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“WHAT’S the matter?”
“Hold…just a…sec…”
“All right, all right. Here, have a seat.” Vincent produced a handkerchief and spread it out on the edge of one of the roadside block planters.
Winded and out of breath, Oriana squeezed out a few words of gratitude before plopping down. Getting deja vu from this. I went through the same thing not all that long ago. Back then, Vincent had been the one leading her away, but the experience had done nothing to encourage her to exercise; she had no stamina.
Putting on those lace-up boots was a smart idea, after all. If she’d gone with the pumps, her feet would have already died before she got this far.
In exchange for running full speed, she was covered in sweat, and sadly, ignoring it wasn’t an option. She pulled out her own handkerchief from her rucksack and pressed it over her face to soak up the sweat.
Past-me, bless you for thinking ahead and packing extra handkerchiefs! Oriana was skilled at distracting herself from reality and preoccupying herself with her own inner thoughts. Incidentally, the very thing she was trying to keep her mind off of was the sheen of sweat covering her face, her surely noticeable makeup, the fact that she’d grabbed Vincent’s hand, and that he was now sitting next to her.
Thanks perhaps to how narrow the planter was, Vincent was unable to maintain his usual distance, instead close enough that the two might brush arms if they weren’t careful. He was also holding her lollipop for her in one hand, still sucking on his own as he crossed his ankles and waited.
Whaaa… Is this for real? Oriana managed to catch a glimpse of him past the edge of the handkerchief, and as soon as she did, she promptly covered her face with it again. Not only is he in casual clothes, but the whole aura around him is different. Oh man, and after it took me so long just getting used to Vincent normally, and now this!
Vincent faced straight forward as he sat beside her, making no move to rush her along. Oriana decided to lean into that kindness and use the opportunity to calm her frazzled nerves and get rid of some of the sweat covering her.
Enormous crowds milled about the city. The buildings were all squished in together with no space between them, creating walls and pathways in the process. At the top, all of the buildings were proportionately dissimilar, and it was through those gaps that one could peek at the sunny sky. There, birds could be seen flying in the vast spaces between the clouds hovering in the great blue expanse. Meanwhile below, children ran along the streets, weaving their way through the people unhurriedly ambling along. As a woman watered the flowers in front of her shop, a man from the shop next door called over to her, striking up conversation.
Sitting there, watching absently as all of this played out, Vincent muttered to himself, “Now it makes sense. So that’s why he made me come dressed like this.”
“Sorry?”
“Before I came, Miguel made me change,” Vincent explained. “I’ve never walked around the city before, so I’m glad I changed before coming. I would have been embarrassed in my original outfit.”
Oriana thought he would look handsome no matter what he wore. And regardless of whatever his outfit had been, she certainly wouldn’t have found it embarrassing.
That said, I can’t believe he invited me out even though he’s never walked about the city like this before.
Oriana dabbed her handkerchief along her hairline, facing forward as she said, “I’m feeling a bit nervous today, since you’re…a little different than usual.”
“The clothes, I assume? Because part of this wardrobe I borrowed from Miguel.”
When she inquired as to which parts specifically, he informed her that his pants were Miguel’s. They suited him so well that she would never have guessed had he not told her.
“Well, you’re as handsome and stunning as ever, but…next time we go out, wear the outfit you were planning to come out in today. Just make sure we don’t go anywhere where I might embarrass myself,” Oriana joked, knowing full well that it was a tall order to hope for another invitation like this. She only jested because he looked so forlorn.
Vincent smiled at her. “In that case, I’ll be the one to pull you by the hand next.”
“Running? I’d really rather we not…”
“Hah, after you were the one who made me run today?”
Vincent had a point. Little did he know she’d only ran because she didn’t want the other female students to see him like this.
“I was just feeling a little restless,” Oriana said, crinkling her brows as if to look grumpy, only to break out into a grin immediately after.
Vincent stared directly at her. His lips moved slowly as he said, “I’m…nervous too.”
“Because it’s your first time in the city?”
“You know, I’ve often thought this, but…you really are daft.”
“Huh?” Oriana gawked at him. She never dreamed he thought of her as an idiot this whole time.
“It should be obvious I’d never be nervous over something that inconsequential.”
“Oh, right. Of course…not?”
Vincent hesitated before saying, “You’re…different than usual today, too.” He dropped his gaze as he spoke.
Oriana held her handkerchief over her mouth as her mind raced. Wait, wait, wait. Hold up. Did he just turn my own words back at me? He did, right?
Both of them went silent. Even as chatter and clamor filled the air around them, they spoke not a word, sticking out like a sore thumb amid the humdrum of the city.
Vincent plucked up his courage, voice quiet as a whisper as he blurted, “You look…very cute.”
Oriana flattened her handkerchief over her face. She wasn’t simply hiding herself from view, she was strongly kneading the fabric into her skin. “I am most honored to hear that, milord!”
“What sort of response is that?”
If she didn’t joke around like she did, she couldn’t maintain their so-called friendship. But I can’t keep this up. I can’t keep myself from grinning like an idiot. Oriana kept the handkerchief over her face as she tilted her head toward her chest, sucking in deep breaths before slowly exhaling, again and again. There was no doubt in her mind that, if she wasn’t careful, her expression right now would reveal the truth—that she had utterly fallen for Vincent.
And now she was sure her makeup was probably a mess too. All that time she dedicated to perfecting her foundation, and now it was surely smeared all over. Not even an hour had passed since they’d left. She could hardly excuse herself to reapply her cosmetics right now. Though she couldn’t do it very well in front of him, either.
Making an excuse to visit the ladies’ room would be too embarrassing. Ugh, who knew the day would come when I’d act like a lovestruck maiden! And that was indeed what she was. As Oriana fidgeted about, chin still dipped toward her chest, Vincent spoke up beside her.
“Hey…”
“Yes?”
“Can we stop for today?”
What? He wants to go home already? Shocked, Oriana jerked her chin up and away from the handkerchief she’d been using to hide her face. Vincent was far closer to her than she’d anticipated, so her sudden movement made them bump shoulders. Both of them felt a bit awkward at such close proximity, but neither one tried to move away, since that seemed just as embarrassing.
“What I mean is…”
“Yes?” Flustered, Oriana waited for his response, wondering what he’d say. Had she flubbed things by making him run with her? Or had she left him waiting too long? Could it be that he now disliked the idea of walking around the city? Ill premonitions fluttered through her mind one after the other.
“Stop being so formal.”
“Pardon?” Oriana squeaked back. That was the last thing she pictured him saying.
“It’s not often we go to the city like this together. At least for today, couldn’t you speak more casually with me?” His eyes seemed to pierce right through her.
Oriana jerked her head up and down, nodding. “Very well, I under— I mean, s-sure. I get it.”
“Push yourself if you have to.”
“Yeah, okay.” Oriana nodded again.
I wonder why it is that I’m way happier hearing him ask me to push myself than if he told me not to. It felt like he wanted something from her desperately. She didn’t mind, even if he only desired as much in his capacity as her friend.
Oriana’s heart was so full, she felt like she was floating on cloud nine. She didn’t even care that her makeup might be smeared. Wait, scratch that. I definitely do care. But more than anything right now, she didn’t want to keep him waiting.
“Sorry, one moment,” she said, pulling out her hand mirror. To her relief, her makeup didn’t look as bad as she’d feared. She gave herself a pass and promptly stood up. “Apologies for the wait! Let’s go, Vincent.” Oriana beamed at him, and Vincent stared back at her in awe.