Writers: Phoenyx#3587 & wildcaffeine#2950 Eliana’s POV:
“...I suppose, this is hello.”
I took the free seat in front of Isla, reluctantly pulling my seat close to match the occupied tables and pairs within the small cafe. I cleared my throat, as I attempted my best to meet Isla’s gaze. “I... saw your profile, and decided to meet with you... as someone also privileged with time itself.”
It was odd to reveal this curse to someone I had just met. Normally I would have saved it until they would inquire about my abilities. However, since I discovered Isla also had this immortality curse, from her profile… I believed it was worth taking the chance and seeing where it would take me.
I watched as Isla shook with excitement, vibrating in her seat. I glanced down to the table and noticed folded recipes beneath the saucer, before raising my gaze back to her. Her eyes were a little wide, pupils dilated because of the caffeine. I could only wonder how many cups of this drink she had consumed.
“Hi! How are you?”
Isla’s first and last words dragged on a little before I listened to her continue.
“I'm so glad to meetcha! Also, oh my gods, your hair color is so gorgeous. How'd it change from the white? I saw you mentioned it changed but how'd it change?”
Her words slipped from her tongue without much pause between them. I almost mistook her for being drunk with how fast she asked me those questions..
From the corner of my eye, I watched her pull out a small notepad from a sort of pocket in her pants as she then awaited my answers.
“Ah... well…” My lips twitched into a small smile. Her excitement was… endearing. A much needed change from the stiff and tense folk back in Sairilvia.
I cleared my throat again before I answered, twirling a few strands of hair in between my fingers, making sure not to accidentally tug on it. It is after all quite long and delicate, and even a slight pull is damaging.
“To put it simply, I once overexerted the use of my abilities and aside from the scars, another of the permanent changes was my hair taking on this plum hue.”
I watched Isla frown, her eyes narrowing a little in a subtle desire of comforting me. A sigh escaped me, as I slowly shook my head. Silently refusing her pity.
“Aw, I am sorry you got hurt.”
Yet as soon as I saw her concern, it was replaced by joy. Her eyes went back to my hair. And I could not blame her for it. There was no woman in any era I lived through that came close to the length of my hair. It was a sign of pride, of power and prowess one need not take lightly.
“But you did get a gorgeous hair color out of it and you must be so powerful to have moved on from that!”
The corners of my lips twitched upwards into a small smile. Her comment felt different than others I have heard, it felt genuine. It felt like it came from a place of confidence instead of fear.
“It's quite alright, it's been a few millennia ago since it occurred, so it poses no issue to me anymore…” I murmured to her. “And yes, I do agree some good has come from it.”
My eyes drifted towards her cup of coffee chilled with ice. An odd combination, I thought. I then wondered how much more she would drink in quick succession, but that thought led me to a place of concern. Despite being gifted with time, it did not mean it encouraged deliberate harm on oneself.
I gritted my teeth, aware of how hypocritical that thought was.
I shook my head before I shared something regarding Isla’s energy, moving the conversation to a new topic.
“...I am not an individual filled with energy, so I often find myself just roaming around, perhaps looking at a few shops and looking for a few things to... update my wardrobe. It's been difficult to find anything, though I believe it's because I've grown attached to this attire and have been maintaining it.”
I motioned to my kimono and hood, revealing a few of its stitches and patches neatly blending in unnoticed. I was quite skilled in sewing, far too skilled some may say with how I handled needles and scissors.
“I’m… also not quite keen with crowded spaces.”
I added, a bit more quietly. It was ironic that my match so happened to be a woman with bubbling energy and excitement. It almost made me scoff at the pairing, but I held back my annoyance at such a coincidence. If this was how fate would be treating me, then I had no right in questioning it for now.
Because every time I did, it seemed to punish me until I could not erase my regret.
I couldn’t hear exactly what Isla had said to me. I was too deep in my thoughts yet again, considering all the possibilities but never once sticking to one. It made me yelp in surprise as I was yanked from my seat. I stumbled, tripping on my feet until we briefly paused outside of the café. Being dragged out without even a call of my name tightened my chest. I attempted to gather my breath but within seconds I was continued to be pulled towards a mall.
