CHAPTER 11

 It has been two days since the confession happened. Nothing seems to change between the two of us, except that Dion is starting to show off the real him.

 Since the day after his confession, he started showing off his real personality, as well as being vocal but still considerate. He is witty, curious, and daring. Base on how I see men before, being witty was out of the question. Most likely, men are too secretive and silent, wittiness seems to make them less a man. But Dion likes cracking puns and making silly stuff, even when a lot of people around.

 And as for being vocal, I see it as a good thing that he was not like any other men out there who likes keeping what they feel to themselves and act though. Like it would make them less a man if they are too vocal, it makes them less a man if they show who they really are, and I found it too absurd! I mean, hello, men are still human. They have feelings, heart, and all. Just because they are men, doesn't mean they can't cry and show weakness and silliness. It's just society.

 I secretly took a deep breath to push away that thought in my head. Well, no matter how I fuss here over that thing, that's how our society works. I shook my head and focused on where we are right now.

 For the last two days, we went to two of the museums in Zurich.

 FIFA World Football Museum, an association football museum that is owned and operated by FIFA and opened just recently February 28, 2016. It is located in Zurich, across town from FIFA Headquarters.

 The museum shows over 1,000 objects and of course, all related to football. Its exhibits include memorabilia from every FIFA World Cup, FIFA Women's World Cup, and the most famous one being the original FIFA World Cup Trophy.

 The museum occupies the lower three floors of the renovated Haus zur Enge, a ten-story mixed-use building across Zurich Enge Railway Station, with a sports bar, bistro, café, library, museum shop, and conference rooms. On the upper floors are office spaces and luxury apartments.

 Then yesterday, we went to Uhrenmuseum Beyer, its English term, Beyer Watch, and Clock Museum, located in the heart of Zurich, on the lower level of Bahnhofstrasse, the main shopping boulevard.

 Uhrenmuseum Beyer is one of the world's leading private museums that is dedicated to horology and was acquired the life of Theodore 'Teddy' Beyer, a pioneer in collecting antique timekeepers.

 The collections are strong and are made up of pre-mechanical timekeepers, as well as clocks and watches from all over the world, covering all eras.

 Many of the displayed pieces are unique and significant in the history of watchmaking, including a pocket watch with astronomical by Auch, and one of the early marine chronometers by Ferdinand Berthoud. There were also displays of locally made clocks and watches.

 Dion even bought a new classical wristwatch because he was too mesmerized by the watches displayed in the museum.

 Presently, we are in Zurich Opera House, also know as Opernhaus Zürich. Located at Sechseläutenplatz, Opernhaus Zurich has been the home of Zurich Opera since 1891. It houses Bernhard-Theatre Zurich and also the home of Zurich Ballet and the International Opera Studio (Internationales Opernstudio).

 The International Opera Studio (IOS) was an educational program for young singers and pianists created in 1961.

 In talks of History, the Zurich Opera House was the first permanent theatre in Zurich with the name Aktientheathre that was built in 1834 but was burnt down in the year 1890. Thus, the building of Stadttheathre Zürich by Viennese Architects for only sixteen months, and was opened in the year 1891 and was the first opera house in Europe that has electrical lighting. It was the city's main performance space for opera, drama, and even musical plays.

 In the year 1925, the Stadttheathre Zürich was renamed to its present name, Opernhaus Zürich and the was when separate spaces for plays were built.

 In the year 1970 when the opera house badly needed renovations but some opposed that the theater wasn't worth renovating. And so a new theatre was suggested. But around the year 1892-1894, the opera house was restored in an ornate building with a neo-classical style. The auditorium which has a capacity of 1,200 people is a neo-rococo style.

 Dion roamed his gaze around in full awe, well he always does. It has been two days as well when we continued the trips. I am still his tour guide, but I guess we are on another level of a tour guide and a tourist.

 I now consider us as friends.

 For an unknown reason, all my frustrations were gone after knowing what he feels for me. All of my frustration for the past few days before that night vanished. And now I consider things between us, like having strings attached.

 It is good to be free from stress. Stress because of the things I shouldn't stress myself with, and I guess Caroline was right. There is just something in me that makes some things between me and Dion a big deal.

 What is that something? Was it fear or what? I don't know. And I don't want to think of it. I may end up procrastinating with things again that will lead me to be mean and inconsiderate. And with that, I may end up hurting Dion's feelings again.

 He was honest and he told me face to face that he was hurt when I turned him down the day when he treated Zhairo to the mall. And the fact that I was the one who offered friendship first, he told me that as well. We have talked about it already and sort some things out.

 He also told me that the words he told me that night on the footbridge were true and that I don't need to think much about it. He understands if I can't reciprocate his feelings, he just wanted to let me know because it's bothering him every night. And he said he was also taking chance that night if I ever feel the same way, but my silence after his words confirmed it. And he was pretty cool with it.

