~Chapter 23~

Rio sat in the pastel colored lobby waiting for his name to be called. It was the time for his regular check up to his therapist. His therapist, Mrs. Robert is an old woman in her sixties. He is comfortable with her because she reminds him of his kind grandmother who had passed away when he was thirteen years old, leaving him some money as his education fund and her house in which he lives. Today unlike any other day of his check up, he is having a strange feeling in his chest. He couldn't understand what to name this feeling that is bubbling happily in him since it is the first time he is experiencing this type of feeling. All he knows that this is not a negative feeling but a positive one.

Upon his name being called, he shuffled towards the familiar door behind which Mrs. Roberts sat in her high back chair sipping her favorite chamomile tea. Mrs. Roberts' chamber is different than any other typical doctor's chamber. She had designed and decorated it in a way so that her patients feel comfortable with her. She sits in a high back chair and lets her patients slide down comfortably in an arm chair. She offers chamomile tea to the ones who drink tea and milk shakes to the ones who do not drink any beverages like tea or coffee.

When Rio entered, his face was etched with a rare smile which made Mrs. Roberts wonder about its cause. After opening his cap and revealing his eyes, that smile seemed contagious and dangerous.

"So who is the lucky one to have successfully etched a smile on the face of the grumpy boy I've been looking after?" In answer he gave her a quick recount summary of everything that has been going on in his usual quiet life lately. After talking a bit more, he asked the question that has been bugging him for a few days.

"D-do you th-think that m-my condition can be c-cured? The condi-di-dition of fear of being to-touched?" Rio have been noticing himself for the past few weeks and he discovered that he does not feel uncomfortable at people's touch that much. The low key nauseous feeling and fear is still there but the visibly flinching, backing away from others have been reduced to a tolerable level. In fact he never feels uncomfortable, nauseous if it is Emilia Johannes. He feels more at ease and relaxed around her.

"Honey, there is no such prescribed medicine meant specifically for a condition like yours. The solution, the real medicine lies within you. If it'll make you feel better I can write down some antidepressants for you but it is advisable to take them only when you're in dire need."

Rio checked out of the pharmacy with the prescribed medicines in hand.

"Whatever is happening in your life might be for the best but I won't say that it is safe to say that your condition has been totally cured. If it is possible take baby steps, one at a time with this girl that you mentioned."

Unfortunately Mrs. Roberts, we're past that baby steps that you were talking about.

We almost jumped right into the pit of fire.

Rio walked towards his home as he recalled the incidents that took place in front of Emilia's house.

After Brenda Lewis drove off, there was an awkward silence between the three.

"I-I guess this is it, I'll—"

"Wait you're going home?" Miss Johannes' sudden question surprised Rio.

"Uh yeah."

"Emilia, invite your boyfriend to our house for a cup of tea, won't you?"

"Um yeah Rio, uh just grab a cup of….."

"Uh th-thanks for the of-offer but I'll need to go back to home."

"Oh um sure. Any other time then."

"Yeah bye."

"Bye."

Emilia had raced to her room and slid down on the floor of her room. She didn't know how she controlled it at that time but when the word 'boyfriend' was uttered from the hot nerd's mouth, she felt like she could melt down then and there. Yes, the way things are progressing between her and him obviously requires some reign but at present she could not deny the fact that what she feels for Rio is more than just a sexual attraction. She didn't know that she could ever feel something else other than sexual attraction towards her opposite gender! Meeting with her mother of all people was meant to be a depressing night for her, she was ready to hook up with someone to forget what she always wanted to but it won't be necessary anymore it seems. Had it not been for Rio she would've never been able to talk back at her mother, catch her off guard and send her away with tail between her legs.

She didn't know talking back at Brenda would be this easy!

The school next day turned out to be a tough cookie. If there is a knife available to cut the thick layer of awkwardness that has developed between her and Rio, Emilia would love to have one. However, she didn't require a knife anymore because they got paired up as history project partners for Mrs. Okum didn't want Emilia to get 'strayed' again. Hence, such partnership. Rio, however, unlike her expectations didn't appear to be too thrilled like her.

Did he not enjoy yesterday's date?

Did he forget about yesterday already?

Nevertheless, both of them started with their work after school in the library as Emilia's grounding has already been lifted. Even in the library, Rio talked for communication's sake and seemed to be distanced from her. She didn't mind. Maybe he's being moody. Maybe he woke up from the wrong side of the bed?

As much as Emilia wanted to talk about yesterday, Rio didn't seem eager to talk much at all. So they continued their work in silence.

This strange behavior of Rio didn't stop on that day itself, it continued for the entire week and when Emilia invited him to her house he rejected her claiming that they still 'have much time' to complete it so there's no need for him to visit her house.

Now this was totally unlike of Rio Sanders. She may not have been talking to him for that long but she knows at least this much that he's the type to finish whatever work that has been assigned to him at the earliest.

THAT Rio Sanders is telling her that they 'have much time'?

Now that's not normal at all!

And Emilia Johannes will not back down until and unless she finds what's bugging Rio.