Thank you so much for those who are anticipating to the chapters of this story! I am really glad you liked it. Hopefully, I will never bring you guys down.
I do apologize for the grammatical errors, I get really excited to post new chapters before editing, but I'd edit em when I get the chance. I hope you'd love this chapter and leave a lovely review.
PS: I do not own MPHFPC and Romeo + Juliet
Chapter 8
Opposite Sides:
What is Unexpected
"That was marvelous, what you did"
A week had passed by ever since that night. The days were polite and Enoch did seem to warm up with calling her by her first name. They grew somewhat comfortable to the other's presence. Olive could now grab his arm whenever she's telling her stories and he now, does not flinch, that much, mind you, with her proximity.
Such improvement altered her mood drastically, which was why she received a few claps from Madame Wren for the performance she did for the day's session. And Zachary, with his charming, boyish smile, and such thick Scottish accent that could melt butter, noticed and praised her.
He looked down on her, hair disheveled and cheeks a bit pink because of the session. He looked like a tooth paste commercial actor, all teeth, dimples and mint. She's such a sucker for dental smells.
Her lips formed one huge grin. Warmth spread to her chest, up to her cheeks.
"You do those things as well, Zachary" She pushed him, her fist nudging his elbow. He fake rubbed the spot, his bottom lip pulled out and thick brows furrowed. "Is that how you say thank you to your cavalier?"
She rolled her eyes playfully, looping her hand in his arm.
"Shall we, my dashing knight?"
"So we shall whisk away, my beautiful highness"
She let him take the lead. He insisted on giving her a ride home. This time, when she texted Enoch about the request, he asked just why was she asking for his approval, and flat out told her she need not to wait for him for he has alot on his plate. A small part of her was disappointed, yet she did not let it show and instead, she focused on the image of Zachary with his leather jacket and humongous, glistering bike. Her estrogens were probably celebrating inside her body.
The air from outside was traveling, sending goosebumps to her still open pores. Wind swayed along the sides of her bangs, kissing her skin gently with their caresses. By her side, Zachary stared at her openly, his neatly proportioned teeth were showing.
"You danced with so much passion out there, Olive, it was though you really were engulfed in the situation. In love, if I say so myself." He looked at her with questions in his eyes and she blinked back curiously.
"I am, with my craft" She explained. Somehow though, her conscious thoughts led her to her impossible housemate. Enoch, with his frigid, but comforting arms bringing her close, her nose nuzzling to the new shirt he wore that successfully smelled like him.
She could've opened her eyes then, but she was vaguely aware that to wake up meant to end such dream-like state. Although awkwardly initiated, he took care of her and she felt safe, most importantly, understood. She found it impossible not to think of him the rest of that night.
"Hopefully, I could be, as well"
Zachary still looked at her with the same glint. It was too hopeful, it made her stop her train of thoughts. It was not time to dwell in her confusion. Here she was, being treated well by such handsome man, yet she cannot help but zone out.
Yet, somehow, she still has her non-existing love story in her mind. Even the thought of having one with him, Enoch, made her blush, for she knows she cannot think of such thing regarding her friend. It was all wrong, she can't take advantage of his kindness just to feel the warmth in her tummy and the comfort in her tiring day.
"Olive?"
His head was tilted slightly and she couldn't help but smile sheepishly.
"Do you not like what you are doing, Zachary?"
"Do not get me wrong, I love dancing, really," he removed his stare and ushered forward to his glistering dark bike. "But for what? for whom? I've yet to meet my muse"
She stood in front of him and watched as his hand traveled across their space to hold hers. Reluctantly, he pressed his fingers on her chin, prying her eyes from their intertwined hands to look at him. Brown met green, and it was a forest of wildness and raw passion. She did not know of what missing muse was he talking about when he clearly was the muse of himself.
"For you, for yourself" She squeezed in his hand, repeating the same way she held onto Enoch's.