 "At least now you know. Besides, I know it's impossible for you to feel the same. I mean, we just met a few days or a week ago, right? And then I just confessed that I am falling in love with you, sounds funny and unbelievable right? But yea, that's what I feel. And that's how love works, they say."

 I smiled with that thought. I somehow agree with his 'that's how love works, they say' because that was what Caroline says too.

 "You can turn impossible things to possible when love hits you. You can turn fantasy into reality when it hit you. That's how love works, it works mysteriously."

 Speaking of my best friend, we hadn't seen each other for a while now but we still exchange a few messages on messenger. We are both busy with our works. She with the group and me with Dion.

 Ah, I miss working with them. But touring Dion around is fun too, he is good company. From his wittiness and all, he can make your day in an instant— or it's just me?

 I shake my head as I pushed that thought away.

 Dion faced me after a while of roaming his gaze around, I must say that he is pleased with what he sees right now.

 "The interior design of this opera house could surely pass as an interior design of the royal houses of elite families in Spain," he mumbled in complete amusement.

 I smiled. "Glad to know that this place pleases you."

 He looks at me and as always, there is that tenderness whenever our eyes met and whenever his eyes are on me. A tenderness that brings a lot of feelings inside my chest. Feelings that I know where it can lead me. And I am just going with it because as they say, "You cannot dictate your heart."

 "Of course, everything in Zurich pleases me. After all, this is my home."

 A thin line formed in between my brows. Did I hear it right? "Zurich... is... your home?"

 He nodded and that just made me curious and made my forehead wrinkled.

 "What do you mean Zurich is your home? Shouldn't it be your house in Los Angeles? Because your father is there? Your family lives there."

 A soft chuckle echoed through my ears as he shakes his head, his shoulders wriggling. And uhh... why does it sound so sexy... err. I shook my head and pushed away that thought.

 Gosh, Zhanaia what are you thinking?

 Dion reached for my hair and messed with it. It is easy for him since he's naturally tall while I, well, five flat. I am only below his shoulders. Yes, he's that tall.

 I shove his hand away as my eyes narrowed in annoyance. This is one of the sides of him that he shows me. He loves messing with my hair although he knows that it makes me annoyed. I mean, hello? The top of my head looks like a bird's nest when it's messy. That's why I always make sure that it is neatly combed or always styled in a bun or braid. Today, I just simply combed it that's why it becomes easier for him to do one of his favorite gestures.

 "For how many times do I have to tell you, stop messing with my hair, Dionysus!"

 And man, he just chuckled playfully. He knows I am dead serious and annoyed but argh!

 "Stop it, sweetheart. You don't look scary at all. You look like a sulking baby, plus the height." he laughed.

 Aish, this man!

 I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes. And again, he chuckled with my action. Uhh... do I really look like a sulking baby? Grr, probably Dion just wants to annoy me more.

 He took a deep breath before putting both of his hands inside his pant's pocket.

 "I see, that's your perspective with the word 'home'."

 Unlike earlier, his voice is now low and soft. He sounds so sincere. He glanced at me before he starts walking. I followed him silently even tho I don't know where we are heading to.

 "Just like you and almost all of the people around the world, home means the place where their loved ones are. Home is where they feel every emotion in this world, love and all. Home is where their family are."

 "But do you know that some people feel out of place even when they are in a place where their family or love ones are, and even they are in the place where all the good feelings in this world circulate?"

 I remained silent, waiting for his next words. I don't know why he is explaining this matter to me. Perhaps I triggered something in him that makes him voice out what home is for him.

 "Dad was originally American. He lives in America and then he met mom in Zurich during a vacation. Mom was from Zurich, and this place is where everything about them started. Dad loves this place so much, and so as a mom, and I. Although we live in Los Angeles, we can't just call it our home. You know, it is where we live, yes our house was full of the love of our family, yet don't call it our home. And you know why is that?"

 Our eyes met and there it is again, the tenderness that triggers the party inside me. Butterflies in my stomach, fast heartbeats, and rumbles. Sounds cliche but yea.

 "W-why?" I stuttered.

 "Because contrary to what everyone believes, I don't think home is where your love ones are and where you feel all the love in the world."

 "Then, what's home for you?" I asked.

 A genuine smile painted on his lips as he voices out the words, "Home is where your heart is. And my heart is here."

 And those words just worsen the rumblings inside my chest, also leaving me in complete awe.

 I lost track of how long was I've been rotten in my place, I didn't know that he think too deep and that he has a deep perspective. Dion's snap of fingers brought me back to my senses.

 "Earth to Zhanaia!"

 "H-huh?"

 I blink a couple of times before I realized what just happened.

 "You were silent, your mouth's partly hanging, and you lost with your thoughts for a moment now," he explained. "Ahh, is it because of my perspective of home? Are you turned on? Am I now on the way to your heart?"

 He has this mischievous smile and his eyes sparkled with hope. I looked away to hide my reddened cheeks and to hide away the fact that I was turned on by his words.

