"Psst," my friend's shoe not so gently kicked my leg. "Is this for real?" she asked again, after not receiving the answer to the first couple of tries.
Annoyed by having my attention taken away from the woman sitting at the other side of the small restaurant located in the lovely area at the city center, I used all of my strength to look away and send daggers to Washu.
"What do you mean?" I huffed, in reality not knowing the way to respond after randomly dragging her along with me. "We came to eat," I surprised myself with the lie, causing a burst of laughter to escape her lips.
"Are you sure about that?" she smirked and glanced at the woman who had no idea we were here.
Scoffing I rolled my eyes. "Coincidence, never heard?" I playfully stuck out my tongue, hardly ever being this childish, but with Washu, this behavior was allowed.
"Riiiight," she dragged the word and shook her head while scanning through the menu as the waitress has approached us with a wide smile on her face. "Do you have something for an awful temper?" Washu asked with mischief sparkling in her grey eyes, causing me to snap at her with annoyance.
Waitress chuckled at the silly question. "No, but we do have some good drinks after hours, if you would like to join maybe?"
Raising a brow, I watched the scene happening right in front, like a movie humans loved to watch on their TVs.
Washu smiled, but I knew this one was fake. "Sorry, I don't do after hours. Two of these appetizers please and this as well," she pointed at the menu having the waitress write down the order before leaving not too happy about being turned down.
"I mean she was cute?" I began unsure of why would Washu not be too keen on making new relationships, I did tell her to have fun while we were here. "And I don't have an awful temper," I felt the need to point out.
My friend shrugged and remained silent until finally commenting on the last sentence, "You are stubborn like a log when it comes to feelings, I do consider it awful."
Chewing against my inner cheek, ignoring and knowing well that she indeed spoke the truth, my attention went towards the man who approached Nahla's table.
Taking a second to take him in, he did look harmless, which was my main concern. I only came here to ensure she would be safe and wasn't meeting up with a creep, or so I thought until a pang of hurt welcomed itself in my heart.
"Oh..." my friend muttered, her cheek resting against the palm of her hand. "I see," she must have finally gotten the answer she so wished to know.
Feeling her eyes on me, I watched Nahla greeting the man and speaking to him with a warm smile, this sucked. Could she be my human? Could I walk up to them and tell him to leave? How does one receive permission for such a thing? And most importantly why did I want that?
"Elina, it's okay. You do know we cannot get attached to any of them..." there was sorrow in her tone, she didn't like it any more than I did.
"I'm not attached," I grumbled, being smarter than this, but not wanting to face the truth. "I'm just making sure she's safe, I'm allowed to do that, right?"
Washu's grey eyes fell upon my saddened expression, biting onto her lip she nodded having no words to my desperate attempt of dealing with feelings.
"Anyway, what's up with you?" I dared to change the topic.
Her eyebrow arched in surprise; she wasn't expecting me to notice how oddly she's been acting as of late. "Nothing's up, what do you mean?" she retorted, helping the waitress to put the food onto our table as a kind person she was.
"Positive?" I pushed further, wanting to ensure she was being happy for a change. I might have failed her up in the Pentagon, but such a mistake wasn't going to repeat itself on earth.
"Why would you ask that?" she trailed cautiously, we were both well trained in this type of interrogation, it was almost amusing how she was challenging me in this game of pretend.
Shrugging, I glanced at Nahla who was still busy chatting with the guy whose face I did not see due to sitting in the opposite direction. "You seem a little..." I looked back at my friend who was daring me to continue this sentence with her reddish eyes. "Irritated," I finished cheekily.
Her scoff was hilarious, she denied it more than I suspected. Putting her long brown hair into a ponytail she began to eat the food, completely ignoring my comment.
Having a difficult time averting my gaze from Nahla, Washu ensured to smack my leg underneath the table every time I was losing a track of time. One thing was certain, I was smiling while observing her chat so enthusiastically, hoping that the guy was listening properly because if it were me, I would treasure every single word she spoke.
"I hope you aren't listening in," Washu snickered but gasped thinking I might have. "Elina!"
"I'm not!" I squeaked and pouted. "I would never invade her privacy in such a way. Whatever she wishes to tell me she will, I won't spy on her. I'm not a creep!"
"You are spying on her right now."
"Iâ" pausing realizing how it might have looked like, I argued back. "I'm not... Ensuring safety, okay? There's a difference."
Washu rolled her eyes and stuffed her face with salad. "Keep on telling yourself."
Hitting the table in frustration, carefully not to cause a scene I huffed, "I'm your commander, be respectful."
This made her laugh, too loudly may I add because people started looking, and my heart skipped at the idea of Nahla seeing me here. Shit, maybe I was spying on her.