"Yet I found myself wanting to know what it's like, with the shape that is you"
There were few, but moments in her life when all the cliches in romcoms happen. The sun was warm, casting yellowish hue on East London, painting her with gold strikes as the man professing his love stare at her with such devotion. Then, she'd smile and lean in, coating his lips with the strawberry gloss she made sure to put on that morning-not for anyone, but because it makes her feel powerful.
But she gaped widely, the ends of her lips lifted to an amused smile. "Wow," she reacted dumbly, not knowing what to say.
"Would you let me, Olive?" The last relationship she had was pure, straight on crap. Going back to those days, she never fails to cringe. How on earth did she manage to stay in such toxic relationship for three whole years? And what did she even consumed that made her thought he was better than her first? She was eighteen, young and stupid, falling over boys who think they have the world to their feet with just a quick brush on their cropped hair. The bastard only wanted her when he was high.
But Zachary, charming, handsome Zachary, who thought she'd be his muse. It was quite a lot to take in.
"Zachary, the real question here is if you allow yourself to" She giggled, erasing the tension that rested on his shoulders.
"Of course"
"That's it, then. Come on, loverboy, I'm starving"
He nodded with a gorgeous smile on his face. "Wait just a minute, Helen of Troy" She halted upon his request.
He pulled the leather jacket and opened them for her.
Yes, it really was a romcom kind of scene.
She could feel the energy of his body a step behind, the warmth of his jacket hugging her frame like a burrito. He then guided her to the seat, in which he sat in front of her. The smell of his minty goodness filled her nostrils and she finally succumbed to the different kind of warmth; one that was clearly different from a few nights ago.
He had her hands wrapped around his torso tightly. Below his shirt, she could feel formations of abs that might've made her swoon. She appreciated them, yes, but they did not made her heart tug. Surprisingly, he did not even made her imagine unspeakable things. The realization somehow scared her, she cannot trust herself to close her eyes, for fear that she'd dream of a different scent to clog her nostrils.
When they arrived, Ronaldo's face was the first she saw. She cannot help but laugh at the dramatic expression on his face. He looked at her with humorous eyes that were filled accusations. Then, his gaze diverted to the man next to her, scrutinizing him from head to toe.
"Good evening, you are Ronaldo, aren't you? Olive told me a lot about you"
"She didn't with you"
"Hey, yes I do"
"Doesn't matter. Who dares step on the monster's lair whilst scurrying off with thine man's maiden?"
"I am nobody's keychain Ronaldo, geez"
Despite the pulsating want to defend herself, Olive cannot help but blush, yet quickly recovered right before anyone could've noticed. Foremost, she did not understand if she was not informed or people just like speaking so formally when threatened. Then, of course, it was no secret that Ronaldo's loyalty was with Mama Dust and Enoch's alone, and he very much loved teasing her with the so called owner of the lair. She just wished Zachary would choose not to mind the younger man.
"Hold your horses there thine sir, I shall leave then" Zachary still smiled amidst Ronaldo's persistent gate guard abilities. She shook Zachary's hand that was inside hers just enough for him to be distracted.
"You could come inside, I'm sure Enoch wouldn't mind. I'll make you my not that awesome, but ok, whipped cream ice cream"
From that, Ronaldo glared at her and sharply backed away from the scene, calling someone from his phone.
The front door opened rather suddenly. Mrs. Dust stepped out from the confines and saved them all. She smiled to their guest and shook his hand with her gracefulness. Much to Ronaldo's dismay, his mother ushered Zachary in with her in tow.
He stared at the sticky notes sticking out the pages of the presented organizer. Green, pink and blue lines were overlapping as he opens them with his hand. Written estimated dates were scribbled as were some sketches of cakes and dresses. Aside from the numbers and pen strokes, they've also construct the foundations of where values and amounts would go, such planning led them to providing choices and offers.
The meeting room was filled with wires, pictures, markers, notes, laptops and three adults. Sitting on the head was Enoch, then on his right was Horace, and left was Claire. They were preoccupied with their tasks in general that even Claire was frowning, picking up Horace's designs and giving out opinions.
