Theo Valentine.
It's a name Maria had come to associate with disdain. After all, how else would you feel about a guy that liked pissing you off every time you met? Even when she got ready for the day, that's all she could think of.
He's the eldest son of the CEO of LEON corporation.
Has been a pain in the side since the moment they were introduced as kids. From pulling her hair, to tripping her when no one looked, getting all the glittery achievements and praise on the dining table till Maria's ears nearly started to bleed.
His infuriatingly smug smirk, those blue-gray eyes filled with nothing but a strange satisfaction seeing her frown over at him. Maria always wanted to lunge across the distance between them and grab that black hair till it ripped off and turned him bald.
"You're uh…" Viva started, "…gripping that pencil a little too hard."
"I know," she wanted to bite, 'but you would too if you had a dream like that.'
She didn't even get why him!
Her dream was going so well, could it not have been Rayan? For once in her misfortunate life, would it be so bad for her to get what she wanted? "Do you need a refill?"
She didn't even hesitate. "Please."
*
By refill, they meant getting lunch at the school cafeteria.
The only place she's actually free from prying eyes in public. Viva paid with her card, and Maria returned the amount in cash.
Stuffing themselves full in a secluded corner like heathens, they felt a lot better heading to class. Maria toyed with the short strands of Viva's brown hair, a little jealous on how freeing it would probably feel to have it like that.
And then—
"Why were you so grumpy in the morning?" Viva asked, and she huffed.
"Had a bad dream," but under her clothes, the pendant still sat, right between her chest. She wonders what happened—did it come along with the things her mother sent? Maybe she sleep walked and took it? Otherwise how would it be there? "And saw vermin."
Viva snorted, very familiar with the nickname, "at least you don't have to see him till the end of the semester. Tian? Theodore?"
"Theo," she corrected, "just Theo."
They still met during business dinners, but she ignored him as much as she could. No matter who she ended up with, Maria shuddered for it to be him of all people. "Anyways, it was just a dream," she said, "it was a pretty strange one though."
"Spill?"
"And think on it more? No thank you," Viva's class came first, and she waved Maria a goodbye. Now alone with her thoughts, they still somehow transpired back.
But it was all just so odd. He looked different—in golden robes—almost regal. Posture perfect and face set and poised.
She shook her head, nearly barfing in her own mouth at the thought of naming him husband.
Maria ended up coming to the library, indeed behind for her elective. Was anyone surprised, considering her lack of activity?
Probably not.
She opened her books, pulling her hair into a bun, and getting her laptop out and plugged into the socket. Surprisingly, with the help of videos and intense searching, she made it through a couple chapters.
The questions though…
Her head hurt. She tried and tried and yet, she couldn't come up with the right answers. Which just made her miserable day even more miserable.
She took a deep breath in, checking the time to see it well into the evening, and decides to take a power nap.
Maybe that would help.
The weather forecast showed clear skies, so that's one worry gone, packing her stuff and putting her head down. With how much energy she'd been using, it's no brainer how quick she falls asleep.
She'd been hoping for dreamless nothingness.
Yet…
Maria blinked awake, looking around to see herself on a bench. Pink petals softly falling down from the tree in front. All small and delicate, she turned up her palm to catch them.
She smiled at the sight, catching a few more and collecting them in her lap.
"One here too," oh god, "adorned all over you."
Theo picked one out her hair, taking a seat next to her.
He was dressed just as she last saw him: in black and gold emperor robes. Oddly enough, the long hair tied up in a hair crown didn't look...too bad.
More like, too good.
Maria made a face and scooted away, and he stared at her like she was the strange one. Did fate hate her? Or was it her subconscious? What type of subliminal message was this, making him appear once again looking all handsome?
Not that Maria thought so.
No it's just. A fact. Like how Maria waa considered beautiful, so was Theo. What, with his tall build and wide shoulders? Anyways, not the point.
"You seem upset since morning," he said, "had I been…too much, on our first night? I cannot help but think it might have started since then."
First night?
She stared at him confused, before it clicked that they're supposed to be married in her dreams!
Which meant…horror dawned her as she understood, nothing but revulsion at the fact she slept with Theo of all people!
"I-I do not know what you mean, haha," she said, so awkward it's laughable. Maria wanted to crawl into a hole and die. But fortunately, he did not think much of it.
"Okay well…" he took a deep breath in, "I hope you umm. Prepare well for the celebration tomorrow. If there are well..." god, why was he being so nervous? It's making her so too, just hearing him!
Almost too genuine. "If there are…?" she prompted, and he nodded.
"Any wants, you may have for tomorrow, I will fulfil them. I have been since the night of the wedding, so I understand your feelings."
DO YOU REALLY? But she could only deflate because as much as Maria hated Theo, this dude was just a figment of her imagination that clearly only shared the physical and not much else. Theo being accommodating to her? Not even on her death bed.
"So—"
"Peaches," she murmured, puffing her cheeks. It's just a dream right? So she can have the delicious plump fruits again! "That's on the menu."
"I…alright then?" There was a shout, and he glanced at her in apology, his eyes meeting hers.
For once, they did not spell a storm of trouble, but something softer. Shy. Maybe even hesitant.
Maria appreciated the way the blues and gray could become one colour of such brightness, despite their differences. "I will take your leave then, your majesty."
She did not know what to say. Nodding, and seeing him off, there was a strange feeling in her chest.
An almost pull, she did not understand, drawing her closer over and over until she had to look away to keep herself seated.
When Maria's shaken awake in the library, her heart's still beating fast, the pendant warm. A quick peek inside her top, and it gave off a pink luminescent glow. Small and fleeting, dying out the more she regaines consciousness.
God.
Was Maria losing her mind?
*
Who could she talk to, about something like this?
Viva would just laugh at her face or say she's in love with Theo. Or maybe she's overthinking it? It will have to be that.
Thankfully, when she slept after reaching back home, it was a dreamless one that left her feeling refreshed rather than drained.
Though in the shower, there's a mark on her collarbone. Red and fresh…almost akin to a…hickey?
But that's impossible. It's probably irritation from the clothes, no?
Suddenly, Theo's words come back to her. 'Had I been too much, on our first night?' What a ridiculous thought! As cocky as he is, and big as he might be, Maria is no newbie when it comes to handling these things. Does he think of her as a fragile doll?
'He's just a part of dreams,' her brain reminded, 'stop thinking its him.'
Right, she should fix that. Her mother had texted early morning to be ready, so she had to abandon her usual loose top and sweatpants combo for something more fitting and elegant.
Apparently it's some party, her mother already having sent which of the dress pieces bought for her she has to wear.
A black cocktail dress, with a tasteful slit at the side. The moment she had all the remaining accessories and pieces together, it clicked for what this might actually be.
A set up—probably a bunch of eligible bachelors coming in. No wonder she told her to wear this; highlighting her best features, neckline straight and low, held up by thin straps. Maria always felt a little out of her depth in things like these, but at least she can look in the mirror and hold a detached admiration. Her mother as shrewd as she may be, definitely knew what looked good.
Paired with black high heels, small diamond earrings and her hair open and styled back, Maria looked ready to take over a freaking runway.
At least, Viva would think so.
Why couldn't she come with? It would be so much more awesome with her by Maria's side.
She hesitated seeing the pendant, but it's not that big anyway. Is it better for her to keep it on…? Strangely, she already felt a connection to it. She contemplated only a second more, because her mother's ringing her already.
Screw it. Might as well make it a new fashion statement or something.