Strike a Pose

His dark brown eyes stared in mine, shakily gazing at me with a hint of excitement.

"Master, you're here?" His tone was curious, slightly surprised, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he looked at me with that familiar tender gaze.

I inhaled sharply, feeling the tension in my chest melt. My lips curved into a soft smile as I looked up at him.

I sighed.

Gosh, I'm relieved.

I took a step closer and inhaled sharply, itching to hug him in a warm welcome but I stopped myself.

For some reason, I can't bring my feet forward.

"Yeah, just... looking for something," I said, scratching the corner of my eye.

Eli grinned and nodded—

"Boy, she was lookin' for ya!" Kim's voice burst in beside me, making my eyes widen. I turned to her in a snap, throwing her a piercing glare—warning her to shut up.

She just chuckled, completely unfazed, and turned her back on us with a tray in her hands.

"Okay, okay, I won't interfere with you two lovers—" she teased, raising a peace sign mid-stride.

"Kim, we're not!" I hissed, cheeks burning as she ran off, giggling like a child with a secret.

I rolled my eyes, then turned back to him.

He was still looking at me—with those twinkling doe eyes.

I couldn't help but grin.

"What's that in your pocket?" Eli asked, pointing at my jeans where a square-like object is evident behind the fabric. I smiled, pulling out a small digital camera.

His brows shot up, his mouth parting slightly.

"Woah! You're gonna film?" He looked at me with his hands clutched tightly at his sides—like an excited puppy wagging its tail.

I laughed and raised my arms, pointing the camera straight at him.

"Oh...uh... what should I..." He awkwardly rubbed the back of his head, smiling as he froze in place with a peace sign.

I clicked the record button—but I couldn't hold back the laugh building in my throat.

"Pft—Eli, you look like your mom just forced you to take a picture!" I wheezed, trying (and failing) to keep the camera from shaking in my hands.

He bursted laughing, his eyes squinted and teeth revealing in sight. "Then tell me what to do, Director Annie!" Eli demanded, making me pause and fade my smile away.

My brows raised up, mouth slightly parting.

For a moment, his laugh faltered and posture straightened. He hurriedly walked closer to me, studying my face with a concerned tone.

"What's wrong, Annie?" Eli's eyes lingered on my face, biting his lower lip as his brows furrowed up in a worried expression. "Did...I say something wro—"

My lips curled into a smile, eyes squinting as I look at him.

"No one has ever called me 'Director' before..." I mumbled, a surging warmth cascade on my chest, lingering as I look at his face.

He blinked slowly with his mouth parted slightly—as if in awe.

"Ahem," Eli cleared his throat and looked away, turning his head back from me. "Anyway, what do you want to shoot next..."

My brows tilted. I noticed a faint redness creeping on the side of his ears.

"Director?" He mumbled without looking at me. Eli walked in front, leaning back on the door as he crossed his legs.

"What about this pose, Direk?" My jaw dropped slightly, lips curving in a smirk. "Woah, where's this sudden confidence coming from?"

"Well, I don't want you to fire me and get another subject to shoot so..."

I let out a laugh, my chest shuddering at his sudden change of expression. He just looked at me seriously, still posing like a model in those magazines.

Eli's warm eyes stayed focused on mine with a serious aura, making his jaw prominent and revealing his masculine side show more.

"You can take your shot now, Director." He uttered and strikes another pose, now putting a hand on his head. A smirk formed on my lips, loving the poses he does for the camera.

But wait...

My brows furrowed slightly.

"Eli, look at the camera, not me." I said then he suddenly froze, running a hand through his straight hair as they fall back on his forehead. "Y-yeah..." He awkwardly shifted his position.

Eli looks like a model.

I raised my arms, aiming the camera at him.

'Snap'

My smile never faded as his demeanor changed from a sharp model into an excited puppy once again, walking to me and peeking his head to the side to see the photo.

"Is that me?" He asked, looking back at the camera screen and at my face. I rubbed the back of my head.

"Yeah...well, does it look bad—"

"I look like a poster boy." He said, staring at the shot where he leaned on the door with crossed legs. I felt warmth on my cheeks as he brought his head closer to the screen, looking at himself contently.

