Love, unrealised

He reminisced, sitting alone in the comforting darkness, the cacophony dulling as his memory took him back a few months, weeks, mere days ago.

A faint smile played on his lips as he remembered how she would seemingly walk in and out of other people's lives, touching them and sprinkling drops of refreshing joy with her little acts of kindness. Her distracted gaze, always on the lookout for who knows what. She first captivated him with her inquisitiveness, prodding him to let her into places he'd never let anyone into. Unable to escape her charm for some odd reason, he found himself wondering more and more about her.

He helplessly watched her flit around, social butterfly-esque, unrestrained, untamed; she belonged to no one, and he could not bring himself to claim her. There were times he thought she paid him more attention than what would have been usual, but the very next day, uncertainty would strike again as she passed him by without much notice. Flustered, he took a back seat, and resolved not to make anymore clumsy moves. Secretly, however, he never stopped longing for the day he could comfort her by enveloping her in his embrace, catch her every emotion, feel her pulse beating.

***

She smiled wistfully as she curled up in bed, her thoughts allowed to run all over each other while she watched and listened, as might a casual observer.

Strangely, he always appearing in her thoughts nowadays. She remembered the muted signals he gave out; the hints she tried to ignore. Somehow, though, she could never be sure about how he felt for her. Something inside her was stirring, but she didn't dare understand it. It was inexplicable. What was so different about this one? He intrigued her by his mysterious stoicism. Why didn't he fall for her charm right away, or at least show that he did? Not many could withstand her subtle manipulation. Uncanny.

Then again, she didn't use it on him. She didn't want him to fall for her - she knew that she would have to hurt him. Too many secrets, some a young girl should never have to hold. Too many duties and obligations. Why her?

Why him?

She sighed, hugging her bolster tightly to her chest to calm her rapid heartbeats. And fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

-by Maia-