The Worth of a Coin (BxB)

Chapter 18

-Ruarc Brennan-

Why did I say that? Why did that single word escape from my mouth. Quan was handsome, and I had to admit that his cold, mysterious ways had caught my attention. But surely, I didn't know him well enough to justify kissing him like that. It was a spur of the moment decision which calmed him down when he was faced with potential danger, nothing more. Yet, my lips still tingled from where they touched his.

I knew that the decision would come back to bite me, and this was the time.

"Do you just go and kiss many random people?" Quan asked. I didn't know if he sounded bitter or amused.

"Not random people, no." I shook my head and tried to concentrate on making tea. There wasn't that much to concentrate on, as I did this simple task at least four times a day. "I wouldn't consider that interaction random either."

Quan shifted uncomfortably, folding his arms tightly around himself. "There had to be some other way you could've sent me that message. Like punching me in the face, which I'm sure you've been tempted to do a few times."

"Only once," I told him. It was right now. If I were to punch him, then it was likely he'd be quiet and move on from this conversation. I'd lose my job and probably be arrested, but I wouldn't have to deal with talking about the kiss. "You're not used to random people kissing you?"

It seemed that was the punch in the face that he needed, as he remained silent.

"No." I stopped what I was doing. "Don't tell me that was your first."

He looked downward, which he didn't need to do to avoid my gaze. He looked like he had fallen into his own trap.

"Wow, that's the most surprising thing I've heard all day." I stirred the teabags and put them in the bin.

"How's it more surprising than me being kidnapped by my father?" he asked defensively.

"Why do you sound like I offended you?" I poured the milk into the cups. "It was a compliment."

Quan gaped at me. His arms fell to his side and his shoulders slouched. "Is it really that hard to believe?"

"Yes," I stated. "You're quite the looker, and I'd figured chicks dig the tall, dark, and mysterious vibe." I cringed at calling the psychic witch a 'looker'.

"I'm not tall," he pointed out, but I ignored him.

"You wear a uniform too, that's attractive. I'm sure you have more money than this shows."

"None of that's important," he said slightly offended. "That doesn't say anything about why people would actually like me."

I pondered over his words as I took the first three cups into the living room. As soon as I rounded the corner into the kitchen again, I said, "I see. I suppose you're pansexual? Demisexual?"

He straightened his back. "I don't know what those words mean."

That surprised me. "Quan, do you have social media? Watch the television? Talk to people?" I listed. "You seem very inexperienced with that sort of thing."

"Is there anything wrong with that?" he sounded defensive again. "This is just how I prefer to live. I don't need constant validation or an addiction to add to it."

I nodded in thought. "Alright," I said. I didn't want that to be the last word, I still had many thoughts swirling in my head and loose ends that had to be tied. "You know, I don't just kiss random people."

He quirked an eyebrow.

"I meant what I said earlier, about why many people would find you attractive, they may be superficial reasons, but I didn't just make them up." I sighed and picked up the last two cups. "I'd like to go on a date with you sometime." Then I left the kitchen.