The First Kiss

She ran all the way out of the building ignoring Leon's call... 

Her heart ached, her chest heaved and she shuddered with the wave of her tears as she sank down on the floor of the balcony.. 

Leon was already by her side, trying to console and hold her up and asking her what conspired between she and Mrs. Thompson. She tried to speak but ended up letting out stutters.. 

"I.. I.. I guess.. I shou... Should be on all... Black after all" she burst into another shudder wetting Leon's arm with tears. The latter gave up asking what happened and just consoled her... 

********

They didn't go to the company anymore, Mareili was still down, once more sucked up In her own grief. They just laid together on the couch under a thick duvet. 

Mareili covered her hair with a dark elastic cap and wore a silk long dark gown.. 

Leon too decided to put on black, to make sure she doesn't feel insecure. 

"I guess I have to serve her this respect" Mareili started sadly in a sobbed and worn out voice. "She deserves it, now I miss her so much, it's even barely two days"

Leon rubbed her shoulder and she continued after a sniff. "This week is a very long and sad one isn't it? Mum passed on yesterday, Lost a job today, expecting an arrogant brother tomorrow and meeting my so called dad next after a very long time" she sighed.. 

"If I only had the power to control my own life, I would have done so a long time ago, I would have programmed it to go the way I want"

"The weather is getting cold, would you like something warm to drink?" Leon asked and Mareili nodded with a sad smile.. 

He left to the kitchen, took out the coffee kettle and placed it on the heater, he leaned on the counter and waited for the coffee when suddenly his phone beeped, he dipped his hand into his pockets, brought out the phone and read the message then smiled before serving the coffee and leaving to the lounge. 

The day went by so fast that it was soon night and Mareili was already getting ready to go to bed.. 

She strolled reluctantly into the bathroom and had a hot bath while Leon sat on the bed operating his phone... 

In a few minutes Mareili returned, already dressed in a black thick robe... 

She fell in bed and slipped under the duvet, she had refused eating despite Leon's pleas, promising she'd eat the next day...  

Just then her phone rang, she checked the caller to see it was her brother, she wasn't in any mood for what he was going to say but she picked up anyways. 

•"Hey big bro"•

•"I'm at the airport now Reili, I'll arrive Germany when it's noon over there, come wait for me at the Berlin Brandenburg Airport by then, okay?"• Joachim rasped on the other side of the phone and hung up before Mareili could even give a simple reply. 

Mareili sighed and Laid properly on the bed, reminiscing on all that had happened over time Leon Thought she was already asleep as he Stare at her for a while and kissed her on the forehead.. He slowly got out of the bed but a soft grasp on his arm held him back.. 

He turned to see the Grey longing eyes of Mareili. 

"Please don't leave, stay with me" 

Leon smiled and pulled himself under the duvet... and cuddled her... 

~

The cold weather was too much for Joachim to handle as he sat on the waiting chairs of the airport, he hugged himself in the thick. As he struggled to keep himself from shivering for the sake on the people seating beside him. 

He released himself and adjusted his head warmer and shifted his nose mask to a more comfortable state before returning to his previous position. 

A 3 years doll-like girl walked slowly to him with a cookie in hand, biting slowly at it. 

She seemed to have like him because she smiled shyly at him then came a step closer... 

"Hi" she said in a babyish voice and scratched her cheek.. 

Joachim just stared at her icily, without any look of friendliness on his face, all he did was imagine why he was so much loved by little kids, even the ones he never knew. 

He's always flabbergasted by this.. and worse, he wasn't even friendly at all.. He hated weakness, softness and tenderness and always classified little kids to have this qualities so he never liked them and never planned on having one..

These choice of his had made him despise ladies so much that the only woman he valued was his mom... For having enduring all the pains over the years.

He respects her for that and will keep on respecting her... 

The little girl stretched out her hand and attempted placing it on his knee but he immediately pulls his kegs away which terrified the girl... She immediately beginned to cry as Joachim shaked his head and stumbled out to another seat. 

He watched as the crying girl is picked up by her mom and consoled.. 

The woman glared coldly at him and he looked away and just then a voice boomed at the readiness of their flight.. 

As he walked to the queue, he thought of it. That was just him. He hardly smiles and if he does it then means he wasn't thinking clearly then... He hates affection and care, he thought all this were traits of weakness... 

~

The cloud rumbled, Heavy patter of rain drops on the roof awoke the sleeping Mareili. 

She rubbed her eyes and it took her a long moment to process that it was already morning.. Hm, she loved this. She loved it when she wakes to see a rainy weather. 

It makes her believe nature was trying to tell her to make peace with her soul and not trouble it with sadness. 

She propped herself up with a soft pillow, this time Leon wasn't by her side to surprise or rather shock her and she began to ponder if he had left already. 

She thought of calling him but immediately canceled the thought. She she slipped out of the bed and stood before her floor length framed mirror where she saw a horror of herself. 

Her eyes were puffed and she knew why —she had cried her eyes out all night— her chin bones popped out and made a hollow on her cheek, her hair scanty and scattered and she felt lean as hell. Is this really me? She thought as she unclad the robe she wore. 

She felt like a diseased patient as she stared disgustingly at herself and suddenly the door burst open. She immediately picked up her rope, covered her front and turned to see standing beside her door and looking gob smacked. 

"Yes?" She asked raising a brow, forgetting that she had once thought of calling him to know his whereabouts. 

Leon stuttered. "Uhm... I'm so sorry, I... I actually came to check up on you"

"Well? You can see I'm fine so off you go!!" Mareili yelled slightly stamping a feet on the floor, Leon clearly saw she was vexed and decided to do just as she said but... "What do you want for break fast?" He asked. 

Mareili seemed more upset "Anything, Anything. Just go go go!!" She yelled waving her fingers at the door and Leon immediately disappeared. She sighed and walked furiously to the door to lock it. 

What was happened? She thought. Was it that she didn't wanted Leon to see her nakedness or she was just physically insecure? 

Anyways. 

She waved the thought and strolled into the bathroom and immediately turned on the shower... 

Leon returned few hours later with a plastic bag of food, he displayed the sealed plates on Mareili's study table and leaned on the wall beside it, waiting for Her. 

In a few moments Mareili appeared from the Bathroom with a towel tied to her chest, looking as beautiful as always —though her cheeks where still hollow and eyes puffed— she strolled to the table and peeked at the things Leon had bought and smiled at him.. 

"How sweet of you to have thought about my breakfast" she said with a smile but Leon stared agape at her... His eyes seemed to have no particular direction, it wavered as he stared constantly and affectionately at her.. Lost in his stares... 

Mareili too joined in the stare that she didn't know when Leon came closer to her and claimed her lips with her... Her first Kiss! 

She remained stiff, still surprised by the gesture, but the feeling she felt overwhelmed her and she circled her arms around Leon's neck...