The last few months changed his life considerably, far more than they had in years.
He didn't notice it until he talked with Chloe today. Every single one of her questions was introspective, forcing him to think several times before he could answer her.
She didn't take his explanation about Sylvia, nor did she stop after knowing the way they met during that rainy night.
When Sylvia entered the living room earlier, he rushed out of the room to think about the questions that had taken hold of his mind during the conversation.
The feeling makes his chest tighten imperceptibly.
What is the reason to stay with her? Who is she? Why did she never go back? What does she actually want from him?
The questions don't sound irrational to him, but whenever they pass through his mind, his heart aches in a way he finds difficult to explain.
Does he not want to know more about her? Why does he endure her teasing?
…is he even important in her life like she is in his?
…
His hand slides over his shirt…
Why… Why am I doing this?
The fabric bunches under his palm as he clutches against his chest…
I should… just ask her to go back!
…
The thought lingers for a moment before a sudden surge of anxiety pushes it aside. He breathes out a few bursts of air from his mouth.
A helpless smile appears on his face as he lets out a sigh.
"...this is why I can't ask her that."
But, as he sits up, a faint sign of sharpness reflects in his gaze.
I don't want to leave her. Then, I will find a way to make sure that she stays too.
The constant sense of feeling like the world is moving forward without ever telling him its direction…
I cannot take this anymore. What will I do tomorrow, then the day after that? Do I even know when she will decide to leave suddenly?
Would she even care to stop?
He doesn't know the answer, and he doesn't want to guess because the way she acts makes him think negatively about the answer. But this factor doesn't stop him anymore.
I will know the answer!
***
The wind flows past the strands of her hair. Sylvia tucks the stray strand behind her ear before turning her gaze to Chloe.
"So, you enjoyed the conversation with him?"
Chloe nods once while licking the white of the ice cream, barely peeking her tongue out of her lips.
"I don't know about enjoyment… but he felt quite reserved to me, not deliberately, but naturally."
"Hm…" Sylvia hums while watching her reaction closely.
She noticed that in just a matter of a few hours…? He indeed does that sometimes, but she is misunderstanding something about him.
The sound of footsteps follows behind. Blair walks more leisurely with her hands tucked into the pockets of her jeans.
The three of them have just left the cafe and are moving down the roadside at the moment.
"Okay, let's talk about something else now!" Blair perks up finally and steps beside them.
She flashes a small smile at Sylvia.
"Why don't you think about yourself now, Sylvia? I am more interested in knowing what things… you did with Marian on your 'dates'. Hehe."
The path leads down to the corner, turning to a shopping mall at the very beginning.
They step inside, looking very much like three sisters now rather than merely the strangers who just decided to hang out one day.
Sylvia gives her an unamused glance before turning her gaze toward the escalator.
"Nothing like what you are thinking about, Blair. They were just some outings."
"Oh… I am sure that can't be right! Aunt Marian is quite a needy one. Are you sure nothing happened?"
Blair doesn't seem to notice her glance, or maybe she chose to ignore it.
"Shut it, Blair. Don't ask stupid questions." Chloe rebukes with a twitch of her eyes as she drops the empty cone while passing by the dustbin.
…
The escalator leaves them on the second floor, in front of the section of women's clothing.
The lines of racks and handles carry endless clothes along the different rows, with several beautiful dummies standing in a straight pose as if they are some statues… they are.
The minutes pass…
Going through the dozens of tops, skirts, jeans, plazo, chemises and other clothes, they finally stand with their chosen dresses in their hands. The previous lively energy which carried them when they entered has disappeared, replaced with the beginning signs of exhaustion.
But the excitement has not vanished, not yet.
Soon, they stop in front of the changing room and step inside.
"..."
"Blair, go to a different one. And Chloe, you too?"
Sylvia stares at them while holding a black top, a chemise and blue jeans.
The other two girls glance at each other, then at Sylvia. Finally, Chloe raises her hand up innocently and says,
"Actually, we both talked about it earlier. We just want to take a look at your figure. We have some speculations, and I, personally, want to confirm them."
"Quite right. We both are women, don't worry. Unless… You are feeling shy, hm?" Blair shifts the sundress in her hand while smirking toward her.
"...You two aren't even pretending at all, huh? Fine, 'confirm' whatever you want to."
Sylvia doesn't wait for even one more second.
Her fingers move along the line of the shirt, the buttons opening swiftly in the wake of her hand.
She slides the shirt back off her shoulders, leaving herself in the black bra.
She turns her body slightly to give them a proper view of her curves and meets their gaze.
"So? Did you confirm what you wanted to do? Or did I fail in something?"
Without waiting for their answer, her hand moves down to the waistband of the pants she wears, and the button pops open. Her thumbs hook into the waistband before she slides them down over her legs in one smooth motion.
Both of the poor girls have frozen, literally.
Heat creeps up Chloe's face as she quickly covers it with her hands, but peeks anyway through the space between her fingers.
Blair stares more boldly, but more out of shock now. Her hands have gone still against her sundress.
Sylvia's figure is a sight to see.
Despite her naturally slim build, her curves carry the perfect amount of flesh they should. The unhealthy fat is almost negligible on her, leaving only the healthy lines of her figure.
However, what really catches their eyes is her abdomen. Reflected by the sharp light of the changing room, her belly carries a faint sign of toned muscles, which matches perfectly with the fitness the rest of her body carries.
"Are you an athlete… Sylvia?" Chloe finally finds her voice, sounding visibly surprised by the sight in front of her.
Blair, however, watches her with a subtle downward tilt of her lips.
"It seems so…"
Wearing the chemise over her first, Sylvia glances at herself to check the fit before looking at them.
"Athlete… hm, not really. But, kind of."
Her gaze shifts to Blair briefly before she takes off the chemise to try other clothes too.
Seeing her continue changing, they also focus on checking the fit of their own clothes.
…
When they walk out of the mall holding the shopping bags, the previous intensity of the changing room has settled down.
Though, Blair's gaze drifts toward her occasionally, which she hides quickly when Sylvia catches her.
At some point, Sylvia calls her out.
"You want to say something, Blair?"
Blair stiffens at her question. But a moment later, she exhales and asks.
"Can you…"