"Woah, I didn't know....I look this good," Eli turned to me with a smile. "Director." He said in a soft tone, as if calling me—almost lovingly.

I blinked twice. What?

"O-oh, haha—well, glad you liked it!" I smiled and quickly lowered my head to avoid his gaze, pressing the button arrows to view the other shots I took.

He looks so perfect...

I glanced up at him once more.

Too perfect—

"Who's this guy, Annie?" I heard a familiar voice from behind, making my thoughts shatter back to reality. Both of us turned and saw Dylan standing from his table, sitting with Melissa on the side.

He glared over our direction, mostly looking at Eli with an unknown gaze I haven't seen before, even at middle school.

Eli huffed, making me turn to him. He looked at Dylan with a serious gaze—almost a glare.

My heart skipped a beat.

This is the first time I've seen him like that.

"Annie," Eli lowered his head and looked at me. The serious aura on his face returning to those warm eyes I knew. The tone of his voice got deeper, making me stare at him once more.

"Want me to introduce myself or...should we go somewhere else—"

"Kim, is Eli here?" An old man wearing a white shirt was tanding on the stairs called, then turned to face us.

"Yes, boss but..." Kim hurriedly ran to the man, the tray on her hand still. She leaned in closer and whispered something, occasionally glancing at me and Eli.

"Ahh, alright alright." He nodded. "Maybe I can give him a moment off." The man looked at Eli, "Just don't forget to fix the remaining computers upstairs after spending time with your wife."

My eyes widened and heard Eli chuckled. "Yes, sir. Don't worry." He smiled cheerfully then glanced to Dylan who's still standing, watching the scene as if dumbfounded.

Somehow...this feels surreal.

And satisfying.

Melissa stood up and pulled Dylan back to his seat, making him look at her. She took a glance at me and Eli, giving that sharp look once again.

Eli placed a hand on my shoulder, making me face him. "Sorry, master..." He bit his lip and looked at me with a slightly apologetic look.

Slightly.

Then he smirked, a hint of mischief glinted in his eyes.

"But for now, you're my wife."

____

I looked at him sharply, "Why didn't you refuse to say that I'm you're wife?" He glanced over the other table, a few distance away from us, then eyes returning to mine.

We were sitting at the sofa of the cafe. My digital camera was on his large hand, for a moment, my eyes stopped there.

His hands had few callouses and faint cuts, slightly evident. But it looks like they were healed from long ago.

Eli smiled, "To be there for you, of course." He uttered, my head tilted up to meet his gaze. Then his eyes lingered on mine a little more.

"Even in the form of slight revenge." His smile turned into a smirk as my brows shoot up to the roof. "and full revenge." He added and my jaw dropped.

"Woah." That's the only thing I uttered.

He smiled, grinning ear-to-ear again.

I glanced to the table in the distance. Melissa who's head was facing towards our direction shifted to Dylan's. She clinged to his arm, pulling him closer.

But Dylan's eyes never left mine, it stared longer than what I expected. Then he returned to Melissa, kissing her hair. They continued talking about something inaudible and Dylan's eyes twinkled at her with a laugh.

For a moment, he's glaring at me.

Then, in a snap—as if I didn't exist.

I clenched my fists, inhaling sharply as the nostalgias from before slowly dawned me like waves crashing in a riptide.

His green eyes squinting at her, those lips curved joyfully. I gritted my teeth.

Even as friends since we were in middle school, he wouldn't dare to look at me like that.

He never did.

"Annie," His voice made me snap back from my thoughts. My eyes went to him then I notice my vision slightly blurried with unwanted tears.

I closed my eyes, the weight of the past fading as warmth enveloped me in an embrace. Eli wrapped his arms around me, holding me closer while brushing his fingers through my strands gently.

I let out a heavy breath.

I looked up at Eli, he lowered his head to look at me. Eyes never leaving mine. "Hm?" He asked and brushed my hair with his fingers once again.

My gaze just fixed on him, noticing his slightly thick lashes making his dark brown eyes look soft.

Something cold suddenly touched my bottom lip, seeing the coffee Eli ordered earlier.

"Don't mind them—"

"I'll be your wife." Those words suddenly came out of me while looking at him. Eli blinked twice, staring at me with his lashes slightly casted down.

"For now."

To be continued...