He was relinquishing the silence that was too rare with the two. Ever since Olive came to the picture, Claire had been pestering him non stop about the state of their relationship, which of course was no where near being intimate. He always tell her they're friends of some sorts, and she'd sport such knowing grin, he cannot help but snort.
His phone vibrated on the table, breaking the spell that left him in peace. "It's Ronaldo, Enoch" Claire butted in, glaring at his screen disappointingly, no doubt, hoping it was her friend. "It is rude to pry, Claire."
He nodded his gratitude to his always prim and chivalrous colleague, Horace gave one back, then bowed down to continue with his draft. Upon the man'd head, he smirked at Claire, who only rolled her eyes and scoffed.
"Enoch?" Ronaldo's voice was too loud for a whisper. Even with the deepness of his tone, he could still be heard by the two people in the table.
"Yes?"
"Are you staying?"
"I am uncertain, though I might, why? Is there any emergency I should know about?"
"Yes, it's Olive"
His eyebrows quirked in concentration, he let his mind focus on the reasoning before he'd decide whether to panic or not. He pull all his energy to distinguish the strange calmness and secretive vibe Ronaldo's voice pertained. It cannot be something wretched.
"What of her?"
"She brought a pretty man, Enoch. That Zachary with his perfect teeth"
Olive.
He glanced at her name in the screen, noticing the absence of availability. It did not bug him to know that she's possibly, searching for a person to well, watch cheesy movies and enjoy PDAs with-just the thought of those gooey romantic comedy sceneries make him cringe. So why on earth was Ronaldo reporting such things to him?
"Well, good for her"
"Are you not going to judge him at least?"
"I've seen the boy, Ronaldo. He's perfect for her"
The line went silent and he allowed himself to take it. He truly was happy that someone like Zachary would woo his impossible friend. Although she's quite a challenge to put up with, along all of the energy and random, silly things, she's Olive, a woman who has a heart bigger than her own body and a smile that could make anyone's heart tug.
He frowned, confused with how his thoughts strung themselves.
"Go home early, at least."
It was a pathetic excuse, but at least he did not use the wild card, Mama Dust, as to get him to come home urgently. Ronaldo, much to his obvious want to tease them so, gave him the free will to choose. He did not bother to close the conversation formally, his thumb hovered to end the call.
He went back to the notes, flipping them back and forth as his peripheral vision checks on the time in his watch.
"There's not much we could do with these, Enoch. Besides, we're already a few steps ahead with this project" Horace offered, placing the pencil next to his sketch pad. He already drew five wedding gowns on the paper, each with a serpentine shape and shimmering tools. So far, the bride was pleased with the notion that they're following every details of her dream dress.
"Is that so? Then, we might as well be a meter ahead,"he sounded irritated, though he was not. "We couldn't fit all these guests if we'd go with that huge arch and statues"
"Oh Enoch, eyes to the price my oblivious friend, I'm afraid you're missing out" Claire said nonchalantly, her eyes not meeting his'. The man next to her looked at their exchange yet Claire just sighed. "Horace, I think you should shorten the veil a little bit, you know? To show the world how she truly feels? Feelings shouldn't be kept hidden, especially love."
"You're talking nonsense Densmore, what are you on about?"
"Well, yes, Claire, but we could make it thinner then? To compromise with her ideas?"
Enoch groaned and decided not to meddle in. Claire and Horace were some hopeless romantics and he does not blend in with that. Emma Bloom was the only person who he thinks worthy of such notice, and he is yet falling in love? He's extremely foreign with such abstract. Few women came and walked away, not liking the way he's so detached and indifferent to them. And he definitely did not like the way they tried hard to change him.
Was it true though, that he's missing out? Of course it depends on who you'd ask, what they prioritize. Sometimes, he thinks about it, what could be the rational reasoning behind the neurotic ways people do when in love. Those people whom he thought were calm and composed, act extremely opposite when it comes to conflicts regarding relationships.
