Of Poets and Blondes.

"Old forest, full of ancient bark-
The armor worn by every tree-
And branches bare that once held leaves
That reach up to eternity."

Alphinia Quincy sighed upon hearing those words as she stepped into a grassy clearing, surrounded by the still yet alive wooden giants, their branches extended so far that only a single ray of golden sunlight illuminated the mysterious and well-hidden clearing like a spotlight, casting a somewhat eerie yet magical atmosphere upon the area.

"Below, a hound bursts from the brush;
He sniffs and howls and darts away.
Companion man is swift to follow
And the two pursue their prey."

Slowly, the blonde made her way to the figure sitting on the rock, back turned towards her and fingers scribbling away at the worn-out notebook in his left hand. Anyone would've turned upon hearing the unwelcome crunch Alphinia's shoes made as she crossed the clearing but of course, the young man in her field of vision had his signature pair of bizarre headphones jammed to the sides of his head and playing God-knows-what.

"And through another bush they burst.
The hound keeps pace, he does not slow,
But man pauses at what he sees:
A pool of glass where trees don't grow."

In seconds, the silent blonde reached him and grinned to herself as she whipped out a live spider from the side pocket of her pink jacket. This was going to be fun.

"Hound howling brings Companion Man
Out of his trance, back to his chore.
And though he leaves, his footprints linger
On the shore
A moment more-"

In a brief moment, the struggling spider was knocked out of her fingers and sailed into the bushes nearby.

"Hello, Alphy," her brunette best friend of six years greeted, retracting the book he had used to smack the disgusting prank out of her hand. "You should know by now that I'm not as afraid of those eight-legged beauties as before."

Alphinia pouted as he cast his small smile and returned to his book. "How'd you even know I was going to do that anyway, Omega? Don't tell me all that poetic stuff in your head helped you develop a sixth sense."

"Funny," Omega replied, still writing. "Who knows, maybe it's because the trees told me a mischievous girl was coming."

"Trees don't talk, doofus," she deadpanned and earned a wider smile from the brown-haired young man.

"They do. You just can't hear them." With that, he finally stopped his writing and shifted to make some space. As soon as Alphinia sat down, he arched a brow at her attire. "Someone's looking like a proper girl today."

The comment was soon regretted as her fist connected with the back of his head.

"I only wore this because my dad's having some big party at the mansion. You know he'd kill you if he caught you in our woods, right?"

Rubbing his head, Omega laughed quietly before pointing to the trees. "They enjoy my company and in return, I get to draw inspiration from them. And like I've always said before, nature belongs to the earth, not some rich jeweller."

"Have I ever mentioned how crazy you are?" she chuckled.

"Get in line. Even my dog thinks I need help," he lamented comically before taking up the book again. "So what brings you here? Come to trade intellectual blows with me and lose again or discuss matters that girls of your class normally wouldn't speak of?"

"You know, I'm happy you weren't born to our family. If you'd gotten any more snobbish, I'd have gladly ripped your head off," she growled, brows twitching in annoyance before drawing her knees to her chest. "...He's at it again."

Omega's pen ceased its motion and his blue eyes were locked unto her. "Hm?"

"My dad. He's trying to set me up with another stuck-up idiot-son of some business associate. Says it'll help seal some mining deal," she explained and took a strand of her hair to her lips. "When will he ever get that we live in the 21st century where girls marry who they choose?"

"Old folks tend to ignore the changing eras and stick with their values," Omega commented, scribbling again. "So what're you going to do, beat the poor suitor up like last time?"

"The last idiot deserved it!" she barked and flopped on her back with an exasperated sigh. "I can't beat them off forever and I'm pretty sure my old man's getting frustrated."

"Hm. So you don't like any of these guys who approach you and clearly disagree with your father's principles," Omega muttered and smirked. "This is like the beginning of some poorly-written love story. Now all you need is some poor bum to sweep you off your feet and keep you happy for the rest of your life, to your family's utter dismay- Ow, Alphy that's my ear, OW!"

"Why does everything have to be so...so...literary with you!" she snapped, drawing her hand back to fold over her knees. "You're lucky to be a normal guy. Your parents won't force you into a marriage and you're free to do whatever you want."

Omega clasped his hands over his heart with a look of mock-agony. "Normal? You hurt me so, my dearest friend! And this eccentric poet has his own problems to worry about too. Sure I could choose whoever I wanted to marry but in terms of freedom to do whatever I wanted? I wouldn't be in college if such a gift were granted upon me."

Frown breaking a little, Alphinia sighed and looked up to the leafy canopy above them. "You're always so aloof with everything. And yet you always know the right words to counteract my complaints."

