Each Silent Emotion | Complete

7. Let me in

It was rare for Aster to feel bored, as though there wasn't anything to do in her floral shop, that type of bored. It was simply rare not impossible, some days were just plain boring due to different factors—today was no different, well, perhaps the reason for the boredom had been different.

Ever since Saturday, ever since she last saw Moon, the days had been hollow—something she couldn't quite explain or grasp her way around it, all she knew it was different—the type of different that made her mood and overall day unbearably sad, that made the clock move a lot slower than any normal day, that made the dim phone screen seem as though it was mocking her existence.

That, was exactly how Aster felt and she didn't like because who in their right mind would.

Something did click in Aster's mind, she was going through withdrawal—not from alcohol or anything like that but Moon—she was going through withdrawal from Moon's lack of presence in her life since Saturday evening that she, Moon, walked her home.

The lack of texts since yesterday afternoon after Moon told her how she was going to take a nap, she was a bit under the weather—nothing since Aster's recovery wishes had been exchanged between them and today was Monday. Aster had to beat the urge to show up right then and there once two hours passed since 13:47PM on Sunday afternoon, to check up on Moon of course.

But she knew, as clear as the clear blue skies, Moon was fine, she'd be fine as Nia was there along side her—she didn't need to stress herself, over analyze anything but just a distraction would take her mind off it—and it did, for yesterday at least.

She had distracted herself since pretty well but right now her distractions were left with a limit on effectiveness and those distractions that would, certainly, distract her. Not that stem trimming, flower pots rearranging from small to big or colourful to least, coffee grain counting—yes, she did that—were distracting enough because her mind had a yearning to replay old memories.

Not so old but they weren't in the future, now were they—and to Aster's dismay, those memories were the ones she shared with Moon since they first met to Saturday evening at the birthday party, even before they made it to June's place. Everything played in her mind and each time Moon was more vivid than ever—it made her miss her presence more and bore out the entire day.

Saturday to Aster was, had been something she couldn't explain—well, she could but it wouldn't quite grasp the emotions to it and what about it that kept leaving a blush of pink on her cheeks.

Reminiscing those events, playing them back to back—each scenario made Aster feel lovesick and the fact Moon's absence made her sick, like physically sick, did not help.

Honestly Saturday felt like a daydream. Right after Nia shoved the two hugging love birds out of her room claiming to be physically sick, the two shared an elevator by themselves with Aster still blushing and Moon standing so close did not help—the silence between them didn't help her stop the images of Moon's touch or of her own on Moon, she couldn't believe she had done that neither would she have stopped if Nia did not shove them back into reality.

The elevator, the walking side by side with Moon successfully snatching her purse for her, Moon, to carry. Their conversation all in sign language from Moon's to June's place, how terribly good Moon got with signing—how terribly good Moon was with her hand and mouth Aster wondered, time and time again as she caught herself staring at her moving lips to her hands.

Each second was awfully noticeable whenever Moon was besides her, each part of her body was awfully aware of the yearning that lingered—Aster felt like a piano wanting to be played, touched, and Moon had been her pianist whose finger tips were made to hit each right key.

Aster was so far gone and she knew.

Everything was a piece that made her heart skip a beat or two.

How June had suspiciously eyed Moon when they first arrived and everytime after that as Moon stuck by her side, how Moon refilled her drinks—how much attention Moon had on Aster and no one else. How much Moon had invaded Aster personal space to either place a strand of her hair behind her ear, or grab her attention by placing her hand over hers—how much closer they had gotten to kissing, each time they locked eyes.

How much they felt like one throughout the night, and how badly she wanted Moon to kiss her everytime—how badly she wanted to be held in Moon's arms, how badly she loved Moon gaze on her—studying each move she made that would make her forget how to walk, how badly she loved feeling her gaze even when there was a distance between them.

How badly she loved Moon holding her by her waist as they slow danced, an idea June pushed her to do and she was so thankful—she didn't care she couldn't hear the music, Moon was her guide and all was well.

How badly she missed the moments after they had taken their leave, she still had a mere walk home in her grasp until she didn't—Moon had to go home and she hadn't invited her in, then Sunday rolled around which hadn't graced her of Moon's presence.

Aster wouldn't let today go, she'd text the woman—even video call her if it were an option, that had been what she set her mind on.

12:01PM

Aster turned her head towards the clock then to her phone that laid beside the cashier, it wouldn't be long till Moon eventually got off from work—maybe a little text would motivate her to stop by.

§

12:47PM

"That literally won't make her hear you." Moon stated staring at the boy who was continuosly knocking on Aster's front desk, that was unattended to.

"Then what will, I've been here for ten minutes."

