Bab 258: Young and dashing Valentine's Day!
Derek reached school surprisingly late today to his usual pattern. As he rushed his entrance and found his locker located at the far end, he noticed an unexpected sight of Jamie stopped to get confessed by this boy whom Derek couldn't recognize.
Jamie noticed Derek's appearance and panicked from his presence.
Derek caught her flustered. The cold sweat on her forehead forced him to leave without a glance.
As he walked in a hurry to his classroom, without him paying attention, the image of Jamie receiving a confession so early today kept running in his mind. His steps slowed to his thoughts, and soon, Derek found similar situations happening around the school at many random spots.
Guys, asking out their dream girls.
Girls, giving chocolate to their handsome hulks!
'What's the occasion?' - Derek thought.
Just as he passed one of the classrooms, he heard from distant about today being the valentine's day- a sudden burst of emotions hit the school nerd, and his face grew red from the thought of Jamie. Soon, the crimson shade disappeared to furrowing his brows in an unexplainable provocation.
The image of Jamie with that random guy near the locker reaches to his notice.
'Who is he?' - Derek thought.
To feel repulsive of his own attention on Jamie provoked Derek to seem upset.
'It is not like I care about her!' - He hissed to enter the class, which was already in a roar from this special day. Derek did not welcome to entertain any sweet chats to his seat and sat to calm his wild running tales when clearly all he could think is of Jamie's response to that guy!
***
Giselle waited outside, like a chameleon she stuck to the wall, practically feeling invisible, for the God of Fortune was on her side. She wore coffee brown clothes today, and to her great luck, matched with the compound wall.
To the passing strangers who didn't care about her, she appeared transparent. Soon, to surprise the anticipator, her target arrived astounding Giselle's vision.
...
Several months passed since Giselle positively confirmed her feelings for Lillian Grey to be Love! And in these struggling period, Giselle strived to keep watching Lillian quietly and admired her from the shadows. However, today is different. The extra-special event of the year, Valentine's Day, triggered Giselle to stalk her crush without a rest. She reached school awfully earlier than anyone and waited outside to keep an eye for Lillian Grey to arrive.
To feast those dry eyes dying from daylight, Lillian Grey appeared- Giselle gawked, her eyes instantly gleaming, and the sunshine which she blamed to parch her became the spotlight to let Lillian shine. Giselle thanked and praised the morning sun for the striking spectacle.
Meanwhile, the target seemed not to be aware and behaved as typical.
Only after much observation did Giselle sensed that Lillian got dressed in her usual black jean with a blood-red crop top and her hair tied to a low pony, dancing to her hops as she walked. Her lovely face that lacked the usual smile, but it doesn't matter, for she was arriving at school alone without her friends.
'She is- looking great!' - Giselle gulped the air, admiring even so.
The school bell rang to stop her from further getting tanned. The loud noise alarmed those slackening legs dragging every step to enter the school. Upon hearing, everyone picked up their pace and marched towards their classrooms, respectively.
Giselle followed Lillian, but from a distance keenly keeping her eyes to the girl, she fell in love for the first time.
*****
Lunch was no longer casual as well. The cafeteria exploded with crowds and groups busily making plans and tricks to surprises and hangouts. Derek walked to find a spot to eat in peace, which seems to be questionable at the moment. As he strolled around the tables and passed across fellow kids, his eyes, betraying his conscience, searched desperately for Jamie. Possessed by both guilt and an unreasonable emotion for seeking this girl, he kept moving until he found a decent spot to sit. Two people were already occupying one side, and they let Derek help himself out.
He failed to find Jamie, and that only made him sulk more to approach his food.
As he took a few bites into his lunch, he admired the silence around him. Derek praised himself in finding such a spot without anyone making much racket nearby.
To put an end to his brooding silence, a group arrived at the table next to him, startling both Derek and his quiet company.
Derek's eyes twitched, and his heavy sigh recognized the faces already.
'What a tragedy I've let myself get into!' - Derek thought from seeing Bridgette and her girl along with Josh and his teammates occupying the adjacent table.
...
"So, do you girls have any plan?" one of Josh's teammates enthusiastically asked Bridgette and her friends.
Bridgette, knowing these hyperactive ones of Josh's friends, purposefully invited to keep Josh to herself during this romantic occasion. Although she was shy to confess openly, she didn't wish for anyone to meet him to declare their likes.
"I'm sure you asked because none of us have a plan for today, so let's hang out together- everyone," Ivy replied, not waiting to anticipate an answer and drag this pointless conversation dumbly.
