AGAPI

28. Bad news

I carry her, in bridal style, heading to our room while I can feel her stare on me but I didn't dare to look back at her.

I lay her down on the bed softly with my hand behind her head making sure that she doesn't hurt her head. I look into her eyes daring her to look away but thankfully, she doesn't stop looking at me and neither do I. I keep standing on my feet, my hands resting on the sides of her head, which was rested on the pillow, creating some distance between us. She still reeked of alcohol but I couldn't care any less now that my heart was beating fast due to the short distance between us.

"Your eyes are beautiful." She whispers loud enough for me to hear in the midnight silence. "I feel too lost in them."

"Just my eyes?" I tease her while I get lost just by the thought of her. Just her name is enough for me to lose attention in whatever I'd be doing.

"I guess not." She smiles at me cutely, bringing a smile on my face too. I just hope she doesn't forget any of our conversations when she wakes up tomorrow. I take my hands off her pillow and head to my side of the bed. I set the room temperature to heat up the room perfectly and land on the bed. I pull the cover on both of us to stay warm in this cold night and look at her, catching her still staring at me.

"You should stop staring at me. It's not good for my heart." I smile and turn on my side to face her and she does the same. We keep staring at each other for few more beautiful seconds until she breaks the silence.

"Why did you avoid me?" She asks again but this time, she waits for my answer.

"I did not avoid you because I hate you, Iris."

"Then why?" She doesn't give up.

"I'll tell you when you get sober." I dodge her question not wanting to do the same mistake again by confessing recklessly.

"I feel sober now." She gets up to sit on the bed like a child, making me sure that she clearly isn't sober yet. I sit up on the bed too, to face her and hold her shoulders.

"Do you not have work tomorrow? It's too late, Iris. Let's sleep." I try convincing her but she shakes her head.

"The thing you told me earlier downstairs," she looks at me, biting her lower lip in nervousness making me nervous again. "What do you mean by you need me? What are those true feelings you want to express? I want you to be clear, Austin." I break the eye contact not able to look at her anymore. She remembers all my words in spite of being drunk making me wonder if she is actually sober or not. I contemplate for few seconds before speaking up.

"Iris, can we go out on a date tomorrow?" I ask her out to make sure I don't confess unless I'm sure about mine and most importantly her feelings.

"And get cancelled out again like yesterday?" She frowns and breaks the eye contact, taking my hands off her shoulders.

"You mean day before yesterday? Because it's past midnight now." I look at her eyes which are mad at me, teasing her again. She returns the look but looks angrier.

"Does that matter now?" She hits my shoulder with her tiny fist. "Promise me that you won't cancel, no matter what." She holds her pinky finger in front of me and I intervene mine with hers to promise.

"I promise." I smile hoping to see her smile and my lips go even higher when I see her smile. "Can we sleep now?" She nods as she lays down, closing her eyes and I do the same looking at her, who is pretending to sleep, like an angel. Both of us do not break the silence as we drift to sleep.

8:00 a.m

I wake up to the sound of my alarm, struggling to open my heavy eyes and as soon as I open them and see Iris still sleeping beside me unlike the last few frustrated days, my lips curve up. It feels warm to wake up next to her which I couldn't admit to myself until I confessed to her last night. I do not want to hide my feelings anymore. At least not to myself.