The air grew thick. Each breath felt like inhaling air mixed with her scent—shampoo fragrance, a hint of nervous sweat, and something purely hers that was addictive.
"You..." she suddenly spoke, breaking the silence. "Why are you so nice to me?"
My hand paused.
Why?
Because I want you. Because you've made me feel interested for the first time in ten years. Because there's defiance in those green eyes I want to conquer...
But I couldn't say that.
"Maybe because," I looked up, meeting her eyes, "you're worth it."
Her eyes widened, those beautiful green eyes flashing with shock, confusion, and a hint of what I hoped to see—attraction.
"I..." She opened her mouth as if to speak, but finally just looked down. "I'm not worth it."
That statement made me frown.
"Why say that?"
"Because I..." She bit her lip. "I'm nobody. Just a failure who can't even finish an internship, living in a dump, can't even afford food..."
Her voice grew smaller, carrying bone-deep insecurity.
That insecuritystung me.
Somehow, seeing her like this stirred a strange emotion—not pity or sympathy, but an urge to protect her, to tell her she was more valuable than she thought.
"Anna," I said her name, voice gentler than usual.
She looked up, eyes teary.
I reached out, thumb gently wiping the tear from her eye corner. Her skin was so soft, like the finest silk, feeling so good I wanted more.
"You're not nobody," I stared into her eyes, speaking each word clearly. "At least to me, you're special."
"Special?" She repeated, voice uncertain.
"Yeah," my thumb still rested on her cheek, feeling her skin's warmth. "Special enough that I want to chat with you at midnight, special enough that I want to see you, special enough..."
I paused, gaze dropping to her slightly parted lips.
"Special enough that I want to kiss you."
The air instantly froze.
Her breathing stopped, eyes widening like a startled deer. I could see her pupils dilating, emotions shifting in her eyes—shock, nervousness, fear, and... anticipation.
We moved closer together.
I could feel her breath on my face—warm, rapid, trembling. I could see every subtle expression—lips pale with nervousness, lashes lowered in shyness, chin tilted up slightly like a silent invitation.
My hand slid from her cheek to the back of her neck, feeling the delicate skin and racing pulse there. She didn't pull away; instead, she leaned forward slightly, as if drawn by an invisible force.
"Tell me," my voice deepened, almost whispering against her lips. "Do you want me to stop?"
She drew a shaky breath, those green eyes looking straight at me.
