Xavier Here

It had been a while since the Walker family left after having lunch.

Sylvia had politely asked for some alone time from her parents who were willing to know more about how she was feeling about Xavier and the entire marriage thing. She had assured them about her consent for the alliance and had got herself enclosed in her room.

The day had consumed a lot within her. She had made her decision of getting married to look simpler than it actually was... for her.

She knew that she was not ready to get into a relationship, not especially... a marriage… not that early.

She knew but she had to say yes because - there was no way on the earth - she was going to refuse her grandmother for anything.

Sylvia loved her grandmother a little too much to deny doing anything that could bring her happiness.

She did what she felt was the right thing to do for her grandmother's sake. However, now she had fallen into a deep guilt zone.

She did not realize back then that probably - she was being unfair to Xavier in the process of collecting happiness for her grandmother.

She did not know if she would be able to give him what he deserved and expected from a companion. She was not sure, how much she would be able to deliver in the relationship that she was stepping in.

She was lost thinking about how her life changed in a day.

Her phone buzzed, breaking her trance. Grabbing her phone that was on another side of the bed, she glanced at the popped up Whatsapp notification of a message from an unknown number.

> Xavier here.

Sylvia stared at the screen for a moment or two, letting it sink in that 'he' messaged her.

How did he get her number? She surely did not give him. She was not expecting what he did. She typed a reply, with her slightly shaky fingers.

> Hi. Where did you get my number from?

Was it necessary to ask? Sylvia found questioning herself.

> Well, I always had it.

Sylvia did not know what to send back. Of course, he would have her number. She was being a total idiot when she asked him that. Even though it had been quite a long while since they lost touch - the fact still remained that their fathers were business partners.

But having a conversation with him at that time made her conscious. She was still battling with her emotions. Certain uneasiness gripped her with several what ifs...

What if she failed to give her one hundred percent to that relationship?

What if she failed to give what he would expect from his partner?

What if their relationship failed and did not work out?

A bunch of questions got her worked up. Her attention was caught by his another message and she realized that she had not replied to him for some good two minutes.

> Did I make you uncomfortable by messaging now?

He took it otherwise which was natural. She sighed. She quickly typed a reply to him.

> No, you did not. Do not worry.

> Save my number. You can message or call me anytime you think you need to or want to. The reason for messaging you was to let you have my number.

Unknowingly, she smiled as her heart warmed again at his concern, she could feel from his gestures.

> I did. Thank you.

She put her phone aside, lying on the bed, and closed her eyes.

He was good.

She could not help admitting what her heart felt upon recalling the events from him meeting her, talking so smoothly, his attempts of taking her worries away, and above all, the way he was, with her grandmother.

But then again, hadn't Xavier always been good?

Her mind traveled to the time when his presence had brought her a sense of safety.

*

"Are you not comfortable?"

A thirteen-year-old Sylvia flinched at the sudden voice from behind. Startled, she turned around and slowly let her tensed muscles relax upon glancing at Xavier. Xavier Walker. The eldest son of the host of the party she was standing in.

Her family had been just around, meeting everyone while she quietly found herself a corner to slip away from the eyes of people.

"I am fine," she mumbled, with a small nod.

"My friends are over there. Would you like to meet them? Seeing you standing alone here is a little unsettling for me. And, after all, this is our party. It's our responsibility to make sure that everyone is having a good time." Xavier stood there firm with his words.

"It's okay. I am good here."

Just as Sylvia finished, Xavier stepped up to stand right beside her. "I shall keep you a company then! You are giving me a natural vibe to be here... with you. If you do not want me to stand here, I will go there and stand on a little distance but I am not leaving you alone. I am with you. Remember that always!"

*

Though she had stood indifferent to him back then, now that she thought about it - her thirteen-year-old self had somewhere felt better with his presence.

In the crowd, that felt to be biting her, he had appeared out of nowhere and stood there with her for as long as he could.

She had barely said a word but he had not seemed to mind at all.

He had kept her a silent company without pushing her to talk.

"Xavier," she murmured, letting out a sigh, pulling the comforter closer.