? No, we would look silly. Plus you’re carrying heavy groceries,”
“I don’t care. You’re in danger! Hop onto my back now!” I could sense that he’s panicking now. He looked at me then nodded at me persuasively. From that, I didn’t protest any more. I held onto his shoulder and jump onto his back and he successively caught my thighs. I feel very bad for him because now he has to carry the weight of my legs and the groceries. I tried to lighten myself up by not inhaling gas but I don’t think that works.
“I’m sorry, Jasper,” I whispered as my mouth was just inches away from his ear. Then Jasper started to laugh mildly. “What’s funny?”
“You’re breath makes my ear ticklish,” he laughed some more.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Yeah you know you’re not as heavy as you look like,”
“I don’t know if that’s a compliment or an insult but thanks, muscle man,” I kid.
“Muscles? I don’t have muscles?”
“But you sure are strong,”
“Because I have to, for you” those words rolled out from his mouth like it was so natural, normal.
He said that I was not heavy but it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t tire him out. His head was sweating and I could feel his whole body was very warm. But even so, his scent is particularly pleasant for my nose. He wears a strong masculine odor. I never imagined myself ever smelling a man and it made my cheeks feel warm altogether. “We’re almost there, Jasper,” I cheered him.
“Yeah,” I don’t know exactly how long he has been carrying me but it felt like it’s been forever as if the streets stretches itself to be longer and time slowed down. Time, you sure are a bastard aren’t you?
“There’s no more flood now, you can bring me down now,”
“Alright Elois,” He slowly loosened his grip on my thighs. “Are you sure you can walk?”
“Yeah,” Jasper was astonishingly very red and sweaty. He must been very exhausted. I don’t know why but I wanted to put my hands on his face.
“You’re so red,” I told him. “I must have choked you,” I started to walk limply because my left leg hurts when I move it. Jasper followed.
“No you didn’t”
“You must been lying then when you told me that I’m lightweight,”
“No I wasn’t. You’re really not that heavy.”
“Don’t deny it. You’re face is red all over and you’re sweaty,”
“Elois, I’m telling the truth. I’m not tired at all. I’m red all over and I’m sweaty because you were on my back. It made me feel so warm inside, I can’t explain.” I stopped walking and looked at him. He returned my gaze at a split second then he looked away at no particular direction. His face turned bright red now. Does that mean that he was red because he was blushing?
“How about you?” Jasper asked. He continued not to stare at me.
“What?”
“Your face is red too you know. Why?”
I wanted to answer that my face is red too because of the same reason he told me. I was on his back and he made me feel warm inside. But instead I answered “I’m trying not to breathe so that I would get lighter,”
“Oh,” he said.
Successfully we managed to get home. Leslie was not in our room when we got there. It made me feel a little worried where she is at the time of the day. Today I realized that Leslie and Jasper is all set on my life now. I know that when my- when my depressions comes back, it would ruin them but it’s a threat I must face some time. Someday my dark days would come and they have no other choice but witness me slip away.
But there is someone else who is entering my life at full speed and with great impact without me catching up to it. I lay at my bed as I wait for him, for my “future husband”. Nikolas, where are you now?
- Writer
