Dancing On Thin Ice // KTH

Chapter 93

TAEHYUNG

"Ca--"

I ran out the door, stumbling over my feet. The air was hotter in the hallway, and it gathered like sweat on my bare skin.

The small blonde young woman was steadying herself along the wall, head ducked.

"Ah... ugh--" Sounds of vomiting erupted from her bent body.

I rushed forwards, gently grabbing her by the shoulders from behind.

"Hey, you okay? Do you need--" I began, but she shoved me off roughly.

"Shut up." She snapped, wiping her lips.

I shut up.

Glancing at the small splash of clear puke on the ground, I frowned. She hadn't eaten anything today. Just drank. Her worn face was angry. A wrinkle formed above her nose. Disgusted. By me.

And then a tear trickled from her dull eye down along her pale cheek.

And then she turned and doubled over, puking once again.

I stood there, frozen and restless just by looking at her beautiful figure right in front of me. Even though she was puking. Part of me wanted to cry like a baby, part of me wanted to kiss her and hug her so damn hard it'd make up for the two years we spent away from each other.

But I know how much she'd hate either of those things.

And I don't really blame her.

"I hate you. You know that right?" Her eyes glistened as she spoke with a sneer in her tone.

I stiffened. I couldn't breathe. It felt like someone was squeezing my chest. I tried to keep my voice steady, I didn't want to get angry.

"Look Carmela, I--"

"Don't say my name, and don't you dare come near me."

"Please, I just wanna--" I stepped forward, reaching for her fingers.

"Don't touch me!" She cried, another tear releasing.

She shoved me away again. My hair fell into my face and I stood there staring at the floor, hooded eyes darkening. The alcohol and the drug fired up inside my blood and that dreary, sluggish feeling came back to me.

"Don't touch you?" My voice was low. I looked up at her. "Don't touch you?"

Her heavy breaths shook as more tears pooled in her angry, disgusted eyes.

"You... you don't want me to touch you, baby?"

She stiffened, subtly gulping. I stepped closer, my shadow blanketing her face as I towered over her.

"Tell me, Carmela-- sorry, my bad. Tell me, girl. Tell me you don't think about me all day, dream about me all night, just like I do--"

Her hand flew out, and my cheek and lip stung with the impact of her slap. I scoffed, licking my top lip.

"Don't you dare--" She said quietly.

"Oh, come on. Please don't push me away." I took a step closer, but she... she didn't step back.

I was surprised and satisfied but something boiled inside of me, licking me with flames. I was angry as hell at her... although I wasn't really sure why. Maybe because it hurt to witness the reality of her rejection. But that didn't matter. What mattered right now was Carmela was right here. And she hated me.

I stepped even closer until we were almost touching, her quick breaths tapping against my collar bone.

"Do you... do you remember what I said to you one time?" I asked softly, my words a scramble of breaths.

She was slient. Her eyes shifted upwards and met mine.

"I can read you like a book." I lowered my tilted head, my mouth almost touching the skin of her neck. "And you, Carmela Lee..."

"... still can't resist me..."

My lips spoke against her neck, and I heard her suck in a sharp breath. I parted my mouth, inching closer and closer to her soft skin. My body urged me forwards, begging me to bite into the pleasure of tasting her again.

But I stopped.

And withdrew.

Carmela's eyes were shut tight, and her cheeks gleamed with fresh tears.

"What's this?" I asked quietly with a smirk.

She abruptly opened her eyes and jerked away from me. Her blinking eyes flitted around, as if she'd just awoken from some kind of dream or daze.

I watched her, amused. It felt good... getting so near her.

"I thought you were afraid of me." I said.

Her cheeks were flushed and her lips were thin as she angrily glanced at my hard stare. I bet she felt embaressed and mad as fuck right now. She let me get to her. Which, of course, was exactly what I was aiming for.

"I hate you! I'm not scared of you." She spat.

I felt my expression fall to the floor in sync with my heart. But I brought it back up again, twisted with anger.

"You better be careful." I spoke with a growl. "A drunk, angry, heartbroken man... is capable of doing anything. Isn't that right, Carmela?"

"WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP?"

I jumped a little at her shout, the bare skin on my back tingling.

"YOU... OH GOD, YOU ARE A MONSTER! A RAPIST! A FUCKING MURDERER! I wish I'd NEVER have to see your DISGUSTING face again! But I... I have to do this for Jules. I have to--" She sobbed.

"You have to what? Kill me?" I asked.

Her face twitched into several different expressions, before setting into a haunting one. One that almost made me look away from her stare.

"If need be, then yes." She pursed her lips.