Wrong Arrow

4 : Non-existent Heart

And he narrows his brows. "Or can I."

But of course, his silent whisper fails to go beyond the barrier separating them as he watches her gently lower her lids.

Zacharius's features soften.

"Such a shame indeed little miss."

-

She irons the flat of her hands down her clothes, gradually turning away from the leaving bus. And she waits for it to drive away. 

They can see her house from down here, all lights turned off in news of its abandoned state. 

Trailing behind her is an intent Zacharius taking notice of the empty neighborhood. When she reaches her front porch, she pushes the door open, cringing from both the sound and wind that attacks her skin before taking a step in. 

He familiarly walks in too, catching a little glimpse of her clothes lingering in the opening that led to the kitchen before disappearing.

There he finds her reading a note stamped to the fridge. A frown had taken over her face. And that could only mean one thing.

Her dad was indeed not returning home tonight.

With a sigh, she snatches the paper between her fingers, scrunches it into a ball, before disposing of it. Pearl was used to it by now. In a way, she expected this. It made her feel lonely regardless.

Just for tonight though. She takes in a deep breath, inhaling the chilly air in, before releasing the tightening wind. 

Growing up, there was a time when her family was complete. She had a mom that showered her with love, a dad who'd make time for the both of them. Everything was going great until that dreaded day came. 

Pearl recalled coming home one day after school, finding her dad drained on the couch with a trail of dried-up tears on his face. She recalls the smile he gave her, so disoriented and broken. He didn't explain what was wrong, simply just encasing her in his arms, hugging her tight. 

Things had almost returned to normal after that. Almost. She still doesn’t know what led her father to break down like that. And he still wouldn't tell her no matter how many times she's brought it up. Telling her lies instead, despite her demand for the truth. her silent pleas didn't move him. It didn't work. Which led him rarely ever coming home, drowning himself with work. She figured it was because of her.

It hurt when he wasn't around. But what pained her more was the fact that her mom was still nowhere to be found.

It's been ten years since she'd last seen her, and not a single day has passed without Pearl missing her so much.

Zacharius doesn't move away from the door even when Pearl starts lifting her sweatshirt up. He lightly leans a muscle against the wall, watching her with sober eyes.

Pearl slithers away from her clothes, slipping on a white shirt that ended midway through her thighs. The gentle brush of her legs touching fills the silence of the bedroom, like a mild wave crashing in a summer vacation. 

Following the sound of her smooth skin brushing against each other is the ruckus of her bed sheets curling beneath her fingertips and knees. She crawls into bed, placing herself in the middle with her laptop clutched between her hand.

She’s not planning to get some sleep tonight. Not that she had a choice anyway. Even with Monday's just three days away, it’s obvious she wants to finish the essay and relish the remaining hours of her weekend.

Through the pitch black of the area, little light of white piercing through the slits of the bed room window, Zacharius travels across the floor to where her desk is. He brushes his fingers above the edge and sits opposite from where the chair is facing, legs on both sides.

Unbeknown to Pearl, the hem of her shirt heists up when she places a pillow on her lap, displaying more and more of her creamy texture. With too much skin exposed, it doesn't help one bit when she decides to cross her legs.

Zacharius can't take his eyes off at all now, a little smirk tempting to curve the side of his lips. His eyes have turned dark, taking in every single motion she shows.

It's a perfect view.

Hair a mess, a soft collarbone exposed and the darkness just sums it all up.

It's funny how oblivious she is. How she's unaware of his presence. She looked so small in the middle of her large bed that seems to swallow her whole. Brightness from her computer showers her exhausted yet pleasing face, highlighting the dark circles under her eyes.

After a minute of staring, she picks up her phone from the side, looking earnestly at it. The arched brow of her face rises up, a bitter twinge in her lip shaking.

She makes that face before abruptly closing her laptop shut.

Suddenly she scampers to her feet, swinging her exposed legs on the edge of the bed before heading straight to the bathroom.

Of course, Zach wasn't dumb enough to follow her in there and simply adjusts himself cozily on the seat, waiting.

Tick Tock.

No sign of her yet.

Tick Tock.

Still no sign of her.

Tick Tock.

She was surely taking her time.

He was getting worried.

"What are you even doing?" He mutters under his breath, already up on his feet. He's about to check up on her when the door suddenly flings open. There she was, bright light behind her, hair in a messy bun with a towel dabbing her wet face.

No amount of words could describe how relieved Zacharius was right now. He had thought she killed herself for a second there.

"Took you that long little miss. "

The latter sighs. He rakes his fingers over the silvers of his hair, and with clouded eyes, does another take of her figure. 

Up and down, the porcelain of her legs now covered beneath the cotton silk of her pajamas.

Absently, he licks his lips, huskily trailing a word off. It was as if his non-existent heart had skipped a beat for a moment there.

"Weird."