Chapter V

Be aware of switching POV's.

Mikael’s POV

It was Esteire. Composed, chill Esteire who was now laughing, and at us. I just stood there dumbfounded while Eren started cracking up at himself too.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” said Esteire breathlessly, now calming down, “You must be surprised. But when I saw how you two-” She stopped and giggled a little at herself. It was a sweet, pleasant sound; one I thought I would never hear coming from her.

“Mikael,” she said, now placid as if it had never happened. “I can show you if you like. That is, if you’re still interested,” she finishes with a mischievous grin at her last comment.

I smirk back at her and offer up my arm like a gentleman, saying, “Of course, my lady. Whatever you wish.” I was starting to sound like Lucien.

Catching up on the act, she replies politely, “Why thank you good sir. Lead the way.” And she placed her hand on my forearm.

Then, as if we were going to a dance, we pretended to sashay away.

Eren was trying to muffle his laughter with not much success. I smiled to myself. I guess even Miss Cool & Collected can be fazed.

“Hey, wait!” Eren shouts and reaches out to touch Esteire on the shoulder. Without my realizing, I glower at him. Why’d I do that?

Esteire didn’t see as her back was to me, but Eren gave me a confused look.

“I was just wondering. What’s your name?” He asks Esteire.

Letting go of me, she responds with a rare, honest smile, “Esteire.”

Did my heart skip a beat just now?

Eren smiles back, “Eren. Nice to meet you.”

That was odd of him too. Ever since what happened last year, he hardly ever cracked a genuine smile. Perhaps this day turned out to be good after all.

---

“So, here it is,” says Esteire, pulling up a solid five-paged, doubled spaced document. 

I skimmed over the lines of the first page.

“Hey, not bad,” I remark. “Now how much of this is yours?” I continue, scrolling down with the wireless white mouse.

“Not much. She had done most of it already. I really just edited it,” she admits.

“Wait, so you lied?” I tease.

She softly elbows me. “No, you idiot.”

“Hey,” I murmur, resting my head on her shoulder.

“Mm?” She grunts, eyes fixed on the assignment.

“Hey, I said,” I repeat and gently rotate her head to face me. A slight look of surprise shades her face, inches from mine. How can she be laughing one moment and calm the next? Man, she’s good.

Sighing in exasperation, I nuzzle into her neck. It’s so tiring trying to get her to lose her cool.

“Hey, that tickles,” she says, wheeling away from me in the chair.

I swear, if she hadn’t responded, I would’ve literally thrown my hands up in utter defeat.

Motivated, I leaned a little closer.

“I was just trying to get a better view.”

She turned to look at me. “Through my hair?”

Smiling seductively, I whispered, “Of course. Then I can see the light play off your hair. Double-tasking.”

Eyebrows raised, she looked at me in disbelief, then, to my dismay, turns back around.

What excuse of a human are you?! I cry out in my head.

Letting out my breath, I propped my head on her shoulder again, drained in a matter of a few seconds by one master of composure.

“Why won’t you look at me?” I mumble under my breath, thinking she didn’t hear me. Wrong.

“Do you want me to look at you?” she asked whisperingly, still focused on the screen.

I stand back up, taking with me a lock of hair. I looked at it in the flushed sunlight. It glinted streaks of red-gold.

“Yes,” I breathed.

After a moment’s stillness, she stood up, back still facing me. I twirled her hair around my fingers. It was velvety and smooth to the touch. 

“Do you?” 

It was déjà vu. Except, this time, she didn’t turn away.

She glances over at me, giving me a thoughtful look. Then, she angled herself to face me straight on. She took a step forward so she was almost up against me. Reaching up with her hands, she swept away a piece of hair near my left eye.

“Silly strand of hair; trying to poke Red in the eye,” she says quietly, staring at her hand touching my face.

I place my hand over hers, clasping it against my face. She gazed into my eyes. They were warm and deep, but tinged with sadness somehow. And somehow, that grieved me. I wrapped my other hand around her waist, pulling her into my enfold. She hugged me back, shaking slightly. Wait, shaking? No way, she’s not... I looked down at her.

She was. She was crying, silent tears flowing slowly down her cheeks.

I was shocked. Why was she crying? And why did those tears look so beautiful to me? My heart stirred; I held her tighter.

Esteire’s POV

I don’t know why I suddenly started crying. Was I holding back my despair that much? That it just poured out of me like that?

I pulled away from him. His embrace was warm. That look in his eyes, and that kindness I feel emanating off him...They are so much alike; it pains me. It’s like he’s still here by my side. 

Why’d you have to leave me?