"Me, I will." Moon replied, pulling the phone out of her pocket she opened Aster and her chat. As she stared at their last exchange a bit of guilt and realisation washed over her—Aster had been the last one to text and Moon left her on read, she remembered how heavy her eyes had gotten and the pain that let her bedridden as she slowly slipped to slumber, Aster's text fading at a distance. Since then she had texted back neither did she start a conversation today, she had missed Aster so much—she left work with seeing Aster in mind.

'Come out front.'

Hitting sent, her gaze went from the now dim phone screen to the boy, now slouching with his tall frame over the front desk—a bag pack resting by his feet, his index finger twirling the leaf of a plant. "Don't act rude or anything, she's going to feel a lot worse knowing she kept you waiting." Moon carefully studied him, releasing the leave he stood up straight with his right arm resting over the desk—his attention on Moon.

"Why shouldn't I?" He was intrigued, his eyebrows raised a smirk came over his lips.

"I'll slap the attitude out of you, if you dare." Moon glared. From her perspective, he did not look like the trouble causing type of person—nothing about him made her stand guard but then again she was a poor judge of character, he could be a whole lot of trouble right under her nose—she couldn't be too sure. "Trust me, she didn't mean to leave the shop unattended." Moon added.

"Are you her girlfriend?"

"No—"

"You like Aster, don't you." He laughed out cutting Moon off. His right hand pressed hard against the wood as support, as his left hand rested against his chest lightly—his shoulder length hair covered his face as he leaned forward, laughing.

"Wait." Moon mumbled as she took a step towards him closing up the distance a bit, her hands were crossed in front over her—a gaze that wasn't so friendly as before rested on her face, the apologetic smile she had on completely wiped off. "You know Aster? You've been here a lot?"

"You could say that, I know her." He smiled innocently smiling at Moon, staring directly into her eyes he wiggled his eyebrows.

"You—"

Her words fell short as Aster dashing right past her, in a speed of light made her mind haze and Aster jumping into hugging the boy made her heart dizzy. He had been slightly taller than Aster, he easily towered over her—it made it easy for him to give her head pats as other hand tightly held Aster.

Moon furrowed her eyebrows in confusion that turned into curiosity then straight up turned into a glare, one directed at the smiley boy who hadn't purposely stared into her eyes through the whole hug—she could understand the annoyance growing in the depths of her stomach but not why he found it entertaining—or why his smile was taunting her.

"I missed my older sister." He said with an arm over Aster's shoulder, once they had pulled apart from the hug, Aster stood beside him with her arm around him. "I'm Elm, Aster's younger brother—can't you see the resemblance." Elm said as his pointed at his then Aster's face.

"Hard to tell, though the hazel eyes and black hair if Aster's wasn't mint right now could pin you two as siblings. Otherwise, you're quite uncanny."

"Where do you find these people?" Elm signed to Aster as he spoke, his hand slipped off Aster to sign. To say the weren't having a stare—glare—down would be a lie, neither would saying their smiles weren't laced with hostility.

"That's not friendly." Aster signed with a slight glare directed towards Elm. Turning to Moon, Aster couldn't help smiling widely at Moon, she really—desperately—wanted to embrace Moon. Not even 40 minutes ago had she been struggling with a typing a text that hadn't been too forward, too desperate, nor bothersome—typing and retyping her message, deleting and switching her phone off and on constantly, ate her up.

But then Moon texted and she left her heart pick up, she was overjoyed. Now here was Moon, only standing a few feet away from her with the time that gave her clarity she hadn't wasted all afternoon trying to find the right words—it wasn't half Moon's working hours, that did make her curious though.

A hug

She wanted to walk into Moon embrace, have the arms that were resting by her side hold her tightly—so tightly she'd carry Moon fragrance with her even as she left, even as they got washed.

"If y'all are going to hug, please hug and stop with the heart eyes—it's making me sick."

Aster furrowed her eyebrows as Moon glared at most likely her brother behind her, she was curious as to what he said that got Moon pushing daggers. Aster about to turn and asked, stared at Moon who held onto her forearm tugging her lightly towards her—suddenly, Elm could wait.

Moon's eyes, fragrance, touch and lips were intoxicating—she couldn't understand what Moon said, not even after mouthing it twice, all she saw were her lips moving and then Moon's fragrance grew stronger—her touch felt warmer, her breath felt warm and ticklish as Moon said something she wish she could see.

Right now though, she loved being held in Moon's arms. Aster rested her head against Moon's shoulders, pulling on her fabric as held on tightly—this was exactly what she wanted.

Moon, was exactly what she wanted—Aster closed her eyes letting herself feel at home, fell so much in a single hug, she could stay like this forever.

"I just met you but I think my sister likes you back, you have my blessing."

"I wasn't asking for one."

Elm hummed squinting his eyes at Moon's middle finger, but if he did it Aster would have his head—damn that love sick puppy. Walking past the two, who were still hugging, Elm flicked the back of Moon's head before disappearing through the staff only door.

Giving them a bit of privacy.