Unforgotten Desire

I don't want to hope just for nothing.

Caleb

"Good night, Cal." I kissed my younger brother's forehead as I tucked him to bed.

He smiled with his lazy eyes staring at me. "Don't overwork yourself. I don't want you to get sick. I won't like it. "

I couldn't help but smiled back at him. I ruffled his hair as I said, "I know. I promise I won't get sick."

I saw him nodding his head and finally closed his eyes. I stood up from his bed and walked out of his room. I closed his bedroom door slowly. I leaned my back on the door and sighed. My body was starting to give up. I didn't want to feel tired. Callum knew I still had to go the shop and work. That was why he kept reminding to not get sick. If I could feel that I was sick, I wouldn't bother to tell him because I didn't want him to worry about me.

I rubbed the sleepiness in my eyes and walked away from the door and downstairs. We had our dinner already so I could go to the shop right away after tucking Callum in his bed.

After all, time is gold.

After locking the door to our house, I walked to my car parked in our driveway and drove right away to the shop. No one was there when I arrived. It was already eight. They must have probably gone home. I had a key to the shop so I could get in every time I wanted to. I was wearing a white shirt and washed blue jeans. Before getting under the truck that I worked on earlier this day, I took my shirt off.

It was about thirty minutes later when I heard someone enter the shop and called out.

"Hello?"

From its voice, it was a woman for sure. I stayed under the truck and didn't answer.

After a minute or so, the woman called out again. "Hello? Is anybody here?"

I felt my lips twitching up. I decided to move away from the truck and get up. I was dusting my dirty jeans with my hands. When I look ahead to face the woman, my hands stopped dead on their tracks. I felt myself glued to the floor, wasn't able to move and speak. My mouth felt so dry as I stared at the woman in front of me. Not because she was so beautiful like a goddess, but she seemed so familiar.

She had her hands over her eyes, covering her sight. Probably because I was shirtless. She looked so cute and innocent. Her beauty was spectacular. She looked around twenty-one years old or younger. Her beautiful brown hair cascaded freely on her shoulders. I wanted to see her eyes. I badly wanted to come closer to her and pry her hands away so I could see the color of her eyes.

I am Caleb. I have self-control.

When I was pulled out of my trance, I cleared my throat and spoke. "You can look now." I laughed. "I'm not even naked, girl." I just found the situation so cute and funny.

Slowly, she put her hands down, but her eyes were trained on the ground. I wanted her to look up.

"What's the problem with your car?" I heard myself ask. It was the only I could come up in hopes that she would look at me. Starting a conversation with her.

However, as I looked at her, she seemed uncomfortable. I looked at her hands. They were formed into fists at her sides and they were shaking. My eyes moved to look at her face again. Slowly, she opened her eyes and I was even more captivated.

Bluish with emerald green.

I felt myself frowning when I saw her shaking her head and closed her eyes again. I just stood there, watching her.

Am I too intimidating? I didn't do anything.

I didn't know what motivated her, but she finally had the courage to finally look at me in the eyes. The moment we locked eyes, my heart was becoming abnormal. It was beating fast and I knew exactly why. There were so many reasons. I could name them all. One, her eyes were so intense. Two, her face looked so familiar. Lastly, I thought I had seen a beauty like her. Or was I just hallucinating?

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. I asked her instead. "Where's your car?"

When she didn't speak, I leaned on the truck. I crossed my arms and legs over, waiting for her to say something. She cleared her throat. "Uhm. Can you at least put a shirt on?" I wanted to laugh at that badly, but I held myself. She sounded so innocent.

I didn't know why, but I found myself staring at her again. I was trying to read her. I wanted to confirm something. I couldn't just scare her by telling her that she seemed so familiar to me or we had seen each other already.

Think before assuming something.

"Where did you come from, by the way?" She asked.

"What do you mean?" There were so many answers to that question. I wanted it to be specific.

She pursed her lips together. "I mean, you weren't here when I came in."

I pointed the other truck on the right corner of the shop. "I was fixing some parts under it."

People thought that I was so straight to the point. Well, that was actually true. With the life that I had, I couldn't waste a precious time.

"What can I help you with?" I yawned right in front of her. I was not tired, just sleep deprived. There was a difference between tired and sleepy. I rubbed my hands over my face, then put them in my pockets.

"Never mind. It looks like you're already tired. Of course, you are. You must have been working all day. I'll just look for another sho-"

"Where's your car?" I cut her off. I wanted to tell her that I was not tired.

Her forehead creased. "What?"

"Your car, where is it?"

"Uhm. A few meters from here. Why?"

I didn't say anything after that. I turned my back to her and walked to get a shirt that was hung on a coat stand. I put on the white shirt that I was wearing earlier. I couldn't go outside shirtless. The night was a bit chilly and I promised Callum I wouldn't get sick.

When I finally had my shirt on, I turned to face her again. I looked at her for a second before passing by her. Our shoulders almost touched. Why didn't I bump mine to hers though? What would her reaction be?

I went to get a toolbox, putting all the tools and equipment needed to fix change a tire. She obviously had a flat tire. When I had everything I needed, I took a spare tire and stood up. "Let's go." I told her.

"I'll bring this." Her hand moved to touch the handle of the toolbox, but I suddenly moved it away, making her bumped into my chest.

I stopped breathing for a second. I wasn't able to move. She got to hold the handle of the toolbox so now, we were both holding it. Our hands almost touched. As cliche as this sounded, but tingles spread throughout my body when her other hand laid flat on my chest. I realized she was short, at least compared to me. Her face was leveled at my chest.

Looking down at her, I said "Let go. It's heavy." Slowly, looked up at me. My eyes stopped at her lips for a second. "Move your hand away from the toolbox."

Damn. I need distraction. She's so tempting.

I silently thanked the heavens when she finally let go of the handle. She lifted her left hand off of my chest and took three steps back. "I'm sorry." She was doing it again. Her eyes were anywhere but on me.

"Let's go to your car."

What is wrong with me? Why is my tone like that?

"Okay."

I knew I intimidated her. When we walked out of the shop and to where her car was situated, she didn't say anything. Neither did I. It was because I didn't want to intimidate her more than she already was. On our journey to where her car was at, we were so silent. I wanted to start a conversation badly. I just loved hearing her voice.

The streets were dark and the night was cold. The shirt I had on was not helping. The fabric was so thin. I felt shivers run through my spine. A light was suddenly lit ahead us and I realized she had turned on the flashlight on her phone. The action made me look at her as we continued walking. I was relieved when she had an executive jacket on. At least, that kept her warm.

I didn't know why, but my heart felt so light. There was something about her. But, it has been seven years. I couldn't be so sure. I didn't want to hold on to the chance that this woman beside me might be the girl.

I don't want to hope just for nothing.