𝐌𝐢 𝐀𝐦𝐨𝐫 || 𝖳𝖾𝖼𝗁𝗇𝗈

꧁~Practical Stranger~(Part XX)꧂

I removed myself from the hug. I'm cold now.

"I'm sorry," I wiped my tears away with my sleeve.

"What about?"

"I'm being dreadfully pitiful," I stepped away from him.

I turned to sit back on the bed.

"How are you being pitiful?"

"You don't have to promise anything to me," I skipped over his question.

"María?"

"Hmm?"

"How are you being pitiful?"

"Well," I got back up, "if you think about it..."

I went to grab the note from his hand.

"We barely even know each other," I took the note from his hand and turned to put it in my bag.

I didn't get but a few inches away, when he held on to my free hand.

"What do you mean?"

I sighed and looked over at him.

"I've only known you for three days," I gave him a partial smile, "You're practically a stranger."

He gently tugged on my hand, pulling me closer to his chest.

"Stranger?" He tilted my chin up to look at him, "You and I both know I'm more than a stranger."

"But-"

"Do strangers sit with you on the bus every day?"

"Techn-"

"Do strangers know where you reside?"

"Do strangers know the struggle you go through?"

"Do strangers know your little brother, or have met your dad?"

"That's not-"

"Or talk to your mom and get asked what their intentions are with you?"

"Hell!" He leaned in closer, "Do strangers hold your damn hand?"

Our foreheads touched.

"Well friends don't do those things either." I muttered, a sense of shyness began to flood my body.

He took a few steps backwards, still holding my hand.

~Techno's POV~

Friends don't do those things either.

What does all of THIS mean then?

~María's POV~

"Let's get one thing straight," I pulled my hand out of his grasp, "Until you can tell me where you stand..."

"You're a stranger to me."

"What?"

"Meaning that you don't need to promise me shit!"

"That's not how it works."

"Then how does it work?"

"You can't tell someone your secrets unless they are (labeled) trustworthy," I added.

"And if you're so different from all the others, you won't ignore me!"

"This is what you want?"

I nodded.

"You want to know what I am?" he tilted his head in a sarcastic way with a 'hmm?'

"Please."

"I'm your Protector."