Losing Control

The sky blue shoulder less dress looks so perfect on Lavelle’s tiny body. From top to bottom, it seems so simple but still pleasing to the eye. Even Lavelle’s silver blonde hair was simply tied like a rose petal by Jesicca. Jesicca also gave a little sprinkle of white beads like snow on Lavelle’s head.

Daniela, who had just come out of the shower, was surprised and then went to Lavelle, who was now applying light makeup on her face. 

“You’re so beautiful. Where do you want to go?” Daniela asked curiously.

Lavelle lightly dabbed some dark red lipstick on her lips, then lightly rubbed the outside of her lips to make it look less overwhelming. “I was invited to have dinner with Theophile.

Daniela couldn’t believe Lavelle’s sudden answer. 

“Is there something missing?” Lavelle stared at her reflection in front of a wide mirror, then glanced at Daniela. 

“Are you seriously being invited to dinner by Theophile? Just the two of you?” then asked Daniela with slightly bulging eyes.

Lavelle nodded. “He invited me to the roof; I don’t know what he’s going to give me later.”

“I didn’t hear wrong, did I? Theophile had just left to attend to an important business. Could he have invited you to dinner?” Daniela still doesn’t believe Lavelle’s explanation. 

“Yeah, he forced me to meet him on the roof,” Lavelle said later. 

“It’s a little weird but, I think maybe he did take you out to dinner together because he feels guilty for leaving you alone with me all day,” said Daniela, “You look pretty good. I like it.”

“Yeah, he took me to dinner on the rooftop alone. Doesn’t this have to sound weird? I didn’t want to disappoint him, and that’s why I accepted his ridiculous-sounding invitation.” Lavelle put down her lipstick, then immediately looked for the pastel blue stilettos that Jessica had prepared. 

“Looks pretty good, fits perfectly. Next time, maybe you should immediately change your behavior to be more feminine,” commented Daniela.

“Damn it, why should I change my behavior? If he really loves me sincerely, he won’t mind my male-like behavior,” Lavelle said later. 

“Well, I think it’s just in case. Because you know that men usually prefer to see feminine women than boyish women,” Daniela replied as she placed her towel on a small chair.

“I’m’ a little happy with this dress. Do you think it’s’ good?” Lavelle asked Daniela. 

“I told you the dress was nice and suitable for you,” replied Daniela, “Sometimes, love does make a person fussy.” 

“I’m’ just asking, after all… I’m’ just trying to get you to tell me how I’ll’ look in front of Theophile,” Lavelle mumbled, pouting her lips.

“Does that mean you two are already in love?” Daniela asked with a slightly furrowed forehead which was quite broad. 

Lavelle chuckled then walked away from Daniela. “You can go to bed earlier if you feel sleepy, but I didn’t come either.” 

“Okay, you’ll have fun there,” said Daniela. 

With pretty vast strides, Lavelle exited the room and climbed the stairs to the top floor.

The roof Theophile was referring to was on the north side near Theophile’s own room, which was no less magnificent than where Lavelle and Daniela were. Now the dim and sleepy light of the neon lights installed along the road accompanied the slightly hesitant Lavelle steps.

Lavelle went quickly to open the door, which was not locked at all. The door opened, and she was surprised to see quite the magnificent decoration of such a small roof, thousands of colorful flowers arranged on a basket with matching motifs, along with colorful light bulbs that along with the ceiling. Lavelle was speechless.

Several light bulbs hung from the ceiling while Theophile leaned against the balcony railing. Theophile immediately turned to find Lavelle pensive in the doorway. At that time, Theophile was wearing a broken white suit, paired with a pair of loafers that were so shiny and looked expensive.

He smiled broadly at the arrival and approached Lavelle, who was still pensive. “Finally, you came too, sweetie. I’m sorry. After all, I can only make a room with a simple concept because, as you know, I only have a little time.”

“But… this is more than enough,” Lavelle replied.

“Is that true?” asked Theophile with a very faint smile.

“Yeah, I think so. I think the decorations you made are more than enough,” Lavelle replied, “I can’t say anything about that.”

“Thankfully, if you like the concept I chose, I’m afraid if you don’t like this concept.” Theophile licked his lower lip, occasionally fiddling with his bare fingers.