Bridgette got pleased with her suggestion and began to daydream of spending time with Josh afterschool. Ivy did not care too much except for things to no drag so that she could enjoy her lunch peacefully. Carmel and Sara both agreed as well.
Josh, who kept calm throughout the conversation, shifted his eyes to see Carmel agreeing to their plan. He let out a soft smile of satisfaction.
"Now, I can't wait for the school to get over already!" Sara remarked to everyone's laughter.
***
School ended to everyone's joy and impatience that even the teachers found it hard to impart knowledge to these wandering young minds.
Most of the teens retired to stick with their prepared plans for the evening while some chose not to bother celebrating this event.
..
Giselle spent the entire day at class silently stealing glimpses of Lillian from distant and mutely celebrating her valentine's day. Now that the day ended, which felt too soon to the girl, she had another option to keep reveling.
To follow Lillian secretly!
The plan sounded pleasing, almost enticing her to go with it, but- the fear of getting discovered by Anna, Diego, or even Lillian Grey, herself, terrified Giselle. It took several minutes of self-convincing to choose not to go ahead with such a stalker-ish plan.
Eventually, Giselle walked back home with a dull face.
Upon crossing streets to enter her neighborhood, she passed by the local supermarket, outside where stands a small candy outlet that sells homemade chocolates only on Valentine's Day.
The owner works at a bakery but takes time during this day every year to sell his creations to the local neighborhood. His small shop is ever so popular with people living around in the area.
As expected, Giselle found the shop to stay bustling with customers dropping in to buy chocolates and leave with a happy smile. Giselle would wonder if she can ever get to be like that in her life.
Then, it struck her that it doesn't cost dollars to at least check out the store, probably if she finds anything pleasing, she could gift herself.
Self-love- Giselle calls it as an excuse to convince herself to visit the outlet.
At first sight, she got enveloped into ornate carvings made with chocolates- both dark, white, and mixture of two together. The shop sold boxes of standard chocolates shaped in round or squares for bulk sales. Also, there are special treats with intentions like chocolate shaped roses and hearts. These come in pairs for couples to enjoy. The sweets don't include chocolate alone but combined with different toppings and fillings. This small store sells a variety of treats to please its customers.
The shop is famous already in promoting its sales, and the amateur chef who made this received dozens of appreciations for his work.
The guy also has a plate with samples for people to taste test before buying. Giselle looked at it with a keen interest that she disregarded anyone's presence nearby.
Carefully studying the samples, Giselle debated between a cranberry jelly-filled dark chocolate with almond on top against blueberry induced white chocolate heart.
She got confused to select, and to her alarm, a hand reached the plate and picked out the cranberry jelly-filled treat.
Giselle heard an instant moan from the whoever that took that bite and felt inclined to taste it for herself.
As she was about to pick one to test, Giselle heard the stranger's voice speak.
"This is my all-time favorite one!" the voice uttered.
Hearing the female tone froze Giselle, her eyes grew to react.
The owner heard it as well.
"Hey, Lillian, how is it going?" the guy greeted with a familiar tone.
Giselle received a blow to her mind, moved swiftly to the side to let Lillian take the spot. She gazed at her sideways as wonderstruck, and the world seems to pause at the very second. However, Lillian did not pay any attention, for her eyes only stuck to the chocolates in front of her.
"I added a new one this year!" the guy informed.
Lillian glanced to find a white and green colored sample on the taste palette.
"Its pistachio and coconut flavored with a few mint crystals on the top! Do you want to try?" the guy asked.
A chill of shiver ran down her spine, and the hairs stiffened from hearing the guy explain the flavors. Lillian picked one to taste and did not seem to get impressed by it.
"It is great, but it can never match the cranberry ones," she replied after testing.
"So, the usual two pouches of cranberry jelly-filled dark chocolates!" the guy announced and went to pack her purchase like he already knew it.
Lillian Grey paid the money, and without acknowledge the frozen figure next to her, she left the place in haste.
Giselle turned to watch her fly and returned to request for a single pouch of the cranberry flavored ones. She paid for the chocolates and then left the place as well.
On the road, she unwrapped the pouch to pick one and took a bite.
A natural smile lifted her spirit, and no more dullness could thrive on her face.
Giselle walked back home with a bright cheerfulness. Even though she never confessed to Lillian, the fact of being close to her on this day and knowing her favorite sweet satisfied Giselle.
'Maybe I should soon confess to her!' - Giselle thought as she ate the chocolates one after the other.
