God Of Desires

Milyi

I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, the dim glow of the streetlights outside casting soft shadows across my room. Sleep seemed an impossible task tonight. My mind was a whirlpool of thoughts, and at the centre of it all was Ariella.

"Do you remember me?" Her words echoed in my mind, taunting me with their simplicity and weight. I turned onto my side, clutching the pillow tighter as if it could somehow anchor my racing thoughts. How could I have forgotten her? Ava's introverted sister, the girl who once helped me, the girl who had vanished from my memory until today.

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself to focus, to piece together the fragmented images of her from the past. She had been so shy, always hiding behind her glasses, her hair a curtain that shielded her from the world. But today, she had been different. Confident, radiant, like a goddess who had stepped out of a dream.

And then there was the kiss.

The kiss had been unexpected, a spark that ignited something deep within me. Her lips were soft, warm, and the moment they touched mine, the chaos in my mind had quietened. It was as if she had the power to silence the storm inside me, to calm my restless soul. I could still feel the phantom pressure of her lips on mine, the taste of her lingering, sweet and intoxicating.

I turned onto my other side, frustration mounting. How had I overlooked her all these years? How had I not seen the transformation, the strength hidden beneath her quiet exterior? I replayed our conversation in my head, dissecting every word, every glance, searching for clues, for a deeper understanding.

Her smile had been knowing, almost mischievous. She had been aware of my confusion, my struggle to place her in my memories. Yet, she hadn't been angry or hurt. Instead, she had seemed...amused. Like she had expected it, like she had known that I would eventually remember.

I sat up, running a hand through my hair. The room felt suffocating, the silence too loud. I needed to understand. I needed to remember more clearly. I thought back to the times I had seen her with Ava, the fleeting glimpses, the brief interactions. She had always been there, in the background, watching, observing. But why had she remained so hidden?

Her transformation was astounding. The shy but bold girl had become a captivating woman, and I felt drawn to her in a way I couldn't explain. That kiss...it had stirred something inside me, something I couldn't ignore. It wasn't just about the physical attraction. It was deeper, more profound.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, planting my feet on the cool floor. Maybe I needed to see her again, to talk to her, to unravel the mystery she had become. She had stirred up old memories, old feelings, and now I was left to grapple with them.

I turned back, flopping onto my back as a sigh escaped my lips. The night felt endless, each passing minute only fuelling my restlessness. My mind kept circling back to the library encounter, how her eyes had sparkled with a mixture of challenge and familiarity. She had looked at me like she knew every secret I had ever held, every thought I had ever suppressed.

Closing my eyes, I tried to summon the calm her kiss had brought me. That brief moment of serenity felt so distant now, overshadowed by the barrage of questions

and emotions. I couldn't shake off the feeling of her lips on mine, the way her breath had mingled with mine, sending a shiver down my spine.

I replayed the scene in my head: her stepping forward with an air of confidence, her voice soft yet firm as she reminded me of who she was. The shock had been palpable, an electric jolt through my veins. How had I failed to connect the dots? How had I not seen the transformation taking place right before my eyes?

My thoughts drifted back to secondary school. Ariella had always been there, a quiet presence, often overlooked. She had been the shy girl who lingered on the fringes, her head always buried in a book. But she had been watching, observing, waiting. Her transformation wasn't just physical; it was as if she had shed her old skin to reveal the strength and confidence that had always been there, hidden beneath the surface.

I twisted the pillow in my hands, my mind racing. The kiss wasn't just a kiss. It was a message, a declaration. Ariella wasn't the girl I had known; she was someone entirely new, someone who had emerged from the shadows with a purpose. And that purpose seemed intricately linked to me.

I rolled onto my stomach, burying my face in the pillow, trying to block out the world. The feel of her lips lingered, a ghostly reminder of the encounter. It was more than just the physical sensation; it was the emotion behind it, the intensity that had left me reeling.

How could I have forgotten her? The question gnawed at me, each passing second only deepening my frustration. She had been there all along, waiting for the right moment to re-enter my life, to remind me of a past I had pushed to the back of my mind.

With a groan, I sat up again, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. Sleep was a distant dream, a luxury I couldn't afford tonight. Ariella had turned my world upside down, and until I could piece together the puzzle she had become, there would be no rest.

I stood up, pacing the room, trying to shake off the restless energy. My thoughts were a chaotic mess, a whirlwind of memories and emotions. The night stretched on, endless and unforgiving, each tick of the clock a reminder of the time slipping away.

I needed to see her again, to talk to her, to understand what had changed. She had become a part of my thoughts, an enigma that demanded to be unravelled. The kiss had opened a door, and now I needed to walk through it, to explore the depths of whatever lay beyond.

As the first light of dawn began to filter through the curtains, I knew one thing for certain: Ariella had become a part of me, a puzzle I was determined to solve. And until I could, sleep would remain a distant, unattainable dream.