How I Wish

CHAPTER IX

.

Chapter IX

Lifting my head from the floor, I narrowed my eyes at the stranger staring down at me in wide eyed shock.

I noticed immediately that he was gorgeous with chin-length golden-brown hair, framed with two sun kissed locks of blonde. He had bold features - stressed by high cheekbones, an angular chin, and perfectly shaped brows. But it was his eyes that captured and held my attention.

They were a startingly bright blue, uplifted by an inner light that glowed like sun brushed gems.

And right now, they look horrified.

Wincing at his expression, I ducked my head - but not before catching a glimpse of his lean figure dressed in a sunny orange tunic and deep navy pants

"Shit, I didn't mean to scare you - I thought you knew I was here. Here, let me help you up." His gruff voice washed over me, his previous impatience replaced by an almost guilty tone, and I flinched as a hand landed on my shoulder. 'Sorry." He murmured from right beside me, and I caught a hint of soft sage before I lifted my eyes.

The stranger was kneeling beside me, gathering up my fallen supplies and I blushed at seeing him cleaning up my clumsy mess. Rising to my knees, I ignored the throbbing at the base of my skull and neck and started helping him.

Once we had gathered my things between us, he helped me to my feet with a gentle hand, and this time I managed to only wince slightly in reaction to his touch.

But thankfully he seemed oblivious, more focused on ensuring I was steady before dropping his hand and turned to face me.

"Yeah, like I said - I'm sorry 'bout that." Rubbing the back of his neck, he smiled at me sheepishly and I couldn't help but be charmed by his apology.

"It's okay, I guess I wasn't paying attention and failed to see you." I offered, making him brighten up, his stance straightening until he was stood almost half a head taller than me.

"Okay then, well I'm Gabriel Coleman and I'm here to escort you to dinner." Smiling widely, he performed a short bow that had my eyes widening until I saw the humorous glint to his eyes and relaxed.

"N-nice to meet you Gabriel, I'm S-Sang." Blushing when he winked one luminous eye at me, I fought not to duck my head, or worse - giggle.

"Well Sang, it's a pleasure to fucking meet you too. Shall we return to your quarters so I can help you do something with that gawd awful rats' nest on your head? I advise that you let me fix you up, as I highly doubt you want to be meeting the others looking like that." I could only blink at his question - unsure whether to be horrified or offended by his offer.

Was he joking?

"No, I'm being deadly serious." He rolled his eyes, and I winced at realising I had spoken out loud. "I can't in my right mind let you walk around with that mess you call hair, so I think we need to at least brush it since Healer Green said we couldn't wash it. Never mind that though, come on before someone fucking sees you." Shaking his head with a frown, he gestured for me to walk ahead of him, and I numbly stepped forward - my thoughts on the man who had just rudely insulted me - yet somehow, I wasn't actually offended.

Huh, maybe I was just so used to being insulted that hearing it from a new mouth didn't bother me.

Or maybe he was just being bluntly honest about my hair, and thus he wasn't actually insulting me.

Either way, by the time we reached my new quarters, a pain behind my eyes had started to form. Stepping inside my room, my eye caught on the bright yellow fabric, and I smiled at how the colour seemed to draw light into the room.