Chapter 16: Quack
Before me, the pond stretches out like a sheet of polished obsidian, its surface broken only by the occasional ripple from a passing duck. The moon hangs low and heavy in the sky, its reflection shimmering on the water's surface like a portal to another world.
"What am I going to do?" I mutter, my words slurring together like spilled ink.
My gaze falls on a group of ducks paddling lazily across the pond.
Suddenly, a surge of frustration wells up inside me, hot and fierce. "What am I going to do, you cork-screw cocked pieces of shit?!" I bellow, my voice echoing across the still water. The ducks startle, a flurry of flapping wings and indignant quacks filling the air.
As quickly as it came, the anger dissipates, leaving me feeling hollow and ashamed. "I'm sorry, ducks," I mumble, fumbling in my pocket. My fingers close around a slightly squashed piece of bread i grabbed for just this moment. I hold it out like a peace offering. "I shouldn't raise my voice at you."
The ducks, seemingly mollified by the prospect of food, begin to paddle towards me. Their beady eyes gleam with interest as they eye the bread in my hand.
I tear off small pieces of bread, tossing them onto the water's surface. The ducks dive for the morsels, their bodies disappearing beneath the surface only to pop back up moments later, bread clutched triumphantly in their bills.
As I watch them eat, a thought suddenly strikes me, seemingly brilliant in my drunken state. "Do you want some spaghetti?" I ask the ducks, my voice filled with drunken sincerity.
I fumble with the latch on my wooden lunchbox, my clumsy fingers slipping on the polished surface. Finally, it pops open with a satisfying click. The rich aroma of tomato sauce and herbs wafts up, mingling with the crisp night air. The spaghetti inside glistens in the moonlight, the noodles tangled together like a nest of serpents.
"Go to town, little friends," I slur, tipping the box towards the water's edge. The pasta slides out in a graceless heap, plopping into the shallows with a wet splat. The ducks eye this strange offering warily, their heads tilting in puzzlement.
Suddenly, a presence materializes behind me, as if conjured from the very shadows themselves. Before I can react, a voice whispers "Boo!" directly into my ear, the sound sending shivers down my spine.
I jerk violently, my body tensing like a coiled spring. A scream rises in my throat, but before it can escape, a hand clamps firmly over my mouth.
My eyes widen as I take in the figure before me. It's her, the stranger who had visited me that fateful night, the one who had set my world spinning on its axis. Her black mask obscures the lower half of her face, leaving only those mesmerizing red eyes visible.
Her raven hair cascades down her back in silken waves, seeming to absorb the very moonlight itself.
The mysterious woman releases her grip on my mouth, her hand trailing down to rest on my shoulder. She moves with fluid grace, circling the bench to stand before me, her lithe form silhouetted against the moonlit pond.
"What the fuck, Elwin?" she hisses, her voice a mixture of anger and hurt. "What's the big idea dating Rolo?"
Her words hit me like a physical blow, cutting through the alcohol-induced haze that clouds my mind. I blink up at her, my vision swimming slightly as I try to focus on those mesmerizing red eyes.
Without a word, I hold out the wine bottle, a peace offering of sorts. She hesitates for a moment, her eyes flicking between my face and the bottle. Then, with a grace that contradicts the tension thrumming through her body, she takes it from my hand.
She tilts her head back, lifting the mask just enough to expose her lips. They're full and lush, curved in a way that makes my heart skip a beat. She takes a long swig from the bottle, her throat working as she swallows. A single drop of wine escapes, tracing a glistening path down her chin before disappearing beneath the edge of her mask.
"I thought she was you," I blurt out.
The mysterious woman sighs deeply, her shoulders sagging as if under an invisible weight. "I know, I'm sorry."
Her words hang in the air between us, heavy with unspoken emotions.
"Who are you?" I demand, my voice coming out harsher than intended, fueled by frustration and confusion.
She turns away slightly, her gaze drifting across the moonlit pond. When she speaks again, her voice is tinged with a mixture of regret and determination.
"I'm not ready to tell you yet," she says, each word carefully measured.
Anger flares in my chest, hot and sudden. I snatch the wine bottle from her hand, the glass cool against my palm. Without hesitation, I bring it to my lips, tilting my head back as I chug deeply. The wine burns as it goes down, a liquid fire that matches the frustration burning inside me.
I lower the bottle, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. "Why not?" I challenge, my words slurring slightly.
She turns back to face me, her red eyes seeming to glow with an inner fire. "It's complicated," she says, her voice soft but firm.
