Inferno Hearts | Xu Minghao

33. Beneath Broken Skins

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Minghao stood before her door, his courage faltering at the threshold, leaving him unable to take that final step inside. The need for answers gnawed at him, yet the weight of last night's events burdened his attempts to meet her gaze. Beneath it all, a palpable sense of guilt tugged at his conscience, further complicating his emotions.

He released a sigh, running his fingers through his hair in a gesture of both frustration and resolve. Drawing in a deep breath, before gently turning the doorknob and inching the door open.

His gaze fell on her silhouette, draped in his clothes that he had left the previous night. The moment their eyes connected, an electric current seemed to pass between them, prompting Minghao to avert his gaze hastily, his heart fluttering with an array of emotions too complex to unravel.

His attention shifted to the trays of food that his fellow members had brought for her. It was evident that she hadn't even taken a bite, the untouched dishes serving as a silent testament to the tension that hung in the air.

Nabi's heart quickened as she registered his presence, a rush of panic flooding her senses. The scenes from the previous night played out vividly in her mind, each memory a jolt to her already racing pulse. Seeking refuge from the sudden surge of emotions, she instinctively drew her knees up to her chest, a subconscious attempt to shield herself from the intensity of his gaze and the tangled emotions that came with it.

He sensed the waves of fear emanating from her, his chest tightening as he observed her instinctive self-protection. With a soft, resigned sigh, he gently closed the door behind him, the hushed click serving as a metaphorical barrier to the outside world.

Summoning every ounce of his tentative resolve, he took slow, cautious steps in her direction. His gaze remained locked onto hers, his unwavering attention a silent promise that he intended to bridge the gap between them, no matter how uncertain the path ahead might be.

Standing at her bedside, Minghao took a moment to steady his nerves before mustering the courage to speak. His voice, gentle, broke the tense silence. "Why haven't you eaten anything?" he inquired, his words a tentative attempt to unravel her behavior, his brows furrowing as he sought to unravel the complexity of her emotions.

Her gaze flickered away from his, descending to a point on the bedspread. The weight of her emotions was palpable in the space between them. Nabi's refusal to meet his eyes, to engage with him in any way, spoke volumes. 

It was clear that she had drawn a boundary, a line of demarcation she was determined not to cross. The events of last night had cast a shadow too heavy for her to confront, at least in this fragile moment.

Minghao, recognizing her guarded demeanor, released another sigh, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy in the room. Undeterred by her silence, he gently pressed on, his voice carrying a sense of urgency, "We need to talk."

The silence persisted, and it became increasingly clear to Minghao that Nabi had no inclination to engage in conversation.

His unwavering gaze remained fixed on her, absorbing the subtle details that spoke volumes about her current state. She seemed small, almost fragile, in the oversized clothes he had left for her. Her hair was pinned up in a messy bun, and what little makeup remained on her face from the previous night was diminished, likely washed away by the tears she had shed.