I often wonder what could have happened if we didn't do certain things the way we'd done them. What if Pandora didn't open the box? What if Zeus was faithful to Hera? What if I said no to his offer? Since that day, I often wonder...
"I´m glad you decided to have a walk with me." Perseus beamed.
"Do not make me regret my decision, Mr. Lewis."
"I say we drop the honorifics, you may call me Anthony."
"May I call you Perseus instead?" I said, trying not to sound like a kid asking for a candy but ultimately failing.
"No one really calls me by that name, but yes you may. It does sound a bit...what's the word?" he looked at me, inquiring.
"Mystical? Prophetic? Adventurous?" he frowned as I went on.
"I was about to say boring."
"Oh, 'Perseus' sounds like a lot of things, but boring? No, definitely not." I said and smiled, suddenly remembering something.
"What?"
"What?" I asked back.
"You're smiling."
"I am not."
"You are, what is it?" Curiosity in his voice, and is that a hint of panic? I must be delusional.
"It's nothing, I just remembered something."
"It's not nothing, you smiled. Surely it must mean something."
"Fine. I just think it's quite funny that you think the name 'Perseus' is boring yet the original bearer of the name was someone who slayed monsters and saved a princess. The name you seem to view as something boring is anything but."
"You know your mythologies."
"I do, indeed."
"That's a lot of reading for a young lady such as yourself."
"I do not find any reason for you to concern yourself in my daily activities, Sir."
"I thought I told you to call me Anthony."
"I thought I could call you Perseus?"
"I've changed my mind. I hate that name."
"All the more reason I should call you Perseus, Perseus."
"You do know you are a bit sharp-tongued?"
"I know, and I can say the same about you." He burst out laughing, he was cackling like a madman the people around us started staring.
"Touché!" He managed to squeeze in between his laughs. His cheeks are flushed and his eyes are tearing. The sight of him makes one feel warm, I want to look away but I can't seem to.
"You laugh quite scandalously for a gentleman." I blurted out. He stopped laughing and quite aggressively turned his attention towards me. He caught my eyes and I was startled by the intensity of his gaze and I immediately scolded myself inwardly not to say things on a whim.
"I feel no shame, one should not feel insecure about their laugh, it is merely an expression of one's happiness."
"I apologize, truly." I feel bad I even said anything at all, it was a such a rush to watch him laugh and look so happy.
"You are forgiven…in one condition..." Ugh, Christ! Why do men feel the need to—
"…that you would do the same." He said, then guided me to a bench by a walkway within the park, allowing us to watch the other couples out for a promenade. He then continued, "Laugh carelessly and give not a care of what people may say. Happiness is a rare jewel one should hold onto it no matter how quickly or how long they stay within your grasp."
"You talk of happiness as if it's tangible."
"Sometimes it is."
"How is that?"
"Sometimes happiness is a person. The very person you love. The person you devote the entirety of your life to."
"Have you met that person?"
"Yes." My heart hurt a little for reasons I can't name…yet.
Most of the time I know what I want in life, and most of the time that is freedom. Freedom to do anything I want and pursue the things I have always dreamed of without the constant blabbering of the high society and without the guilt of knowing that all of it affects my family. I have always been surrounded by people who had great relationships with their life partner. I have always admired their dedication, the passion and the work that they put into their relationship. I do want that in my life…eventually. But with mother's words earlier this afternoon, I fear I have no choice. After all, I am a woman. And the world dictates I simply cannot have both, can I?
"You're engaged then?" I said as I spent half of my energy focusing on that swan? duck? whatever it is, it is eating something. The creature suddenly seemed much more interesting than this conversation.
"No." I must have whipped my neck so fast toward his direction I heard it crack. Thank heavens he was in such a deep thought he did not seem to notice the eagerness. Eagerness? No. This is curiosity. If he met a person he so loved that he felt the need to devote himself to her, the fact that they are engaged must then follow.
"What? Why!?" That seemed to wake him up from a trance.
"The clouds do look a bit dark, don't you think, Miss Vanya? I think we should hurry you back home."
"But you didn't say why."
"Why, what?" He looked dumbfounded but I see a tinge of delight behind his eyes. And behind him was Mary, hurrying over to us, with a look of worry in her face as she looks up at the sky.
"You know what I mean." I said, now standing up.
"I'm afraid I'm in the dark."
"Oh, Perseus! You know you may confide in me. We are friends now."
"We are?"
"Yes."
"But you're a lady..."
"Are we to do this? At this very moment? You have already broken the rules of the gentle society the moment we met. Surely, you're not afraid to break one more?"
"I am not. My concern is on your account. I remember you not being too keen of my theatrics that day." he chuckled out the last words.
"Worry not, dear friend. I believe I will see you often for the upcoming weeks thanks to your aunt and my mother, therefore a forming of friendship is only natural. Not to mention, I'm also quite curious of this 'tangible happiness' you talk about or are you just bluffing?"
"I am not!"
"Then tell me!"
"Tell you what?"
"You what I'm talking about!"
"I haven't the faintest idea."
"Perseus, just tell me, are you engaged?!" Mary must have been a witch because I swear, I saw her ten paces away from us when I opened my mouth and then she appeared right behind Perseus as I finished the sentence. Blink! Just like that and she was there with us.
"Miss Vanya!" she looked flushed, she must have heard what I said. Oh God!
"Mary!" There, right there. That high-pitched voice strikes again. Mary sizes up the situation, looking like she wants to ask thousands of questions. Deciding it's not her place she looked at me and said, "We must not miss supper, Miss Vanya. If the rain catches us, we might not be able to make it in time. Let us hurry home now." I nodded. Mary had that look in her eyes that made me groan inwardly, I'm sure my nightly routine shall extend for an hour tonight.
"Will you join us for dinner, Perseus?" I asked, genuinely hoping he'd say yes. I so wanted to interrogate him about that girl he met. If Perseus met a person he thought was perfect for him, then maybe it's not that hard. There is a possibility he's bluffing seeing as he's not engaged yet, but I shall take my chances. Besides, this 'natural forming of friendship' might look good on me for the gentle society, guaranteed there'll be much more talking now but it won't be about my attending college anymore and that's a victory in my book.
"Perhaps another night, Miss Vanya." there is a shine to his eyes when he looked into mine…am I seeing things or do I see longing in his eyes? I must be awfully famished for I am beginning to imagine things that aren't there.
"Very well. See you around, Perseus." He only tipped his hat and started walking away.
It might be the imminent rain or the sight of him leaving, but there's a tinge of melancholy in the cold breeze that touched my face.