Burned water [completed]

5 - Second ding dong

Even though I was already hidden very deep within myself, the slam of the closet door and the piercing sound of the bell brought me to the surface. The packed emotions wracked my body and made my palms sweaty, my mouth dry, and I started shaking. I saw the landlord first look at the boy lying on my floor in shock and then turn red in anger. Martinus had a hard, angry look in his eyes as he scowled at him.

No one had time to say anything yet and I was already running to open the door. Behind them stood the most beautiful man I had ever seen. I could swear my heart stopped for two seconds when I saw him. If I wasn't still terrified of what could have happened to me, I probably would have started giggling foolishly and my saliva might have dripped onto the floor. He was taller than Martinus and better built. His sculpted muscles in his arms, shoulders and abs were visible beneath his shirt. He was shaking his head, and his long ebony hair was wet and spraying water droplets all around. I didn't even notice that it was raining outside. Even if one of these drops fell into my eye, I wouldn't blink for a second. He smiled mischievously, his white teeth flashing. He was all gorgeous, but I was absorbed by one thing - the look in his large, black, magnetic eyes. Eyes that I could drown in and that gave me shivers like I'd never experienced before. Unfortunately, they weren't looking at me. They looked around my room keenly.

"I see I came at the wrong time." He said, not waiting for an invitation and going inside with his hands in his pockets. On one arm I noticed swirling tattoos.

Nobody said anything for a while. My new guest looked around curiously and moved his eyes from one of us to the other. My old guy was already up from the floor, obviously even more furious. The owner's face turned dangerous shades of red and I began to fear that he was at risk of having a stroke. I, emotionally devastated, instinctively hid half a step behind the black-haired boy. His face was gentle and trustworthy, but his body could serve as a shield against all the evil in the world.

The owner broke the silence.

"So that's what you are..." he said venomously and with a level of contempt that no one had ever spoken to me with before. "One hundred dollars, non-negotiable. I wish you lots of fun..."

And he slammed the door behind him. With that snap, something inside me snapped. If I were alone, I would squat on the floor, cover my ears with my hands and cry quietly. But two people were looking at me, I didn't want to break down in front of them. However, I couldn't act completely normal. So I stood with my head down, crumpling the ends of my pajamas and not really hearing the voices around me. I kept telling myself, "Stop it, stop it, act normal," but I couldn't regain full control of myself.

At one point I felt a gentle hand on my wrist, which pulled me towards the sofa and sat me down on it. A moment later, someone wrapped a blanket around my shoulders, sat down next to me and hugged me.

To be held in arms, arms that don't want anything from you, that only want to make you feel safe, is new to me. For a very long time I had been walking around the world on my own and without any support. I haven't been able to lean on anyone for a long time. I can't remember the last time someone tried to hold me up when I was starting to break.

A strange bliss began to wash over me, similar to the one I had experienced last night. My heart calmed down and my muscles went limp. The stream of thoughts quieted down. My eyelids began to feel heavy, beautiful images of luminous beaches and forest corners loomed before my eyes. I felt an inexplicable need to give thanks, but the sleepiness became more overwhelming. Someone was laying me gently on the pillows and through half-closed eyelids I saw Martinus' face. I also heard a voice that wasn't his: "You and your stupid tricks."