My cheeks became a little warm. Her hand was soft, unlike my own which were a little rougher. The air flowing through her hair became waves that reminded me of the ocean. She was breathtaking more than the run itself. I was not used to such adrenaline, or at least, an excitement of feeling what I thought I would never feel again.
That warm air was soon replaced by the chilly atmosphere of the mall. The electronics everywhere gave my body a brief chill. It was odd, certainly confusing for a being as ancient as me. Sairilvia had no tech such as this, far from it. We battled until we could no longer stand. We valued community more than anything else. But this, this was unlike it. At best, it reminded me of our trade market. Stalls upon stalls lined up, with vendors hailing from neighboring countries and kingdoms.
“I know it's overwhelming but I am right here beside you!” Isla pulled me from my thoughts.
For a moment I blinked, realizing that she had brought me here. A quiet sigh left my lips, and I attempted to speak. Yet no words managed to form on my tongue. And my mind became far too messy, far too incoherent to string together words into a proper sentence.
She squeezed my hand, but it did little to help me recollect myself. My cheeks took on yet another hue of red, making my face pink compared to the rest of my skin. I blushed. Red, reminiscent of blood, stained my cheeks.
Twisted though it may be, that was the power of love. I quietly realized to myself. It could usher in warmth and light, and it could also turn a single ember into a raging inferno, destroying those who threatened it. Love might be the worst sin of them all, with its two sides.
I shook my head from the rabbit hole of thoughts I was getting into. I barely registered what Isla had asked of me.
“Yes, I believe that would be quite acceptable. My style is very… monotonous. I am not much for change. I get comfort from the known. But I think with you here… I feel a little less apprehensive about exploring the unknown.”
Isla smiled at my response. Her beaming at me reminded me of when I read books. Like if I read a book, it made my whole body and soul so warm that no winter could chill me. And I stood dumbfounded at that feeling’s return. I knew she was going to be my favorite story.
After a moment, Isla tugged me towards a particular store. With the light reflecting in her eyes, I assumed it was a favorite of hers. She soon detached from my side and sped off towards a few certain styles. But the store was far too large for my taste. It was focused on clothing fit for style and fashion rather than practicality. I froze in the middle of the store, grasping at the hem of my kimono. Isla bounced from one rack to another, until she found me in some part of the store. In her arms were numerous clothes.
I gave her a rather discomforted look, but also quite surprised at the selection she picked. She giggled at my reaction and I turned away from her to avoid seeing my pink cheeks.
“What can I say, I like shopping! Don’t worry I won’t make you try or buy nearly as many.”
She spoke to me. I let out a breath I hadn’t known I sucked in. A brief sense of relief that I would not be turned into a sort of servant of handling shopping.
We approached a few rooms closed off from the rest of the store. “Changing rooms”, as Isla had mentioned to me. She shuffled into one of the vacant, and oddly small, rooms with her pile of clothing. The faint clinks of racks and locks rang. Then a silence followed. I bit my lip before I asked her.
“You have asked about myself, but I would like to ask about you. Are there activities that you particularly favor?”
“I like going cliff diving or skydiving, or white water rafting. I also like to go clubbing and dancing. Sometimes though, I like to go to the coffee shop we met at and just sit and read a book or even just watch people. I also like to keep myself abreast and knowledgeable of current technological and scientific advancements. Oh and also, I loveee camping and hiking and exploring all the niche places in hard to get areas.”
I blinked at the door. Those were a lot of activities I hadn’t expected to receive from Isla.
Yet, if a part of me had a choice between Isla and multiple things about her era, I found myself choosing her every single time. Her era was far beyond my comprehension for the time being, and I didn’t show that I was too out of place. But with her, I found some comfort in such a chaotic period of time.
“…I’m quite fascinated by you.” I softly say from the other side of the changing room. My hiyori geta hit the tiled floors as I stepped closer to the door. “We are far too different, and yet, I am not deterred nor put off by it. Your energy feels like a foil to my calm. I find it particularly comforting.”
