Nikolai had always been captivated by birds. Their elegant wings, the way they soared effortlessly through the sky-it was a kind of beauty that never ceased to amaze him.
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He often watched them from his window, imagining what i...
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CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
You took a moment to gather yourself after the unexpected collision, shaking your head to clear the stars from your vision. As your eyes fluttered open, you found yourself staring at the striking figure before you. His bright orange hair framed his face, falling just past his shoulder, while his sharp blue eyes scrutinized you with a mix of annoyance and curiosity.
"Watch where you're going..." he mumbled, his tone clipped. You could feel the irritation radiating off him, but you were too busy fuming to care about his grumpiness.
You crossed your arms, your wings instinctively tightening against your sides as you tried to regain your composure. "I didn't see you there," you shot back, your voice more defensive than you intended. Your ego was far too inflated to even think about apologizing for bumping into him.
The man's brow furrowed slightly, and he took a step closer, sizing you up with an expression that was half irritation and half intrigue. "You need to pay more attention, bird girl. This isn't a playground."
You felt your cheeks heat at the nickname, a flicker of annoyance igniting within you. "Don't call me that," you snapped, trying to suppress the flare of frustration that threatened to escape.
He tilted his head, an amused smirk curling at the corners of his lips. "Why not? It suits you. Those wings of yours are hard to miss."
You huffed, not willing to back down from his taunts. "And what's it to you, huh? You think you can just stroll around acting like you own the place?"
His smirk widened, and he leaned back slightly, crossing his arms over his chest in a way that made you feel small. "I do own this place, in a sense," he replied, his arrogance oozing through every word. "I'm Chuuya Nakahara, and you're in my territory."
"Great, I'm thrilled," you replied dryly, rolling your eyes. You could feel the tension rising between you, and despite the annoyance he stirred in you, you were oddly intrigued.
Chuuya's demeanor shifted, the playful edge dropping slightly as he took a more serious tone. "Look, I'm not here to make friends or play nice. You're in a part of town that isn't always friendly to people with wings."
You raised an eyebrow, taken aback by his unexpected insight. "What do you care? You're just a stranger."
"Strangers can still look out for others, you know," he said, his expression softening just a fraction. "Just trying to help."
Your initial anger faded slightly, replaced by curiosity. "Help? By calling me bird girl?"
Chuuya shrugged, a hint of a smirk still playing on his lips. "It's a title, not an insult. At least you're memorable."
You couldn't help but chuckle, despite yourself. "Memorable, huh? That's one way to put it."
"Exactly." He gestured dramatically with his hands. "But seriously, watch your back. Not everyone out here is as friendly as I am."
