Mingle. Tingle. Bingo

Chapter 14

Two of her sisters were parched on a huge lounge chair in the sitting room—chatting and smiling about something—that hosted the fireplace where behind it lay the passageways she had used to escape the last time. Thank God, it is not why she was here this time. Yeah, you better not run again princess. Shut up brain. Alright, I'll go. She watched her sisters some more having silenced her thoughts.

The other two sisters, Shinka and Shimki, were studying their mother's painting when Shinja walked in. Shinka was tracing the curls of her mother's hair with her slender fingers. Shinja did not call their attention from whatever they were doing. Words just tumbled out of her mouth and that is what got their attention. She never understood, EVER, where the now-so-present nerves always came from.

Ahem! Silver-related issues. Her inner voice scoffed. Shut up! What? I did not say anything. She ignored herself. No pun intended and rumbled on to her now very attentive sisters who were watching her curiously. Good thing she had not spoken out loud, they would have thought, she was going crazy. Aren't you though? Not now brain.

"D-Dear sisters, it is going to be the first time I go into Silver's room willingly. A-and, I-uh-I am scared that he might not love me anymore because of how long I have taken in making up my mind. What should I do?" She was twisting the folds at the front of her gown. She did not make eye contact with any of her sisters. She was not even sure that they were paying attention to what she was saying until one of them spoke back to her.

"Nonsense, nonsense, Silver's love for you can never be quenched. Go to him, you will be amazed." Shimpi chided her little sister, jumping off the chair. She walked to her little sister and held her shoulders.

"You say it like it is the easiest thing in the world." Shinja spoke, her voice spiking as nervous laughter left her trembling lips. You know you sound pathetic, right? Go away!

"Of course, it is," her sister interrupted her battle of wills. "It is the easiest thing in the world. That, and do not forget kissing a frog that too is hella easy." Shimpi winked at her already scared sister. Shinja was wide eyed at this point. Kissing a frog?

"Come on, Shimpi. Quit teasing the little bird. She is almost melting into a messy brown mess if you do not let up on the comparisons. Can't you see?" Shinka called out but not before laughing with the others.

"Oh, shush you! Why, of course you're the biggest tease of all but that does not mean I'm teasing Shinka dear. Honey petal, do not mind your sister Shinka over there. Okay? We got you and believe in you. Silver loves you. Go to him. That is all you have to do."

"Yeah little bird. And if he doesn't love you anymore, that is his loss. If it helps, I will cut off his silver hair and plant it in mom's flower garden in the backyard as payback. Nobody messes with my little bird." Shimi said this with pride as she too walked to where Shimpi stood with Shinja. They both hugged her tight.

"Hey you three, no group hug without a group. Don't you get it?" Shimki was the one to complain this time leaving the other side of the room close to the fireplace where their mother's portrait hung over the wall. She stepped close to her three sisters.

"Oh, quiet you! Three's a group too. Don't give us trouble for it. We are not the ones who were far off at the fireplace. It's not even night time yet. It's not even hot and you'd ra..."

"You two shut up already and let us enjoy this hug in peace. For the love of God, shut up and hug or go kiss a frog." Shinka cut in rolling her eyes. The sisters smiled as they hugged tightly. The hug was for strength, love and unity. No matter what happened, they stood together, forever, for each other.

"Thank you for always being there for me sisters." Shinja voiced shakily, fully immersed in the love her sisters were showering her with that one action.

"We would not have it any other way. You are our baby. Anything for you." Shinka said, and as the mother-bear made the hug tightest if it could do that at that point.

Tears started flowing out of Shinja's eyes. Shinka felt the tiny droplets on her shoulders and shook herself free from the bear hug taking the other sisters by surprise.

"What is the matter Shinka?" Shimi asked. "What happened? Did you step on a frog?" Shimki pursed her lips when she saw Shinka squinting her eyes at Shimi.

"There's no frog and you know it Shimi." She tapped her puffed up shoulder cushion and winced. "What? Oh, come on!" She exclaimed. "I have just changed into this gown. Now I will have to change again." She pretended to scold Shinja—her squinted gazed shifted to her young sister trying to emphasize her fury—who immediately got into a panic.

"I am kidding. I am kidding. Now shoo! Go to your man." She nudged Shinja in the back but the little bird did not badge. What was her problem?

"Are you sure you are not mad? I could get you another gown." She sounded panicky. Shinka rolled her eyes. It is the only sensible reaction that this little sister of hers seemed to draw from her. You gave her more than a fret. No, I did not. Okay, maybe a little. Sometimes I just don't know when to stop. I go overboard. Gah.

"No need for that. Goodness gracious. Get out already! Go, go, go, he is waiting for you, the poor thing." She reassured the little bird who shook her head unsurely but turned to leave anyway. She waved them bye and headed out. The rest were laughing at what had happened when Shinja was out of the room and not in earshot.

