sorry for the late update, guys! enjoy!
***
Cassian stared at me like I was an alien.
"No." His arms crossed over his chest, slowly he moved backwards and I mentally groaned.
"I'll scream that you snatched my top and threw it far, far away." I shouldn't have smirked in this situation, but I did anyway.
Cassian looked mortified and ready to strangle me.
"Fine," he grumbled out and dived into the pool. He swam underwater and came up for air at some times. I reminded myself to wrap my arms around my exposed chest, or else my goods will be shown by spectators.
At last, he found my top and gave it to me. But I realized that I sucked at tying the strings and needed Isis' help. Well, the girl wasn't here now.
"Now, help me tie the strings." I struggled to breathe out and faced my back towards him. I heard him groaning and finally adjusted the strings.
His rough fingers accidentally rubbed my backbone and I almost flinched away. He must have noticed my tremble, though. I heard him sucking his breath and continued trying. Unspeakable, hot tensions flew around us, yet I tried to stay still when his thumb brushed my underside breast. Now, I flinched directly.
"Sorry, I never tied a woman's," he cleared his throat, "top before. So, forgive me."
His apology sounded sincere and my stiff shoulders sagged slowly. Eventually, we were safe when not many people got out of the pool and wandered around. I thanked Cassian quietly, it felt weird if I thanked him out loud for this.
I gazed upon him and our eyes met in a brief moment, swallowing all those awkward and intimate moments earlier. We got out of the pool and he handed me a white, fluffy towel from the bench. I wrapped it around my body tightly, droplets of water dripping from my hair made it a little wet around my neck. We kinda tiptoed on the ground and walked around the secret back door of the pool area. I creaked open the door and heard muffled voices inside. I gestured to the door and let Cassian know my intention. He nodded and I pushed the door.
There was a small garden here and it seemed hidden from the students. There was a small door again, and muffled sounds came from there. We silently walked closer and pressed our ears on the wooden door.
"Smurfette, it seems like we're gonna be stuck for at least an hour."
I knew that voice. Especially the nickname.
"Stop calling me Smurfette and you better crash the door right now."
A chuckle escaped from Zen's lips.
"No can do, it's the hotel's property. I'm broke as fuck to pay for the damage."
Oh, he cursed and I could hear him smirking from here. From what I gathered around the school, Zen was loaded for sure.
"Yeah, right. Like I would believe you."
I could hear Isis scoffing at the thought.
"Aw, are you pouting?"
I heard a slap.
"Stop it! Can you see that I hate your presence?! Are you blind?"
"I wonder why..."
"You wonder why?! You stole my one last standing tteokbokki out of my sight, I was hungry as hell! You tripped me in the empty hallway after school where no one saw me and I landed my butt hard on the ground! I also knew that you said something bad to Rheanne before the trip!"
The sound of a tick-tock bomb emerged from my mind.
"Well... I haven't made myself clear."
"What?"
"I did that, because... I like you."
I choked on my saliva.
Cassian looked at me with concern.
I gave him a sign.
It's time.
Cassian slammed his body on the door and it crashed on the ground.
It's time to open the door, I meant.
A red-faced Isis and whistling Zen came to our vision. There was no handprint on Zen's cheek, thankfully.
"I swear I didn't listen." Welp, I just blew my cover. Way to go, Rheanne.
I could sense that Cassian was about to roll his eyes.
Isis and Zen parted ways, more like Isis avoiding him as quickly as possible and dragging me along with her away from the guys.
Her blush crept onto her neck as well, might as well go along onto her body.
They went back into their hotel room and Isis relaxed a little when she flopped on the bed.
Isis put her finger in front of her lips; "Don't ask."
I zipped my lips mentally but wiggled my eyebrows teasingly.
She groaned and flipped her face on the pillow, air-punching while air-kicking too.
The time ticked fast as we spent the rest of the trip wandering around and of course, listening to the teacher's lectures. Until it was time to bid goodbye to Shuwei. The misty Shuwei, the locals called.
The bus was eerily quiet. Isis with her penetrating look at her front and Zen with his penetrating look towards Isis' back. I completely forgot Katarin and Eugene because of the pool incident and they were hanging out like birds. They kept exploring one place and another, at ten times the speed. Cassian, well, Cassian being Cassian as always.
I slept for the remaining time at our school and it was nighttime when we arrived safely.
I nudged Isis to wake her up and she rubbed her eyes roughly to lighten her eyes. We walked out from the bus with careful steps, because the exit was overflowing with students and parents fetching their own.
My house was nearby and my brother was probably busy in his office, but I was worried when Isis stated that she had no one to accompany her. Zen quickly swooped in as if she stated it to him. He picked up her luggage with his, erm, guns and they raced like a victim chasing a thief.
"You're fugly! I hate you!" Isis screamed.
"Thank you, I love you too!" Zen yelled back and laughed.
I became relieved and started to walk. The sound of footsteps became clearer when someone walked beside me. With unmistakable green eyes and brown hair, we walked side by side and I smiled in gratitude.
We stopped at my door and I thanked him.
"We have the same path," he scratched his ears and I suddenly noticed his noticeable red ears.
That should be his version of blushing, I guessed.
I gave him a big wave and he only gave me his back.
