Chapter 3: LATE

Late

- Sapphire's Point of View -

"Ah, Dom! So good to see you again!" Papa gave out a joyous laugh.

I went to the kitchen and set up the table for us. While Papa was busy putting the food on the table, Dom sat on the old maroon couch. Our living room is just connected to the kitchen and dining area, making his presence known to everyone inside.

"Thanks for inviting me tonight, sir." I glanced at Dom, only to see him looking at me. I immediately looked away from his intense stare.

His eyes has always been a weakness of mine. I can't seem to look at his brown orbs for more than ten seconds.

"Hope you don't mind, this is my way of repaying you, Dom." Papa continued. I understand my father's gratitude towards Dom. He's kind of nice, I guess. Helping out in transporting our goods to the next town is a very generous offer from him.

But he has this ruthless aura when I'm alone with him. Every single time.

"I don't mind, but Sapphire shouldn't be out alone during the dark, sir."

My heart thumped when he mentioned me. I don't really understand. He acts cold...but does nice things. Does he really care?

Sapphire, maybe he's just being a gentleman. My mind rebutted. He is very manly, but nothing close to gentle...

As I shifted my gaze, his dark eyes bore into mine, making me stop my movements.

"I wouldn't want anything dangerous to happen to your daughter."

***

"Are you alright, Sapphire?"

"H-huh?"

I glanced at Caleb, my best friend, who's helping me at my family's small store. He visits me during weekends when he doesn't have school. He lives far away from me, so I appreciate his effort whenever he goes here. When it's his school or summer break – I think, that's when he goes here more often.

I actually met him in the neighboring town. Their family was close to my father, so here we are today. 

We sell a bunch of stuff like salt, vinegar, bread, and other small packaged food or cooking ingredients. I've almost memorized the names of the daily customers we have, since only a few people live in Georgebury. So far, Mrs. Thomas and her family are the most frequent customer we have. Maybe I should give her a discount, I'll ask Papa about that.

Behind the counter, I was in the middle of jotting down the things sold earlier when I remembered what Dom said last night.

"I wouldn't want anyhing dangerous to happen to your daughter."

For some reason, his words squeezed my chest, an unfamiliar feeling dawned upon me. I couldn't point out what it was.

Whenever I'm with him, I almost freeze because of how cold he is. It just reminded me of Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. I was around 10 when I read that book, which was lifelessly laying on an old shelf of our house.

Ever since I met Dom, I view him as this emotionless man – arrogant looking and vile in some way, just like in the book. But what happened yesterday was different.

Maybe he isn't all cold after all? Or maybe I'm just overthinking things.

I probably looked stupid when I went there yesterday. I actually thought that he won't go to our house for dinner. Or maybe he pitied me, so he went...

Good lord, life is indeed full of "maybes".

"I said, are you alright?" Concern laced his voice.

Caleb waved his hand in front of my face. I almost forgot that he was here!

"I'm fine," I smiled at him and went on writing.

I'm really grateful that he's here with me today. I'd probably go crazy staring at the four walls of this small retail store. This place is just a few meters away from home, and there's not much crimes in Georgebury – which is probably why Papa let me take over. The houses here are almost half a kilometer away from each other, and I wholeheartedly wish to have more neighbors.

"Did you read the last book I gave you?" My best friend asked.

I scrunched up my nose at how ridiculous Caleb was walking shelf to shelf, looking at some jars and shaking them...that didn't take a lot of his time since we only have two shelves here.

"Yeah, I did," I chuckled. Last week, Caleb gave me an interesting book to read. 

I've read every book there is in our house, and I've re-read some of them too. Good thing Caleb's there to the rescue. He's also a bookworm, so he lets me borrow some of his classic novels.

The previous book he gave me was Little Women.

"Did you like it?" A boyish smirk was plastered on his face.

"Yes! I've always wanted to write a novel, just like Jo March,"

Goodness, I almost cursed when Amy burned Jo's writings! Over all, the novel was really good. In every book I read, I always pick up a life lesson.

I've read about antagonists who have all the wealth and power they need to survive – all because they've reached a high attainment in education. But their morals are crooked. I don't venture on a path like that. So it doesn't matter that I never went to school. As long as I have morals and principles, I am still acceptable in the society.

I think that literature is one of the most significant expressions of humanity. It breaks the stone-hard ice buried within us. It awakens our senses, as well as our subconscious mind to consciousness.

I do wish I'm as lucky as Caleb, because he gets to study. If I go to college, I might take up literature. But that's just a dream, a star high up on the sky...which I might never reach.

I suddenly remembered the books in Dom's elegant and stylish cabin. Does he read books?

"You're definitely a Jo March, but I think you're also an Amy who'll marry Laurie," Caleb laughed. My attention returned to him.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

I looked at his face to search for possible answers – if there were any.

"Nothing," He looked away and stood up.

I looked at the small window beside me and saw the gradient fills of orange and yellow in the sky. It's almost sun down. I relocated my vision to the never-ending fields of corn and wheat, and an imaginative memory flashed on my mind.

I recalled how I imagined the fields of Concord, Massachusetts – where the story of Little Women took place.

In the story, Jo March's book was criticized and the publisher said that it was unacceptable due to the protagonist not being married in the ending – which was completely twisted!

It just added to how much complicated are the society's standards.

It's very different here in Georgebury, everything is more peaceful and quiet. I wonder how is it like in the city. Do people conform to certain standards and measures of the society?

My abrupt thinking was suddenly disturbed, when the obtrusive sound of the door alarmed Caleb and I.

A tall and lean figure showed up in front of the brown wooden door. I needed to blink five times to see if it really was him...

It is him.

The unyielding, rigid and somehow – striking figure of Dom appeared.

He never went to our store during his whole stay in the town. And now, he's here! My heart almost skipped a beat because of his sudden appearance.

"Hello sir, do you need anything?" Caleb bravely asked. He wasn't even stunned by Dom's sudden appearance. Well, he hasn't met him yet, though...

Dom glanced at my best friend, and I saw a certain change in his eyes. His eyes were always dark, not just the color – but there's a certain mystery to it. He quickly looked away, and went for my eyes.

That unfamiliar feeling dawned upon me again. He looked hard and stern as he trudged towards me...as always.

I removed my gaze from him, but he quickly retrieved it again when he was right in front of the counter.

"I'm taking you home, it's almost late." His voice was low, almost a murmur.