"Oh. My. God. Shinka. You love teasing the shy thing. When do you ever stop? Geez!" Shimi spoke through gusts of laughter as she pushed at Shinka's shoulders. This girl, only God knows! Shimi thought to herself.

"You all know I only have good things in mind." Shinka said and had the rest bellowing with laughter, a few 'yeah rights' were said as they stepped out of the sitting room spreading into different directions that led to their individual chambers.

~*~

Shinja approached Silver's room. Every inch of her was shaking. Calm down, will you? Everything is going to be alright. Well, it already is but as for you I have to say things in future tense. I am trying. Okay? Yeah, I can see you are. I mean, look at the waves your gown is making and that is at the lower part, legs and thighs. I don't want to imagine what's going on in your chest area.

She did not want to think about that either. Her heart was somewhere between her epiglottis and windpipe. If anyone came close by, startled her, she would swallow it. That would be a different kind of heart attack. More like a tummy attack. Stunts. Theatrics. Tricks. I should not have come here. I should go— She did not complete that thought. Don't you dare! Her mind threatened. What's a girl got to do with a stubborn mind like she had?!

So, with trembling fingers—she tried holding them a couple of times to stop their tumultuous action but they were going of their own accord—she rapped a knock-on Silver's door. Without a wasted second, the door flew open.

Wait, what? That was fast. Had he been listening in on my conversation? Are you crazy? Those were in your head dumbo. Oh yeah, right.

She took the first step into his room, matched in with another and just like that she was inside Silver's room without being called upon. Willingly. Nuts. Crazy. Stupid.

Silver did not wait for her to settle in. He quickly locked the door behind her. That is for in case she changes her mind. He then reached for her hand and gently led her to his bed. To sit. Not for what... Put a pin in it. We'll get to that later. He motioned for her to sit down, guiding her ever so gently like she was a small brittle clay cup that could break if settled quite harder than the usual slight gentle sitting. She sat. He sat too. They stared into each other's eyes. Tension. Breathing. Freeze. Then they spoke.

"I-I..." Shinja stammered.

"I ha..." Silver spoke and paused.

"You go first." Shinja spoke timidly, a weak smile marked her gentle features that besides the redness spread over her cheeks. Silver did not waste the opportunity. He was not sure when such an opportune time would come again. So, instead of offering her to speak instead, he spoke. Chivalry was not going to serve best at this point. He had to strike the nail while it's hot.

"I have a surprise for you."

"Wh-A-Really?" she cried out in shock. Her own voice sounded foreign to her. A surprise? She nearly frowned in confusion but then thought to herself. Had he known she was coming to see him? Brown must have told him. The thought made her smile as she pictured the two men plotting together for the good of her. How sweet! Of course, it is sweet. Now focus, please. Something's cooking and you might ruin it with your musings. Yeah, yeah, okay.

"Close your eyes." The timbre in his voice had dropped an octave too low causing her spine to grow a turd bit shaky. She shivered from the impact it had on her. She clasped her hands in excitement and without hesitation closed her eyes. Anything to distract her from the grey orbs that overflowed with honesty; with his voice added to it, she was a goner. So, closing her eyes was more of a lifesaving jacket than a command.

Silver pulled out a scarlet rose from under his bed and placed it in her hair. She felt his fingers linger at the tip of her left earlobe. Shivers? Tingles? Was she sick? Quiet! You'll ruin the moment. It seemed to last forever until a soothing voice whisper-called her out of her dream. Not dream stupid! You're infatuated!

"You can now open your eyes." At this command, she opened her eyes and blinked them several times before understanding exactly what had happened. When had he got her off the bed? They were no longer sitting on his bed instead they stood in front of a full-length mirror. She saw the two of them. Him, behind her, the tips of his fingers at the tops of her bare shoulders. Her gown cut loose at the chest which heaved up and down from gusts of air escaping her red lips no longer finding the nasal exit, a necessity.

His eyes were watching them—not just her but them; one piece of a whole—in the mirror's reflection, staring directly into her soul. Just like that her heart was back at it again. Thump! Thunk! Thump! If her cheeks turned any redder, Silver would think she had surmounted to a fever or bug. The scarlet and her complexion, were something to ponder on. A beautiful thought. Image. Painting. Art. These words danced on in Silver's mind. Gorgeous.

Thump! Thunk! Thump! How do I get this to stop? Well, turn around and face him. Bu— Do it, goddamnit! She listened to her inner voice and realized too late that it had been a trick. After she turned slowly to face Silver, her condition only worsened when the grey ringlets surrounding Silver's green orbs stared straight into her soul. Liar! Her inner voice giggled obviously, enjoying this more than her host. She almost choked on her next words but stabilized after a minute because of the honesty dwelling from which they came.

"Y-you know..." she swallowed, then continued. "You know what Silver?"

