Alluring Mask

CHAPTER 39

CHAPTER 39

My nose crinkled when I felt something cold brush against it. I snapped out of my deep thoughts, realizing that we were in Rafael's and my favorite spot. We were sitting on a spread-out mat, eating the snacks he had brought. Rafael was holding a small cup of yogurt, and I figured it was what he had put on my nose. I grabbed a tissue from beside him and wiped it off.

"Daydreaming? What's on your mind?"

I swallowed hard, staring at Rafael in disbelief as he sat in front of me, his brow furrowed. He was wearing a white Polo shirt and black shorts. His glasses slid down slightly, and he pushed them back up.

What's going on? Why am I here? The last thing I remember was losing consciousness after feeling something sharp prick my neck. I gasped loudly as the events started to come back to me. I was kidnapped!

"Sarah?" Rafael's gentle voice brought me back to the present, concern evident in his tone as he noticed my anxiety. "Are you okay? Does anything hurt?"

"Raf..." I said softly, my gaze fixed on his kind face.

I knew this wasn't real, just a figment of my imagination. But as I stared at Rafael, who was still looking at me, I couldn't help but wonder—was I dreaming, or was this real?

"Raf," I called his name again.

He smiled at me and removed his glasses. I closed my eyes briefly as the cool night breeze wrapped around me. The air was chilly in our spot because it was already evening. The only light came from the lamp he always brought whenever we came here. The gentle rush of the waterfall and the chirping of crickets surrounded us in this secluded place.

"Yes, Sarah?" Raf asked tenderly.

I wanted to hug him, to throw myself into his arms and hold him tightly because I couldn't do it when he was alive. I wish I had done so while he was still living so that I wouldn't be burdened with regrets now. But something deep in my chest held me back for reasons I couldn't explain.

I let him move closer to me. He placed his hand on mine, which was resting on my thigh. His face was so close to mine. The black of his ash-grey eyes seemed unnervingly large, almost like cat eyes when they saw their prey; their eyes are dilating, that's Rafael's eyes now. My brows furrowed slightly when I saw my reflection in his eyes.

My chest tightened with anxiety. I was confused. Something felt wrong—terribly wrong. I should've seen Sarah's face in his eyes, but instead, it was the face of Valentina Imara Meadows staring back at me.

Rafael took my hand and brought it to his lips, planting a soft kiss while never breaking eye contact. His tender smile spread across his lips, and I couldn't help but smile back. His grin was infectious as he continued to pepper my hand with light kisses.

"You're beautiful," he whispered softly.

I gasped lightly when he tugged my hand toward him, causing me to fall forward against his broad chest. His cologne enveloped me—it was distinctly masculine yet gentle, a scent that wasn't overpowering but lingered deeply in my senses. He wrapped me in a tight embrace, holding me as if I might disappear.
I should've been the one doing this.

I should've been the one holding him tightly because he had been gone for so long, and perhaps he was only visiting me in my dreams.

Unable to resist any longer, I hugged him tightly in return. I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in his smooth, fragrant neck, feeling the warmth of my tears soaking his skin.

"You're always beautiful to me, Sarah. Never forget that," he reassured me gently.

I nodded repeatedly, still clinging to him. Whenever I was with Raf, my walls came crumbling down. No matter how strong I tried to appear, every emotional barrier I had built seemed to shatter in his presence.