Hurt People, Hurt People

Chapter 16- Same Old Same Old

Jaeon pulled away staring at Ari, "Are. are you sure you wanna do this?" he asked. She nodded and pulled him back in for another kiss. Her fingers trickled through his hair while biting on his lips. For a second, he almost gave in, but he pulled away again. "Ari, stop, just hold on... Sigh. Look, I just want to make sure you're comfortable with this." he explained. "What do you mean?" she asked, "I mean you just started to come back around somewhat, I don't want you to think I'm taking advantage of you sexually" Jaeon replied. Ari took a step back and faced the water, "I appreciate that, I got caught up in the moment" she stated. Jaeon held her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "When you're ready your heart, soul, and mind will be in sync, then we can go the extra mile, deal?" he asked, and she agreed with a smile. "Alright, come on, let's get you home before the sea tides get worse" he stated.

Ari held his hand while he drove back into the city, staring at the mountain sitting in the sea when a bright light flashed before her eyes with an uncontrollable ringing in her ear. She started screaming and holding her head, and Jaeon quickly pulled over. "Ari! What's going on? Talk to me" he shouted, but she kept on screaming and crying out for help, Jaeon jumped out of his side of the car, opened the door, and took her out, sitting on the side of the road. "Hey, it's ok I'm here Ari, I'm here" He repeated while trying to calm her down. A few minutes later she stopped screaming but held her face in the palms of her hands. She rocked herself from side to side, shaking like a leaf being punished by the winter breeze. She looked at him with blood-red eyes, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...I keep having these visions, but I don't understand them" she explains.

"Hey, we're here, wake up" Jaeon whispered but Ari was fast asleep in the car, he had no other choice but to bring her inside. He carefully laid her down on the bed and took her shoes off, pulling the covers over her. He battled with himself if he should leave the room or not, but he worried she would have another one of those episodes, so he slept on the sofa. He tried to fight sleep for hours wanting to stay up to make sure that she was ok, but he gave in, sleep waits on no one. It was 3 a.m. when a thunderous sound lit up the atmosphere, the wind stormed its way hitting branches against the window, and raindrops danced on the rooftop. Jaeon woke up to his phone vibrating, it was a message from Asher.

Asher: Hey bro, I got the job! It's different from what I'm used to back at home but at least it's something. Not gonna lie dipshit I miss you guys🙄 yeah yeah, I said it, even Ka'Myia's annoying ass. Anyways I know it's pretty late there and I'm a few hours ahead so call me when you're free yeah. Take care of yourself, bro, and Ari too.

Jaeon smiled at the text and placed his phone under the pillow when he realized Ari was wide awake. "Thunder woke you up too huh?" she asked, he replied with a nod while drinking some water. Ari studied him, feeling out his energy before asking her burning question. "Can. *clears throat* could you sleep with me tonight?" she asked. Jaeon's expression on his face was puzzling, eyebrow raised, and questionable eyes. "Nooo, not like that, I mean just rock me to sleep" she replied with a nervous smile. This made him chuckle, he stood up and walked over to the bed, a tall figure emerged, and the moonlight reflected on his body through the glass door. His messy hair fell to his face making him look like a wolf hunting in the night, he was shirtless, and he had the body of a Greek god. You could tell he spends sometime in the gym, abs molded to perfection, the kind of shoulders that were made to have my legs on top of them, gosh his biceps with the veins stealing the spotlight, and when he adjusted his sweatpants, it showed his v line. This is what he had under those suits all this time? Jesus Christ, I'm ready and willing to risk it, fuck my memories, we can make some new ones right! now!

Ari was taken aback at the sight of his body that she didn't realize he was standing right in front of her, "You ok there bud?" he asked with a slight chuckle. "Ahh, ye. Yeah. Mhmmm I'm good" she replied. She then made space on the bed for Jaeon putting pillows in between them, "You know just in case I'm tempted to touch" she mumbled under her breath, he heard this but played it off with a smile and shook his head. They laid there for a while until Jaeon removed a pillow and was facing her. "What happened to you earlier tonight?" he asked, "I had a flashback" she responded, "About what?" he asked. "How my family was killed" she answered with the trauma replaying in her eyes. "My father was a good man, he just worked for the wrong people. Mom warned him all the time, but he said he had everything under control... until I came home from school, and I found their bodies lifeless in a pool of blood" she vented. "Ari... I... I'm sorry-" he tried to comfort her but was cut off by a hug. "Don't... It's not your fault" she replied. Jaeon then recognized the chills running through her veins, he pulled her in closer giving her the warmth that she needs.

It was 6 am and the sunlight peeked into the room leaving a nice mustard tone on the walls, Jaeon was knocked out stone cold on his back while Ari was sleeping on his chest with one leg across him. "JAEON COLE!" a woman shouted and frightened them causing Ari to roll and fall off the bed. Jaeon sat up and looked at the woman with annoyance, "Mom, what the hell?" he shouted, "I've been trying to contact you for two days now about the list for your birthday dinner and you've been avoiding me" she responded. "Sigh, no mom I've just been busy with work and taking care of Ari" he replied. "Mhmm, you've been taking care of her... In your bed?" she questioned while giving him the side eye. "Mom it's not like that she just" he tried to explain but she cut off his response, "Get dressed and meet me downstairs, both of you" she ordered.