God of Mischief (Light of Obsession #2)

Chapter 12

Amelie

I wake up groggy and tired, rubbing my eyes as I feel the tangle of sheets beneath me. Oh, shit. This is so not my bed.

Scrambling off, I land with a thud on the floor. I hear a laugh echo from inside the apartment. I know that smug, stupid, 'annoying-enough-to-punch-in-the-face' laugh. Yutos laugh.

I pick myself off the floor, fixing up my disheveled state and trudging to the source of the sound.

"Hey," Yuto greets, smiling at me. There are small bandages on his arm. "How's the hangover?"

"Shit. What am I doing he-" I stop myself mid-sentence as the memories come rushing back. Me calling him pretty. Him taking care of me. The flush coats my face, turning it red.

"I would've taken you back to your shared dorm but... honestly, I wanted you here." He shrugs.

"You were so... kind." I state. He turns to me with an amused look.

"Yeah. But it's kind of the bare minimum."

"No, you didn't have to go over and take care of me. You... we hate each other. Why did you help?" I ask.

"I never hated you. And I don't think you hate me. I stand by what I said at the initiation, Kotyonok. You want me." He says, eyes baring into mine.

The moment hung in the air, thick with unspoken words and lingering tension. I felt the heat rush to my cheeks, and my heart raced as Yuto's gaze bore into mine — a mix of confidence and something softer that I couldn't quite place. This was the last thing I'd expected when I woke up not in the comfort of my own bed but in his apartment, nursing a hangover that rivaled any I'd experienced before.

"Yuto, I—" I started, my voice faltering. I glanced away, because looking into his eyes felt like staring directly into the sun. I could feel a storm of emotions brewing within me, and I'd spent far too long labeling him as my antagonist, the thorn in my side. Yet here he was, daring me to reconsider everything I thought I knew.

"You what, Amelie?" he prompted gently, tilting his head as if inviting me into his orbit. It was the kind of vulnerability that was so alien to him, and yet it held an undeniable allure.

"You can't just say things like that," I mumbled, feeling my heart race and twist. "I mean, I don't even know what you mean by it."

"Sure you do," he countered, his tone teasing, yet earnest. "You can't deny the chemistry between us. All those debates, the way we push each other's buttons? Tell me you haven't felt it."

I swallowed, trying to gather my thoughts. There was something overpowering about being this close to him, the scent of his cologne mingling with the smell of fresh coffee wafting from the kitchen. "Is that what you think? That it's chemistry?"

Yuto stepped closer, closing the space between us. "What else would it be? You're infuriating and brilliant, and I can't stand how much I find you interesting."

"Interesting?" I echoed incredulously, raising my eyebrows. "That sounds like an awful compliment."

"Yeah? Well, I'm no poet; I can't string together the perfect words. But I mean it. I was just as surprised as you are. I thought I hated you too, but I didn't realize that was a cover-up for what I really felt." His voice softened, a hint of sincerity threading through.

Something heavy settled in my stomach. How had we crossed this line? It felt surreal, like my dreams were colliding with reality in a way that could only end in chaos. "So you're saying you're attracted to me?" I asked outright, testing the waters.

Yuto chuckled softly, shaking his head as if he found amusement in the absurdity of the situation. "You know it's more than that. I think hidden beneath our back-and-forth is a genuine connection. We're both fierce, stubborn, and ambitious. It's no wonder we clash."

"I don't know, Yuto. Every fight feels more like spite than anything else," I replied, fumbling as I tried to deflect from the growing intensity of the moment.

"Maybe it does, but think about it: Every time we argue, it's because we care. You care how I see you. I care how you see me. It's why we're constantly at each other's throats," he insisted, the challenge in his eyes dancing. "Just like today, I wanted you to be safe. You deserve more than to be left alone to manage your hangover."

His words penetrated through the haze of confusion and uncertainty. The world around us started to fade, and I was left alone with him. My heart thudded wildly in my chest, and I felt both exhilarated and terrified.

"And what if I don't want to care?" I whispered, lowering my voice as if saying the words out loud would make them real.

"Why would you want that?" Yuto shot back, and for the first time, I heard frustration in his tone. "Don't pretend like you don't feel something. I saw the way you looked at me last night — the way you held onto my arm while we walked back from the party. You can't deny it."

Suddenly, all I could picture was myself, slightly tipsy and lost in the moment, leaning in to listen to him more closely, my heart fluttering as he deliberately teased me, brushing against my side. "I was drunk," I murmured, but even to my ears, it sounded weak.

"Does that mean the attraction wasn't there?" He stepped even closer, tilting his head down so his eyes were level with mine, momentarily silencing the steady thrum of my thoughts. "You're not that good of a liar, Amelie."

My stomach twisted as I wrestled with my own thoughts. The frustration of denying my feelings clawed at me, and suddenly, the walls crumbled. I stepped back, half-wanting to escape but also half-wanting to rush forward into whatever this was. "I don't wanna be a cliché," I admitted, and he raised an eyebrow.

"Clichés happen for a reason. I get it; you're scared. You don't want to admit it, but let yourself breathe, and maybe, just maybe, you'll see we fit together," he offered, the sincerity behind his eyes tangible.

Every nerve in my body buzzed. "And if we don't? If this is just a passing phase? You and I, in this moment... we could completely ruin everything."

Yuto laughed, a soft, genuine sound that cut through the tension. "What's stopping us from trying? Not everything has to come with a grand plan. Let go of the fear and embrace the moment."

The storm within me swirled endlessly, yet his presence was stabilizing. I considered everything we had gone through together — the late-night arguments, the way we had both challenged each other to be better. Perhaps by allowing this connection, I might find myself in a way I hadn't anticipated.

Stepping closer, I surrendered to the pull I had fought so hard to resist. "Fine. But we move slowly," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, nerves bubbling beneath the surface.

"Deal," he replied immediately, the grin returning to his face. In an instant, the air felt charged, laden with anticipation.

With my heart pounding in resonance, I breached the final distance between us, capturing the moment before it disappeared. I found myself leaning in, and he met me halfway, the warmth of his breath mingling with mine.

The kiss was tentative, hesitant as our lips touched, a spark igniting between us. It was everything I had feared and hoped for simultaneously, a rush of warmth that spread from my center outwards.

When we finally pulled away, both breathless, I looked up into his eyes, my resolve wavering. "What now?"

Yuto chuckled, brushing some hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my cheek. "Now? We take it one day at a time."

In that moment, uncertainty transformed into possibility — it was exhilarating. Perhaps this was how it was meant to be. "Okay. I can do that," I murmured, our hands meeting as our fingers intertwined.

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A/N:
Cutiessss! Don't worry, their story is far from being over. There's a lot more hurdles.
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