Our bodies entangle with the words, and soon we become the notes, the melody entirely. My heartbeat is erratic, and I’m sure he can feel it. But I don’t care.
As the song reaches its steady close, Marlon pulls back, but only slightly. His eyes lock on mine.
“Hi,” Marlon whispers, voice so delicate, as though anything louder would disrupt this bubble we’ve found ourselves in.
“Hi,” I whisper back.
There’s no one around.
No one is observing us. No one to act for.
It’s just Marlon and I here.
That’s when it dawns on me, that something here is real.
The way he’s looking at me is real.
The way his fingers reach up to my cheeks to gently brush against my skin, is real.
The way my chest is concaving and expanding, is real.
We’re so close. I can count the flakes of gold in his eyes.
His gaze flutters down to my nose, then to my lips.
He’s going to kiss me. He’s going to kiss me.
He lowers his face, and I close my eyes, knowing that this, right here, could be what I’ve always wanted.
What I’ve alwayswishedfor.
The sharp shrill of a ringtone echoes through, startling us.
Marlon and I gasp, our foreheads knocking together. I would giggle if I wasn’t overcome with sudden frustration.
“Who’s phone…?” I begin.
“I think that’s mine,” Marlon says, the disappointment in his tone almost tangible.
The phone doesn’t stop ringing.
With a groan, he pulls his phone from his pocket, and checks who it is.
“Ugh,Mum?”
I almost burst into laughter.
“Yes Mum - of course - yes we are going to drive back soon, we were just watching the sunset. Okay!”
The call ends with a groan, and Marlon looks back at me, his expression one of deep sorrow.
“I’m so sorry for that -” he says.
“It’s okay,” I assure, with a laugh.
“But um, we should probably head home before it gets dark. Apparently it’s forecasted to rain, and my Mum - she’s worried…” He scratches behind his head, as he stumbles over his words.
“Wouldn’t that be the best environment for you to murder me in, though?” I tease.