***
Anna and Diego spotted Lillian from far and signaled her to rush.
"Why are you so late?" Anna roared as Lillian gave each their small pouch filled with her favorite chocolates.
"Happy Valentine's day, Anna, Diego!" Lillian said with a charming smile.
Diego walked away without a response, which the two girls assumed that he felt embarrassed with such a display of the behavior despite them being best friends and not genuine lovers.
Lillian teased his shy reaction, and Diego fought back to protect his dignity.
"Are you two done? Let's go to Diego's place first. Later, we can end this romantic occasion with Edwin's Red Velvet cake-" Anna said and continued without letting anyone talk.
"I heard from Edwin that he told me already he is making one, so we are to eat together."
Anna added and hurried her friends to move quickly.
"How can you eat this many chocolates already, Anna?" Diego asked curiously.
"Yes, she did receive it from a few guys," Lillian commented as well.
"Guys, let's not get jealous," Anna remarked.
"To the hell, we are not jealous," Lillian thundered back instantly.
"Frankly, we hope you get cavities after today," Diego added.
Anna spanked both and clobbered them around her arms to choke their throats for spitting such mean words without consideration. The bullies begged for peace, and Anna left them with a warning.
The trio walked together to Diego's place as planned to spend their valentine's day.
***
Seth returned home with much exhaustion. The entire day was a struggle for him to cope with young teenagers, actively enthusiastic, expressly showing their interest in making the best impression, looking handsome, and beautiful to impress their love interests.
"Valentine's day should become as a public holiday!" he murmured as he sat on the couch to lean against the soft cushion. The fuzzy feeling relaced his stress. He removed the bag off his shoulders and safely placed it aside and resumed to rest.
..
"Sorry! I'm late!" Ryan entered, following Seth after a few minutes.
Alarmed from his arrival, Seth flinched at once to wake up from napping.
"Ah, you are home early!" he instinctively said.
Ryan, Seth's partner, hissed at such a remark. Nonetheless, he entered inside with a bag of fresh ingredients.
"What's that?" Seth asked.
"Tonight's dinner," Ryan replied.
Seth asked what happened to their plan on eating outside today. Even though he doesn't show it openly, Seth did feel happy to go out to celebrate Valentine's day with his lover, Ryan. To hear him say that dinner will be at home, saddened Seth, though he did not show it to bother Ryan. Instead, Seth demands a reason for his suggestion.
Ryan hesitated for a while before openly admitting to his choice.
"I thought I wanted to cook for you, today-" he shyly accepted, averting his gaze here and there except where Seth stays.
Seth, overwhelmed by his response, did not know how to respond to such sweet consideration. He stammered to acknowledge.
Receiving a positive response lightened the mood, but both of their feelings were throbbing for each other. Seth and Ryan couldn't hide their satisfied smile, so they swiftly left the scene.
Ryan went straight to the kitchen, saying that he is starting dinner right away while Seth went to their room to get changed and take a shower.
..
Ryan prepared Seth's favorites: seared scallops with jalapeno vinaigrette paired with rose-shaped potato gratins, asparagus soufflé, and to finish their dinner, Ryan bought fresh strawberry cheesecake from the best bakery in the town.
Both like scallops and Ryan found this recipe on a cookbook where these simple seared scallops are to serve with fresh orange segments and mild jalapeno vinaigrette. The dish itself was quick and easy to make, yet still appeared elegant and absolutely exploding with flavor. Ryan made sure to get a beautiful crust on the scallops without letting it get burnt.
The rose-shaped potato gratin is a French dish flavored with garlic, olive oil, ham, and a splash of lemon- another one of the recipe's Ryan discovered from the books. However, it was his idea to improvise the dish by serving it as a beautiful flower.
Having all these rich yet heavy meals at once sounded divine, but Ryan still made sure to prefer a healthy option, for Seth enjoys such meals heartily. Hence, he chose a healthy and delicious asparagus soufflé. Asparagus is also one of the things that both enjoy eating on a regular basis. And this particular dish is Seth's favorites from Ryan's cooking. Since he is already familiar with the recipe, it did not consume him too much time. Ryan was able to prepare it quickly.
The desserts were from one of the hotspots of the city, and so, it went straight to the fridge to keep it safe from the live cooking.
Seth returned several minutes later and asked permission to help, which Ryan decline heartlessly.
"I said I want to cook for you, so please leave at once," Ryan announced with an intimidating aura that scared Seth to quit the place without hanging out anymore. He returned to the living room to watch the news or maybe a drama, but seeing his bag still on the couch where he left it precisely, he suspended the decision to watch television, and quietly checked if Ryan came out.
