Chapter 11: Flowers

After finishing eating our breakfast, I quickly washed the dirty dishes while Shan bid his goodbye and went back to his apartment saying that he's got something important to do. I was glad he left early because Fire just told me that he's coming. I also have classes this afternoon. Fire must have wanted for me to go to school with him today.

As soon as I placed the newly washed plates in the staining rack, the sound of the doorbell echoed in the living room. I cheerfully went outside and as I expected, Fire was already standing outside of the gate. I can't help but smile as I saw what he was holding behind him.

I opened the gate for him. “Good morning!” He greeted me first.

“Good morning!” I said.

“For you.” He handed me the bouquet of flowers he had been hiding.

It's a bouquet of white roses this time. It was white, so clean and so pure.

“What's this for?” As I asked him as I sniffed the flowers. *Glady, I’m not allergic to flowers. I remained looking at the roses, preventing any immediate eye contact with him now to hide my flushed face.

“I bought that for you. Who else should have it? Don't girls like flowers?”

I don't like flowers. They can't be eaten nor do they last long. They can only sit in a vase for a week, a couple of weeks if you thoroughly take care of them. Their beauty fades easily as they age and wilt. They are fickle as humans. I always view them as one of the “Beautiful but useless things” in the world.

But I also don't hate them. Flowers fall in the middle of the scale between wanting and hating. But receiving flowers from Fire is a different thing. And just like the fickle flowers I’m holding right now, I could easily change. Maybe you’ll start liking something if you also like the person that gave it to you. And that happiness that's short-lived is what makes people hope for more in the next coming days and makes them continue living.

“Thanks then”, I said, trying hard to make it sound casual.

I was almost on the front porch when I noticed the feeling of emptiness behind me. I turned and saw Fire standing still at the exact same place he was second ago.

“What's wrong?” I squinted my eyes as sunshine struck in it.

*What's with him?

“Nothing. . .” He said low.

My lips curved into a smile. I walked back towards him. He stared at me, confused as to why I’m coming at him. I reached him after a few steps and tiptoed to reach his face. I planted a light kiss on his cheek.

“Thanks again, Fire . . .” I whispered in his ear.

I just chuckled when Fire immediately headed inside of the apartment, leaving me in the front yard. He scratched his nape and the redding of his ear lobes didn't escape my eyes. *Fire’s embarrassed expression always gets me everytime. He’s like a cute, little shy puppy. I smiled wildy as I followed him inside.

“Was anyone here?” I was astounded by his sudden question that he immediately asked right after sitting on the sofa.

I was stunned and unable to answer him instantly, still seeing how Shan was roaming in my kitchen and sitting in the exact same spot Fire is sitting right now.

“Solene, are you listening?” Fire called me when he noticed my silence.

“No one’s been here.” I looked straight at him in an attempt to hide my lie.

“Are you sure?” His eyebrows raised.

“Yes. Who will come here except for you and Lillian?” I just denied Shan’s presence after I just washed the plates he ate from this breakfast.

I secretly scanned the kitchen to see if Shan left a trace of him being there but thankfully, there was none.

“If I catch you lying to me, Solene . . .”, I felt Fire behind me and I quickly turned my heels to face me, “I’m going to punish you.” He pressed his thumb against my lips and trailed it down into my neck. He stopped when he reached the dangerous area in my chest, just right above the slit of my cleavage. I bit my lower lip this time.

He smirked as he looked at me and his gray eyes glistened while he continued to trace my soft cleavage. My lower lip burned from the force I exerted to it while unconsciously biting harder. I could vividly feel his fingers on my skin despite the cloth of my t-shirt covering me.

My sweat trickled and I swallowed as I felt my mouth dry. I failed to fight the urge from licking my lips as I felt it chapped because of the hotness that's currently spreading throughout my body because of Fire’s touch.

“Very bad . . .” Fire breathed and I felt his arms circle around my waist at the same time, pulling me closer to him, pressing our warm bodies together. He then claimed my lips torridly. Every movement of his tongue inside my mouth, every brush of his tongue against mine sends inexplicable warmth and pleasure in my soul that makes me moan against his lips. I swung both of my shoulders around his neck pulling him for a deeper kiss.

We were both catching our breaths when we pulled out of the kiss. We held each other's gaze until Fire let me go from his embrace. He turned and walked back into the living and slumped down the couch.

I blinked. “Waiting for more, Sol?” He looked at me from his seat and smirked.

*I was annoyed

How could he tease me like that? *But was I really anticipating more?

I was so annoyed at him that I threw him my slippers which successfully hit him in his shoulder.

He looked at me dumbfounded and watched me take my other slipper and fire it at him. I was aiming for his face this second time. I was already smiling, waiting to see his angry face when he managed to catch my last slipper.

“Feisty . . . I like it.” He grinned and picked up my other slipper that hit him.

He took the pair in his hand. My eyes rounded when he stood up and walked towards me while holding my footwear. He stood straight in front of me and scoffed. I was surprised when he went down and kneeled in front of me.

“Don't run barefoot inside the house, the floor tiles are cold.” He said when he stood back up. I looked down and figured out that he put my slippers down on the floor.

He then turned away. “Our classes will start at exactly one in the afternoon. Go get prepared. I’ll wait for you here.” He said as he casually sat on the sofa and turned the television on.