Who could he ask though? Claire would laugh at his face, Horace would space out probably a week-and that could ruin their performance, Olive though,
Olive would understand.
He raised his head and stared at the ceiling above, gliding left and right with his office chair. That night, he proved to himself how utterly beautiful Olive can be. Yes, a bit creepy, he thought about it as well, but his eyes were attentive and glued to her peaceful face. She has such warm face and an even more comfortable eyes that when she's snoozing, every curve and color seemed alive. Some freckles which he hadn't seen before, adorned to the center of her nose's bridge; sun kissed reminders when the sun would often kiss the sky. He snorted rather suddenly, remembering the small light mole on the side of her upper lip. He then understood why she's sociable.
After leaving her in her bed, he stayed up later than usual, her scent traveling around, he had almost fooled himself that she was there. He might actually know her anywhere. In a crowd full of people, he will still see her.
Therefore, really, he's glad she could be happy. Especially now that they grew closer. She knows how to handle him and he's quite an impossible being to be with every single day, yet she managed.
He is happy
for her
He stood up abruptly, his chair gliding behind him because of the force applied by his push. His eyes glanced at his watch, reading the time, then to the two. Claire and Horace looked pleased, though tried their bests with covering it by gluing their heads to their work.
"I'll just take these home" His hands busied themselves with packing. Hopefully, if he'd hurry up, he'll make it just in time.
The dining room was buzzing with soft murmurs and clunking of utensils. Enoch tilted and observed first, seeing a familiar man next to Olive. He sported a smirk in knowing how his presence was anticipated according to the space upon his seat.
He laid down his bag to the coffee table and made himself known. Olive was midway through consuming her spoonful of mashed potatoes when she saw him. His chest gripped itself when her eyes twinkled and lips stretched to a greeting.
She looked so happy.
"Look who decided to show up" Ronaldo joked, his eyebrow raised and reading spectacles resting on the bridge of his nose.
"Because someone called me in the middle of my work"
Olive glanced, her expression curious and surprised. Apparently, she was not informed of their talk.
"What did you guys talked about?"
"It's a secret"
"I can let you tell me, Enoch. I know how" She explained, chuckling quietly as they both shared a knowing look and an implicated inside joke. He had this strange tickle on his knees that she accidentally gained knowledge about. The situation happened a few days ago, when she was midway to tripping but accidentally grabbed on to his thigh, at the top of his knee. He jerked rather suddenly, still ending her falling but was still satisfied with the information. She couldn't let it go.
"Your boyfriend wouldn't be too happy to hear how you'll do it, Olive" He wasn't much of an innuendo person, he leaves it to Olive with such humor, but the way that Zachary looked at him gave him the power to do so.
"Oh hush, let's leave it to the imagination shall we, Enoch?" He blushed by the dark eyes that looked at him. Olive couldn't be defeated at her own game.
Luckily, Zachary cleared his throat and raised his glass of water. His green eyes were subjected to him and he cannot help but to glare back. He's not a smiley person, so why on earth would he act as one in front of a guy he had no obligation to please.
"To leaving it as that" The man said, his glass still raised to the air.
He grimaced with the thought of trying to smile with the gesture. There was something about Zachary that made him more snobbish. From the way Olive portray him, he sounded alright for people like Olive. They are those people who love to socialize and get to know such huge population of friends. But he was too different from him, they were two juxtaposed individuals.
Fortunately for Zachary, he raised his glass and clicked it with his offer. Olive in the middle smiled timidly, nodding to nothing in particular. He cannot seem to get it.
"You're Zachary right?"
"Yes, I'm her cavalier. Her friend, supporter, partner. She's my muse. My inspiration, the cause of my burning passion"
Zachary leaned in and winked to the chuckling girl. She kept shaking her head, finding his statement humorous despite his advances.
"That's too cliche Zach, really"
"And yet we love star crossed lovers and love at first sight"
"That's just you"
"Yet you dreamt of portraying Juliet"
Enoch watched the exchange and ate grimly. He felt weird, probably not used to having Olive that, well, unresponsive to him. She also treat Zachary the same way they banter, only that, Zachary flirts with her so boldly, and she allowed herself to flirt back.
