Julius Caesar

Julius' POV.

I woke up at seven-thirty in the morning on the sound of an alarm I made before I slept yesterday. Sam was already awake and curled on a chair next to the window with a steaming mug of something cradled between her hands.

She glanced at me as I made my way to the washroom, rolled her eyes, then looked back in front of her.

"You're welcome, Sam. Bitch-" I muttered under my breath as I almost slammed the washroom's door behind me.

I had to do many things before actually heading to the park by ten for Samantha. So I took a quick shower, shaved and put on a white, button-down shirt and some jeans. I then packed all my things in a travel bag (I bought previously, obviously) and positioned it next to Sam's unpacked bag. I grabbed my brown leather jacket and left immediately, a cigarette dangling from my lips.

I made my way to a mediocre-looking hotel and made a reservation by the name Romeo Rendz. I'd be calling Sam in a few hours telling her to go there because I wouldn't be with her to help her move. I might even send Augustus to help her out.

I then took a cab to the park. It was nine-forty-five in the morning. I sat on a bench from which I could see everyone coming and leaving the park.

I didn't even know what I was going to do with Samantha. I didn't know where to take her. And I thought I'd start taking back the thought that I didn't regret recommending accompanying her on this occasion.

Well, if she couldn't see, she could definitely hear, smell and feel.

I then noticed her walk in the park, looking fresher than I've ever seen her with a small smile on her face. She wore a plain, black sweater on top of black leggings and white converse. Her practicality made me smile. Her hair was fluttering around her relaxed face as she caned her way to a nearby bench which was one bench away from mine.

I noticed her dark violet-painted nails that kept drumming continuously on the bench and the mp3 player she clutched in her hand. I smiled slightly and got up.

I sat next to her and she immediately grinned, taking off her new earbuds.

"Hello." She said smiling, her fingers removing hair strands from her face.

"Hello," I replied and she laughed melodiously.

"I honestly thought you'd stand me up, so I got my mp3 player just in case." She laughed again, shaking her mp3 player in her hand and I raised my eyebrows bemusedly.

"Why would I do that?"

"I don't know. For ominous reasons." She said shrugging and I managed to smile and frown at her.

"Ominous?" I cringed at the word she used. "I would never do that," I then added seriously, clearing my throat quietly. "So- uh- are you ready for your best birthday yet?" I said still having absolutely no clue what to do.

She laughed and nodded. Then there was a long pause. Like awfully long.

"You don't know where we're going, right?" She asked laughing and I couldn't help, but chuckle lightly.

"Honestly? No." I cringed again as her laughter rang in my ears.

"It's okay. It's already my best birthday having a person like you with me." She said facing me as an involuntary small smile curved my lips. I had to bite the smile away. I was quite embarrassed by my behaviour.

"But that's not enough. Oh! I got an idea!" I said feeling surprisingly excited. I even turned to her in anticipation as she raised her eyebrows with a smile. "Do you want to have ice cream?"

Her face brightened up as she nodded vigorously. "Oh, yes! I would love to, Julius!"

I felt myself smile again as I got up. "Great. Let me help you, then." I said, taking her hand as she got to her feet. "Do you want to take a cab or walk to the shop?" I then asked, diverting my gaze to the parking lot.

"Walk." She said immediately and I looked back at her. At her round, soft featured-face, half-concealed by her sunglasses. At her parted, heart-shaped pale-pink lips and at her hair that the wind managed to blow into her mouth. I watched her slender fingers remove her hair away. And then I remembered that she was waiting for my response.

"Okay, then." I suppressed a smile. "Hold my hand and I'll direct us there," I said and she nodded, her lips pressed into a tight, pleasant smile.

"Okay."

I took a deep breath, cleared my throat and we started walking.

---

Once we were at the ice cream shop, I ordered one vanilla scoop while Samantha ordered two chocolate scoops with strawberry. We ate our ice cream and talked about random things. Mostly, of course, about her.

And she was beyond amusing, I realized. She was simple, straight-to-the-point, practical and an overall m.a.t.u.r.e and independent person. And for me, it was a rarity to come across such people. So I wasn't surprised when I caught myself smiling or grinning like an absolute fool.

"So tell me, Samantha," I said seriously as I finished off my ice cream. "Why are you always wearing black? I mean is there a reason or is it simply because you have a certain attachment to black?"

She looked up at me with a serious, uncomfortable face, then adjusted her sunglasses. "There is a reason." She said with a small voice, then looked down. "It's a tradition we do. When someone close to you dies, we wear black to mourn their loss."

I looked at her and frowned a bit.

