The eyes, Chico, they never lie.

CHAPTER 25: Seeking forgiveness

Yuri's POV:

"I think I'm going to call it a night now, I'm going to my room," I said to Kat, placing the fork in my plate.

Most people had already gone back to their rooms, only a few people were still here. Now, with fewer people to talk to, I had no other choice but to sit here and see Ash. I didn't want to do it right now, I didn't want to be around him, I didn't want to hear his voice or see his smile or catch his dimples most importantly. I just wanted to be away from him.

"Already?" she asked. "Don't tell me you'll go to sleep, you always stay up late."

"No, I probably won't sleep. I just want to go back to my room."

She watched me for a minute before realization flickered across her eyes and she nodded softly. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." As I stood up, I heard another chair screech across the floor and when I looked up, I saw Ash standing up, straightening out his tshirt. He knows how much I liked him in black t-shirts and so he wore this outfit purposely only to get my attention and I have to prove him wrong but how? Every time he's around I can't resist myself to glance at him and realise how fucking hot he looks in them.
Come back to reality, sweetheart. My conscience mocked me.
I doubt he stood up and decided to leave just because I was but I couldn't help but think maybe that was it. I glanced at Kat who was already looking between us but then tucked my chair in and turned to the others. "Goodnight, everybody."

"Goodnight, Yuri." everyone replied.

As I walked away from the table, I heard Ash saying goodnight to everyone before his footsteps appeared behind me. I closed my eyes for a minute and sighed softly before nearing the elevators and stopping there once I pressed the button. I folded my arms across my chest while he came and stood beside me, his hands tucked into his pockets.

We both stood in silence and I swore to myself that I wasn't going to be the one to break it this time. I'm always the one who talks first, it makes me feel like I'm the one dying to talk to him.

Enough I can't do this anymore, "I didn't know you were living in Los Angeles," i said, breaking the silence.

He looked at me for a while and it took me so much to not look at him , he replied, "but I knew you were either. Once I was there for an appointment with my patient and then I saw you walking towards a library and that's when I figured you were there and then I confirmed myself with Kat."

Katherine Anne? Nevermind, I'll deal with you later.

"I moved right there after college. The team that picked me was based in Los Angeles." I say.

"Where were you earlier?" I asked.

"In Canada."

"Good for you, now it won't be difficult to attend your patients." I mumbled. I didn't know what else to possibly say.

"You wrote a book," he stated.

"I sure did."

"Congratulations. You always wanted to."

"Thanks."

"What's it about?"

"Remind me why you're suddenly talking to me." I asked harshly to avoid his questions about the book.

He exhaled softly. "We're standing here alone, Yuri. We're on this trip, how long are we going to avoid each other?"

"As long as we can. That's what I thought. That was the plan."

"Well, I'm sure you know by now, I'm not very good at sticking to the plan, am I?"

My jaw clenched but I willed myself not to look at him. Every time I looked at him, I wanted to cry. I didn't respond and stepped into the elevator as it opened with a soft ding.