RedCeiling

[Completed]:
Volume 1: Loss of a firm hold.

[Upcoming]:
Volume 2: Intertwined fingers.

[Excerpt]:
"I think I love you," I told him. The feeling of wanting to be with him for the rest of the time started the day he first visited me at the orphanage.

"You do, and I love you too." Then he walked nearer, "Promise me it'll be the two of us," he asked.

"Promise." 

But was that really possible? "I'm technically your sister," I said. We were old enough to understand certain things.

"Adopted." He stressed. "What I asked them was I wanted to you be with me forever. There will be no one to point on that," he said. Were things really that simple? But listening him say them was all I needed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I found out that I was pregnant almost a fortnight ago and which woman does not be happy? I wanted to tell him first and I did. But the reaction he gave made me doubt my entire life. First it was a surprise and then, as I waited for his response, I watched his eyes become happy. But before he smiled, a very small and indecipherable frown appeared and he hugged me tight not giving me a chance to read his face anymore. His breathing was quick and heavy. After he released me, I took in the smile on his face; only, I didn't know if I should call it a smile. All there was in his eyes was a hue of sadness.

"What's wrong?" I questioned him directly. His face changed once again. He seemed troubled.

"Nothing," he smiled and added that he was happy.

"You're not," I stated. He is not a fool to think that I would not know when something is wrong. And he would be more wrong to think that I would let this slip.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Look at me.” I said calmly. He shifted his head but still avoided my eyes. I walked up to him and put my eyes in his line of sight.

“Don’t you know what I mean ‘every day’?”

He took a quick step back. “Jessie, what’s wrong? Why are you like this?” What’s wrong?

An ear piercing sound rang through the room. I slapped hard across the face. Then I noticed that I started crying. Through my blurry eyes, I saw his eyes tearing up too. This was yet another unpleasant first. The first time I was forced to slap him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Are you okay?” I asked him lifting my head to see his face. His chin rested on my head and I still did not have a proper look. I tried to move my head slowly in another attempt, but he held me tight, not letting me move. Was he still crying? Perhaps that was why he did not like me seeing him.

When we were kids and something troubled him, he used to find me to let it out. Crying was included sometimes. He did not hide his tears back then. Because, boys did not particularly cry in front of their girls, I questioned him how he saw this once. It was a playful teasing that I aimed at. But, he gave me a serious and truthful confession in return. Mentally I am the stronger one and he told me that crying in front of me never felt like he was lowering himself. That was his level of acceptance.

But everything he is doing now is in a stark controversy to my beliefs.

He spoke after calming himself more, “I’m not.”

[Target Audience]:
This story has 3 volumes. From the name, it is not odd that this is totally based on love. The first volume is a little tragic, the reason why it is under realistic fiction. If tragic romance upsets you, then this might as well.

**[UNEDITED]**
I didn't proof read all the parts. But I usually keep an eye to check for mistakes as I write. So hopefully there are not too many of them. Will be editing soon.

Struggle Of Love

I slowly lifted my eyes which were casted down with fear when I told them it was James. I took in their faces. Mom's was amused and dad's was not exactly happy. James on the other hand seemed a little bothered; well, at last he gave some reaction to what I had feared. I was not alone, I had thought.


No one spoke and I feared the worst. That was when James decided to say something, "Don't be like that, dad, you already know!" What?


"Yes. And I told you to wait till you were in college, J!" His voice was not loud but it held seriousness. What again?


"Come on, now, what difference does it make?" James argued back with a whine.


Dad sighed, "Just tell me what all happened? Because I don't understand why you two chose to bring this up now."


What? I brain cells had gone to a deep sleep by then. James took on from there, "Nothing really, we just had an open heart talk."


"You two. . . You guys make me so happy," mom said totally disregarding dad.


"Whatever you do from now on, take care that you don't lose the other. You have still a long way to go. So protect your precious love. I knew you two would be together, just I did not think you will get on that road so soon. I am really happy. Also, most importantly, don't let the others manipulate you. . . I am only worried because the two of you are quite young to understand certain things. There are a lot of things that you don't get at this age. Well, just know that your mom and dad are here for you always. If anything ever happens, and if you did not want to talk to the other, just come to me or your father, got it?" She sighed and continued with new found enthusiasm for love speeches. "Don't get carried away though. Just work hard. Your exams are not very far away. Don't mind all of this too much and study well, okay?" She finished.


But soon she added, "Don't do anything beyond kissing!" She exclaimed and my face went pale.


"You kissed my daughter? You!" dad shouted at James and instantly, James was behind mom.


Mom to the rescue, she stated, "Calm down darling. I just have an assumption. Well, you will still calm down, be it right or wrong!"


"Why do you assume?" dad asked after calming down a bit. 


"Because," she then turned to me, "Won't you share with your mother the letter he gave you?"


"Ouch, I didn't see that coming! Don't go Jessie, don't." He tried stopping me by pulling my hand. And so, my brain started processing the situation again.


So were they not bothered? "Is this . . . him and me, is it fine?" I asked with a high degree of uncertainty in my voice.


Mom and dad both smiled at me this time. "So that was what bothering you? Well, no worries." Dad reassured. With that I ran to them and hugged them both. I still remember how my face was only happy for the remaining of middle school.


"Well, then will you show us your letter?" Mom asked. I had no reason to hide anything anymore. About the kiss, somehow I was more confident that when I had actually kissed James.


"Of course, mom! Let me get it!" I said and ran to my room. I could hear James behind me but that moment, I was the one that should be amused with his actions. I wanted to watch him save himself.


I ran down with the letter and handed it to mom. She did not examine it like I had thought she would. She directly flipped it and showed dad, "This was the assumption." I sure did not hide it well from her. It was clear that she had already seen it.


He did not say anything. He glared at James and turned to me, "Well, this clearly says that you should be careful with him and don't allow him to force you."


An Assumption