 "N-no, of course n-not." I stuttered.

 Oh self, why stutter in this kind of situation? He might think you are guilty—well, I am but he shouldn't know! He shouldn't know that..... I sighed. No, not yet.

 "Aw, sad. I thought I am," he uttered while pouting.

 I scowled. "Stop pouting, Dion. You look like a kid."

 "Hmp! At least, I don't look like a sulking baby."

 My eyes narrowed. Okay, we are going to argue for sure. "At least, a sulking baby is cute!"

 "No, no. It's not cute at all."

 "So, you are saying that babies are not cute? Man, they are the cutest thing in the whole world."

 "Nope." he popped the 'p' in his word. "Babies are not the cutest in the world, puppies are."

 "Excuse me?! A Saint Bernard puppy is not cute!"

 "Hey, hey, hey! Don't say that, we have a Saint Bernard dog in our house in the US."

 "And so? They are not cute, tsk."

 He put both of his hands on his belly. "Did Saint Bernard dogs did something to you? I can say from your voice that you hate them." he chuckled.

 I sulked. "Man, a Saint Bernard dog nearly bite me when I was a kid."

 Dion's forehead creased. "And why is that?"

 "How would I know? We were at a park back then, I saw that dog and because I was a kid, I looked at its eyes, trying to do an eye-to-eye game with the dog, and then it suddenly attacked me. If the owner wasn't fast enough to stop his pet, it would probably bite me or worst, chew my flesh like a freaking delicious steak!"

 That's when I got my Cynophobia. The dog attacked me violently back then, it was like a hungry and wild predator ready to attack its prey without mercy. I wasn't bitten because the owner managed to stop the dog, but its sharp nails dug in my flesh, leaving a deep and long scar from the lower right part of my neck to the upper part of my chest.

 Although the dog hadn't bitten me, I was injected with anti-rabies several times to avoid any complications because of the deep and long wound made by its nails. Since then, I was afraid of dogs.

 I was in the middle of my momentum as I reminisce that thing when I heard Dion's chuckle followed by his laughter. My eyes narrowed as I look at him holding his tummy.

 "What are you doing?" I annoyingly asked.

 It took him a while before he calmed a bit down. "Y-your childhood story about a dog, pfft— that's funny!"

 "What, what? What's funny in that?!"

 I swear, I am about to kick his ass when he stepped backward, still holding his tummy as he laughs again, as if I said something ridiculous.

 He laughs his ass off for a minute before he composed himself. He dried the tears that formed at the corner of his eyes.

 "Sweetheart, you should avoid to have eye contact with a dog, and playing an eye-to-eye game with a dog is a big NO-NO."

 "I don't get what you are trying to say."

 He shakes his head and there he is again, messing my hair.

 "Sweetheart, never stare to a dog's eye, especially if a dog is a stranger because it may consider your stare as a threat." he lectured me. "Surely, the dog you were talking about considered you as a threat to him that's why it attacked you. Perhaps the dog felt like the need to protect itself from you."

 "But that wasn't my intention. I just want to play a game with that dog." I said, pouting.

 "Again, sweetheart, a stare to a dog's eye is considered as a threat."

 I sighed as I pout even more. So, it was my fault?

 "Sweetheart?"

 "Hmm?"

 "Stop pouting."

 I eyed him annoyingly, a pirate smile formed on his lips.

 "You look like a sulking baby again."

 Urgh! I stomped my foot in annoyance. He's really good at annoying the hell out of me. He never let a day pass without annoying me.

 "You jerk!" I exclaimed.

 "Whoops, no bad words, sulking baby."

 If only looks could kill, Dion is probably laying dead on the cold floor. His smile didn't vanish as he saw me became annoyed even more. Huh!

 I walk my way out, leaving him behind. I heard him called me and I ignored him.

 "Zhanaia! Wait!"

 Without looking back, I walk faster heading my way to the exit of the Opera House. I can still hear Dion's voice from behind, calling me but I keep on ignoring him. Hmp!

 I was about to take another step when Dion reached for my arm, making me halt.

 "Hey, Zhanaia," he made me face him before taking a deep breath. "Look, I'm sorry."

 He held my hands and I felt electrified as our skin touched. He is the only one who can make me feel these thousands of bolts in my body whenever we are having skin contact. I already have a hunch what this might be, and perhaps Caroline is right, I am afraid to accept what this is.

 "I'm sorry." he sincerely uttered.

 Our gaze met, and there it is again, his ocean eyes that drowns me with just a single look. Now that I am staring at it, I am slowly drowning, but.... I don't want to be saved. I just want to be drowned in him....

 I was about to say a word when suddenly, someone grabbed me away from him. It was too sudden that I almost lost my balance.

 Someone tall with tanned skin, long wavy hair, and a nice curve of the body that can be compared to a supermodel suddenly lunged towards Dion, clinging her arms in his nape.

 "Diiii!"

 The next thing I know the girl with a supermodel built the body is kissing Dion.

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