One by one, suits by suits, and another fancy hamper to another elegant hamper. My legs start to get sore, waiting for him. And while I look at my heels, the principal says his name, and everybody in the hall screams and applauses so loud that my ears are shut for a second. I look at the man who is wearing a dark blue shirt and a taupe brown suit; his copper hair is shinier than ever, and his eyes are too bright, lasering every part of the hall. He looks so handsomely good on the stage; he's also well-prepared and ready to date some girl. I wonder if he is waiting and wishing to have a date with me or some new girl.
"Tytas Oskar, he is—-"
"1,500 dollars!" some girl in the front row bid before even the principal introduced him,
"1,600"
"2,000"
"2,100"
"2,200"
"2,500"
"3,000"
I can't even open my mouth. Believe it or not, the number of bidders is from different girls. Tytas looks steady, but his eyes are gazing at me, waiting. He sees me. So he sees me from up there, even though the crowd is crazy.
"Hey," Irin calls me, "focus," she says
"4000," the lady in the red dress says. I look at her; she's not in our school. She looks old enough to be in her late twenties.
I shift my eyes to Tytas again and notice his gaze isn't even blinking or turning to look elsewhere. After he sent me home that night, he told me his point of view and his crazy thoughts. It didn't make me feel less about him. I like him very much. He's good to me and treated me so well, but he doesn't make me feel the way I feel for Zygmunt. Tytas might think I dislike or loathe him because of his secret thoughts or actions. I stare at his bright green eyes so hard, and I feel my water is up.
Why do I feel like this?
Now his eyes are softened, and he looks so uneasy towards me. He must feel my reaction from afar. He clenches his elegant hamper so hard, trying not to move from where he stands.
"Zia," Irin calls me again, "you can do this," she reminds me.
"5,000" from the same lady in red. She bids against some girl in the front row.
Then I see some eyes staring at me, waiting for my reaction or my next move—Felicia is one of them.
"6,000" from the lady in red,
"Are you not going to bid?" Irin holds my hand,
I exhale and calm myself, "I'm waiting," I say softly,
"7,000" from the lady in red. I look at her again, and this time, she smiles a bit.
"Hmph, now you get on my nerve," I murmur and look back at Tytas, who still watching me,
"7,000—student in front row?" Principal says,
"7,500" the student in the front room says,
"8,000" the lady in red,
"8,000 once—8,000 twice—"
"15,000 dollars," I raise my hand a tiny bit and say with a tiny smile. "sir."
Then, the crowd goes wild. I notice Tytas lose his grip and collar, giving himself and the people in the hall a bit of a smile.
"The lady in red are you going to bid for—?" The principal asks, but I don't look at her. I look at the man in front of me. "No?"
"15,000 once, 15,000 once—15,000 twice—Sold! for Miss Letizia Serefinne!!" The principal says my full name and has a big, genuine smile on his face, "Congratulations—-Mr. Oskar," he says,
"Next is—Viktor Vanderbilt,"
"What?" Irin and I are stunned at the same time
"He was released from the hospital, but his handsomeness and bravery aren't fading at all, hahaha." The principal introduces him while he's wearing a cream and beige suit, brown shoes, and his walking stick, looking expensive like his looks. His hair is cut, and you can almost see his skull. He cuts his hair. The last time I saw him, his hair was long and messy. I washed his hair twice while he was in recovery. He looks like a bad boy even more.
People go wild again; Felicia is also stunned—everybody is amazed.
I see no one bidding on him. I watch Felicia, uncomfortable and thinking in her mind. She must feel so confused; I bet she hasn't talked for quite a while. I do feel a bit sorry and a bit overwhelmed by all the situations that have happened to me because of Vik, Tytas, and Felicia. Felicia might be just one of the human pawns who doesn't know anything; she just wants to live her teenage life like a princess schoolgirl.
"2,000 dollars," I say,
Everyone turns to look at me, including Felicia and Irin.
"Are you mad?" Irin asks,
I look at Vik, who is staring at me with a little smile like a puppy. No, he looks like a teenage boy dog who is ready to have some trouble again. But his eyes are changing—just like the way I have been noticing them during the time we were together.
I turn to Felicia directly, waiting for her, and I think she knows what I am trying to do. She furrows her eyebrows and looks very upset. "3000 dollars," Felicia says,
The earth moves to where the sun is right in the center of the sky. The warmth of the sunlight can't compete with the cold air this winter. The green forest is turning dark and deep green because of the moisture; soon, the snow will fall. The sand cream blanket is lying on the missile of the glass and the tall trees; the elegant hamper is opened, showing the champagne bottle and two glasses. The strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and raspberries are together in one fancy basket with a chocolate dip on the side. The tiny sandwiches are cut in perfect precision to eat, as well as the caviar and biscuits. The roses and peonies, the smell of flowers, and the breeze of wood air complement each other so well that my heart pounds like crazy. Tytas sits opposite me, watching me like I'm a movie. All I feel now is, what do I start? When should I begin? Should I eat? or drink? Or tell him right away?
