Before The Sky & The Sea (Completed)

chapter fifteen

ZAHRA

I know Ian's uncle. I've seen him before. I don't know if I should tell him that I knew him... Ian seems oblivious. He thinks my anxiety is from his uncle's creepy behaviour inside. It is, it was but it wouldn't bother me this much if I didn't know the guy.

My hands won't stop shaking. Ian keeps staring and I know he's trying his best to help me, but I think it's making me more stressed than ever.

We're driving somewhere but Ian stops. I was about to leave the car but he tells me to stay inside. I've calm down a little more but not enough to say a word since I got in the car.

Ian comes back with a plastic bag. He passed me a bottle of water and a pack of candy I glance up at him and he looks awkward.

"I.." he clears his throat, "I didn't know how to calm you down so.. I got you water and my favourite candy."

I nod before taking a sip. I take several breathes and I've calmed down enough to say something. "It seems like you're always giving me food."

He smiles, "I just want to take care of you."

You.. say that to friends right? I shouldn't think too much into it. I smile and nod slightly awkwardly.

"Where are we going?" I ask after a few seconds pass.

"My favourite spot in town," Ian chimed with such a soft smile on his face.

We drive for a few minutes more before we arrive at the foot of his hotel. I glance at him, slightly confused but he shoots me a look that silently says "Trust me."

And I'm probably insane.. but I did.

He brings me inside and I realise just how exclusive it is. We enter the lift and clicks on to the highest floor. He brings me to the stairwell and pulls out a key before slowly bring me to the roof.

This feels like a start of a thriller movie. When Ian turns to read the expression on my face, he explodes laughing. "I'm not going to murder you."

I shoot him a questioning look. He doesn't stop laughing but he places the key in my hand. "Here. If I try anything, lock me in."

"How would I know you don't have another key?" I say, teasingly.

He grins, "Then you scream."

I laugh at that. I follow him up and when we arrive at the rooftop, I understood why he said it was his favourite apot in town. It was so quiet, so peaceful and yet you could see the overview of the bustling city.

"I like it here. Sometimes life makes you feel insignificant but from up here, I feel like the only person ever, like only my feelings exist and only my feelings matter," he says. "People remind you not to be selfish all the time but it pays to be selfish sometimes. I remember that every time I come up here."

I stare silently over the city. The view was mesmerising. It was beautiful.

"That's my "trying to be deep" version, if I'm being honest I just like how beautiful it is here."

I chuckle. "That, you are right. I've never seen a view more breathtaking."

Ian smiles, before turning to me, "You're right, I didn't think it could get more breathtaking until now."