“Those thoughts had crossed my mind too but I am still happy that we met up. I like you!”
My cheeks scorched with a crimson hue.
Falling in love. It was always something that occurred without forewarning. It was an abrupt stab into my chest; I was in love, plain and simple. Perhaps, that was what made it so powerful. The lack of control made my chest tighten, yet I allowed it to happen. It was what paved the way for beautiful happenings along my pathway.
“I-I mean I like your personality…yea uh that.”
I took a step back as Isla stepped out of the changing room. She dumped the clothing she didn’t prefer in a nearby basket, whilst in her hands were her proper choices. Her hand was held up to her face as if hiding something.
“Oh,” I tilted my head at her. Even after discarding the ones she didn’t choose, she still possessed a lot of clothing. “You are quite keen on picking out your garments.”
I then cleared my throat, whispering a little. “And I suppose I do like you too.”
I wondered if I could keep my heart from sinking. When it had run out of breath, when it became exhausted, when it no longer wanted to flee and hide away. It was no longer running out of love, and I wonder if it found what it craved millennia for.
“Let’s go hand these over to a clerk at the counter and then we can go find something for you?”
Isla popped her head out over the pile of clothing whilst she rocked back and forth on her feet.
I glanced at her, giving a faint and small smile. “Certainly, but may I request that we stick to garments similar to the ones I currently own? I am not quite one for fashion, or even shopping for clothing. It’s simply not something that’s fit for me.” My gaze turned back to my kimono, straightening out wrinkles barely visible to my eyes.
Moments after dropping off Isla’s clothing at the clerk, Isla dragged me towards a few clothing she thought would fit me. I tried my best not to gloss over her choices, mainly because I was unsure what her era named certain garments.
“What do you think about these?”
Isla turned to me, holding up a toned down white upper garment. I squinted at it, trying to make sense of the long sleeves and even the elongated collar. I told her I didn’t like the color of the “turtleneck”, though I refrained from adding my reasoning as to why.
After finding one and handing them to me, she ran off to look for accessories. I only sigh as I slowly try to trail behind her. But as I watched bounce from rack to rack once more, a small smile tugged on my features.
She then handed me a thin brown leather belt weaved with an accompanying golden buckle before pulling me towards the footwear section. I attempted to continue trailing behind her, but a certain pair caught my eye. I approached a pair of leather shoes, almost as high as my hiyori geta. Although it was clearly artificial in its hue, the black was still a likable pair for the clothing I was holding.
I took them by the ankle, and approached Isla. With my free hand, I tapped her shoulder and quietly said to her.
“I quite prefer these as my footwear, Isla.”
She squealed in excitement at my selection, yet it caused multiple individuals to turn their heads towards us. I watched as she ducked her head. My own head tilted at her.
“Your energy is quite charming. How are you so happy?”
I asked as we headed towards the changing rooms yet again. I entered a vacant room and carefully tried the turtleneck, dress, belt, and shoes. My own clothing was folded neatly off to the side as I admired this modern style on my figure.
I listened to Isla answer my question quietly from the other side of the door.
I could not find the right words to reply to her sentiments. Even without mentioning even a detail, it was clear that she had been damaged by the cruelty of life and time. I stared at my reflection in the mirror with sorrow coating my irises.
Broken people always had a unique way of seeing things.
Shaking my head of those thoughts, I opened the door and revealed how the outfit looked on me. It was odd at first, but from the look on her face, Isla believed it still encapsulated who I was.
“I find myself liking this, and it is quite comfortable as well. I am not opposed to changing to this. What… what do you think?” I glanced towards the ground, my hands reaching towards the edge of the dress.
Her buoyant words took me off guard, my cheeks yet again flushed with a pink hue in shock and awe.
“A-Are you certain? I quite like it myself…Do you think the vendor would allow me to wear it outside of their shop?” I quietly asked her as I grabbed my kimono, hood, and hiyori geta from the changing room so I wouldn't forget them.
