Tiny Piece of Place
”Open this.” he handed me a box.
It’s a quiet early dinner for us. He went home early and didn’t have calls. Actually it’s been weeks since he’d been so delicate when it comes to accepting calls. No calls during the meals and when he’s around me.
”What’s this?” I asked curiously.
It’s a white box with a pantone shade of pink ribbon. It’s not that heavy. He just suddenly put that box on the table after dinner.
I glanced at him with questioning eyes. “It’s not my birthday.”
He smirked a little. He’s just touching his lips while looking at me. I sighed and untied the ribbon. He’s spoiling it that much huh?
”A piece of clothing?” I asked. I looked at him again. He shrugged his shoulders.
I pursed my lips. There’s a folded white cloth inside and above it is a small envelope. I raised my eyebrows and got it. I read the paper inside it.
There’s the name and the logo of a university, I think? Below it is the list of some degrees? Courses? Specialization? Which quiet I don’t understand and not sure of.
”W-what is this?” I said with sincere confusion.
He still didn't answer. I rummage the box and get the folded clothing. When I saw the familiar pattern of clothing my mouth dropped. I immediately unfolded it and that’s when my eyes gleamed with so much excitement and shock.
”A uniform? Aciel!” I freaked out.
A confident smile appeared on his face. He licked his lip once and leaned into his seat. I stood up because I couldn't contain my excitement.
”Oh my gosh!” I tried to indirectly fit the skirt, but I couldn't hide my excitement.
”We still need to work on some things. You need to take a lot of tests first to measure your academic capability. If not, you’ll need to take an alternative learning system. But I’m sure you can do it.”
My mouth literally just dropped on the floor. I jumped in joy.
”Aciel!” I whined. I can’t seem to find the right words.
”What?” he laughed with his usual tired looking eyes.
I pouted. “I thought you didn’t agree the last time I asked you.”
He shrugged his shoulders. I sighed hard and put down the uniform on the box. My smile faded, but I’m just so happy. I’m just out of words. For days we didn’t even talk about it. Never did we mention ‘school’ or anything about it. Then all of a sudden, this?
”What’s wrong?” he asked with a weary tone. Maybe he noticed my sudden change of emotion.
I smiled lightly and shook my head and avoided his gaze. I fixed the things in the box and started to clean the table without any words. He stood up. I saw from my peripheral view that he’s coming into my direction.
”Hey,” he called and spoke through my face. I continued doing my thing.
”What’s wrong? You didn’t like it?”
”No,” I said almost in the tone of whining.
”Then why? I thought you wanted to go to school?”
My tears welled up. I’m choking with my own words. My pride won’t let me say anything but my heart is aching for certain reasons.
“Baby,” his palm crawled into the curve of my waist and that’s when I looked at him.
His eyes widened a bit, looking stunned with my probably ‘messed’ face. He opened his mouth and was about to say something but it didn’t come. He just held my arm so that I could face him.
”You’re like a damn puzzle to me, do you know that?” he uttered with a gritted jaw.
I avoided his gaze but he’s holding my nape so I had no choice but to bring back my gaze at him. His eyes are full of longing and other emotions that I couldn’t read. All that matters to me is that I couldn’t bear to look straight in his eyes.
”You surprise me every single time. You sometimes act differently from the words that come out in your beautiful mouth.”
I breathed when he touched my lip with his thumb.
”What’s wrong? Tell me, because if you’re crying about this…I don’t understand.” he sighed and kissed my tears.
My heart ached more. What is this feeling? I feel torn between my own feelings. Or is it just too hard for me to express my gratitude because I feel so guilty. While I’m planning to get away, he’s treating me like this?
“Are are you upset because I agreed just now?” he asked.
”No,” I closed my eyes and held his hand on my face.
”I’m sorry. I had to work on some things so that they’ll allow you to take some exams. It’s not easy because you lack some legal papers. It had to go through some process that’s why it took some time.” he explained.
I shook my head because that’s all I can do.
”Hush now please.”
His voice is soothing. And the way he pinned me into his chest shrank my heart so bad. This is not a good feeling. I hate men! I hate all of them. But why is he getting inside my head?
”You don’t know how much this means to me.” My voice cracked.
All I can say. Tears kept on falling. He’s embracing me and his face buried in the space between my neck and my shoulders.
”You’re welcome.”
I shut my eyes. He understands. It’s so hard for me to say thank you to him. Especially that my gratitude is real and sincere. This is far from a dream. I never thought it’s still possible for me to go to school after all that had happened to my life. And for someone like him to do these things for me. It’s really hard to believe and to understand.
As we stayed in that position for a while. My heart is filled with so much joy. After minutes I encircled my arms to his neck, almost in tiptoe because of our height difference. While he’s almost lifting me up while embracing my waist.
He just got a tiny piece of place in my life. I owe him this one.