He scooped one large bite to his mashed potato and busied himself with cutting his roasted beef.
"Enoch- Enoch right? What do you do?"
"I organize wedding events for a living"
"So, you know a lot of things about love then?"
"I've seen a lot of things about love, does that count as an answer to your question, ?" He sounded harsher than he thought he would be. In truth, he really was irritated. The man kept on flashing Olive his bright teeth, she could potentially be blinded by them. Also, the fact that he was irritated with such pointless thing made him even more foul, knowing how there might be some deeper explanation for his escalated rampant.
"I am sorry, you must've had a rough day, Mr. O'Connor"
"Meh, rough life probably"
Afterwards, fortunately or not, Zachary did not open another attempt of a conversation with him. He observed that Zachary was incredibly charismatic, he knew how to make people like him. Ronaldo for example, did not like him one bit until a few polite chit chats later, had already told stories about his experiences with patients during his observational and practical classes.
Beside him, Olive was at ease, her laughters ringing in his ears as Zachary and Ronaldo made her laugh. He continued eating his food, it was his house after all, he's not expected to pretend and listen. Afterwards, Olive's hand crept down to the table, her fingers tapping on the back of his wrist like piano keys. He glanced at her and her eyes were still fixated with whatever conversation she's in.
Such scenario stayed for ten minutes or two. He had no problem blending in with his seat, and Zachary had no problem trying not to look at him, or Olive's hand in general.
When what seemed like a nowhere ending, Olive's guest was about to leave. Mama Dust was the first to stand up, offering Zachary a welcoming hug and Ronaldo clapped his back.
"I hope the ice cream with whipped cream invitation is still open?" He slung his leather jacket in place. Olive stood on her spot and nodded easily. Enoch stared at the way she smiled for the man. "Yes, of course, Zachary" She tiptoed from her feet and planted her lips to Zachary's cheek, pressing one kiss that made him avert his gaze. He felt as if he was not allowed to see such act.
Behind him, Ronaldo clapped his back as well. He only frowned, for he was unsure of what to feel in that moment.
When the dining area's light was off and the whole staircase was dark, Enoch cooped himself to the living room. He did not turn any light but the radiation from the flat screen beamed color to the place.
He was currently watching a film adaption of Romeo and Juliet. For some reason, he felt the need to do so. He accidentally slept that afternoon on his desk, that's why he still felt awake and running, and honestly, what are some better ways to kill time than watch movies?
"Enoch?"
Her voice, something so familiar and intimate.
He turned around and saw her blanket wrapped self and bunny slippers coming to him. With no further questions, he scooted to the sofa, not registering the existence of the love seats that were glaring at them.
She laid on top of the cushion, her head next to his thighs. A crown of her mane spread around her and some cascade down the sofa. She glanced at the screen, smiled, and then looked at him. Her eyes were bright amidst the color from the film.
"Why are you still awake?"
"You don't want me to see you sob do you?" She retorted, her index poking his nose.
"More like I'm afraid I couldn't sleep because of your loud snores"
"I do not snore"
"I'd probably drown from your flood of saliva"
"Well, I couldn't deny that"
She rolled her eyes and chuckled just as he smirked in victory. He laid his head back to the sofa's rest, his arm tightening its hold to the pillow he'd been clutching.
"Zachary and I, we're not there yet"
"And you're telling me that because?"
He stayed watching, choosing to ignore the stare she's been giving. The blueness of the room colored her to a dream like state. He wanted to touch her then, he almost held her cheek.
"I just thought you should know"
For the rest of the movie, they both stayed silent. Enoch kept on glancing at her to make sure she's still awake or not. She stayed wrapped in her blanket and hugged her knees to her chest, her eyes concentrated to the scenes in the screen.
He sighed heavily and closed his eyes, inhaling some air and finding out that he could distinguish her scent.
"What is love, really?" He asked.
"Unexpected for us"
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