Disclaimer: I do not own MPHFPC and the Facebook Messenger

Chapter Four

Opposite Sides:

Melting

Olive puffed out an exhale, the sigh and disappointment were clear in her warm tummy. She has her chin upon her cupped palm, her fingers tapping the skin against them. The woman inside the laptop screen only looked at her with a sad but understanding expression, her sympathy clear and very much on the verge of telling the younger lady to give up.

"I could not blame him, Magpie. Though Mr. Enoch has always been a grump, I completely understand why he's restricted. We cannot do anything about that."

Still though, she insisted.

"But Wyn, I do not intend to do something about his temperament, I just want to be his friend." She could not shrug that exact look in his eyes that morning. Although it was fairly obvious that he was trying to avoid her, she still made her presence known- for the reason that she can sense his confusion. And when their eyes met, there was a split second of rawness. She saw curiosity and frustration in them. He was caught off guard and she saw an inkling of truth behind the glass shards he surround himself in. "I just- I know he does not hate me, I saw hesitance in there, Wyn. I may be throwing accusations in the air and often being proved wrong, but it was there and I was wholesomely there"

For the umpteenth time, Bronwyn sighed and smiled, nodding along with her optimistic ways. Olive in response, sighed as well, yet louder and sharp as if one would do before starting a life changing quest.

"Perhaps Miss, perhaps." She could not let Wyn's hesitance discourage her, in fact, if there's anything it contributed, it was the drive that made her more energized to- well, she does not know yet. One thing for sure, it involves Enoch O' Connor.

There was something about him that felt familiar. She certainly does not mean it as a romantic dialogue, well, for now at least, if she could be frank, she does not know how the world goes. Their first meeting went a big OK for her part. She felt as if they were meant to be friends all along, they clashed in a way that she immediately felt at ease around him.

Maybe that was why she wanted to do something for Enoch O' Connor. She knew, by some powerful, foretelling assumption, he'll be something.

She glanced around the figure of the far away dining area she tremendously miss. The house she's in was overwhelming. She's not used to living in such spacious homes, she always tend to occupy every nook and sides, making sure to make them as welcoming as possible. But Enoch's house was a bit eerie, it was way too professional and threatening. No wonder why he's always tensed.

"How are things over there?" She asked

Bronwyn smiled at her sheepishly. Both of them know the other pretty well. When Olive's face scrunched deeply, Bronwyn knew at once that she was focused in her thoughts, thoughts that were surprisingly involving Enoch. And if Bronwyn has her brows tensed, Olive knew she was worried of her.

"Never you mind of anything Magpie, all is well. Sam has been asking nonstop of you, the children were nothing but good-" Olive nodded, smiling amidst the home sickness she's been dreadfully feeling. "Oh little miss, we miss you dearly"

"I miss you too as well, all of you-"

"Keep your head up, you are halfway there. We are proud of you Magpie"

Of course that swelled her heart with millions of touchy sentiments. She almost squealed with joy. One thing which stopped her was that one specific reason why she pursued her passion further. Tomorrow, she would be one step closer to the truth. Tomorrow, she'd start doubling her efforts to be able to reach her. One day, soon, she'd make it.

"Thank you Wyn-I just, if she could see me now, do you think she's proud of me as well?"

Right after Wyn's reaffirmation and words of comfort, she sensed herself slowly backing away, felt the hot sting of tears behind her eyes. By feeling so, she bid her dear friend an early good night.

She was in her bed, her eyes staring at the pale ceiling above. She was speechless, unable to comprehend her excitement and uncertainty. Her heart was beating loudly and her tears were gently falling to her temples, then to her pillow. She does not know why she was utterly doubtful, but the notion of finally escalating to her search made her nerve wrecked.

"Would you remember me Mummy?" Inside her arms, upon her chest was a pair of cream colored ballet flats. She held them close, her heart was beating against the detergent smelling soles, bringing life to the pair as if those were her mother's arms. How long had it been since that eventful day? For that moment, she was so sure, in her eight year old brain, her mother would come back probably the next day. Instead, all she left for Olive was the pair of flats, which she relentlessly hold onto.

If it was for anything, she hypothesize it was a promise. Didn't the late Miss Peregrine told her she'd meet her again someday? That she left her pair of ballet flats for a purpose?

"Purpose huh?" Her eyes glared, penetrating the motionless ceiling. Questions were left unanswered, tugging her to the shoulders as she felt herself fully awake. Why would she still want to know her? Does her biological mother know she's still alive? Why is she even pursuing such thing too much?

Why is she still haunted by it?

She closed her eyes and worked her fingers, toes and nose to twitch. The emotions were all around her, creating a pool of heaviness, swallowing her within the mattress. A groan left her throat as she associated her feelings with doubt. Is she not optimistic? She knows she is, if only she could pull such spirit against the shadows surrounding her.

The night grew deeper outside the huge window set at the room's side. Her eyes blink back at the lonesome moon, it seems recharging her mind, leaving her tired, yet with senses extremely active.

