-Entomologistt-

After a couple of years of being together, Melly had slowly eased herself into being comfortable with you. To the point where she doesn’t wear a beekeeper’s helmet around you 24/7, but just for personal comfort and habit, she still sometimes wore the hat with the white cloth over her face.

You loved her for her, not for her looks, her status, anything of the sort. Sometimes, she finds herself struggling with the concept that you weren’t using her for something, that the walls she worked so hard to build around herself were down.

You’re always reassuring her that you love her with all your heart, so it really helps soothe her mind. But those thoughts were dying; she knew you loved her.

Today, you planned on tagging along with her out into the forest. Which was mainly her collecting data on behavioural patterns, and you following along, taking notes whenever she spoke out loud, or taking pictures of the ones she couldn’t collect.

You loved listening to her talk about her interest of entomology, even if you weren’t the biggest fan of bugs yourself. Whenever you tagged along when she studied, everything you did was an act of service. Plus, you got to spend more time with her!

It was a win-win situation.

She deeply appreciates your sweetness; it always made her heart swell when you excitedly showed her a picture of a pretty ugly bug. Your enthusiasm made her happy, even if you had no idea what you were talking about.

“Are you awake?” she questioned, slowly sitting up from the bed. Your eyes met, and a smile crossed onto your face. “Uh-huh..” you replied a bit groggily.

You weren’t a morning person, but you’d always make an exception for her. “You can have 10 more minutes,” she offered, slipping out of the bed to get ready.

You happily accepted her offer, eyes fluttering shut to drift off into short sleep. However, your senses started tingling, making you sit up and look in her direction.

She was dressed; her gloves and hat sitting on the dresser. With a brush in hand, she combed through her long, brunette hair.

The thing that caught your attention was how she avoided her reflection in the mirror, her eyes glued to the dresser’s surface.

Immediately, you scrambled out of the bed, appearing behind her. Her brown eyes flickered to yours in confusion, blinking in surprise. “Is something wrong, bumblebee?” she asked with a hint of concern, the nickname slipping.

“No! It’s just… What if I style your hair this time, Mel?” you suggested, slowly spinning the dresser chair away from the mirror. “If that’s okay with you, of course,” you added, slowly tilting your head to the side.

Melly paused, now looking down at the floor.

Her eyes fluttered shut, a small, faint smile curling on her lips. “You may,” Melly affirmed softly, holding the brush up to you.

You smiled down at her and quickly got to work, gently parting and brushing through her silky brunette hair.

Now that her hair was brushed through, the tricky part was here. You reached back for the elastics and ribbons behind you, putting them around your wrist as your mind tried to decipher how her hairstyle worked.

When you’d stare watch her do her hair, you swore you understood—but now that you’re the stylist, it’s like your brain stopped working. She was truly talented.

A breathy, awkward laugh left your lips as you finished two braids at the sides of her head, now wondering what to do with them.

Melly could sense your obvious hesitation, a look of hidden amusement on her face. She didn’t even have to look at you to imagine your puzzled expression.

“You offered to do this, dear; don’t pull away now,” she hummed, wondering if you would give up.

“I did! And I won’t! It’s just…” You trailed off, leaning over her shoulder to press a soft kiss onto her cheek.

“Help me? Please?”

How could she refuse when you asked so nicely?

It certainly took a moment, but she led you through it, instructing you on what to do to braid it her way. “And…” you trailed off, too focused on the task at hand.

You looped the black ribbon around her hair in a ponytail with the braids, tying it into a dainty bow. “Done!” you beamed, pulling away to admire your work. 

Melly slowly spun the chair back to face the mirror, making you pause. She stared at herself in the mirror, reaching her hand up to her hairline. She slowly pulled out a strand of hair, sweeping it across her face as she quietly looked over her styled hair. 

There was a difference, but she definitely appreciated it as her eyes met yours. “Thank you, honey,” she thanked you, slowly standing up from the chair. “I think you did very well…” 

She slowly turned to you, placing her hands on your shoulders. Melly wished she was as smooth as you; she was sure you already knew what she was going to do. 

You were the one to initiate; she sometimes felt bad for being hesitant and awkward whenever she did it.

You were patient with her, your hands sliding to rest on her waist. The way you looked at her… With your encouragement, her soft hands gently cupped your face, her eyes slowly fluttering shut.

You felt your heart skip a beat, immediately closing your own eyes as you happily accepted her kiss, closing the space between you two. 

It was short but sweet, and you could feel her pushing into you a bit, her hands gently squeezing onto your face.

Melly slowly pulled away, looking into your eyes. You always had that smile on your face when you listened to her, when you’d sit up beside her in the morning, and you wore it when you’d kiss her goodnight. 

She never thought someone would genuinely look at her that way. 

“… I will go downstairs and get breakfast ready,” Melly said as she stepped back, her eyes drifting out the window with golden rays. It was still early morning, and she couldn’t wait to spend the day with you outside. “Get ready, my dear.” 

And with that, Melly walked up to the door of your shared bedroom. She paused for just a second, looking back at you before she disappeared down the hallway. 

You quickly got dressed and even fixed your own hair, smiling to yourself in the mirror. Oh, you shouldn’t forget! Quickly, you scurried up to the closet and pulled out a small picnic basket. 

You and Melly loved eating lunch together, showing each other what you’ve discovered out in the forest. Though, it was mostly Melly who took over. She was the expert after all… And the way she spoke so passionately about entomology, you can’t help but listen to her with your full attention.

The way she spoke with fluent elegance, she definitely knew what she was talking about. Damn those people who doubted her before. If you could, you would listen to her forever. But you understood that she liked to be alone sometimes in her studies. 

But enough of that! With a nod, you walked out of the room and moved down the hall, passing pictures and vases of plants and flowers. 

When you walked down the stairs, Melly was already standing at the front door, her bag and butterfly catcher in hand. When she spotted you through the sheer fabric on her hat, she gave you a small smile. 

“There you are… I’ve eaten already, but yours is on the table,” Melly said as she tilted her head to the small table. As much as you wanted to eat with her, you understood how excited she was to go outside today. “Thank you! If you want, you can wait outside… I’ll be quick!” 

Melly stared at you for a second before nodding her head. Sometimes, she wished you weren’t so… accommodating. That way, she could understand your needs in return. Even after a few years, you two were still learning about each other. 

You looked down to see your favourite breakfast, and as promised, you ate as much as you could. 

Tomorrow, you’ll make breakfast, you thought to yourself as you finished, taking your plate to the sink.

You weren’t done yet, packing the little treats and sandwiches you’d made the night prior into the picnic basket. You even made lemonade!

Finally, you opened the front door to your and Melly’s home, closing it behind you as you held the basket tight. There she was, under the sun, her dress moving with the soft breeze as she held her butterfly catcher.

“Melly! Let’s go!” You called out to her, a bright smile on your face. 

Melly turned to you, standing there as you ran up to her. She was lost in thought, fantasizing about today already, eager to catch or discover little critters. Not only that, but when lunchtime came, she could spend it with you!

She could show and tell everything she'd found. And she had someone to listen to her, to make her feel seen and heard.

When you came up beside her, she slipped her hand to take your free one, already starting to lead you to the fence. There was a path that led into the forest, and no matter how many times she walked through it, it felt like she belonged there.

Like she was truly at peace. 

Outside, in nature’s embrace… with you.

Isn’t this the better alternative?

She could’ve had this life with someone who truly appreciated her.

She'd climb up in the biology ranks and make history with her research.

She didn’t have to do it.

She never had to go to that manor.

The different outcome of the once series.