"Going by titles now? Commander," she teased, but waved her hands dismissively, not wanting to annoy me too much.
Groaning I tried to eat something, but it was surprisingly difficult to do. Was this sickness? Glancing at Nahla she went a bit quiet, the man must have been speaking. Frowning I noticed her fingers anxiously rubbing against the side of her adorable brown jumper that by the way suited the color of her alluring eyes.
Gulping against the tightened throat all my senses were screaming to go to her, to ease her discomfort and make her smile again. And I might have been ready to do so, pushing the chair and getting up, only to have my hand caught by Washu who shook her head in disapproval.
"No interacting, I won't let you do something you will regret."
Genuine concern for my wellbeing was present in her tone, doing as told I remained seated, battling with my own head. After paying the bill Washu sighed and blessed me with a warm apologetic smile, not sure whether I enjoyed such expression being directed towards me.
"Let's go," she said calmly. "She's fine my friend."
Understanding that there was nothing else I could do except torture myself I followed Washu out of the restaurant and fought with a certain type of pain I never knew existed.
"Let's go to that place where we can practice shooting with guns. It might help you," she proposed and already began searching for the nearest location on her phone.
"Weren't you having plans?" I asked, recalling her talking about it when I dragged her out of our dorm.
"Don't worry, nothing or no one is more important than you," she answered simply without looking up from the phone. Chuckling to myself, the universe has blessed me with the best person in the entire galaxy.
"I think this one just might be." Her attention snapped back onto me in shock. "What? I can see it in your eyes, you really wish to go, then go. I will be fine," I explained seeing her switch from one leg to another in anticipation, yet she hasn't moved. "Our time is limited, use it as much as you can. And preferably not for my sulking. Whoever has gained your attention better know how lucky they are. Have fun," I dismissed her by walking away.
Hearing her thank you being whispered softly into the wind I took a seat on the nearby bench and observed the earthians. Some children cried for no reason, some happily jumped around while holding their parents' hand.
"Parents..." my lips repeated out loud.
What were they, what was their purpose...? Curiously taking a note of how they praised their children, or scolded unhappily, or hugged them without any reason at all. However no matter the mood they were there, by their side, protecting them. Why?
"Ugh, too much," I groaned and clenched my fists frustrated from the questions so seemingly obvious, yet so foreign.
Annoyed by the world I walked back towards the campus, yet paused when approaching Nahla's flat. Deciding to take a seat on the staircase leading towards the front door, my head rested against the rail as I lost a track of time.
The sky has slowly turned darker, and it wasn't long before the stars have appeared. There was reassurance in them that I always sought and needed in the most difficult times. I missed space, I missed being alone. Earth was full of life, energy, and chatter, there was no break for the mind to take.
This planet made me confused, it made me see things differently and experience what it meant to have free will, to go out with a friend, or sleep longer when my body required it. Little things, but I began to notice, and then feelings... Those were ruthless, attacking my heart and mind.
Nevertheless, the mission was to be completed, Keith was hereâwatching. This was a mere illusion to fool me, to play with me. Earth was prohibited for a reason, I had to stop letting it mess with my reasoning, yet the second I noticed Nahla leaving the taxi with her crutches and tears painting her reddish cheeks nothing else mattered but her.
Appearing by her side before the driver even had a chance to leave, she looked at me in shock when my arm skillfully embraced her back, ensuring her stability as she appeared a bit dizzy.
She tried to say something but broke crying, I had no clue what to do. Have I done something to upset her further? Still, she buried her face in the crook of my neck and for a second, I felt everything and nothing at once.
"What are you doing here?" she sniffled, having a hard time composing herself after a full-on breakdown.
Chewing against my inner cheek I told exactly what heaved on my heart, "I felt lonely, so I came here, but also I wanted to make sure you got home safely after your date.
The way her eyes observed me in pure disbelief has got me worried.
"Why are you crying? This shouldn't be allowed..." I muttered, gently wiping the tears off of her velvety skin.
"The guy was a meanie after all, I don't even want to get into it..." she whispered looking ashamed of herself as if it were her fault that he turned out to be a bad person.
Anger has boiled inside me. "Say a word my beautiful human and I will kill him for you." However, she giggled and caressed my cheek with her slender hand, giving warmth and excitement to my body. "I'm not joking," I murmured displeased by not being taken seriously.
"You called me beautiful," she brought up with a chuckle, but I saw stars mirroring in her eyes.
Tightening the grip, I had on her back I brought her even closer, leaning into her ear I confessed in a calm voice, "My lips will never speak, to you I will always be truthful and honest. You are beyond the beauty I thought existed, you outshine every star my eyes have fallen upon in this lifetime. Beautiful doesn't even compare to how I see you, Nahla."