I was smiling the entire time I dreamt in my sleep.
***
"I think we have to stock up on your favourite snacks." I pulled out a Dorito bag and placed it into the supermarket trolley.
My brother sighed; "I rarely eat snacks, you know." He put the Dorito bag back and pushed the trolley to another section.
It was Friday today and we settled on to buy groceries in the evening. Today was also an odd day because when I approached Zen, he seemed a little off and brushed me off when I asked questions about the hellhound incident. He was pretty strange, but it was better to not know more than we had been given to see.
"Oh, come on. Snacks are pretty tasty too," I shoved a bag of random chips inside the trolley and spun around to watch my brother's approval. But all he did was shake his head and blushed.
"Brother, I hope you're not sick." I was pretty sure I had a sad face right now.
"No, it's just um- I've been noticing this girl. She's so cool and responsible. She didn't procrastinate and always came to work on time with her oat milk every day. She was absent today, though." My brother tended to blurt out his words when he was nervous and now I just wanted to snort.
"Ray, you fell hard and deep. Go shoot your shot?" I offered.
"Yeah, like that's going to be what I will do later." His voice dripped with sarcasm.
Yeah, he fell hook, line and sinker.
I needed someone's help, but who?
My eyes wandered around the supermarket and spotted a familiar figure and familiar clothes. An idea instantly clicked in my mind.
"Cassian, hey!" I waved.
His eyes roamed around me and fixed on my gaze. I gulped and walked towards him.
He inclined his head and muttered, "What are you doing here?"
I became perplexed.
"What else? Buying groceries, of course." I chuckled.
His face remained the same and I frowned.
I think it was time to shoot my plan.
"I need your help." I blurted.
You weren't supposed to ask like this, Rheanne!
Cassian made a puzzled look, "what-"
In an instant, people were screaming and the supermarket became hectic. Some of the carts went flying towards the floor and people were collapsing through the aisles.
"What- what happened?" I panicked and Cassian guided me to a safe place.
"A terrorist."
I gasped.
"In daylight?!" I wailed. I realized my brother was nowhere in my sight.
"My brother!" I yelled.
"No time-"
A hand clutched my arm roughly and Cassian's warm body disappeared from my back.
Someone slammed his front body, whom I assumed was a male since I felt no boobs. A sharp knife appeared around my throat and I screamed.
I alerted some of the crowd in front of me and I saw Cassian's eyes open wide. Unfortunately, my brother was not around the crowd.
"I'll slice her throat if anyone's moving." Cassian got it wrong, he was just a mere person who was desperate for I didn't know what.
The male clasped my wrists so tight, I thought my veins would burst but I tried my best to keep calm and let the thumping heartbeat of mine subsided.
I kept reciting, 'Why is this happening to me?' several times, but I guessed that I was just in an unlucky situation with pure luck.
If I were Cassian, seeing myself in this dangerous situation, my brain would lag crazily and I would sob. But still, I didn't know.
I could see terror and 'Why is this happening to me' in his eyes as well. He calmly assessed the situation and the supermarket became deserted as time passed by.
Cassian took two steps towards me, and the guy gave me a small cut around my throat. Cassian stopped and I winced out of pain. I wished I peed myself and the guy would take a look at it and scrambled away due to its disgusting smell.
"Stop moving or I'll hurt her!" The guy roared, vigorously yanking my torso.
Cassian took this chance, he grasped me before the guy reacted. But he ended up getting a big slash from the knife around his face.
I gasped and managed to tone down my scream. He tugged my hand and we ran like our lives depend on it. The guy followed us and the police captured him right on time outside the supermarket. I breathed a sense of relief when my brother came into my peripheral vision.
"Brother!" I called, my feet walking to him while Cassian took this chance to back away from me. I succeeded in grasping his shirt and he reluctantly followed me.
"Are you alright, Rhea?" His worries dispersed when he saw me unharmed.
I nodded and hugged him tightly.
I was beginning to sense that Cassian might leave, so I gripped his hand and invited him over to our house.
Cassian and my brother agreed, but one of them was going unwillingly. We used our groceries to cook some easy dishes and of course, the cook in charge was my brother.
After some budging, Cassian started to dig in and I could hear a moan coming from his mouth. Boys will be boys, I thought. My brother was no different, he devoured like a starving gorilla.
After eating and washing the dishes, we steered to the living room and sighed at the hearty meal. Cassian stood up and approached the door, "thank you for inviting me here..."
My brother smiled. "It's Rayden and no worries." My brother stood beside Cassian, "Oh, and thank you for saving my sister. I'll treat you to more delicious meals."
Cassian grimaced. "It was unnecessary, but any other time then." Cassian greeted us and disappeared through the door.
My brother faced me.
"So..."
"No comment!" I sprinted up the stairs and threw myself into my bed.
I wasn't ready to tell my brother about Cassian more, he would ask more questions and I was afraid I could blurt it out and bring more confusion.
Well, all about Cassian was complicated and full of wonders. He always acted like he was free from shackles, totally a freedom guy.
I wondered, how was I going to persuade myself to be my muse in my fantasy romance book.
***
so, how'd you feel about this chapter?
something exciting is coming! yaaaaay!