Stone Tower Serenade: Love Etched in Stone

Chapter 22: Imperfect effective strategy

Kevin tiptoed out of the room, the floorboards groaning faintly beneath his weight. He cast a final glance at Avery, her chest rising and falling gently in sleep. A pang of tenderness shot through him, a desire to linger by her side that he had to tamp down with ironclad resolve. The last thing he wanted was to wake her or, worse, make her feel uncomfortable by his presence.

He crept down the hallway, the silence broken only by the rhythmic tick of the grandfather clock in the living room. Just as he reached the stairs, a jarring sound pierced the pre-dawn stillness – the insistent trill of his phone. He fumbled for it in his pocket, his heart skipping a beat at the unexpected interruption. With a hushed murmur, he answered, "Brylle?" The tension in his voice betrayed his earlier tranquility, hinting at the weight of the secret he now carried within him.

"How did it go last night? Did you manage to stole that CD?" Brylle's voice is full of concern.

"I didn't. We happen to actually saw part of it..." I paused "but I managed to shut it off on time. Unfortunately, it still triggers an episode for her." I explained.

"It did? I am so sorry my Ave. I didn't mean to. Huhuhu." His antics really irks me. "What were you even thinking keeping and slipping those kind of relics? Because of that CD, she..." I choose not to finished what was I supposed to say.

"Eww, brother. Don't you dare." Brylle retorted. "Gtg now, please take care of her for me. Okay? Bye now. Xoxo"

Kevin stared at the darkened screen, a furrow etching itself between his brows. Brylle, the life of the party, the master of pranks, expressing something akin to tenderness? It was like hearing a lion purr – unsettlingly incongruous. The incongruity sent a shiver down his spine, a tremor that had nothing to do with the cool pre-dawn air.

A soft sound startled him from his reverie. Avery stood framed in the doorway, the remnants of sleep clinging to her like a gauzy veil. Her hair was a tousled mess, her eyes heavy with slumber, yet there was a captivating allure in her disheveled state.

"Morning," she rasped, her voice husky with sleep. She stretched languidly, a movement both graceful and unconsciously alluring, as if the events of the previous night held no weight. Then, a flicker of something akin to recognition crossed her features, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. It was a fleeting expression, quickly replaced by a hesitant retreat, a single step back that spoke volumes.

Kevin's heart hammered against his ribs. Had she heard his hushed conversation? Did she catch his name, the weight of the secret he now carried like a physical burden? The air crackled with unspoken questions, a tension that stretched taut between them, threatening to snap.

"Morn..." Kevin's greeting died on his lips as she brushed past him, a phantom touch that sent a jolt through him. Her movements were purposeful, a hurried escape towards the sanctuary of the kitchen.

As I reached for my morning coffee, I avoided meeting his gaze, hoping to escape the memories that flooded my mind like a vivid dream. Unpleasant recollections surfaced, reminding me of my bold requests and his compliance. "Was I truly that audacious before?" I wondered silently. The thought of making similar pleas last night sent a shiver down my spine. "No, no, no," I whispered to myself, fervently praying that history would not repeat itself.

I paced anxiously, my mind racing as I tried to recall whether I had divulged the discovery. 'He doesn't know about it yet, does he?' I pleaded with myself, desperately seeking reassurance. 'He can't possibly know.' Suddenly, I became aware of him standing beside my dad, both of them watching me with amusement as if I were some character in a drama, while casually sipping their coffee. Frustrated, I turned to face him, shooting an irritated glare his way. "Grrrrrrr!"