When she nodded and said we would return to the desk, she took the tags from my attire and pulled me towards the desk. I attempted to pay for my attire, yet Isla nudged me and winked. I blinked in confusion, but nodded nonetheless. That’s unique, I thought to myself, she intended to pay for my clothing.
I grabbed my bag that had my old attire, but Isla took all of the bags in one of her hands. In the other, she grasped my own. My pink tinted cheeks turned darker as we exited the store.
She looked at me as she exclaimed, “This has been the best day I have had in a long while! And I won’t even have to lose you to time! It makes this entire day that much more precious to me. I really hope you know that!”
‘Lose me to time…?’
For a brief moment, I squinted in confusion, but then nodded my head in realization. Ah, she meant outliving her past lovers. It was harsh, I knew far too well. But it was even harsher to know that the people I’ve known weren’t lost to time, they were lost at war and bloodshed more often than the clock ticking onwards.
It made me no longer believe in the idea of eternal lovers, or infatuation at a moment’s glance. But after so many millennia, I was beginning to believe that a very few times in my life if I was lucky, I may have met someone who was exactly right for me. Not because they were perfect, or because I was, but because the combined flaws were arranged in a way that allowed two separate beings to hinge together.
And for once, I found that with Isla.
Isla suggested we head off to consume some food, and she guided us towards the vendors outside of the mall. The vendors were more familiar to me, with their more casual wear and their stalls that attracted individuals no matter their class. Yet, I remained somewhat skeptical, it was different eras, more so civilizations, so quality was a little up in the air. I mentioned a restaurant would be better since I could pay for her meal, but Isla turned down my offer regardless.
She pouted at me to try the vendors, and I remained confused until I reluctantly gave in.
We headed to the stalls outside. And like the clothing store, I watched in shock as she bounced from one stall to another. It made me wonder if it was only me struggling to keep up with her.
Once I had rejoined her side, I discovered she had asked for a few of the stall’s delicacies. I had only blinked a few times until I felt warmth on my palms. There was a second variation of Isla’s order, and surprisingly, it was aromatic despite the simple and local ingredients used by the vendor.
We sat on a nearby bench, and before I took a bite, Isla had eaten most of her meal. I blinked. She reminded me of the folk from a neighboring country, all having the signature trait of bearing endless gluttony and hunger. Almost to a dangerous and sickening degree.
I sigh, “Are you not hurting because of how quickly you consumed your meal? It’s still quite warm in my grasp.”
Isla shook her head, and mentioned how it was nothing to her. I reluctantly nodded as I carefully ate my own meal.
As I ate, I noticed Isla inching closer and closer to me. And in the midst of chewing another bite, she pecked me on the cheek and returned to where she sat.
I flushed crimson as I swallowed, turning to her in surprise. I slowly lean closer, and give her a more delicate and gentle kiss on her cheek in return.
“I give you my heart, Isla.” I smiled at her as I continued to eat.
She hugged me close and replied back. “I’ll treasure it until time runs out on both of us, my love.”
Isla’s POV: I had arrived early at the coffee shop I was meeting Eliana at. I liked to watch people and what better place to do that than in a coffee shop I’d thought. It also helped that I could get a plethora of different kinds of coffee drinks there to accompany my people watching as I waited.
I was on my third cup of coffee when someone pulled up the chair before me. Glancing up from inhaling the aroma of the coffee, my eyes fell on my date, a large smile finding its way onto my face at the first tentative words slipped from her lips.
Eliana’s voice was melodious and soothing to me, but my attention kept getting drawn to her hair. I was enamored by her hair. It was such a gentle color, one that suited her aura. I had remembered reading that it was not the color she was born with and in my coffee-induced state, I had no control over myself, the words spilling out before I could stop them.
“I'm so glad to meetcha! Also, oh my gods, your hair color is so gorgeous. How'd it change from the white? I saw you mentioned it changed but how'd it change?”
Eliana’s response to my question broke my heart a little. Maybe it was my forever undying optimism towards life and wanting the best for anyone I ever connected with. Imagining Eliana being hurt, suffering in agony, made my smile fall, a frown replacing it as I ached to comfort Eliana’s pain, however far in the past it might have been.
