Love doesn't Demand

CHAPTER 3

Promptly toward the beginning of the day, the glorious sun got up like a child and began painting the dull dark sky into a dazzling blue sky. The brilliant white clouds turning smooth mists got upward from rest and began reaching every corner of the sky visiting the environment.

The cold breeze touched my skin and I felt it throughout my body. The red and green in shading birds began tweeting their morning tune. The beautiful street garden stood like a royal design and the thick solid brown huge branches moved to wave the sun a good morning. The fresh green-brown countless leaves rain down as the street cleaner sweeps it with curved lips.

The little charming butterflies fly around me kissing my cheeks and sore to the sweet nectar of flowers. The flower's sweet scent filled the entire atmosphere and danced in sync, making the morning pleasant to begin.

I head towards the art studio with a spring on my steps. My spirit embraced the calming morning as I inhaled and exhaled the fresh air reaching my lungs.

I arrived at the art studio and grabbed the door's handle. I tried to open it but it didn't budge until I realized that it's locked.

"It's close?" I whispered, frowning. My expectations devoured my sweet mood and it turned as gloomy as a tree alone on an island. "But I was so excited about this..."

"It's weekends," a familiar voice suddenly brought my mood together.

I spun around and saw Marco on a black bicycle. He got down from it and faced me. I'm surprised, he's wearing a blue t-shirt instead of his usual long sleeves or hoodie. He also carries a satchel diagonally crossing his body resting its strap on his shoulder.

"Oh, I forgot," I said.

I've been craving creativity, new ideas, and improvement. That's why I was so excited lately. Besides, I also want to spend some time with Marco and cope up with him more. After the day we opened up to each other, we became closer as friends and I never felt the same. No more miss lonely nor empty. The overthinking days are over. It's like destiny allowed our worlds to collide again for a reason. Someone can indeed turn your world upside down because from the day that I met Marco for the second time, not as a classmate I barely interact with but as a friend and art buddy, my days have been brighter.

I do have few friends from high school, unfortunately, no one stayed but my gut tells me that this friendship is different from what I had before. I think this one will last, I just know it.

"I was about to go to a cafe nearby, do you want to go along with me?" he asked and caressed his hair. "I've also been meaning to treat you..."

"Sure!"

His dimples appeared as a small smile curved from his lips. That is so cute. When will I be able to poke those dimples? I wonder how people get that naturally. I want to have one too!

Marco and I walked and embraced the beautiful ambiance together. Sometimes I'll glance at him and observe his features back and forth, not until he caught me staring and I felt so shy. I avoided looking in his direction and focused on the way, I just heard him chuckled after. That is so embarrassing!

We arrived at the cafe and it was the cafe I usually go to. Marco opened the cafe's door and entered but he still held the door for me until I got inside. The unique aroma of coffee hits my nostrils, it smells attractive and sweet. The music being played inside and the lighting used still hits different every single time I visit here.

I looked around and saw a familiar figure lining up on the counter. I immediately pulled Marco's wrist so I could get his attention.

"Can we please move to another cafe?" I asked, being so anxious.

"You don't like it here?" he asked back. His eyes looked disappointed and I can't help but feel conscientious about it.

"No, that's not what I meant. It's just that..." I uttered, looking back and forth at the counter while hiding my face behind Marco's large frame.

How could I explain this situation to him?!

"Julia! Hey," a voice of a guy called and unfortunately, it's coming from behind Marco.

Great.

Everything was too late when Alistair waves at me and approaches us. It's Alistair. The person my parents told me long ago to train and study with for College. For all the people that I can mingle with today, he appeared. I just wish I could be a ghost right now and walk away as if no one can see nor feel me.

Alistair looked at Marco back at me and said, "Wait, are you guys dating?"

My eyes widened.

"No, we're just friends," I said, shaking my head from side to side. I'm so troubled on what way will I be able to get out of here alive, not until Marco's hand slides through my palm holding on to it tightly. I look up at him and stare at his brown eyes looking intensely at Alistair.

"We're dating. I'm Marco Lopez by the way," he said and lent his other hand to Alistair. I broke into a sweat. My heart pounded, and my hand began to feel clammy against my bouncing knee.

"I'm Alistair Dallas," he says. They shook hands and Alistair gave me a skeptical look. "Would you like to join us for a drink? I'm here with my friends before we head on to the gym."

I gulped. He's already conditioning his body for the Academy yet I'm still wandering around and eating all the food I want without a proper diet or anything. Just when did I last do a workout? My parents would kill me if they find out what I've been doing these days!

"No, thanks. We're just here for a take-out," Marco responds.

"Alright, suit yourselves."

Alistair finally leaves us alone and settles down with his friends at the corner. His friends wave at me and I wave back greeting them with a smile. I stare at the books they're holding and reading, the same books my parents prepared for me that I haven't even touched at home yet. I'm supposed to be with them, training at the gym and studying for the entrance exam but how could I do those things if I'm not even sure if I want that path.

