Cigarettes and ashes| Choso Kamo

14. Bewitched

Have you ever heard of the butterfly effect? Where your life could significantly change from one trivial decision. The choices we make today can shape our tomorrow. Even the smallest butterfly could cause a hurricane.

Another example is mine.
I forgot my lighter and because of that, now I seem to be in the same bathroom with a boy, patching up his bloody knuckles.

"It stings" He winced, his face contoured with pain. "That's what you get for beating up random dudes." I said, pressing harder the cotton. "He wasn't random. He threatened my brother. Do you think I should just sit and watch how he's bullying him?"

"No, of course not, but Choso, violence is not always the solution." My comment didn't help, his face again changed from pained to angered, but he didn't respond to what I said, silently comprehending my words. "Also, Eso told me to apologise on his behalf. He didn't respond to that either.

"Hey, what's wrong? Do you want to talk about it?"
He finally looked at me, his gaze burning with shame and anger.

He felt awful. Terrible at least. Because she saw his worst side and yet, here she was trying to help him. He felt anger because someone dared to disrespect and try to humiliate his brother. Was he truly wrong for defending him the only way he knew? Words weren't for him, they always were not enough.

"I.." he started, looking at her eyes, "I'm angry." He finally said. "Angry with myself, the other bastard. At the world in general. And I'm afraid I'm not enough for my brothers." He exhaled like something heavy was lifted off his shoulders.

"No, I think you are more than enough. You truly care for them and you try your best to protect them, I saw that some minutes ago, and not only. I know it can be really exhausting, but I'm sure, you do an amazing job at that." I looked at him, and how his usual stoic face, softened at my words. "Thank you."

"But that doesn't mean that you should go around punching everyone for talking shit about someone you care about." I scolded him like he was a child and he looked rather intrigued by annoyed. "I would do it for you."

I paused, my face full of surprise and he chuckled, before bringing one of his hand down to my waist. I had forgot how close we were, due to me disinfecting his knuckles. "No, you shouldn't do that."

"And what should I do?" His inquiry and his sultry gaze made my heart flutter, and I came closer, our noses touching. I touched the nape of his neck and felt his hair on my fingers. Soft, I thought. I brought my lips close to his ear, and felt him shiver as I whispered my response.

"You should kiss me."

Choso's eyes widened for a second, surprised by her fortitude, but that didn't stop him from grabbing with the other hand the back of her neck and kissing her ravenously. He was starving, starving for her touch. And the way that her voice sounded, no more than a whisper commanding him, no, compelling him as if she put a spell on him made him feel weak.

She was a witch, a devil who whispered in your ear and he loved it. He loved her soft lips, the taste of alcohol on her tongue. Her lingering touch on his neck and now his cheek. He tightened his hand around her waist never wanting to end. But of course, the gods weren't on his side tonight.

A knock on the door made them back away just for a moment. "Occupied." He growled almost, with hate, as if someone had taken from him something imperative, which they had. He turned to look at her again. His eyes sparkling with interest when he saw her flushed face, and the way she never looked away from him, even though he could feel her embarrassment.

"So..." she started but words seemed to fade away. "Was that okay?" I asked, feeling a bit shy. "More than okay." She replied and took the lead, this time kissing me first with the same passion as I did.

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A/n: So... Hi? Yes I know it's been too long, so for a lot of time I've been thinking of deleting the story because I don't really like it. I've read it a lot if times and I've found plot holes (and of course grammar errors.) but then it seems that some of you enjoy reading this so I won't delete it. I don't know when I will update again or if I will at all. But I'll try to finish the story.