"If I want to be the next Shakespeare, I'll need to know everything about everything, won't I?" he joked, making Alphinia grin haughtily at him.

"So you still haven't given up on that, Romeo?" she scoffed and Omega's brow twitched. Not because the embarrassing name had, in fact, belonged to him but because Alphinia had always used it to remind him of a certain incident back in high school involving a school Romeo and Juliet play, Omega in goofy prince clothes and Alphinia nearly crying tears of laughter at his rather memorable reaction to the lizard she had secretly placed in his pants. In front of the audience. At the national theatre. Where the president had attended.

"Revenge is still in the works," he laughed, albeit forcefully before relaxing again. "So, you came to me for advice then?"

Alphinia nodded stiffly. Omega had always known how proud she was and he was always surprised to find a bit of pride well up within him for being her only close confidant and helper.

"You've tried talking to your dad?" he asked.

"...No. I just thought he'd take the hint after the first ten failed dates," she spat before clenching her fist. "That geezer's either stupid or persistent."

"Or he just misunderstands the situation," the lad chipped in, shutting her up. "It's quite common among the affluent who stick with the marriage-for-benefits idea. Talk to him and you'll be surprised by his answer. Sure your dad's scary but I know he loves you too much to sacrifice your own happiness. Seeing him nearly shoot me out of your reach is proof of how much he wants to protect you."

The blonde snorted at that last part and laughed at him. "Seriously? He tried to shoot you?"

"Granted I was wearing a Deer-costume to understand those creatures more, I'd say his reason was justified," he chuckled before scribbling again.

"But I'm kind of...scared." The girl faced her knees. "What if he gets mad?"

"The great Alphinia is scared of something! Wow!" Omega exclaimed not-too quietly and dodged a blow to his head. "Sorry, couldn't resist. There's no need to fear though. Your dad's a surprisingly patient guy. I doubt he'd bring the house down because his daughter put her foot down."

Silence followed for a minute before Alphinia's red eyes looked up again. "Hey, Omega...why?"

The young man tilted his head. "Why what?"

She turned to face him. "You remember the first time we met, right? It was right here, six years ago, when I caught you reciting your first written poetry to the trees. In school, everyone knew me as the stuck-up brat who snubbed everything and I even admitted to tormenting you back then. Yet you still talked to me when I found you here."

"Maybe because you had that teary look on your face when you found me," he answered, stopping to review his work. "I know a lonely person when I see one and as a young gentleman, I felt it was my duty to help you out. Even if you did laugh at me for feeding more life to these magnificent woods. Plus, I could boast about it to my friends."

The girl's head shot up, mouth ready to snarl when he pressed his fingers to her lips.

"Tis a lie I tell," he said with a smirk and pulled back. "That initial question of yours, could it be you were wondering why the self-admitted literary-psycho deemed you worthy of being his best friend? Even after all the complaints, teasing and whining you put me through everyday?"

"In a sense, yeah," she replied and raised a brow as he turned to the other side of the rock and reached for something over its edge.

"First, I guess it's because I'm an extremely patient guy." He drew himself up and brought a red box with him. "And secondly because...I like you."

Alphinia stared at him before getting rather hot in the cheeks. "E-eh?! But-Um-That's...Huh?"

"Epic reaction," he scoffed and held up the box. "I'll be sure to treasure that face you're making for the rest of my life. Now take the box."

"W-What's with the present?" she stuttered, taking the box and eyeing it suspiciously.

"It's not a bomb, if that's what you're thinking," the brown-haired young man remarked and Alphinia set the box down on her laps before lifting the lid. An odd set of black and red headphones stared back at her and she cautiously lifted the device with the curiosity of a small child. "I noticed how you stared at my headphones a lot so I got you a pair."

"Was my stare distracting you?"

"Nope. In fact, I'd rather have those pretty red eyes on only me and no one else," he corrected, tone a tad bit more serious.

"Omega..." The girl trailed off as he took the headphones from her hands and placed them over her ears, making her stiffen at how close his chest was to her. Now that she thought about it, the small, goofy nerd of twelve had gradually disappeared over the six years she had known Omega. She was just about the only girl the shy prude could talk to freely and in time, she had gotten used to that glasses-wearing Omega whose body and mind seemingly remained unchanged for a long period of time. But like every growing adolescent, Omega soon underwent his later-than-expected growth spurt and Alphinia had been surprised to find herself having to reach higher to bop his head whenever he did something annoying. Soon, the messy-haired, uncertain drama-king had been completely transformed into a sleeker-haired, confident mega-drama-king of eighteen who spouted poetry like an active volcano when given the opportunity. Alphinia could even admit to finding him a bit romantic, in a clichéd-yet-not-so-clichéd kind of sense.

