“It was a wonderful show,” I said.
Phil didn’t say anything for a long time before he finally said, “Yes, it was.”
After the opera ended, we left the theater, got in a carriage, and started the journey home. It was fine. Even though I was on edge the entire day, wondering when he’d kiss me, and even looking forward to it, it was fine that it never actually happened. That was what I told myself anyway, but I couldn’t help but feel a little miffed.
He even said he would try again.
If he cared that much about the atmosphere, then he missed his chance. The perfect moment would’ve been before the lights turned on in the theater, right after an opera all about the wonderful theme of love. There was no way this horse-drawn carriage would have the atmosphere he was talking about.
Neither of us said anything. Perhaps Phil, who was sitting across from me with a rather gloomy expression on his face, was thinking the same thing I was. He looked so upset that I wouldn’t be surprised if his side of the carriage darkened from the shadows on his face. It was clear from the way he looked that he’d messed something up.
There were still twenty more minutes before we would arrive at House Westley’s manor. Right when I was wondering if we’d end our outing in silence, Phil opened his mouth.
“I’m sorry.”
“Huh?”
“I’m sorry that I’m such an uncool man.” After his sudden apology, he looked down at his hands in his lap, his long eyelashes casting shadows over his cheeks. “As Rex recommended, I was thinking of, um, doing it after the opera ended.”
It looked like my prediction had been correct. I had heard that quite a few couples took advantage of the darkness from a stage play or an opera. Though I hadn’t realized that Phil was operating based on Rex’s advice there as well.
“But your side profile was so beautiful that I couldn’t look away. By the time I realized it, the lights turned back on,” he continued.
“Pfft... What’s with that?”
Not only did he say such a silly thing with an intensely serious expression, but his face was so beautiful that he looked like he’d just stepped out of a painting. It was all so funny that I couldn’t help but laugh. We’d promised each other that we wouldn’t lie anymore, so what he said was likely the truth. With this one apology, he’d completely erased the peevish feeling I had.
“I never said that I cared about the atmosphere... I’d be happy, um, to do it no matter the place or occasion.”
It was a little embarrassing to say that out loud, but Phil was trying his best for me. And like Jamie said, he was probably at his limit. I should meet him halfway.
“May I...go over to your side of the carriage?”
“Yes, of course.” I immediately nodded, and he moved to sit next to me with a soft exhale.
“Viola.”
He said my name in a terribly soft voice. I stared into his amber eyes, which held such fire that they practically glowed. The man before me was so beautiful, with such a happy expression, it was hard to tell that mere seconds ago he’d been looking like the world had just ended.
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you as well,” I said after a moment to collect myself.
Our lips gently brushed, and even that slight stimulation filled my body with such joy that I felt as if I was about to cry.
✦ ✦ ✦
“I heard that the two of you ended up kissing in the carriage.”
“I’m sorry. And you went out of your way to give me advice...”
Rex was sitting in my room; it appeared that Viola had already reported to him everything that happened the other day. Vio was perched on his shoulder as he grinned at me. The parrot liked him a lot and looked happy at his presence.
Rex had listened to my troubles and helped me again, even going so far as to get us those seats in the opera. Yet I went and tossed all his consideration and effort into the dirt. I felt terrible. Even so, he told me not to worry about it and that he was happy for me. He was a reliable and kind friend.
“But you did your best, Phillip. Viola really enjoyed it.”
“Really?”
“Yup, that’s what she said.”
“I’m glad to hear that...”
After we kissed, Viola had smiled at me, her face flushed crimson, and said that she was happy. She was so adorable that I pressed our lips together again, and then she laughed at me, saying that I should’ve been this assertive from the start.
If I went back in time to just a few months ago and told the past version of me that this would happen in the future, he wouldn’t believe me at all. He definitely would’ve thought that I had lost myself so much in my feelings for Viola that I was no longer able to tell the difference between my delusions and reality. That was how much of a miracle it was that she liked me now. I was so happy that I didn’t know what to do with myself.
“Despite how she acts and what she says, you’re number one in Viola’s heart too. Man, it makes me jealous.”
“You’ve always been fond of her.”
“So fond that I can’t help but tease her.” Rex’s smile took on a mischievous air, and he turned to look at Vio with an “Isn’t that right?” as if he wanted her agreement. “Anyway, make sure you continue to take good care of my sweet little cousin.”
“Of course.”
From now and forever more, she will be the most important thing in my life. Ever since I was a child, she’d been my entire world and nothing had changed.
“So then, Phillip,” Rex said.
“What is it?”
“Do you know what’ll happen next?”
I shook my head.