Destiny or Coincidence (AlanxJeff) VI

Reckoning

Dedicated to: Cstlekd 💖😋

Jeff

The first thing I notice is his scent. That delightful aroma of spring, cedar, and mint. This scent always fills me with a warmth that envelops me, a sense of comfort I had never experienced before. It was like being home, but at the same time, something about it made my heart race, making me feel as if it might leap out of my chest at any moment. It was an overwhelming contrast: the peace his presence gave me and the unease caused by his mere proximity.

I inhaled more deeply, wanting to cling to that fragrance, wishing to feel him even closer. Then I realized... something was out of place. My arm was around something warm, something soft, but it was definitely not a pillow. That warmth... that closeness. I opened my eyes abruptly, panic immediately speeding up my thoughts. I sat up with a start, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it was echoing in my ears. "I don't sleep with anyone," I repeated internally, "never." And yet, there he was. Alan.

I looked around, blinking in confusion. The room seemed familiar, but at that moment everything was blurry, as if I were seeing my life from another perspective, like a spectator. The walls, the furniture... yes, it was my room.

"It's your room," Alan said in a soft, sleepy voice that, despite its calmness, carried a mischievous tone. He looked at me with a smile he could barely contain. "How do you feel?"

My room. Of course, I recognized the blankets, the mess on my desk. But... why was he here? My brain took a moment to process what I was seeing. "What are you doing in my room?" I asked, trying to sound firm, but my voice barely held its composure. "Last night... what happened last night?" I quickly asked myself, my mind racing in a thousand directions. What did I do? What the heck did I do?

Alan sat up slowly, his amused expression turning more serious as he looked at me intently. "Don't you remember what you did last night?"

I swallowed, trying to remember. "The last thing I remember is having a couple of drinks of punch..." (to give me courage... I thought) "and then... did we come home together?" I desperately searched my memory, but everything was a whirlwind. Blurry images. Smiles. Nothing clear. What did I do? At least, I felt a bit relieved to realize I was still fully clothed.

"Not remembering doesn't exempt you from the consequences," Alan said with a seriousness that made my stomach churn. Consequences. The word echoed in my mind like a weighty echo. I looked at him, his expression growing more intense, his eyes piercing into mine.

"Consequences?" I repeated, more anxious. Did I embarrass him? Did I say something I shouldn't have? Terror gripped me.

"Yes. Do you remember our 'special contract'? The conditions and the consequences of breaking it," Alan raised an eyebrow, the tension in the air growing.

"We'll sue each other for everything we have," I recited automatically. The contract. The agreement we had made about physical contact. But was he serious now?

"Exactly," he said, his tone a bit more relaxed but still with that spark of mischief in his eyes. "You asked what I was doing in your room. Well, last night, after carrying you from the car and trying to leave you in your bed without waking you, you hugged me so tightly it was impossible to let go. Even when you seemed deeply asleep, every time I moved, you hugged me again, holding on tighter. You even threw your legs over me, like I was a pillow."

My eyes widened. "No, no... that's not possible. I... I don't... I don't like sleeping with anyone," I stammered, my voice trembling as I felt the heat rising to my face. "Please, ground, swallow me now!" I pleaded internally.

Alan laughed softly, amused by my panic. "Well, do you remember how you woke up? You were hugging me pretty tightly," he said flirtatiously, raising an eyebrow with a mischievous smile.