My heart bleeds on paper

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT - OGOCHUKWU'S POV

Being able to cook for Ala was something i never anticipated quite soon. I believed it would happen eventually but it happening so fast was not something i foresaw. Not just me but Ayo and Zainab when i called to ask what her favourite food was because she was coming over.

We are in the kitchen and she is watching me prepare the meal. I know i am a good cook but she hasn't tasted my cooking before, but i have a feeling that she would love it seeing how she enthusiastically tells me to cook for her even when she hates onions. 

I enjoy how she watches me cook, maybe it's the way she is filled with little smiles whenever she gets a whiff of the aroma, plus i could feel her gaze on me whenever i took my eyes off her.

I chuckled at her failed attempt to be subtle, continuing to slice the onions while I could feel her gaze burning into my side. I didn't have to look to know she was staring. There was something about the way her silence stretched thin.

"Did you know that I can see your body from what you're wearing?" she spoke, and from the way she seemed surprised i could tell she word-vomited again. She always voices things she doesn't intend and i do not know why i find it endearing.

I didn't even glance at her. Let her have her fun. "Mmm," I murmured, focusing on my work. If she wanted to look, that was on her. Who am i to stop her from admiring what is hers.

"Your answer is quite loose," she said, questioning my indifference. "Does it mean you don't mind that you could make people sin with their eyes?"

The directness of her words stirred something in me, and I couldn't help but smirk. Honestly? I didn't mind at all. It was her, after all. She could look if she wanted. But I didn't say anything; she would have to figure that out for herself.

My body, unintentional as it was, was obviously doing its work. I didn't miss the way her breath caught when I lifted my hand to shift her gaze, slowly guiding her eyes to meet mine.

"As long as it's you," I whispered softly, my lips hovering dangerously close to hers, "sin all you want. The body is yours anyways."

God. What was I doing? The feel of her staring at me like that... The temptation to pull her close felt overwhelming, but I held back just enough, watching her blush furiously as her lips parted. She looked so damn flustered.

Before I could process it, she pulled away, clattering around, saying something about helping with the onions. Like I hadn't seen her slip out of that trance.

I tried not to grin, not wanting to further mess with her head, but it was hard not to—everything about her, from the nervous energy she was radiating to the way her fingers trembled as she gripped the knife... It made me want to get closer.

I left her to the onions task and went to check on the food on fire. I watched her as she was cutting the onions slowly as if being careful not to hurt her fingers. I smiled to myself and kept watching. I diverted my attention to my phone to check on Ayo when i heard something drop. It was the onion she was to cut.

She stood frozen. Her movements stilled. Her breathing became shallow, laboured. A sudden sense of dread crawled under my skin. I watched as she moved the knife to her wrist and i dashed for her, dread settling in my belly. "Ala" i called but it seemed she couldn't hear me.

I noticed her struggle with the knife on her skin, her eyes looked hollow - she's having a panic attack, and then it struck me; the reason she didn't want to eat at home. I couldn't watch her struggle with herself anymore. Without hesitation, I gently reached for her, disarming her hold on the knife, watching her whole demeanor shift. She was hyperventilating, though I don't think she even realised it yet.