She placed the pair of shoes to her side, her feet dipping to the warmth of her bunny slippers. Her body swayed to the steady air entering her space, her feet leading her outside.

The white chandelier upon the staircase was still alit, she guessed Mrs. Dust was probably up to drink some milk, or maybe Ronaldo was reviewing for his midterm examination. Her steps upon the stairs were light, she might disturb them if she'd be reckless.

She passed through the corridor and the cold dining room; the balcony door just resting at the far right, tempting her with the serene garden behind. She could go if she wants, she would just have to fetch her comfort food.

The kitchen was quiet except for the irregular tappings upon laptop keyboard. She tilted her head and balanced herself to one foot, her face seen in the gap of the arch way. The sound came from Enoch O' Connor's hands. He was sat facing her, which she knew by then she has no chance to pretend she was a ghost just to spook him.

Immediately, their sight met and his fingers flattened themselves upon the warm counter. She slid inside timidly, her smile limited, quite sheepish, yet soft. "Enoch," she greeted. He, much to her surprise, only looked at her confused and wary. If looks could kill, she might've evaporated on her spot.

"Now, why are you looking at me like that?" She walk pass him across the island counter, her eyes questioning his still lingering ones. Despite the clear white tab from his screen reflecting to his pupils, he dares not to blink. He continued looking at her, trying to find whatever it was he was trying to decipher.

"You are all puffy and pink, Elephanta" She was engulfed in the refrigerator when his statement made her do a mini eye roll. "Allergic reaction, probably" She pulled a gallon of chocolate ice cream from the freezer, then pushed the refrigerator door closed with a soft nudge of her hip.

Her body rotated back to face him. His eyes blinked at her movements and quickly averted his gaze when hers' looked back at him.

"You're not much of a good liar, don't you know that?" She snickered and rummaged for some utensils in the cupboard.

"Not with making up an excuse, no."

He went back with his typing and she began rinsing the mugs she retrieved from their place. The cold running water and the light clicking of the keyboard worked softly. In addition, the soft air from the garden worked its way inside, brushing to the strands that fell in front of her face. She cannot help but smile, feeling the stillness of the exact scenario she was in.

In that moment, strangely, it was just her having him around, and him her. Even if there was hesitance, even if there was still a barrier, she feels comfortable around him, as if she could tell how alike and not they are.

"I did not know you know how to cry"

"Somebody's concerned"

She slid the two mugs on the space of the long counter. He raised his brow at her and she only shrugged, opening the lit of the ice cream gallon in front of his face.

"No, I am just observant"

"You just care about me more than you'd admit" She was midway to scooping her fourth scoop when she joked. He sighed and reverted back to his work. For a moment that is. "Ever the hypothetical one, I see." It only took him a few clicks to finish and before he could respond.

"Whatever, you grump." It was the sweet taste of the chocolate she sucked from her index finger that made her smile. She took one last scoop from the gallon and tipped the cream to the second mug, her mouth voicing a soundless ta-da for an effect.

Next, she pulled the whipped cream from the edge of her workplace, shaking the bottle before tilting it to push the extraction.

"What, what are you doing?"

"Putting some whipped cream on it?" She said as though it was the most obvious thing.

"Why?"

"Well, um sorry to burst your bubble Enoch, everything's better with whipped cream," She was finished sprouting it to her own mug when she repeated the same first step to the other. Enoch stood from his spot, his arms crossed on his chest,"-oh wow, didn't believe that sounded awkward oops" and she still persisted talking, giggling as though he does not intimidate her at all.

"Give me that." He asked, which sounded commanding actually. Yet, she shook her head, her foot backing away once his' ascended.

"No" She inched her occupied hand away from him, stretching to her back awkwardly, her fingers slightly twitching.

"Stop it or else-" his arms, which were far more longer than hers, stretched to their length. She snickered despite being trapped inside his arms. The mug was dangerously tilted now, the whipped cream looking at the side as if curious with what it must be like to stain the pristine floor. Her one available hand reached out in reflex, palm flat and warm on his chest.

She momentarily froze to register the sudden exclamation point that made her blood rush to her cheeks, it happened in split seconds, fast enough for him not to notice, and slow enough for him to have his hand wrap to her hand and the handle of the mug.

He glanced at her eyes as he tightened his grip to the warm skin of her small hand. The height of their excitation died slowly and he felt suddenly aware of how her hand felt inside his. He felt the knuckle of her index finger rise to move and the way the mug tightened in the hold of her hand.

The light slowly crept on the back of their hands, causing them to disentangle.

"Come on, give it a chance Enoch." She settled the mug upon the counter, her hand felt slightly foreign, feeling a ghost of presence upon the back. Her other hand, however, held onto the whipped cream with her index finger ready to push.

He could only stare as the cream oozed out and piled itself upon bulks of the ice cream. Once done, she pushed the mug in front of him, her lips smiling inspiringly that made him roll his eyes.

She leaned her head to her cupped palm, her eyes anticipating for his reaction. He snorted and shook his head, his spoon digging through his mug.

"Well?"