“Aw, I am sorry you got hurt.”
Again, my eyes were drawn to her hair, making me perk up a little at my next thought, one that spilled from my lips unbidden.
“But you did get a gorgeous hair color out of it and you must be so powerful to have moved on from that!”
Taking another sip, I tilted her head to the side, my cheeks coloring slightly as I looked at Eliana’s profile.
“So what do you like to do for fun? I like to do lots so I wanna see what kind of stuff we could do together!” Her response was pensive, as if she was stuck somewhere in her memories of the past. I saw her glancing at my coffee, her lips pursing slightly, and wondered if she too found my love for coffee slightly unhinged. Maybe it was slightly unhinged to use coffee as my coping mechanism, to keep up my bubbliness, to hide the pain that lingered in my heart. She shook her head, and told me how she was not one for shopping nor crowded places, something I could understand but at the same time, it slightly appalled me. I understood loving an outfit so much and finding comfort in the known but to not to go get more outfits to dress up in was a slightly discombobulating thought to me.
But then her distaste for crowded spaces was understandable too. Large crowds often could feel like they drained one’s energy. But it made me wonder how the two of us would get along in the long run, a thought that made my cheeks color slightly.
I had just met her and already I was thinking about the long term…gosh I truly needed to get out of my head sometimes. But my thought did have merit. Her and I seemed poles apart, where she was the calm in the storm and I was the storm itself. I enjoyed doing activities that required being part of the crowd. Going out dancing, joining clubs, going on tours with groups of strangers. I had and still did it all.
My eyes danced across her face, trying to gauge every minute change in her expression. It seemed that she too was wondering how we might have matched, considering how different we were. I wondered if she regretted meeting me, a thought which made my lips purse slightly. I chewed on the inside of my cheek, falling into thought, a part of me still turned into what she was saying. Mulling over ideas, my eyes once again fell on her outfit. And suddenly I felt an idea bloom in my mind. My leg bounced in place from the burst of excitement I felt at the absolutely genius idea, the words tumbling out. “Although you are not a fan of crowded places, I was wondering if you would come with me to the mall? I promise we won’t go to any super crowded stores, and I won’t force you to get any outfit you aren’t comfortable with but will you pleassseee come and see how you find the experience to be when you go with someone else? Not to toot my own horn, but I am a bit of a fashionista and I feel like I can help you find more outfits you will adore just as much as you do the one you are in right now!” With each word, my excitement only increased, and before I knew it, I had stood up and was bouncing on my tip toes beside her chair. Seeing her still stuck in thought, maybe mulling over the idea I had proposed, I couldn’t contain myself. I grabbed her hand in mine, pulling her up and out of the cafe. Once outside the cafe, I broke out into a slight jog, heading in the direction of the mall, which was only about a five minute walk, or a three minute jog, from the cafe. Walking, or well jogging, to the mall, I felt Eliana slightly stumble from exuberance so I slowed down for her. We were now walking slowly, the entrance of the mall right in front of us. We stepped in, feeling the cold air from the air conditioning cooling us down. I looked over at Eliana, and she was glancing around, her eyes darting everywhere quickly. “I know it's overwhelming but I am right here beside you!” I squeezed her hand lightly to reassure her of my words, only then realizing that we had been holding hands the entire way. I was about to let go, but I felt her gripping my hand tighter, her actions speaking what she was reluctant to voice out loud. My eyes wandered to her face, only to see the slightest hint of pink to her cheeks, confirming my thoughts. “Shall we go to a store for me first? Maybe you can feel more at ease if we started with me and then slowly make our way to finding something you would like?” “Yes, I believe that would be quite acceptable. My style is very… monotonous. I am not much for change. I get comfort from the known. But I think with you here… I feel a little less apprehensive about exploring the unknown.” Her words brought a bright smile to my face and made me feel warm. I tugged her along lightly, heading to my favorite store. Inside, I beelined right to the cropped tops and leather jackets. I was zooming around, looking at all the tops and jackets, and had already accumulated a considerable pile in my hands. I turned towards Eliana, her shocked face making me giggle. “What can I say, I like shopping! Don’t worry I won’t make you try or buy nearly as many.” The immediate relief on her face made me break out into laughter, almost dropping my haul because of how hard I was laughing. We headed to the changing rooms so I could try on all my outfits. While I was trying on the clothes, I heard her voice filter in over the door. “You have asked about myself, but I would like to ask about you. Are there activities that you particularly favor?”