"My dad died almost two weeks ago." She said slowly, but steadily as my breath hitched. "It got unbearable for me so many times. Just the fact that I couldn't see my dad before he died. I wished so hard to see, see him, but, you know...I can't." She chuckled humorlessly and waved her spoon in the air. "I was convinced that hearing him and smelling him was enough. That was true until I lost him." She breathed out as a silent tear came rolling down her right cheek and her hold tightened around her spoon. She wiped it off immediately. "But that's okay. I'm not the only person who loses someone close to them, you know." She tried to smile pathetically but failed.

I couldn't interpret the feeling in my c.h.e.s.t after she finished talking. But it felt like a double-decker was parked on my bloody ribcage. It was like- yes, yes- it was like my c.h.e.s.t tightened and constricted. And I couldn't do something about it except for reaching for her right hand and patting it twice like she did to me before.

"I'm sorry-" I sighed. "Losing a person whom you loved isn't easy. Especially a parent."

She looked up at me and smiled warmly. "I know it isn't. But doesn't listening to Sam Smith help?" She laughed and I smiled faintly.

Ah, yes. I found something I didn't like about her. Her infatuation with music. Especially that Sam Swift guy.

"Yes. It definitely does."

We left after that, seeing that the mood turned sour. We started randomly walking in the streets, hands in pockets, talking about the weather when I stopped dead in front of a floral shop. She stopped too with a look of concern on her face.

Well, it was obviously the most cliche move ever, but the girl was blind. I couldn't think of anything better.

"Okay. Can you wait here for a minute, please?" I asked and she looked at me startled.

"Here, where? Where are you going?" She asked, her eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"Just give me a second."

I entered the floral shop and chose a couple of good-smelling flowers. After all, she wouldn't be able to see them even if they looked beautiful. While I was waiting for the small bouquet to be wrapped and all, I called Sam.

"Where the hell are you?!" was the first thing she yelled and I grimaced.

I hated loud voices and she was bloody blaring loudspeakers.

"I'm in the street," I answered vaguely. "Why? Did something happen?"

"No. Thank God, of course. But I was worried sick about you, especially after what you told me about them following you too. And seeing a packed bag beside mine! I mean, I thought someone broke in and kept it! What if it contained bloody explosives or som-"

"Well, if you focused on actually using your eyes instead of rolling them, you would've seen me pack my own bag! Not bloody expl-" I started irritably.

"That's no excuse for scaring the stinky shit out of me!" She yelled more and I moved the phone away from my ears again. "I called so many times!"

"No, that's not tru-" I then remembered that my phone was on silent. I then sighed, giving in. "Oh. Sorry. I didn't hear. Anyhow, there's something important you have to do."

"What's that?" She said, sounding calmer.

"I'm going to send you someone to take you to a new hotel. You'll go there-"

"Alone?" She quickly interrupted me.

"No. Just until I return. Anyway, just go there and choose a room that has two beds, two washrooms and all basically two of everything. Just make sure you'll be able to adjust in whatever you choose." I sighed as I watched the florist wrap the flowers skillfully.

"Okay, whatever."

"I'll send you my friend to help you, so you got nothing to worry about."

"Yes. Okay."

"Expect him in an hour or so."

"Okay, Romeo, go to hell."

"Anytime," I said, rolled my eyes and hung up on her.

I then dialled Augustus' number and he answered after the second ring. I obviously needed his services.

"Romeo, my man!"

"Hello, Augustus." I said and heard a disapproving 'tsk' from his side.

"Gust, my friend. My name's Gust."

I chuckled with an eye-roll. "Well, Gust. Will you do me a favour?" I looked at my jade ring and frowned in focus.

"Yeah, sure. Does it include chicks?" He said and I shook my head.

"Well...Not exactly. I have a friend, her name's Sam. Anyway, I wanted you to take her from my motel to another hotel." I said slowly.

"Ah, okay-"

I then gave him the hotel's name. "The reservation's name is Romeo Rendz. Let her choose a room and just see if she's safe."

"Ooh, she seems important to you." He said playfully and I sighed wearily.

"Yes. She is."

"Is she hot?" He asked after a pause.

"I don't know about that. But I know that she'll eat you if you tried doing anything inapt. Mate- how come you don't know her?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"Am I supposed to?" he replied after a short pause.

"Yes. Her father was a very established businessman."

A long pause.

"Do you mean Sam Ricardo?" He said, lowering his voice.

"Ah, yes. Her."

"Holy blueberries, mate. She hates me." He said and I chuckled lightly.

"I don't blame her honestly-"

"No, no, you don't understand. Like hate, hate me. Like there are two types of hate- there's how the world hated Hitler kind of hate. She hates me with the second type of hatred-" he explained and I shook my head confused.

"What's the second type?"

"Exactly, mate. No one knows, but she gives it all to me-" he said heavily and I couldn't help smiling at his remark.

"Just be on your best behaviour."

"I'll try. No promises though. If I die, plant me as blueberries-" He laughed and I snorted.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll plant you."

"Buh-bye, mate." He hung up.