“I like the concept. Did you make it yourself? Theo… you didn’t overlook some of your important meetings, did you?” asked Lavelle, “You seem like you’re going to be busy these days, so why did you take me out to dinner here tonight?”

Theophile chuckled, then stretched out his right hand as he signaled the girl to take his hand quickly. After Lavelle took his hand, Theophile led Lavelle to a chair that had been wrapped in a pastel pink cloth, along with a dry flower decoration that was nuanced vintage. Without forgetting all the plans that had been arranged by himself, Theophile took a bouquet of French roses that had been arranged beautifully along with white roses.

“Hope you like it,” whispered Theophile.

Lavelle accepted the bouquet of flowers with a bit of nervousness, and she didn’t even dare to look Theophile in the eyes this time because the nervousness that had been missing from her for a long time came back for no apparent reason.

“Don’t you like the flowers?” asked Theophile with a questioning face.

Lavelle was stunned, then inhaled the fragrant aroma produced by the dozens of roses in the bouquet. “I like it.”

“Is that true?” repeated Theophile, still curious.

Lavelle smiled a very mysterious smile. “I’m serious, and I like your effort at putting things together.”

“I deliberately kept things a little simple, but I also tried to make what I was trying to make a special impression in your heart,” Theophile replied later.

“Actually, this is the first time I’ve been treated so romantically like this,” Lavelle said quietly.

Theophile raised one eyebrow. “Is that true?”

Lavelle nodded awkwardly. “Right, this is the first time.”

“Am I going to be your first love, too?” asked Theophile, with a seductive wink.

Lavelle turned her gaze to another object there, feeling awkward and feeling a little down because of her past. She couldn’t remember how many times she had felt alone, and no one understood her.

“French food with a bit of violin accompaniment,” said Theophile, “I heard France is a country known for its romantic vibe.”

“Yes, it’s true that France is known as the most romantic country. I even dream of going on a honeymoon to France someday with the person I love the most,” said Lavelle.

“Umh… so, you want to go on your honeymoon there?” Theophile repeated Lavelle’s words later.

“Yeah, I had a dream like that. However, I don’t know when it will happen because, even now, I feel I don’t need anything more than my mommy, my sister, and money.” Lavelle sighed in trepidation, then placed the bouquet of roses on one of the chairs nearby. “How about you? Did after you sent Vanyacia to hell that you had no desire to find your soul mate?”

“Why should I search for my soulmate so hard when my soulmate is already in front of me now,” replied Theophile.

“I’m serious,” Lavelle replied, unconsciously her cheeks blushing even more.

“I’m also more serious than you, sweetie. I’m just following you, and if you want to honeymoon in France, it’s no big deal. Remember that I’m a man of French blood,” mumbled Theophile.

Shortly after their short conversation, two waiters came bringing a food trolley in a row, and more than one. Behind them, there were several tiny fairies who were the size of a human pinky flying carrying a small and strange object that made Lavelle feel a little bit of astonishment.

“Theo...”

Theophile only smiled faintly when he understood the confusion on Lavelle’s face at that moment. “Don’t worry, and these are baby fairies who will accompany our dinner with a violin and some other musical instruments.”

“How can babies make music,” whispered Lavelle.

“Sweetie, they are baby fairies. Of course, they can do a lot of things you wouldn’t know,” Theophile replied as he touched Lavelle’s hand.

Shortly after, a child’s shrill voice rang out in their ears. “Ladies and gentlemen, what song would you like to sing?”

“Umh… can you bring me some slightly stringy music?” asked Theophile then. “Typically French.”

+++

After they had dinner together on the roof, Theophile invited Lavelle to go to the highest corner of the palace to look up at the stars in the sky that night. They were staring at the endless twinkling of stars and so eager to unite the constellations together. Occasionally, they joked and talked about something that sounded so cool between them.

A moment later, Theophile looked at Lavelle, who was busy trying to open the lid of a jar of dried fruit. “Sweetheart, have you ever heard of a star named Sirius?”

“Sirius? Is there a star named Sirius? I’ve never even heard of his name in science class,” Lavelle replied nonchalantly and groaned in pain when her fingernails suddenly caught the metal hook of the small jar lid.