“I like going cliff diving or skydiving, or white water rafting. I also like to go clubbing and dancing. Sometimes though, I like to go to the coffee shop we met at and just sit and read a book or even just watch people. I also like to keep myself abreast and knowledgeable of current technological and scientific advancements. Oh and also, I loveee camping and hiking and exploring all the niche places in hard to get areas.” Silence accompanied my words, which I imagine was Eliana mulling over my answer. “…I’m quite fascinated by you. We are far too different, and yet, I am not deterred nor put off by it. Your energy feels like a foil to my calm. I find it particularly comforting.”
Again, her words infused me with warmth, my lips automatically twitching into a smile.
“Those thoughts had crossed my mind too but I am still happy that we met up. I like you!”
My cheeks heated up, realization dawning on me.
“I-I mean I like your personality…yea uh that.”
I headed out of the changing room having tried all the clothes I had picked, my choices in my hand, hiding my rosy cheeks from view.
“Oh, you are quite keen on picking out your garments. And I suppose I do like you too.” Eliana whispered the last part softly, maybe hoping I wouldn’t hear it.
But I did hear it and my cheeks got rosier, a grin pasting itself on my face.
“Lets go hand these over to a clerk at the counter and then we can go find something for you?”, my head popped over the pile in my hands, as I rocked back and forth on my feet.
Eliana was looking down but at my words she looked up, the corner of her lips twitching up slightly into a faint smile.
“Certainly, but may I request that we stick to garments similar to the ones I currently own? I am not quite one for fashion, or even shopping for clothing. It’s simply not something that’s fit for me.”
As she spoke, her hands were straightening out invisible wrinkles on her kimono.
* * *
“What do you think about these?”, I turned to her, holding up a beige turtleneck with full sleeves and a green plaid pinafore dress to go over it
“I don’t like the color of the full sleeved one… what is it called again?” “A turtleneck” “Yes, the… turtleneck. I don’t prefer this color. Is there something closer to brown in it?” “Yes, let me look! OOOO HERE IT IS!” I bounced over to her, the turtleneck, now in brown, and the dress clutched in my hands. I thrust them towards her, asking her to hold them while I zoomed away looking for a belt and shoes to go along with the dress.
She trailed along behind me, an indulgent smile on her face, as I darted ahead, almost childlike in comparison. My eyes caught a thin brown belt with a golden buckle and I bounced over to it, waving her over.
“LOOK!!! Just look at how perfectly this would go with the other two!!!”
“Yes, I think this will go together quite well. Shall I go try them on to see if I like it now?”
“Not yet, we still need to find SHOES”, saying which, I tugged her along over to the shoe section. I looked through the options available, frowning when nothing seemed to match. Before I could get upset at not finding anything, Eliana tapped on my shoulder, a pair of mary janes dangling from her fingers.
“I quite prefer these as my footwear, Isla.”
“OH. MY. GOD. THOSE ARE PERFECT,” my squeal was loud enough to be heard by everyone around us, something I realized a little too late. Ducking my head, my cheeks rosy yet again, I pointed to where the dressing rooms were.
“Your energy is quite charming. How are you so happy?”
Her question gave me pause, my mind trying to process my thoughts into sentences that would make sense. Amidst this, she had stepped into the changing room.
I looked at the door behind which I could hear Eliana shuffling around, “I have to be happy or I will always wonder why I still lived? Why I had to remain behind when all I loved and all that loved me did not get to. I would forever mourn the past and what was, but if I remain happy, I can live for the now and look to the future.”