The bouquet was ready by then. Most of the flowers were white but had beautiful aromas. I exited the shop and found Samantha talking on the phone while tracing circles with her shoe tip on the ground.

I smiled and walked to her. She then hung up and shoved her phone back in her pants. I took her hand, placed the bouquet there and looked down at her with a soft smile.

"Oh my God-" she froze, holding the bouquet as if it were a trophy. "Julius are those- are those flowers?" She gasped and I laughed at her absolutely lovely reaction.

"Yes."

"I love flowers!" She exclaimed, looking up at me. "Let me guess. There are magnolia blossoms, lilacs and maybe even freesias. Right?" She whispered excitedly and I looked at her in awe.

"I do not know. But -wow- how do you know all that?" I commented, eyeing the flowers.

"Ha! I study plants at my university." She said and I thought that there definitely must be universities for visually impaired people.

"That's nice," I said, tilting my head a bit.

"Aww, thank you so much!" She said and I smiled satisfactorily.

"No problem, Samantha. It's your birthday. Besides I'm your friend. It's okay."

She smiled looking down at her fingers as they gently grazed the flowers' petals.

"Okay, then. Where to next?" I inhaled deeply and she beamed.

"I don't know." She said and I looked at her. Her happiness was very contagious. She looked up at me like an ecstatic child as her hair fluttered in the cool breeze and into her sunglasses.

I glanced at my watch. It was about thirteen-hundred-hours. I then cleared my throat and she shifted a bit.

"Julius?" She muttered softly and I averted my gaze to her.

"Hmm?"

"Why are you doing this?" She asked.

"Do what?" I said, distracted by her perfectly applied nail polish.

"You know- hang out with me...for my birthday."

I looked sharply in her direction, opened my mouth, and closed it again, speechlessly. I actually didn't know. So I opted for a question. "Why do you think?"

"That's not fair. I asked first." She said gently and I sighed.

"I don't know." I sighed, shoving my hands in my pockets and kicking a tiny stone. "I just admire you. The way you handle things. I can really learn a thing or two from you," I continued. "How to be satisfied with what I have. How to adjust to what has been taken away from me. This whole lot," I shrugged, remembering Audrey and my baby.

She smiled slightly. "Are you sure it's not because you feel...bad for me?" She asked and I scoffed.

"Not at all. If you got to truly know me, I do not really feel bad for anyone. I simply believe that everyone can deal and live through what they were destined to have. Like maybe I wouldn't handle it if I were visually impaired, but you can because that's your problem. Maybe you wouldn't handle losing a boyfriend and a baby, but I will-" I stopped and shut my eyes.

"You lost a girlfriend and a baby?" She gasped softly and I shut up.

Well, good one, d.i.c.khead. That's what hanging out with pretty, flower-loving girls with beautiful fingers does to you- I thought to myself bitterly. But it wasn't a big deal, honestly.

"You can say that. But that is okay." I shrugged, kicking another tiny rock on the street we stood in.

"Goodness, that's not okay." She said softly, taking my hand and squeezing it. "I'm so sorry for your loss, Julius."

I laughed coldly and took my hand back gently. "As it happens, Samantha, it is okay."

Her lips smiled sadly with a tiny frown. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have inquired." She said and I shook my head.

"No. I expected you to inquire. You don't have to be sorry for caring to ask." I sighed and she nodded, unconvinced. "Okay. Now. Forget about all that. Where would you like to go?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"We don't have to go anywhere. You made this birthday the best. So you can-" She tried sweetly, but I interrupted her.

"No-uh, you aren't getting rid of me that easily," I smirked and she bit a grin away.

"Okay. Lead the way, Caesar." She whispered loudly and my eyes widened before I scolded myself, recovered and led the way.

---

We ended up in some random carnival where we took a lot of pictures despite her protests of her not being able to know whether or not she looked good.

She looked fine.

I bought her some cotton candy and popcorn to which she insisted to pay for. By the time we were back at the park, it was twenty-one hundred hours.

It was a good, lighthearted day amidst all the drama I normally participated in. Quite refreshing.

"Thank you so much." She said, rocking on her heels.

"No. Thank you for the good time I've had in a long time." I said honestly and she shook her head.

"It's just the first time I hang out with someone without them using me or feeling sorry for me, to the extent that they don't treat me like the normal person I feel like. It's nice." She bit down on her lower lips and I smiled lopsidedly.

"You deserve better," I added simply and she shook her head, smiling shyly.

"Okay, Julius. I have to go." She then stated and I nodded as I got that same, weird feeling in my c.h.e.s.t. Yes, the double-decker one.

"Yes, okay." I blurted. "I'll see you around. Soon. Hopef-"

"Hopefully." She whispered with a small, shy smile before she turned and started walking away from me. I stood watching her, unblinking with my hands shoved in my pants' pockets.

When she was out of sight, I took a cab to the new hotel.