No, he didn't. Using this to his advantage, Seth picked the bag and went to their room to place it carefully under their bed. By the time he came out, Ryan was almost to finish all the dishes. Once it got over, he requested Seth to wait until he gets a shower.
Following his return, Ryan invited Seth to their dinner table as he lights some scented candles to lighten the mood, dimmed the lights to let the candlelight shine in the dark.
He brought the dishes one after the other to the table and joined for dinner.
Seth's face lit up from seeing the dishes and how carefully prepared with love-
"Thank you," Seth said out of an emotional shift.
Ryan chuckled visibly and stood up to serve Seth the scallops. Even though their dinner started with a restaurant type setup, soon, the two began to assist each other, and the tension ceased.
Seth praised the potato gratins and enjoyed eating it while Ryan asked about the day. They chatted and ate without any noise, let alone their own world where they were happy, free, and caring.
After dinner, Seth struggled to eat anymore when Ryan placed a slice of strawberry cheesecake in front of him.
If only it looked unappetizing, Seth could have politely refused it. But, no. The cheesecake and the fresh strawberries on top appealed just the right amount and lured in the strict teacher to let him devour it.
Everything felt perfect at the moment except for the struggling tummy from the over-intake of food. But it doesn't matter to the amount of respect and love the two shared.
Seth watched Ryan having fun tonight. A sudden alarm ringed to his mind, and Seth excused himself for a minute. When he returned with a small bag, Ryan anticipated seeing it at once.
"Here you go!" Seth gave the bag to Ryan without any emotions and walked ahead to return to his seat to finish the delicious cake.
Ryan peeked inside the bag to find a little pouch tied with tiny ribbons. Inside it appears to be sweets, more like chocolates.
"What is it?" Ryan asked, knowingly wanting to hear an explanation from the person who gifted it.
Seth noticed the subtle smirk on Ryan's face. It only irritated him for the position he was in tonight. However, since the man took the time to cook a tasty meal, Seth forgave him by explaining short answers.
"Can't you see what it is?" Seth started with a cutting remark.
"I can't," Ryan insisted while he took the final bite of the cake and finished the plate gracefully.
Seth sighed to explain how he heard the students buzz about this chocolate shop outside a local supermarket that serves special treats for today.
"So, you are giving me these chocolates for Valentine's Day, correct?" Ryan asked as if he didn't understand any of the former explanation.
Seth controlled himself from getting annoyed with this slow conversation deliberately done by his loving boyfriend.
That commitment, passion, eternal love they have for each other let them get pass these moments of a tease. Seth ignored and agreed that he did buy and wished to give chocolates to his boyfriend.
Ryan didn't utter a word and left to put the plate in the sink. As he returned, he couldn't help but reach for Seth, who still ate his cake as slow as he could, wrapped arms around his shoulder to take him by surprise, and finally plant a soft kiss on his cheek, gentle as the touch and lighter than the cream.
Seth felt that particular bite when he received Ryan's kiss to be sweeter than the rest. Shy as he became, Seth allowed returning the gesture with another kiss but on Ryan's lips he did, swift as he moved to do so, Ryan is the one who ended up receiving the shock while he stood in a daze from Seth's daring move.
As soon as the soft peck ended, Seth returned to his seat and finished the last big bite in one spoon and left the table to clean the piled-up dishes. Ryan still froze from the kiss, caressed his lips as he smiled.
He walked over to pick the chocolates and opened it to taste it a little.
The pistachio and coconut flavored white chocolate with mint toppings brought out a lot of punch to the tongue, letting Ryan enjoy the small bite. He smiled from the selection, which appears to be his favorites.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Seth," he said out loud to reach the man washing the dishes.
There was a minute of silence following his declaration and accompanied by Seth's distant reply.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Ryan, idiot," Seth said.
He added a faint 'I Love You' at the end, which Ryan heard distinctively as his attention was only at Seth from the moment he came out of the kissed daze.
The two men who expressed their love, strong and bold, smiled privately from the happy ending to this joyous celebration.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
ljack_ace
ljack_ace Belated Happy Valentine's Day to you all!!!
Obviously, this happens in the past timeline. I thought of sharing it and I did!
I hope you enjoy this short detour and wait until I return soon.
I finalized the flow for the next few events while I re-draft the Volume 2!
Thank you very much for loving my work!
- With much love
Ljack Ace!
Take time to celebrate love, be it in any form!
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone