Now that I knew something was clearly wrong, I had to see Ethan but I was nervous about going over.

I had never been to his house before and I didn't know how he would react if I came unexpectedly. What would his uncle and aunt think?

Omi. Hit the pause button before you go into overdrive.

I took a deep breath and reminded myself that I wasn't in India and that it was perfectly fine to show up at some guy's house without being branded as a slut.

Wait.

Where was his house?

I internally groaned and debated over whether it was a good idea or just something conjured up by my demented brain.

I asked myself a simple question,

'Do you care about him?'

Of course, I did.

'Then it's perfectly fine to go over and besides you owe him an explanation'

About 30 minutes later I found myself in his shop but I was disappointed to find out that he wasn't there.

'Can I help you?', asked a man probably in his mid-fifties. He had a familiar expression of calmness mixed with amusement which I'd only seen on one particular person.

'I was looking for Ethan, I thought he'd be working here', I said feeling a bit embarrassed that he might think I was a stalker or something.

'Ethan's not here, can I ask who called on him?', he asked.

'Salome', I replied and watched as his eyebrows went up.

'So, you're the excuse girl', he said with a small laugh.

'Excuse me?', I asked lost.

'It's the nickname we've given you because whenever he darts out he says 'Salome needs me or I have to see Salome'. To be honest, if you hadn't introduced yourself I would have thought you were a figment of his imagination', he chuckled and I felt a bit overwhelmed to know that he talked about me like a priority.

'I'm sorry if I've ever caused any problems', I said wryly.

'Oh no, no. It's been a while since I've seen that boy on his feet this much', he said and smiled to himself as if he were relieved.

'I'm Seth, his uncle', he said bringing himself back to the conversation and I smiled in response.

'I just came in to check if he was okay. He missed class and I just- Never mind', I said and started to leave but Seth stopped me.

'If you want you could pop in to see him. We live across the street, that big old white house that looks like it should be in a museum', he said and I looked at him unsurely.

'Go on. He could use some company', he assured and that was all I needed to cross the road and stand in front of the old Victorian-era house that even had a small tower attached to its attic.

As I made my way along the cobbled path towards the house, I took my time to observe the windows on the first floor. One window caught my eye because of its yellow floral curtains and I noticed that it made a sudden jerk as if someone had just pulled it across.

Before I could even cross the patio, the blue door opened revealing an unusually casual version of Ethan.

His hair wasn't slicked back as usual, instead it was all over the place and he wore a plain white tee with black sweats. I guess his aesthetic partly belonged to his clothes and the way he carried himself because today, he looked tired.

'How did you know I -' '- I saw you from my room', he cut in and from the way his chest moved up and down at an abnormal rate, I guessed he must have dashed his way down.

'I never took you for a yellow daisy curtain-type', I said and he rolled his eyes at me.

'Come in', he said shaking his head and stepped aside to allow me to enter the foyer which revealed a spiral staircase which I guess lead all the way to the attic. Beneath it in the center was a door with a clear view of a room that had a French window covered wall, revealing the backyard. To the right revealed through an arched wall was what I assumed to be the living room while to the left through another arched wall was a more formal looking living room and from where I stood I could see a glass partition which revealed a dining room on the other side.

'Nice house', I said as he closed the door behind me and then continued to lead me to the right, into the living room. From here I could see that the room beneath the staircase was actually the kitchen as it happened to be connected with the informal room like an open plan.

'It's been passed on for generations. There have been a few renovations all except for that parlor on the left', he replied.

'I feel very English when you say 'parlor'', I mocked.

'Well we are English, well I'm half French', he said after a while.

'You know how to speak French?', I asked.

'No, but I can understand it but don't ask me to speak because I'd murder the language', he said with a shudder.

'So your Dad's side is English. How come your Uncle is in Canada?', I asked.

'He wanted to getaway. Our great aunt was Canadian and she gave him this house. He married a Canadian and so here we are', he said.

'Your Mom's French, that sounds very romantic', I said with a smile.

'She's a gem', he said with that special smile which appears on any son's face when they think about their mother.

A small patter on the wooden floor broke the silence and before I knew it, a tiny black and white creature clung to my leg.

'Pongo! No! Bad dog!', exclaimed Ethan and began to take the puppy away but I stopped him and picked up the tiny creature.

'You have a Dalmatian named Pongo?', I squealed thrilled at his name choice.

'Christine, my cousin was the one who named him. She has a habit of naming animals after Disney characters', he replied wryly.

'She has a good taste in names', I said and tickled the pup in my arms who squirmed with delight.

'Can I get you something to drink?', he asked.

'Oh no, I actually came to check up on you', I said and set Pongo down.

'I'm fine', he said a bit stiffly that it hurt. I guess this is what it feels like to be on the other side of the wall.

'I'm sorry, Ethan. I should have called you but I didn't know you cared for me that way. You have every right to be upset but you have to understand I didn't know', I said and he looked at me with an incredulous expression.

'What made you think I didn't care?', he asked and it felt like a sting.

'I don't know. You're always just lingering around and asking stuff about me all the time! Today is actually the first time you've told me about yourself and I can't help but think you see me as some kind of puzzle and you just want to know all the answers', I blurted and watched as his eyes widened with each word.

Pongo sat in between watching us wondering why it had become suddenly silent.

'Salome, you're not some kind of puzzle or game to me as you put it', he said and dug his hands into his pockets. He then looked around as if he were searching for something but stopped as his eyes met mine.

'You want to be compared to something? If I could compare you with anything in the world, it would a book. You are an exciting story that has me on my toes, keeping me from even trying to get some proper sleep because each chapter is more thrilling than the last. I 'linger' beside you because I want it to last. I want to find every single thrilling sentence you have to offer and highlight it. You already know that I have terrible social skills which is why I keep asking you questions and blurt random things like an idiot', he said and then looked at the floor for that last part.

'What happens when the story ends?', I asked.

'Every story ends, I just hope the one where I come in doesn't and that I'll have more to look forward to', he said without missing a beat.

I didn't know how to respond but my insides surely did because my heart was galloping like a warhorse while my body temperature kept going up and down.

'Yes, I feel like I want to be around you and I don't know why. I just do and when Neena called me that night I was so disappointed that you never even thought that maybe I could help. I didn't really stop to think about it from your perspective and I'm sorry about that. I should have been more sensitive. But please, hasn't anyone or you ever looked at someone and think, 'I just want to know them?'', he asked and took a step closer.

'Karthick', I answered without even thinking twice and I found myself smiling as I continued.

'He came and talked to me out of the blue and I often asked him why he suddenly chose to befriend me and he had the same answer as you', I smiled and watched as relief washed over Ethan's face.

Ethan sank down to the floor and I joined him, sitting face to face as Pongo took turns between us for belly rubs.

'I'm sorry I triggered you by reminding you of him', he said solemnly.

'How did you know you triggered me?', I asked surprised.

'I know a panic attack when I see one and I know if that has to happen, it has to be triggered. I'm assuming that passed away in a motorbike accident', he said and I nodded.

'Yeah. He was upset about something happening at home and he wouldn't tell me. I tried to stop him but he wouldn't listen. I wasn't that worried because he'd often ride home on his bike even though it's like a day's ride but he'd always come back. And I don't know what happened on the road but I can't help but think that he was distracted and that I should have been more stern and stopped him from going', I said and felt my voice shrinking.

'You never asked how it happened?', he asked.

I knew how it happened, I'd overheard people talk about it but I didn't feel like talking about it at the moment so I shook my head and said,

'When you got on that bike after being upset I couldn't help but think that it was going to happen all over again and that I'd lose you too and I panicked',

'You were scared you were going to lose me?', he asked surprised and propped his legs up in a way that now both our legs supported each other.

'You've grown on me', I replied wryly and he broke into his charming smile.

'I promise, you won't lose me', he said and I felt my breath hitch.

'Don't make promises you can't keep. Karthick promised me the same thing the day before it all went down', I said gravely.

'You won't lose me to a motorbike. I rarely use it anymore', he said and I remembered what Aravind had said.

'Aravind talked to me today and he seemed startled when he heard that you hit Noah with a helmet and that you rode a bike', I said.

'Yeah he'd be startled', he said with a small smile.

'Why?'

'I got into an accident last year and it was on that very bike. It was quite serious, I was with someone and they didn't wake up until after a few days. I've been afraid ever since but I do love riding and I didn't want to give it up. I brought it along but never once rode it and then when I got Neena's call it was like this natural response to get my bike and just be there', he said.

'That was the first time after the accident?', I asked stunned.

'Yes', and he looked at the floor.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Ethan had ignored his trauma to come and rescue me. Could that be why he didn't come today? Why he wasn't feeling well?

'Ethan, did it shake you up? Is that why you didn't come to class?', I asked worried and placed my hand over his.

'I was okay yesterday but then today...I don't know maybe', he replied softly.

'I am so sorry. I didn't mean to force you into-' but he silenced me by pulling me into a hug.

'It's okay, Salome. I faced my fear and it might have shaken me but I'm alright', he said and I could hear his voice falter a bit. I guess the hug was so that I wouldn't see him cry and before I knew it my eyes were filled too.

'I guess we both have a past that brings us to our knees', I said and I notice him smile as he pulled back from the hug.

' I guess my story is now a sob story', I laughed uneasily but Ethan shook his head.

'To be able to go through all of that and sit here with that brave face, you're not a sob story Salome, you're a victory song', he said instantly charging me with confidence.

'And yours is of a brave knight who won't let his old fears stop him from doing what he must', I said and he chuckled.

'I'm glad you came over Salome, I guess the ice is finally broken', he said and I nodded with a smile.

'Oh, it's Omi', I said and he looked at me confused.

'I'd rather have you call me that and I think you called me Omi that night', I said and he smiled

'Yeah I got scared and it sort of came out', e said sheepishly.

'Thank you', I said and he placed his hand over mine.

'Oh I forgot to tell you, I loved the daffodils. No one's ever gifted me flowers before', I said and he looked at me surprised.

'You've never been gifted flowers?', he asked and I shrugged.

'I'll make it a thing then. For every celebration you'll receive flowers', he said proudly and I laughed out loud at his gesture.

'You shouldn't really'

'I insist and you might as well stop trying to talk me out of it'