Feathers Of A Bird

Chapter : Eleven (Part Two)

(Listen to the music while reading for a better experience!)

"What am I doing...?"
I stopped for a second.
"I mean...on a wintery night, in calming cold breezes, by a campfire listening to the cracks of the fire and the sound of dead leaves falling...you're with someone you like damn badly, and he tells you about his dead friend as if it's nothing difficult but you know that he is not as happy as he looks and you just...sit there beside him and keep silent, dead silent as if you're mute..."
I peeked at him.
"Ryan, what am I doing?"

He stared at me, looking as if he was trying to conceal a smile, not saying a single word for about 2-3 minutes, he just glared at me as if he was watching something he has never seen before. And I could guess I was reddish because I could feel my cheeks being heated up. Why is he staring at me like that...
Ryan, on the other hand, kept glancing at me with that soft, little smile in the corner of his brownish lips.

He, after an eternity, spoke again.
"See...I KNEW IT!!"
He half-shouted.

I, in deep confusion, blinked rapidly.
"Knew what...?"

This time, he was silent again, only the difference was- he was moody-silent before, and now he was hyped-silent.
"Can I have a hug, Kathy?"
He slowly asked.

My heart was jumping but I kept my outside appearance calm and nodded.
"Sure!"

He let go of my hand which he was holding tightly for a pretty long time, so both of our hands ended up being warm, by each other. He stood up from in front of me and came right beside me and sat.

I turned to him and spread my arms, trying so hard not to die; he smiled and hugged me. It was a very short hug, but, in simple words, I LOVED it.

As we both let go of the hug, he lightly grabbed me by my shoulder, wrapping his arms behind my back; putting me pragmatically in his right arm. He was too close to me that I thought I would die out of nervousness.
I could smell him; his evocative-woody-fresh forest aroma, which made me freeze while my heart was trying so hard to come out of my chest.

"I knew that YOU would be this nice of a person! Like, I knew It when I first saw you which made me feel like you are the one I always strived for!"

And you are the one I strived for...
I thought, not having the courage to say it out loud.

He continued,
"Without the nature, nothing seems to be fascinating me, but today, what you did- even though it may seem like nothing to YOU, to so many other people, however, it was something I loved, Kathy!"

"What did I do?!"
I asked for the third time, barely able to move for the touch of his skin.

He smirked.
"Cat, when I was explaining something which is difficult for me to explain, you held my hand; held it in a way which explains to me that you CARE and that you're trying so hard not to let go of me, spiritually...which is exactly what I wanted you to be doing- just holding my hand, looking at me with your pretty eyes; instead of giving me lectures on 'how death is inevitable' or 'why it is okay to let go'! Not like I would hate it if you asserted those to me, it would help me as well. HOWEVER, the ideal thing I wished that you would do is exactly what you did to me. Just listening! And holding my-"

He turned his head to me, I could feel his breath- his gentle, warm breath.

"My hand."
He stopped.
"I like it, Kathy! To be more certain, I love it! When you think that you're not a good friend, trust me! You are totally wrong!"

"Ryan..."
I mumbled, slowly losing the ability to resist this nervousness in my heart.

"Hmm?"

I smiled softly.
"I...I'm glad, I'm honestly delighted..."

He smiled back.
"I can tell that by your face!"

I didn't say anything, just kept that smile in my face.
After a while, I said, as slowly as I could.
"But I don't know, Ryan..."

"About?"

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath.
"About-"

"HEY GUYS! WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING HERE?!"
We heard Andrew shouting at us all of an abrupt. Then we saw him getting out of the cottage and walking straight to us, me and Ryan. He shouted so loudly that almost everyone looked at us, me and Ryan; and I was in his arms. It was an awkward condition, I made some vague noise and moved a little bit. But Ryan occurred to be in the same mood. We stared at the dilemma called Andrew walking towards us.

"Okay, this guy..."
Ryan huffed from his mouth, which seemed like he was annoyed all of s sudden.