I scoff, the sound harsh in the quiet night air. "That's such a lame excuse," I retort, gesturing wildly with the wine bottle. A few drops of crimson liquid escape, splattering on the grass at our feet.
The mysterious woman takes a step closer, her movements fluid and graceful as a dancer's. Her eyes lock onto mine, and I feel my breath catch in my throat.
"How about," she purrs, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper, "we go explore each other behind that tree?" She nods towards a large tree nearby.
My eyes widen at her suggestion, the world spinning around me as I process her words. The moonlight seems to shimmer and dance across her form, casting her in an otherworldly glow. For a moment, I'm tempted, the memory of our first encounter flashes through my mind, igniting a fire in my veins.
But then, like a bucket of ice water, reality crashes over me. I shake my head vigorously, nearly toppling off the bench in the process.
"What the fuck? Absolutely not!" I exclaim, my voice echoing across the still pond. A few ducks startle at the sudden noise, their wings flapping as they scatter. "I'm dating Rolo!"
The mysterious woman sucks her teeth, the sound sharp and disapproving in the quiet night. Her red eyes narrow slightly, a flicker of frustration passing through them like storm clouds across the moon.
"I forgot you had that hang-up."
I blink at her, my alcohol-addled brain struggling to keep up. "What hang-up?" I slur, the words feeling thick and clumsy on my tongue.
She smiles then, a slow, knowing curve of her lips that sends a shiver down my spine. She steps closer, her body mere inches from mine. I can feel the heat radiating off her, smell the intoxicating mix of leather and night-blooming jasmine that clings to her skin.
"You hate cheaters," she says softly, her voice a low purr that seems to vibrate through my very bones.
I nod emphatically, nearly losing my balance again. "You're damn right I do!" I declare, jabbing a finger in her direction. The movement causes me to sway dangerously, and I have to grip the bench to steady myself.
Her smile widens, and she reaches out, her gloved hand cupping my cheek. The leather is cool against my flushed skin, and I find myself leaning into her touch despite my best intentions.
"You hate cheaters," she continues, her thumb tracing a gentle arc across my cheekbone, "because you've been cheated on."
"How... how did you know that?" I whisper, my voice trembling with a mixture of surprise and old pain.
Her red eyes soften, a flicker of vulnerability passing through them. "I know everything about you, Elwin. Your hopes, your dreams, your fears... I've watched you for so long, studied every facet of your being."
She takes a step closer, her body radiating heat in the cool night air. "I want you more than anything in the whole world," she breathes, her words carrying the weight of a confession long held back. "Break up with Rolo and be with me. Please."
The sincerity in her voice, the raw emotion behind her words, it all crashes over me like a tidal wave. For a moment, I'm once again tempted to give in, to lose myself in the mystery and passion she offers. But then just like last time reason prevails.
"Then just fucking tell me who you are, you moron!" I shout. The question feeling like my new mantra.
She takes a step back, her body language shifting dramatically. The confidence that had radiated from her just moments ago seems to evaporate like morning mist under the harsh light of day. Her shoulders hunch slightly, her arms wrapping around herself as if seeking protection from an unseen threat.
"I'm... I'm not ready," she stammers, her voice suddenly small and uncertain. The change is jarring, like watching a mighty lioness transform into a skittish kitten before my very eyes.
"Why not?" I press, frustration coloring my words. The world spins slightly as I stand, forcing me to grip the back of the bench for support.
She looks away, her gaze fixed on the rippling surface of the pond. "It's... it's hard to explain," she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper.
I sigh deeply, the sound long and heavy with frustration.
"Alright, whatever," I say, my voice tinged with resignation and a hint of bitterness.
I turn away from her, my movements slow and deliberate as I try to maintain my balance in my inebriated state. The gravel path crunches beneath my feet, each step a small symphony of shifting stones.
"Wait!" she calls out, her voice urgent and tinged with desperation.
But I don't turn back. I can't. The attraction I feel for her pulses through my veins like liquid fire, threatening to consume me if I give in. But I know I can't reason with this girl, can't unravel the mystery she's wrapped herself in. The frustration of it all weighs heavily on my shoulders.
I continue walking, each step taking me further away from her and the temptation she represents. The moonlight casts long shadows across my path, stretching out before me like grasping fingers trying to pull me back. But I press on, my resolve strengthened by the knowledge that just because I might break up with Rolo, it doesn't give me an excuse to do something shady right now.