"No, I do not. What is it my love?" He held her, his hands now at her waist. That too, had Shinja's brains a bit muddled. Was there a caterpillar running up her spine? What was that thing crawling up her back? Oh, for the love of God! Darn it Shinja! Those are tingles dumbo. They only mean you are not a stone. Oh!

They were not that bad actually except for the fact that now she was losing her ability to form correct cohesion of facts and sentences. She had to pull away if she was going to make any sense. Her body was going to hate her for this. She pulled out of his arms, pushing them off her waist hesitantly. Silver let her go but not without a look of confusion dawning his face.

Shinja shook her head to clear it. Her brain fragments must have responded to that. They came closer and she remembered the little form of speech she had left.

"Umm... so I, uh, I just can't believe you are here with me. Together like this." She gestured with her hands to point out their proximity like a mysterious fact that befuddled her. She continued to speak as Silver watched under hooded lashes, the grey chunks of hair falling on his forehead while he bent down to look at her. Curious. Fascinating. "The fight had got me so worried. I came here expecting you to be mad at me. This..." She motioned to the space between them, gesturing to the rise in her hair, "this however, I was not expecting. I did not have it in mind that you would be waiting for me. It is as if you knew I was coming. You even prepared this rose as a surprise for me," she turned away from him and looked at her reflection in the mirror once again. She felt new to her own self too. Who was this girl?

"I have a request to make you now," he ignored her bewilderment. Has he listened to a thing I've said? He has but your blubbering self is something he is used to. I'm pathetic aren't I? That, you are.

Silver watched the vast turmoil roiling on his lover's face. The reflection was magnificent despite. She had nothing to worry about. What was important to him is her being with him. He had missed her. She was being odd again but that did not matter. She had come to him. That's a good sign, right? Hopefully. He stood behind her admiring the delicateness of her features in the mirror. He did not reach out to touch her this time. It was not in his intention to push her. His request hung in the air. Talk to me Shinja. He summoned her with his mind. She heard his request.

"What is it?" Shinja asked anxiously. How did she do that? He thought something and for some reason, his little bird had a way of knowing he had said something. It could be coincidence. But with her, he had learnt to expect anything. They had wasted enough time already for her to waste the one they had on reminiscing regrets and mistakes. Regrets. You have many of those, don't you love? Oh, shush.

Silver watched her through the nest of his lowly cast eyelashes. He wanted to make a request of her. Just say it and get it over with. What do you have to lose? Lose? Everything!

He cleared his voice and spoke, "Can we go out on a date tomorrow. Just me and you, no guards, no escorts, only the two of us?" Sweet loving birds in the sky, please say yes.

She tapped her lower chin with the back of her index finger, imitating one in deep thought. She turned to him and spoke.

"Yes, I will go with..."

"Yes!" Silver cut in through tight teeth forming a constipated smile. He had not listened to the last part. The first part said it all. He drew his hands forward to carry her off the floor. She let him. While in his arms, Shinja watched him and dragged out the last part of her statement purposely.

"I... will...go...with you on a date but on one condition."

"There's a condition?" He opened his eyes sadly. Oh, come on! A condition? What could it be this time? She smiled at his reaction.

"It is not anything you are thinking." She shifted a little in his arms, "I will go on a date with you only if..." she paused for effect, "If you place a kiss right here."

She tapped her rosy lips.

"For real? Oh my God! I can do that. I can do that all day." He laughed as he did just that. On a final peck to her lips he said, "You had me there for a second. I thought you were going to change your mind."

"Never." Nothing could express fully and truly how he felt right now. No. Words. Whatsoever. He kissed her again. Longer this time. Sweet torture because she could not let this go further than a few light pecks. Her body hated her for this. Her mind fought her endlessly. But... The entire scene became quite too heated for Shinja's little bird mind to handle.

Silver's hand was now at the zipper of her gown, she stopped him midway. Brain muddled or not, this was not the time for this. No way. Yes, way. No. Yes. No. She pushed away from him at once. There. Now I can think clearly. What is wrong with you? Her inner voice was not having it but neither was she. There would be a next time. Just not today. Oooo... cooooommmeeee...onnnn...

"Not now." She whispered against his lips. Silver was caught in between about to kiss and say something so his mouth was pointed in an awkward manner. Shinja did not give him time to ask questions. She pulled away and with that she turned and left his room.

Silver groaned at her leaving form and fell on his bed. He wiped his lips and then brought the same hands back to touch his lips. He regretfully yet happily recalled what just happened and smiled. The longer he thought, the more his smile fell away, one corner after the other. He was alone. She was the other way and he was stuck in his empty room. Dead. Gone. But...there is that date! Hope lit up like a rekindled flame. He slumped on his bed and slipped into a wonderful dream. It involved two seamless forms mingling and tingling. Mingle. Tingle. How delightful!