Anastasia

38

"It doesn't matter if I stand alone. If there is a place to stand, I will produce results."

"Tell me your worst fears." Zachary spoke, pulling Ana's attention away from her screen. It's a Sunday, and they've been in the library for quite a while now. Ana was just completing setting up her Google form to send out to her peers. Upon hearing the question, her shoulders immediately stiffened; her previously busy fingers tapping away on the keypad are now frozen in place, hovering above the letters.

She tried to remain calm. "Why do you want to know?" she kept her tone inquisitive and light, hoping that he couldn't point out the underlying tone of wariness.

"Well. You've been hearing lots of things about me, and I haven't heard much about you. It isn't fair for me, you know." he joked, and turned his palms towards the table. "You don't have to share, of course. I'm not forcing you or anything. I'm just laying down my honest opinions."

She knew exactly what Zachary meant; of course he isn't going to force her, but he wants to know something about her. He is playing a mind game with her. Ultimately, it's her choice. Yet, out of all things, it just has to be her fears.

"For the record, you chose to share your problems with me...but it's fine. I'll do it anyway. What do you want to know about my fears?" she withdrew her fingers away from her keypad, supporting her head with her hand. It didn't occur to Zachary that she would agree so easily to his question. He thought that she would just reject him right away, and tell him off that it was a ridiculous question to ask. However, since she agreed, it would be worth a try.

"Just share whatever you're comfortable with." he spread his hands in an inviting manner, leaning back in his seat while he listened to what she has to say.

"Well, let's start with the basics. But," she paused, staring at him with a warning glint in her eyes. "You have to promise me that you will not laugh, nor judge. Neither can you use these fears against me. Because if you do, you will be very, very sorry." the glint in her eyes have now been reduced to a darkened look on her face. It was amusing to see how animated Ana looked when her expression changed so quickly.

"I promise I won't." he made a cross over his heart, which didn't convince Ana at all. She held out her fist, pinkie jutted out.

"Promise me."

"Childish move, but sure." he teased, hooking his pinkie with hers with a firm grip. Pulling away, she stared at her knees, processing what he had said earlier. She smirked. I see.

"Everyone has fears of their own, so do I. Spiders and cockroaches are one of them. On a deeper level, I fear large crowds and dark, confined spaces...that's about it." she ended with a dead panned tone, hinting to Zachary to not question further. Even if he did, she will divert the question. It's her choice to answer anyway, right? Her mouth, her words. No one shall reign control over her.

Apparently Zachary was being the dumbass he always was. "How about on a deeper deeper level? Like, love? Friendships? Being alone?"

She just gave him a simple smile of her own.

"Fine." he gestured to her computer, and leaned forward, pretending to bury himself in his work. Ana seemed to brush it off, but she seemed slightly unsettled by his question. Admittedly, it did take her off guard. She tried to understand his sudden question about fears, but she couldn't come up of a legitimate reason for it. The nearest she could think of would be either his burning curiosity, or her gut feeling telling her that he might use it against her, whatever he's been planning underneath that pretty brown curls.