My lips pursed, “not to say that I don’t think of the past or feel nothing but happiness. I miss my family and friends so much. I miss having that life long connection with someone. It's hard for me to make such deep connections when I know I will only lose them to time.”
Instead of responding, she came out in the outfit, making my thoughts screech to a halt. It was a different look and yet, it was so her. It just fit her entire persona completely.
“I find myself like this, and it is quite comfortable too. I am not opposed to changing to this. What…what do you think?”, her face turned down, fingers playing with the edge of the dress. It was so unlike what I had seen from her all day. Seeing her shy like this was just so adorable and heartwarming. She was letting me in, letting herself be vulnerable around me. I am sure being who she was, it must have been hard. But here she was, willing to let me in. A goofy smile broke out on my face as I nodded my head up and down vigorously. I probably looked like a bobble head. “I LOVE IT!!! OMG THIS IS SOO DEFINITELY YOU!!” My exuberance made her look up, shock coloring her face, maybe at how excited I was if I were to guess. “A-Are you certain? I quite like it myself…Do you think the vendor would allow me to wear it outside of their shop?” “Absolutely!! Here, let me get the tags for them all and we can go check out at the desk”, I moved towards her, gesturing to her to turn so I could pull the tags out. Tags in hand, I grabbed her hand in mind, and skipped over to the front desk. I had the cashier combine our purchases, handing over the tag’s for her outfit. I nudged her away when she tried to pay, after all, I wanted her to wear the outfit and remember me. Once we had cashed out, I grabbed my bags, and my other hand reached out to grab hers. Hand in hand, we walked out of the store. Once we were out the store, I turned to her, stopping right before her, my eyes looking right into hers. “This has been the best day I have had in a long while!! And I won’t even have to lose you to time!! It makes this entire day that much more precious to me. I really hope you know that!”, my eyes glazing over as my mind flashed through the faces of all those that I did lose to time. I shook myself out of my thoughts at the sound of my stomach grumbling. Smiling sheepishly, I suggested we should get some snacks. There were street vendors outside the mall that sold scrumptious food and I had enjoyed many an afternoon sampling their snacks. Eliana seemed skeptical at how good they might be and suggested a restaurant. But I was adamant that we go to the street vendors, and even pulled out the secret weapon to convince her, my puppy dog eyes. She held out for far longer than I thought, but caved in soon. We headed to the stalls outside. Inhaling the aroma, my mouth watered imagining the salty deliciousness. I practically teleported my way there with how fast I appeared by the stall. One moment I was beside Eliana, the next, I was bouncing before the street vendor’s stall. I think I must have shocked Eliana again, because she was looking back and forth between where I was and where I had stood beside her. As she was making her way to where I stood, I had already placed an order for two of their snacks, gringas and carnitas. As the vendor prepared them, my eyes followed each of his actions keenly, feeling myself getting hungrier as the food was prepared. Steaming hot and extremely aromatic dishes were placed before me, and I immediately grabbed them, turning quickly towards Eliana, almost spilling the food with the speed that I turned with. “We can go sit on that bench over there and eat this”, I tilted my head sideways to gesture at the bench I mentioned. Sitting on the bench, we shared the food, silence prevailed. It might have a lot to do with the fact that I practically inhaled the food and she, yet again, was looking at me shocked.
Her shock quickly turned to concern, concern for my health. It made me feel all gooey inside to see how much she had started to care for me even in the short time that we had known each other. I shook my head, my cheeks puffed from the food in my mouth. Swallowing the bite, I told her not to worry about it. I was done eating before her, and just sat enjoying the silence. Watching her eat, I felt a burst of joy in my heart, joy over her choosing to meet me and spend time with me. Before I could overthink my actions, I sidled up to her, and quickly pecked her on the cheek, before sliding back to where I had been sitting, my cheeks now rosy. She turned to me, surprise covering her face, her cheeks tinted red. Before I could think to apologize, she leaned over, placing a gentle kiss on my cheek as well. “I give you my heart, Isla” A gentle smile flitted across my lips, a rush of calm enveloping me. I moved closer, hugging her close, ““I’ll treasure it until time runs out on both of us, my love.”