"It tastes like whipped cream and chocolate ice cream"

She laughed with her eyes crinkling at the sides, gauging his disappointed reaction. "For the record, I would only eat this because I do not want it to go to waste," he said through another spoonful of ice cream.

"Well, better stay for a while won't you?" She smiled proudly and sat one seat away from him. There was a pregnant pause with only the clucking of their spoons could be heard. Still though, the time seemed to stop functioning and the moon was still and softly watching.

"What made you cry?" He asked rather suddenly.

Her digging through her own ice cream was put to a stop as she tilted her head to look at him.

"For the record, I am only trying to fill in the silence"

"My mum," her voice sounded strained, yet her expression was still in her usual, smily state. "I just- sometimes I'm not sure if things are worth fighting for anymore"

"I think I am not the perfect person for this position"

"Well, what would Enoch O'Connor do in this situation?"

He glanced at her and all he saw was the small, eight year old version of Olive Elephanta, the one who was raw from the hurt, entirely confused, leaning on to people who were bigger than her. She was suddenly that little girl who looked at him , asking for her mummy he has not seen before. Who made his own ache bleed from his own yearning for his best friend.

"He'd probably drown himself with wine and hide from the sun," he raised his mug and looked at her chastely ",and if I were Olive Elephanta, I'd probably stuff myself with chocolate, and would probably still believe in the goodness of things and all that crap"

She chuckled and nodded.

"After all, life has a way of putting things together"

"If that what keeps you sleep well at night"

The silence filled the kitchen once more. Her eyes looked at him and she smiled. Despite the problem that made her heart heavy, her thoughts were temporarily put to a stop and she finally gained a progress with befriending Enoch.

"I don't mind the silence Enoch, this is comfortable-" she felt slightly disappointment knowing her mug was fully devoured, "-for me atleast"

"Yes, well, I do not have any choice but to tolerate you do I?" She rinsed her mug to the sink and inserted it to the dishwasher, snorting once in the process. "Whatever keeps you sleep well at night, Enoch"

Once the lid was closed, she turned around to look at him. He was circling his spoon in his mug lazily, his ice cream melted into syrup. Still, he did not bother standing from his spot. He was only looking at her, waiting for her reaction as she too was anticipating.

"Well?" She asked, a giggle was halted in her throat.

"Well what?"

She yawned and shook her head. The night went deeper outside the walls they were in, casting them a dream like vibe. To be honest, she found it in herself that she actually like having Enoch around, her mood lightened when she finally talked to him as normal as what they just had, and the disappointment of having her system wanting her to sleep was evident in the lessening of her smile.

"Good night to you too" She did not have to, yet she patted his shoulder, for well, her greeting probably. It was a reflex and she did it before realizing the movement. Enoch was still caught surprised, extremely foreign with close proximities, yet he recovered. He nodded sharply and cleared his throat, pulling his laptop screen open in able to prevent looking at her.

She went back to her room with eyes half lidded. Once in front of her bed, she jumped with all four limbs sprawled out, the mattress engulfing her as though she melted into puddles

She left quite a while ago. He was sitting there for quite a while as well. The project he'd been working on was already done. He, after all, had already revised some parts for how many times already. Yet, he was still awake, not knowing and extremely bothered by an itch he could not locate. His mind was still active. He blamed Olive Elephanta for it.

He groaned and opened his Facebook account, the one where he keeps tract with updates about people he at least know, never mind if he likes them or not. Usually not to be honest, yet they were still tolerable, he gives them credit for that.

His cheeks grew unexplainably pink. Yet he still clicked through the recent name in his search bar and opened her profile.

He told himself she should know the trouble she caused him.

"Thanks to you, I cannot sleep"

There, he sent her one simple sentence. Immediately, she has seen his message and replied right after.

"Why is it my fault?"

"Don't you know chocolates could keep a person active?"

"Well, that is not the effect with me"

"Probably because you sleep a lot"

"I do not :("

He shook his head and decided to leave her reply unanswered. She unfortunately, luckily-he cannot seem decipher yet, sensed what he was doing and sent another one.

"Would you like to talk to me?"

"Well, it is your fault so I guess you should suffer as well"

"Wow, that was mean"

"I only speak the truth"

"I'm going to sleep Enoch"

"You could not"

"Gooooood niiiiiiiight x"

"I'll barge into your room Olive Elephanta"

"But you rejected my request :("

"Don't be silly"

":("

He does not know if it was the chocolate, but he was certain he would go insane if he'd consume the whole midnight just staring into space and thinking about things that should be partnered with wine.

And so shamefully, he still found his way to clicking her request button. Which in less than a minute, she accepted.

"Didn't know you would actually do it though"

"Whatever, I could still block you"

"I'd convince you to unblock me then I'd block you"

He snorted and let her light mood affect him. The night progressed outside their windows until sunrise arose and the hint of morning came. The rays of the sun had already found him with arms wrapped together and his head resting upon them, dozing off. This time, he did not hide from the sun, he let it melt him to his seat, seemingly comfortable with the warmth it wrapped him with.

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