For Me,There Is Only You |18+|

34. Answers

I had been standing at the threshold of Ansel's study for over five minutes, wrestling with my indecision.

The late-night silence pressed down on me, amplifying my hesitation.

Taking a deep breath, I finally mustered the courage to knock. Just as my knuckles were about to touch the wood, the door swung open. Instead, my fist collided with Ansel's chest, making me jump back in surprise.

Ansel stood there, his expression a blend of surprise and concern. "I thought you might stand there forever or just leave," he said, running his fingers through his damp hair. "So, I decided to come get you myself."

The first two buttons of his black shirt were undone, revealing a glimpse of his glistening, toned chest. I swallowed hard and quickly averted my gaze, feeling a flush creep up my cheeks.

"Come in, amina," Ansel said, stepping aside to make room for me, seemingly oblivious to my internal turmoil.

With a sigh, I walked inside, and he gently shut the door behind me. "You knew I was standing outside?" I asked, glancing over my shoulder at him.

He nodded slightly as he walked past me toward his work table. "I can sense your presence anywhere, amina," he said, locking eyes with me. "Besides, your heart was racing. It was clear you were conflicted about coming in."

He knew me too well.

I sighed again, letting my gaze wander around the room. The study was typical of its kind, brimming with bookshelves packed with ancient tomes and manuscripts.

The air was thick with the scent of aged paper and leather, a comforting yet overwhelming aroma.

Ansel took a seat at his cluttered work table, which was strewn with various types of old books and maps, some of which seemed to have been recently pored over.

He watched me quietly, his gaze steady and patient, giving me space to gather my thoughts.

"Did I disturb you?" I asked, noting the disarray of his work table. "You seem rather occupied."

He shook his head slightly, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "You're never a disturbance, Neev. This can wait."

Blinking slowly at his words, I turned my face towards the bookshelf to my left, hiding my expression from him.

I traced the line of books with my finger, collecting a small speck of dust at the tip. "If I ask you what you were searching for in those books, are you going to tell me the truth?" I asked, glancing at him over my shoulder.

He frowned slightly at my question. "I was looking at the locations of nexuses mentioned in ancient texts and trying to figure out their positions on current maps," he replied, his voice steady.

"Oh," I nodded, absorbing the information.

"But why did you ask if I was going to tell you the truth?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Did you think I was going to lie to you?"

I exhaled deeply, feeling a knot of frustration and uncertainty tighten in my chest. "It's just... sometimes it feels like there's so much you're not telling me. Like you're keeping me in the dark about things that matter."

Ansel stood up from his chair, his expression earnest. "Neev, I never meant to make you feel that way. I just didn't want to burden you with more worries."

I turned to face him fully, searching his eyes for the sincerity I desperately needed to see.

"Maybe you think you're doing things out of consideration, Ansel, but honestly, your 'consideration' is suffocating. I know I'm an outsider, but I still have a right to know the truths. I was dragged into this world unwillingly, and now I'm entangled in it."