Phantom Boyfriend: Dasamiza 2 (special preview)

Dasamiza’s head turns and I follow it. Marlena’s father waves me down the hall and I step into Marlena’s room. She is laying down in bed, her head turned towards the window. I go in and take the chair by her bed. Laying the flowers down beside her, she doesn’t even move to look at them. For the longest time, I just sit there. The room is quiet and a little cold, and Marlena doesn’t move to acknowledge me or anything.

“I don’t know what to say.” I break the silence. “I thought I would have so much to say to you once I got here, but I have nothing. There are things I could say, but you wouldn’t listen to me if I said them.”

I open the box and take out the pretty lavender sachets. I place one in her palm and her fingers clutch around it. “I remembered you used to carry one around with you everywhere when we were kids. You claimed you had a sensitive nose.”

Marlena squeezes the sachet tight, then her fingers relax.

“You used to smell so strongly of it some days,” I continue. “But there were days when the scent was soft and pretty, and when you danced, it matched the scent so well. It was as if you knew exactly how lavender would dance.”

“Why are you here?” Marlena finally grunts.

“I was scared,” I confess. “Scared you wouldn’t be the same Marlena as always.” I look her over and see she’s closed her eyes. “If this happened to me,” I whisper, “I would be inconsolable. I wouldn’t see or hear anything in this world. I would only go inward.”

“I can see and hear just fine,” Marlena snaps at me. She sits up and turns to glare at me. Her hair is a mess and her eyes look sunken. “I wish I couldn’t hear and see! Then I wouldn’t have to put up with you coming around and smearing your pity in my face!”

“It’s not pity, Marlena. It’s empathy.” I frown at her. “You’re not my favorite person in the world. In fact, I had hoped you would have transferred once we finished our training. But I can’t help but think you stuck around out of spite.”

Marlena smirks and turns her head.

“But I came anyways because even if you are a thorn on the rose of my life, you are still deserving of some kindness.”

Marlena puts the lavender to her face and breathes in. “You win,” she grumbles. “You got the big performance, you have the man, and I am gone.” She looks at me as tears begin to fill her eyes.

I have never known Marlena to cry. She has raged and vented and thrown tantrums, but she has never once cried when I was around.

“You win.” The tears stream down her face.

I look up and I see Dasamiza standing at the window with their back turned to us. I take hold of Marlena’s hand and squeeze it.

“It’s not a win to me,” I whisper. “I have no competition now. How can I consider this a win?”

Marlena smirks and sniffles. She rubs at her eyes and knocks my hand away. “You must be joking,” she scoffs. “Get out of here. You’re trite and I can’t stand it.”

I stand up. “Don’t give up, Marlena. Whatever you do-”

“Shut up,” she snaps at me. “Keep one eye open, darling,” she then sheers. “I’m not too far behind you.”

I smile and leave the room. As I leave her house, I see Dasamiza standing and waiting at the gate. I ignore them and walk along, heading towards the theatre.

“Do you feel any better from that visit at all?” Dasamiza grabs me and holds me back. I struggle against their grip until they force me against the wall. “Answer me!”

I look up at them and tilt my chin up. “I don’t.”