"Perfect," he remarked, drawing back to admire her head. "Now I can tell my sister that I finally worked up the guts to give my tormentor a valentine's day gift."

"Valentine's..." Her red eyes widened upon realising what day tomorrow was. So that's why Omega got her the headphones. That was also why she had picked up the subtle hints he had dropped in the course of their discussion. "Wait, do you...like me?"

The boy scratched his cheek lazily. "I do believe that I made it explicit a few minutes ago."

"So...all the time when I was talking about the attempts at pre-arranged marriage?"

"I was pretty happy when you punched that creep in the face and rejected all the others," he laughed before leaning closer to her. "I wouldn't be giving you all this advice if I wanted you saddled with some aristocratic buffoon. I suppose I was spurring your rejection-mentality on in my own little way."

Alphinia blinked twice before grinning coyly. "And what makes you think I won't reject you like all the others?"

"Oh please. I'm the only man strong enough to bear the brunt of your verbal, physical and emotional assault. Plus, we've hung out for six good years, Alphy, during which I can count on my fingers the number of boys you've actually talked to freely," Omega scoffed and got off the rock. "I'm also aware of the long looks you've been giving me lately. Next time, I'd prefer if you didn't drool. It makes me embarrassed."

"I don't drool!" she exclaimed, growing redder. Before she could make any other denials, he took her hand and drew her off the rock and into a path between the trees. "Hey, where're we going?"

"To where I get the bulk of my inspiration," he answered and led her down the windy paths and corners, many of which the baffled blonde had clearly not noticed at all in her family forest. Before she knew it, the dense vegetation grew thinner and...pinker?

And when Omega finally stopped walking, Alphinia gazed in awe at the rare sight before her eyes.

"Cherry Blossoms..." she cooed in awe at the various shades of pink decorating the trees all around her. Coupled with the fresh breeze sending the beautiful petals into the air and the way the sky's pinkish purple colour blended so well with the atmosphere, Alphinia could only sigh dreamily at how iconic the scenery looked to even a not-so-into-nature-person like her.

A hand slipped into hers and she blushed upon looking up to see Omega's blue eyes taking in the scenery with as much awe as she did.

"I can see now why you've got so much ideas running in and out of your head," she said softly, holding his hand tightly.

"Bet you almost got some inspiration yourself," he commented before suddenly drawing her into a hug.

The girl stiffened. "Omega...?"

"I don't want to see you unhappy, Alphy. If I'm the reason you're going against your dad's wishes...then feel free to drop me, if that's what you want. But I love you and that will never change."

Blunt. Very blunt. Even for her standards. Now she knew that Omega was serious about it all. The guy was quite patient and understanding, having spent six years with her, going through the ups and downs of her life with her. It was quite clear from all this that he really and truly loved her and she felt somewhat guilty for all the trouble she had caused him over the years. But above all else, she knew now was the chance to get a very big weight of her chest.

"Idiot," she chided gently and wrapped her arms round him tightly. "I rejected all those guys cos of you, you know. You said it yourself, remember? The only guy strong enough for me to take out my happiness, sadness, joy and frustration on. So I'm not dropping you, Omega. Not even for a second am I gonna consider anyone but you and you'd do well to keep that in your poetry-obsessed brain, got it?"

"So...you love me?"

Alphinia replied by jamming her lips against his, stunning him completely. Pulling back a few seconds later, she grinned coyly as it was Omega's turn to blush heavily. "Did that answer your question?"

Omega returned the smirk and pocketed his hands. "So I guess that makes us official now. When do I hear the wedding bells?"

"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves," she advised with a sweatdrop before taking his hand. "So, I'm ready to face my dad now."

"Well good luck. I'll just wait here and-"

"What're you talking about?" she cut in with a devious smile. "You're coming with me!"

"EH?! But your dad-"

"He is a patient man after all," she mimicked his words and turned in the direction of the mansion in the distance. "Although, I wonder what he'd say if I came home all dirty and dragging his most hated commoner into the midst of dignified men and women to profess our undying love for each other!"

"I seriously wonder how much more I can take of her wickedness," he inwardly lamented as the laughing Alphinia dragged him down the path. "But if it's for her...then I guess a mansion full of degrading stares from batty old geezers is well worth it."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The second Valentine Commission for Omega. Hope it wasn't too mushy or anything. Again, I turned the characters inside out so don't mind the change in personalities. Well, onto the next one!

P.S: Alphy's dad did consent to Alphinia's choice in Omega. However, he was sure to give the boy a good beating over the head for repeatedly trespassing into his woods.