Better Off With Whom?

Chapter-18: CONTENT

As they both hugged each other,
Samuel felt guilty crawling over him.
"I am sorry Evelyn..", he spoke.

Evelyn was surprised by the sudden apology.
She broke the close contact between them and stood in front of him. Samuel still held her.
"Why are you apologizing..", she asked.

"You had to endure it all before I reached. If I had come sooner, you would have to endure it.. I am sorry.", Samuel said apologetically.

"It's not your fault..", Evelyn voiced him.

Samuel faced the ground. He could not look at her.
The incident was not his fault. Not even 1 percent of it was his contribution. But still, the sight of her when she cried for help, it pinched his soul.
Even more than that, he was concerned for her. Events like this tend to stick to the person in the memory for a long time.
He was helpless. He wanted to help her in any way that he could but it wasn't possible.

"What are we going to do about them?", Evelyn asked as her eyes pointed towards the men lying on the ground.

"That should not be your concern. You need not worry about them.", Samuel told her.

Samuel spoke her name out to seek her attention towards him. She looked at him.
"You're going to come with me to my house for tonight.", Samuel said.

"And before you object and protest, let me make one thing clear to you, I don't care if you think I asked you to come with me to pester you or get on your good side, or something like that, but right now I don't trust anyone else around you and you, staying alone, doesn't quench my heart.", Samuel spoke as his eyes darkened like they were a few moments ago.

Evelyn let out a "but",
"I hope I was clear. I have never denied you once. But making an exception tonight, I am. Please, trust me.", he spoke.

Evelyn gave him a slight nod of approval as she looked down.
"Thankyou. Let's go", he said.
He held her wrist as he walked out of the alleyway with her.
Evelyn was still unable to process what had happened so she mindlessly walked following where Samuel's leading her.

It was dark. The roads looked creepily deserted on the way.
Samuel never lost his grip over Evelyn's wrist.

They finally reached his home.
He opened the main gate and went inside welcoming Evelyn calmly.
His furries welcomed them too.
He asked her to settle down and feel at ease and that she's safe. Evelyn settled down while Samuel got her water from the kitchen.

Evelyn looked around, glancing at his house. Overcoming her already so loaded mind, she scanned every corner.
The vibe of his house, the interior, the furniture and the choice of artwork frames, so minimalistic yet lavish looking.
Surely the place one would crave to go to after a long day. The vibe of it was so comfortable.

It is said that one's house is a peep into one's mind.
Considering Samuel and his house, both were certainly organised.
Evelyn was still reserved but the two furries divided their attention to her as well and sat near her.
Evelyn petted them. It made her smile.

"Don't bother her much you guys!", Samuel spoke as he walked towards Evelyn with a glass of water.
He offered it to her. And sat beside her on the sofa.

Evelyn sipped through the glass.

"So.. I know you must be feeling a bit restraint because..", Samuel spoke but paused at the end.

Evelyn looked at him seeking for the completed sentence.
"I confessed. And then our friendship went a little downhill and awkward. But, please, feel at home. Ask me for anything. And if you want to talk, you are well aware that I'll listen to you.", he completed.

Evelyn stared at him. Samuel looked at her and she shifted her gaze.

"Thank you. For today.", Evelyn said.

"Evelyn. It was not a favour. It was a duty.", Samuel spoke looking at her staring into her soul.

"I am aware. You'd do the same if it was someone else too. Still, thank you very much..", Evelyn said.

"I would. But it was you. And as corny and simulated as it sounds, and might also sound like I am trying to please you, but since it was you, i was even more desperate to turn those guys into a pile of flesh so they laid at your feet.", he said.

Evelyn looked at him while he looked at her speaking those words.

For the first time in a long while, she could feel her heart racing, wanting to escape and hide her face that was flushed with shyness. The reason why she distanced them, was this. As amazing as it sounded, it was scary for her.
Her heart racing, and cheeks warm. This scared her. Alot.

"Evelyn. There's no need to feel awkward. I am content with our friendship. Truly. I haven't had a female friend in my life, ever. And when I found you, you were all and more I could ask for. You are a very special friend. I don't care if you accept me or not, i just want our friendship to remain like it had been before.", Samuel uttered in a soothing voice. His voice remained calm and his tone was polite.
He stared into Evelyn's eyes as she gazed away.

He continued speaking,
"And right now, I am aware that you are searching your brain for a response to what I said. But i don't need it. I understand you very well. I have leftover pizza. Let's eat and go to bed."

Evelyn looked at him in shock. Her eyes widened as he spoke.
'Go to bed?!', she thought to herself in her mind.

"I-I m-meant go to sleep. In separate rooms..", Samuel corrected himself as he cleared his throat with Silly thoughts coming to his mind.

'You wouldn't mind that huh.. going to bed..', his mind mocked and laughed at him.
He shushed his inner thoughts and feelings away.

He got up abruptly and walked towards the kitchen and heated the pizza mindlessly.

Finally he came back, when he saw Evelyn had eased up, sitting as she folded her legs on the sofa, playing with the furries. He chuckled to himself.
He walked towards her and placed the pizza between them and they watched television.

Samuel was up till later in the night and watching the TV when a snore alerted his ear.
He looked beside him. Evelyn had dozed off to sleep.
He admired her face. He had never gotten a close look of her face before.
She seemed like a little star lighting up the dark town of a part of his heart that had never beaten for someone.

Evelyn moved a bit to adjust herself from the uncomfortable position she was laying in right now. This way, she would surely be getting a sore neck tomorrow.

But, that wasn't possible. Since Samuel for there, coming to the rescue.

'What do I do?',
'Do I pick her up?',
'Oh god! I have no dirty intentions. But this way, she's getting troubled by neck aches tomorrow..',
The mind of the inexperienced man thought so. He worked every possible calculation before attempting the next step.

He stood up from the sofa that he had been gkued to since the last 3 hours and threw a cute look at Evelyn that she didn't see.

He leaned his body down to hers.
His hand shivered as he touched her delicate, soft figure.
His hand shivered as he slid his hands around her back.
Finally, gaining some strength to face his own self indulging in such an action, he was naive and shy.

He picked her up in his arm and carried her to his room. As she slept still in his arms.
He placed her gently on her bed and covered her with a blanket.
She cuddled herself and a slight smile turning to wide one spread all over Samuel's face.
He had never looked at something so cute that could quench his soul to such level.

He stood there for a while gazing at her. He had zoned out looking at her beautiful face with extremely fine features.
He rushed out of the room to his guest room.
He changed his clothes. He hadn't changed them since they arrived.
His mind was filled up with many thoughts and he slept gradually