I'm just sitting down at the table alone while waiting for Marco at the counter. I can see Alistair's eyes glancing in my direction by my peripheral vision. I'm too nervous to even look upon him. I tried so hard not to peek in his direction until I had the urge to. Then I realized he wasn't there, and I just felt someone's presence behind my back. I turned around and saw Alistair, I almost had a panic attack.

"I'll tell your parents," he whispered before walking away. It was those words that terrified me to death. No, this can't be! What shall I do? My parents can't know about this or else I want them to have a heart attack! I need a plan before my life gets worse.

"Julia?" Marco called, holding a paper bag, "let's go now."

I nodded and we headed outside. We were just walking with no destination at all. It was a period of silence between the two of us. I can feel my cheeks heating up when I suddenly remembered the exact moment Marco held my hand. I can't even look at him without my heart being flattered by his gesture! And the way he said we were dating, I can't, my heart can't contain it anymore! I feel as if I'm about to burst any minute now.

"Thank you for saving me back there," I said, full of courage after gathering all my strength to say it to him.

"You seem uncomfortable with that guy, Alistair, is there a big reason to?" he asks. This time, I didn't hesitate any longer to tell him what's bothering my mind. Talking to him makes my heavy feelings wash away, my heart just feels light when I'm with him.

"You see... I'm supposed to study with Alistair for the entrance exam and condition my body if ever I get into the same Academy, but the thing is... I just can't envision myself in the world of politics. It's only my parent's expectations that are holding me back from art," I said.

"Live the life you would be proud of, they say," he said, looking at the horizon. "It's indeed hard to stop thinking about others' expectations towards us because we live in a society full of judgments, but it's more difficult to live a life full of regrets not doing what you want to do."

Marco's words served as an eye-opener for me. Yeah, he's right. Even for a little while, even with a few words, he was able to make my soul at ease.

"You know what, I've been looking up on google for motivational quotes but yours is the best," I said, breaking the drama and simply laughing it all out.

We found a park and there we settled down on the bench with a few inches gap between us. It was calming and peaceful everywhere, the perfect time to capture this moment. I looked at Marco who was staring far away, I didn't realize it was already afternoon. How amazing it is that I wasn't even able to notice how fast the time flows.

I stared at Marco's visuals, and I was so eager to capture it but I don't even have my phone with me. The only thing I have in my bag is a sketchpad and pencil so I grab my things and start to draw. It's been a while since I created portraits, I always have trouble with the alignment of details. I just kept looking at him then back to my sketchpad and drew what I saw, not until I realized he was staring straight at my face.

"You want to draw me?" he asked. I fold my lips and nod as an answer. He sits closer to me and closes the gap. "First, focus on my facial features. Observe my proportions, and just draw."

I did what he told me. At first, I wasn't comfortable with how close our faces are but as soon as I got in the middle of my sketch I got used to staring at his face. His face never gets dull to look at. Just by staring at his medium brown pushed-back hair, flat eyebrows, brown eyes, symmetric nose, thin lips, and a pale ivory-type skin tone, makes me realize how beautiful this man is.

A couple of minutes passed and I had finished my sketch. Although I'm not quite confident at showing my drawings to someone, I find Marco different because he knows how to appreciate art even if he's kind of intimidating when it comes to this.

"Is that a photo of me?" he joked.

"Oh, c'mon! It's not that bad, right?" I asked.

"It's not bad," he said, "it's beautiful."

I'm not good at compliments and I didn't know how to react to his words so I didn't react at all.

"Can I keep it? You're not planning to keep it and stare at it all night, right?" he teased.

"Hey! Of course, I'm giving it to you. I'm not like someone hiding a sketch of some person," I teased back. He didn't even let out another word, and just kept staring at me.

"Wait, I'm missing something," I said.

I added blush to his cheeks before giving him the sketch, his red cheeks glow even more after seeing it. I focused my eyes on his dimples and it's freaking adorable, I swear I can't let this day pass without poking it.

"Can I please poke your dimples? Even just once, please?" I asked, politely.

"Okay, but you have to answer my questions first," he said. I pouted, so this is how things are now, with terms and conditions, I see.

"Alright, ask away," I said, waiting for his questions.

"Do you like anyone?" he asks. I abruptly got flustered, it was not the question I was expecting.

"I-I don't know..."

"How about that Alistair guy?" His voice got low as he asked this second question.

"No! Please don't be mistaken," I said and waved off my hands. His smile suddenly became wider.

"Then, what's your ideal type?" I instantly think hard of an answer. I even slapped my cheeks softly with both of my hands until I came up with a conclusion.

"Just someone simple who can make me happy, comfortable, and someone who can understand my decisions in life," I answered. He looked down and bit his lower lip before looking at me again.

"Well... are you happy today with me?" he asked.

It was the question that made my heart pound faster than usual. It was a foreign feeling invading my heart but a substance that makes my soul at ease and happy.

"Very," I responded, smiling widely.

"Okay, you can poke my dimples now," he said and smiled. He held my hand and brought my index finger to his cheek then I felt the tiny bump on it. We just paused like that for a minute until he pointed his head down, hiding his reddish face while squeezing my hand gently.

I can't explain how satisfied I am with this cuteness, but I do believe I can die happily now. Mom, Dad, sorry, I think I'm into an artist...