Theophile smiled crookedly, then grabbed Lavelle’s fingers and then immediately kissed the girl’s fingers until the cute girl was stunned for a long time looking at Theophile’s treatment, which seemed so exaggerated. Her image of an incident a few days ago came back clear in Lavelle’s mind until she immediately pulled her fingers away.

“That hurts,” Lavelle complained.

“Want me to treat you again?” asked Theophile.

“No, thank you.” Lavelle instead wiped a drop of blood from the wound with a sheet of tissue.

Theophile chuckled, understanding that Lavelle had already understood that the more they touched each other, the intensity of shadow after the shadow of their relationship would be seen perfectly, then pointed to the constellation on one side of the sky, then said again, “That constellation is Sirius.”

Lavelle, who followed Theophile’s hand, nodded without saying anything. She kept trying to groan at the pain in her index finger, then to take the pain away, she took some dried berries from the jar and chewed them all at once.

“Is the candy good? It looks like you’re ignoring me for enjoying the candy, sweetie?” Theophile asked with slightly irritated eyes.

“Of course, delicious. Why do you ask like that? Shouldn’t you know the quality of the products you manufacture yourself?” asked Lavelle, “Don’t vampires eat candy this good?”

“I’d rather sip your lips than eat that candy,” Theophile teased.

“There seems to be something wrong with that brain of yours, and you’re a little crazy.” Lavelle rolled her eyes in exasperation.

“I’m a little crazy about your addiction,” Theophile mumbled, “Um... no, but...”

“Honestly, I don’t really enjoy talking about very unimportant things like that.”

“Should we dance?” asked Theophile, changing the subject because he felt that Lavelle was a little annoyed that he had gone too far.

“I can’t dance or anything,” Lavelle mumbled later.

“Um… then I’ll teach you,” Theophile replied then. It didn’t take long for Theophile to extend his hand to Lavelle, and Lavelle greeted him with some trepidation, as she had never danced in her life.

She’d be a little embarrassed if, at nineteen, she didn’t really know how to dance with someone— but wouldn’t that be natural for you to be an introvert? In this world, there are still many people with all kinds of complaints about this life, and not everyone becomes someone so perfect.

“Put one hand on my shoulder, and the other… hold my hand tightly.”

“This looks tough.” Theophile smiled faintly, then intensely looked into Lavelle’s eyes, which were glistening in the dim light of the light bulb.

They looked at each other, transferring the awkward feeling in each other’s hearts without explaining anything.

Classical music from the 90s played softly along with their nights. Even though they didn’t notice that their foreheads were being pressed against each other, Theophile taught Lavelle to dance really fast, stepping forward, sideways, and backward to classical music.

“You’re pretty good. You can learn it pretty quickly.”

Lavelle took a deep breath. “How is that possible? I often step on your shoes, doesn’t that hurt?”

“As long as it’s not silver stilettos, it can’t hurt me.”

“Is that why you all use gold furniture?” Lavelle asked curiously.

They were still dancing at a slow rhythm. However, they kept their balance well, without anyone tripping over. 

“Of course, that’s true,” Theophile mumbled, “Lavelle, I love you.”

“Why?”

“Because you are the first woman to make my heart flutter enough, you make my day more colorful like a flower that blooms in spring,” Theophile answered mysteriously.

“But wasn’t it before you met me you were with Vanyacia? You sent her to jail because she’s not a good Elf. You think she is, right? I also have a bad side that you don’t know about.”

“I don’t care because I see a rainbow in your eyes. It was something that moved my heart to fall in love with you, and there is a possibility the Moon Goddess has already arranged our meeting.”

“What do you mean?”

Lavelle was surprised when Theophile suddenly covered her mouth with a kiss. Lavelle didn’t accommodate the kiss because she still couldn’t believe why she was in such an elusive, enigmatic world.

Theophile grew even more exasperated, not even stopping to lick Lavelle’s lips, until a few moments later he let go. Still, with their foreheads pressed against each other, Lavelle could hear the sound of Theophile’s huffing breath blending in with her own.

“I love you, please don’t go. Whatever happens. Be mine, Lavelle Wynstella.”