"You look like a deity in front of me, Zia," Tytas says, and I say nothing. I only look at him and say, "I thought you wouldn't bid me be honest." He says,
"You prepared all of these yourself?" I ask, "It's very specific…" I say lightly,
"I helped—I know what you prefer, and I know who I want to impress, " he says with a smile. He raises his hand to lightly touch my hair, "I'm sorry to make you lose money."
"I want to—I want to be with you, just the two of us," I say
He chuckles, holds my right cheek, rubs it, and slightly moves to my neck. He licks his lower lips, "I thought you won't talk to me anymore." He pauses, then moves himself closer, "after I told you." he says, and moves his hand to touch my hand, "I miss you," he says,
I nod lightly and look down at the berries. I see his hand touch the raspberry and feed me—I'm startled a bit, then I open my mouth and take it.
Creek,
Then I hear something like the branch is breaking far away.
"You look very gorgeous, Zia." He says it again.
"Hehe," I chuckle. You've already said that," I say as he admires me. I want to look special today," I say.
"I see," He says, and he can't help but smile,
"Tytas," I call his name. I…" He stares at me, waiting, and his eyes start to feel the energy I give.
He chuckles forcibly, "Because of what I have done?" He says,
"No," I say, and I move closer to him. He doesn't move away.
"Then what?" He looks at me, "So you do believe what that bastard told you—that I am the monster—who did that to him." He says frustratedly, but he tries to keep calm. "He deserved it—I am sorry that I didn't tell you the whole truth,"
I listen to him,
"He did threaten me and told all the story of what he had done to you—touching you, kissing you, and stuff," He pauses and looks directly at me, "I broke his leg, not the car crash." He says, "I couldn't stand him doing that to you and threatening me to steal you from me—which I knew that you wouldn't be with him after all that, but seeing you with him in hospital…" his voice fades, he softens his eyes, "Now I'm not sure,"
"Tytas—I don't have feelings for Vik, I admit I felt guilty and sorry for him, but no," I say gently, "And Tytas," I hold both his hands, "If you're the monster, I am also the monster. I also did something bad, hurtful." I pause while looking at him, "To others," I see his green eyes sparkle, "so don't—"
"Then, please…" He says, holding my face with both his hands closer to his, "Aren't you going to break up with me?" He whispers, "Is it why you feel uncomfortable around me?" He puts his nose beside mine, and his lips move against my cheek. "Or because you don't want to break up—you have strong feelings for me. I can feel it. It's more than just a casual emotion, Zia,"
"Tytas," I call him and grab both his wrists to calm his pulse, "I do have feelings for you,"
Creek—
I hear something again. I quickly turn my face, and then he holds my face back to him and puts his lips on mine. He kisses me intently and extremely, and his tongue looks like he wants to devour me for real this time.
"Huh, Ty–" He keeps on pushing himself. He grabs my neck and waist to get closer to him, my chest touching his—I never felt like this from him before. "Tytas, please stop," I say lightly and push him away, but his hands hold my body so tight not to let me go.
"Zia, I love you." He says,
"Tytas, I—do have feelings for you, but not as much as you do for me," I say,
He shakes his head, "I don't care," He says, and holds me in, "remember what I said—in my secret room," He gazes at me, grabbing my neck from behind, "I know your feelings, Zia—I have known you for a long time. I've seen your eyes…" He looks closer as he deeps down in my eyes, "Your eyes were always on him,"
"Huh…" I'm shocked by what he says,
"And I don't care, sooner or later…I'll make you feel that…the drawing, the deep. I can feel that…you close to feel that," He speaks gently and softly, but his hand that holds my neck, forcing me to be tight to him, it's desperately begging, just like Vik in the Arena. "when you went down on me, Zia," he puts his lips over my right ear and whisper, "I know you don't like it if you don't feel like to do it." I gasp. My pulse is nerving, rushing. "Your lips touched mine, kissed and sucked on it. It wasn't a force, Zia," he says with his breath, "and when I go down on you, you beg for more," he says and kisses my neck, "you don't have to say a thing your body already does." He continues.
"I love him," I say,
I have to say, "I love him, Tytas," I say,
"Huh," He makes a sound and licks his lips, "He's gone," he says,
"No," I say and push him away,
"Please, Zia," He begs and tries to hold me back, "Please, then I don't care—I don't fucking care you love him," He says, upsettingly, "I just want you to be with me." he says, "He's gone, please, Zia…I have you in my arms, and I cherish every single second with you,"
"Tytas, I'm sorry. I do love you, but not like I love him," I say the truth and try to get up,
He gets up and grabs my wrist, "No, please!" He says, "I told you. I don't fucking care!" he starts to raise his voice.
"Even if he's really gone, my heart belongs to him," I say and look at him softly, I don't want to hurt his feelings, but I want to do the right thing. "I'm sorry, Tytas—"
Then, he pulls me in to kiss. He kisses me madly and insanely, grabs my waist with one hand and another hand on my neck. He doesn't care how messy the picnic food is lying around or if he has stomped it on. He cares no shits, even me,
"Ha…" I can't breathe,