ABOVE & BEYOND : IF WE ARE MEANT TO BE

CHAPTER 33

DUAA

It was super early in the morning as I was making my way to the kitchen since I was starving. Today was an important and busy day. Today was the function. Also this is the second last day of me ...of us staying together. I wasn't sure how I was feeling but I was definitely not happy.

I don't know. It feels wrong to feel what I am feeling. He kind of became a...habit. This house contains a lot of memories. They are probably not that special but they were mine..ours. I keep trying to convince myself that whatever I am feeling is just attachment. It will fade away because this is the first time I have stayed away from my family for such a long time.

But deep down I also knew that this wasn't the truth. And I didn't want to find out the real truth. I never will because it's not possible. It will never be possible. The truth terrified me. I never thought it would reach this point but it did. It reached so high that thinking of it made my palms sweaty and made my heart beat faster and many more things.

After what he did last night, I was not sure how I felt. It was terrifying. It was horrifying. But my heart loved him for a brief moment for what he did. He didn't do it because I wanted him to. He did it because he wanted to. For me.

I bit on my lower lip so I wouldn't grin like a stupid. I entered the kitchen only to be welcomed by the broad shoulders and the massive bareback. I don't know what he was doing but each movement of his arms led to the movements of his back muscles. Muscles that I didn't even know existed.

I cleared my throat, letting him know that I was also here. "I thought I made it clear not to roam around the house naked." I could hear him chuckling as he continued what he was doing. "Really? I must have been sleeping when you made that announcement." I rolled my eyes even though he couldn't see me. "No need to roll your eyes. I haven't forgotten."

I scoffed. What the... "I wasn't!" "sure."

Dumbo.

My cheeks and ears were burning. "If you haven't forgotten then why are you half naked?" After turning on the blender he finally turned to me. And what the hell. I wasn't sure if it burst out of my mouth or in my mind.

There were bruises. On several parts of his ribcage and his torso. I quickly got down from the tool I was sitting on. "When the hell did this happen?" "uh last night." he shrugged like it's no big deal. My hand automatically moved forward to touch the purple-ish marks but I stopped myself.

"Apply ice." he chuckled again and showed his left hand where he was holding the ice bag.

Oh.

"That's what I was doing, brownie. Not just that I was making smoothies for us as well." he said and turned around to stop the blender.

I was feeling guilty. He was hurt. I wanted to hug him. I wanted to hug him tight and thank him.

"Umm, would you like some waffles? I was going to make it." "sure." he said and went to grab the waffle mixture from the highest cupboard. His torso stretched right in front of me, making my throat dry. What on mothery-fathery earth...I wasn't even sure what to do.

He handed me the packet and I took it, quickly turning around without saying anything. I became partially mute.

I could hear him putting the ice bag back in the freezer and turning back to me. He was close. I could feel his body heat. I could feel him everywhere.

He was coming closer, closer and closer until he was right beside my ear. "Duaa." he whispered and I became hypnotised. I swear I became hypnotised. I couldn't think of anything else. His voice was low, deep and husky. He called me again.

"Yea..." I replied, not turning to him. He was so close that I could feel his breathing on my cheek. "Why are you pouring so much water into the mixture?"

Huh? What?

I looked down at the big ass bowl where I was still pouring water. Goddamn. What was I making? Crapes?

Before I could wrap anything that he said around my mind I panicked and the bowl fell down from the island. Cursing under my breath I went to pick it up and just when I thought things couldn't get any worse it got worse. I slipped and was about to fall. Was about to...

Eryx's hands wrapped around me. One went behind my waist and the other one went behind my hood. In the process he lost his balance. And we both fell. My eyes shut closed, as my back hit the floor. But it didn't hurt that much since his arm was wrapped around me.

Slowly I opened my eyes and I just wished I hadn't. We were close. Closer than before. Our noses were touching. A couple more centimetres and his lips will be on mine. His gaze was intense. We both were staring at each other.

I probably imagined him coming closer because I closed my eyes. Mind blank. I didn't want anything except him at that moment. I couldn't think of anything but him. I gripped his shoulder tighter, another hand fisted, right over his sternum bone.

I could feel his grip around my waist tightening. One second felt like I was getting consumed by him and another felt like I was getting consumed by nothingness. I opened my eyes. He carefully got up from me, offering me his hand.

Reality sets in.

I blinked. I blinked again.

What just happened?

What was I doing?

"Duaa, I- I'm..." feeling more pathetic than ever I blinked back the tears forming in the back of my eyes. My throat was burning. So were my eyes.

Without accepting his hand I got up and picked up the bowl. My breaths were hot. My hands were shaking as I was searching for napkins to clean the floor. He was staring at me. His stare was burning holes in my body.

"I will do it." he said but I didn't care. I continue to clean the floor. He kneeled beside me. He was about to touch my hand as I was literally scraping the floor. But I moved my hand away.

"Duaa, listen to me." I didn't. I got up and made my way to the sink. Honestly I was shocked how my legs were still working. He followed me again. I couldn't hear anything except my heartbeats.

"I wanted to, I mean I would have but I just...." the doorbell rang.

Before I could realise I was already making my way outside to open the door but this time I got pulled. His hand wrapped around my wrist and made me turn around. "Duaa, listen to me!" "There is nothing to listen to, Eryx. It was my fault and I'm sorry!"

I pulled my wrist away from his grip and made my way to the door.

I opened the door and there stood a girl who seemed the same age as me. Maybe younger but definitely shorter. Her raven purple hair rested on her shoulders. Have I seen her somewhere?

"How can I help you?" I asked and she gave me a weird look. "I'm looking for Eryx. He's here, right?" she said. Her eyes lit up as she looked behind me. I didn't have to turn around to know that he was standing beside me. And all it took was one word out of his mouth and everything made sense.

"Sky?"