Meori Apeuda

Chapter 33

"Kaylee, please, wait.."

Chan's soft plea followed me into his bedroom, as I fled from the bath. I was a total mess. My hands shook as I ran them through my hair, leaving it tousled. The nausea was gone, the panic wasn't. He found me again. He knew where I was, my little freedom here was over.

Brent was going to come and get me and this time he would - how did he put it? - finish it.

My breathing quickened, my vision swam due to unshed tears and I wrapped my arms around my upper body.

"Kaylee...Darling, please...tell me what happened, I'm going crazy over here..." Chan whispered. He had followed me and stood only a few steps behind me in the doorway.

I turned around and looked at him. His eyes were full of concern and confusion, but his posture...His hands were balled into fists, his shoulders tensed, he stood there as if he was ready to knock the person down, who upset me.

I could never, NEVER let Brent anywhere near him. I couldn't bear the thought of Chan getting hurt by that monster, the way I had been. He was too precious.

I shook my head. Partly to get rid of the image in my brain of Chan getting hurt and partly to answer him. "I can't...I just can't... please, Chan, I must leave..."

I sucked in a deep breath to arm me against the pain my next words would cause. "We can't see each other again. Like never. I'm sorry, I made a mistake..."

I wasn't strong enough to look at him while I spoke, but I heard his breath stop for a second. Time seemed to halt for a second, there was no movement, no sound beside the music coming from my little bluetooth speaker.

Trip by Ella Mai. What an ironically perfect moment for that song.

She sang about a love like a trip, that she was addicted to him, even if she knew it wasn't good for both of them.

"Maybe it's your love, it's too good to be true..."

"Why?" Chan asked. As I started to shake my head again, he quickly took a few steps and closed the distance between us. "You owe me that, K. At least an explanation, why you're trying to throw me out of your life!" He sounded angry and hurt, like previously this evening in the bar.

When I didn't answer, Chan continued: "I...I'm not 100% sure about you, because you never want to let anyone fully read your cards, but on my part..." He reached down, one trembling hand taking mine the other gently tilting my chin up so I had to look into his face. He placed my hand on his chest, right over his heart, holding it in place with his hand.

"..On my part" he whispered and swallowed hard "my heart starts racing, everytime I see you. When you're sitting next to me, when I hear your voice, when we touch, it jumps.

I get goosebumps all over my body and suddenly have a hard time catching my breath. Our first kiss? Believe me, I thought I could fly afterwards. So please, Kaylee, if you're sending me away, then at least tell me if it's my fault or not..."

I sobbed and shook my head violently. "No... no...It's not your fault...it could never be. You...you..." I stopped, searching for words to tell him how happy he made me, how every single thing he said applied to me in the same way.

Tears chased down my face and he moved the hand that still rested under my chin to wipe them from my cheek with his thumb. I stood completely still as he cupped my face in his hand, still caressing my cheek lovingly. I couldn' t resist it and nestled my face in his palm, causing his eyes to light up.

I studied his face, taking in his handsome features, his warm gaze. I once thought I'd never be able to truly fall in love after what Brent had done to me. And then Chan appeared out of nowhere. With his captivating laughter, his kind heart, his seemingly unending patience. Our eyes met and my breath caught in my throat for a second. His brown eyes were so full of emotions right now, mostly love, but mixed with insecurity, a little bit of anger and...desire.