The Android Human (Editing)

Chapter 7

Naomi

"Ricardo, I didn't... I don't—"

"You electrocuted him, Naomi." Ricardo's voice was low, barely a whisper, but it cut through the air like a blade. "I saw it. Lightning... it just came out of you. That guy...he's not moving." I latched onto my chest like it would keep my heart in my chest. It was beating so quickly, I feared it would just explode. My breathing was rapid with my chest rising and falling faster than light.
    My ears picked up the sound of footsteps. "Someone’s coming," I whispered, my voice trembling as I shook my hands, pacing around the unconscious man. Panic was tightening its grip around my chest. Before I could react, Ricardo moved swiftly, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward one of the rooms.

He shoved me inside and quietly locked the door behind us. His movements were quick but silent, his face set with determination. He placed his index finger on his lips, signaling me to stay quiet. I nodded, feeling the adrenaline surge through my veins, my body going rigid with fear and uncertainty.
Ricardo's body pressed closer, cornering me against the door, his presence dominating the small space. He was so close I could smell the sweetness of his cologne, the warmth radiating from him only intensifying the tightness in my chest. His head bent down, his eyes locking onto mine. His hair fell messily over his forehead, and for a brief moment, we made eye contact—deep, unspoken tension passing between us.
       "A man is lying unconscious on the floor," I heard a feminine voice say from behind the door.
"What do we do?" a male voice responded.
"Let's leave him. It's not our concern," the female voice answered. The only thing I heard after that was the sound of their footsteps fading away until I couldn't hear them anymore.

I exhaled, realizing I'd been holding my breath longer than my lungs could bear. The two arms he used to corner me fell to his sides, and my insides felt like a tangled mess.
"Are you going to explain to me why you electrocuted that guy or just stare at me all day?" he asked, folding his arms across his chest.

My eyes scanned him from head to toe, racking up his attractive looks. He wore a black shirt and a pair of ripped jeans. His neat, side-parted black hair was so beautiful, I had the urge to run my fingers through it; it looked so soft to the touch. His light skin looked smooth, too. He seemed too real to be an android. Maybe I was wrong, and the things I felt were all in my head.

I was the one who had just shot electric current from my hand and knocked a guy unconscious. I wasn’t even fully aware of what was happening to me or how it had happened. If anyone between us should be suspected of being an android, it would be me.
"Oh, please, it's not very appealing to even glance at an ogre," I shot back.

"Well then, why were you staring at the 'ogre' like you were starstruck?" he questioned.

"I was never staring at you. I don't know what you're talking about," I replied.

"Sure you don't," he said with a smug grin.

I rolled my eyes at the clear sarcasm in his response. "So tell me, are you some type of witch or something?" he pressed on.

"I don’t even understand what happened," I replied, exasperated. "I was just panicking because that guy grabbed my hand and wouldn’t let go, and the next thing I knew, sparks were coming out of my hand."

"So you don't know you're a witch and you're just now discovering it?"

"I am not a witch," I shot back, debunking his statement. "Whatever you say," he said, settling onto the edge of the bed.

A moment of silence enveloped us, and I could feel the tension building between us. My whole body felt like it might melt from being alone in the room with him. Sweat trickled down my back as heat surged through me. I couldn’t bring myself to meet his gaze while I stood in front of him, keeping a cautious distance. The quiet allowed the electricity of attraction to linger in the air.