She was silent, but her escalated heartbeat furiously fought against her chest, wishing to get out and evoking anxiety within me. Have I hurt her?
"Oh God, I think I'm drunk," she uttered and pushed me away losing the balance yet holding herself up thanks to the crutches.
"I apologize," I panicked.
"No-no, you are fine. Gosh, you are..." she paused looking down avoiding me and the answer. "I'm so dizzy..." she whispered to herself, but I caught onto it.
Approaching her once again I asked this time, "Can I help you?"
She looked at me unsurely but nodded and allowed herself to be guided upstairs. She struggled with keys so I gently took them out of her hand and opened the door for her. When I switched on the lights, her tiny apartment has come to life. She had a small kitchen connected with a living room area and a little corridor leading towards what must have been a bedroom and bathroom.
"I'm not feeling too well," she groaned hardly taking steps.
Having enough of watching her in such a state I took the courage to pick her up. She yelped not expecting me to hold her but allowed me to do it by snuggling herself into the side of my neck.
"I feel bad..." she muttered, almost childishly, which made me smile at her adorable behavior.
"I know my beautiful human, you said that already. I will take you to your bedroom, okay?"
"Mhm," her hum vibrated against my cold skin.
She had a nice large bed, neatly made, with the entire house being kept clean, she surely did a better job than Washu at maintaining order. Carefully laying her down, she held onto my shirt for a few seconds before letting me move away. Within those seconds we exchanged more than words, yet none of us knew how to respond to such a deep connection.
"I will get you a shirt to change," I said and allowed myself to open her wardrobe, picking the first loose t-shirt I saw and a set of shorts. "Here," I handed her the clothes, which she gratefully accepted.
Turning around not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable she whined and struggled before calling my name. Seeing her stuck halfway with the jumper over her head I couldn't help but laugh.
"Stop it," she cried out embarrassed when I helped her take it off. "Don't look!" she yelped when noticing my eyes shifting onto her chest; a lot of freckles painted it.
Turning instantly like a soldier being told wrong I kept my eyes at the wall.
"I think I need a bucket," she said with difficulty.
Rushing towards the bathroom I grabbed the first thing I saw being useful and brought it to her before she threw up on the side of her bed.
"Oh God, this is hell," she cried in between.
When finished I took it back to her bathroom and cleaned it up under the shower. She asked for help to be walked into the bathroom, which without hesitation I've done. She closed herself there for a while, before coming out with her crutches and looking at me teary-eyed.
"This is so embarrassing..." she muttered with a crack in her innocent voice.
Sighing I shook my head and put the crutches away while guiding her back to the bed. Sitting on the side I allowed myself to move the loose strand of her hair out of her face.
"No reason to be, I'm glad I could help."
She sniffled a few times before nodding and snuggling into the pillow. "It was nice at the start, we chatted for a bit, but then he began asking all of these straightforward questions. I felt investigated. When I told him I'm not too comfortable with answering them all, he said he has to know how hard it would be to manage with my disability before he gets into anything... I felt so downgraded."
Control your anger.
"I will kill him after all," I ignored my better judgment, making her giggle, which instantly calmed me down. Her hand reached out towards my cheek and she childishly began poking it, which I didn't mind at all; she could do whatever she wanted.
"Would you do such a thing in my stead?" she asked jokingly, not knowing who was currently by her side.
"I would."
Her lips parted when she noticed there was no ounce of amusement coming from my part. She hid her face in the side of her pillow, but it wouldn't change anything. I heard her heart.
"I saw you; you know? I felt much more comfortable knowing you were there."
Surprised by this piece of information I made her look at me again. "You have?"
She snorted, and while shocked, her happiness was all I needed. "Of course, my sweetness," her words played with my heart. "I'm not blind, I just cannot walk properly."
"Why did you drink?" I asked, not liking the state she has gotten herself into.
"Well... Entire evening sucked!" she huffed. "So, I wanted to drink and forget about how awful everything is. Got a bit out of control," she laughed. "I apologize."
Sighing this woman was too much; cute and silly at the same time.
"Sleep now, professor." I got up from her bed and observed her pout for a bit longer. "What?" I had to ask.
She hid her face underneath the duvet before whispering, "You made it better. Thank you."
Smiling I cheekily pulled the cover off of her face and leaned in. "My beautiful human, I will always make you feel good." With that said I left her apartment, the sound of her wildly beating heart still echoing in my head, like music to my ear, that I wished to never end.
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Updates might be a bit slower nowadays, but no excuses I will do my best to provide once a week for you guys. However, wanted to let you know you might have to be a bit more patient :)