Ugh. Kids and their incessant questions. Why didn’t he just fall asleep, listen to the radio or I don’t know, ask about my dead cat? I DON’T KNOW.Anythingbut this.
“Why are you asking?”
“Am I not allowed to?”
“That’s not what I said but I don’t understand where your curiosity stems from.”
“You didn’t seem very happy about that deal with him.” He scrunches his nose. “If it’s that terrible for you then don’t do anything. I’ll figure out how to escape the Keytons. You don’t need to go to such lengths for me.”
The sound of crunching leather under my fingers echoes in the vehicle. He flinches as I stare him down.
“Don’t ever say something like that again,” I snap. “I will never let you deal with this alone.Never. Do you hear me?”
He nods. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize if you don’t know what you did wrong.”
I’m being too harsh on him. I can tell by the manner in which he shies away from me. Fuck, I don’t want him to fear me. The tension in my shoulders eases and my muscles relax when a faint smile shines through his obvious distress.
“So, what’s it about?”
I want to slam my head on the steering wheel but getting into an accident because of something as silly just isn’t worth the damage.
17
Visha
He stares at the road clearly avoiding the question.
Is it so personal that he can’t tell me?
He yawns and glances at me through the mirror. “It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with.”
He doesn’t look like he wants to talk about it. He definitely won’t answer any more questions, and I don’t want to anger him again by pushing it, so I remain silent the rest of the drive.
Aoi’s side profile is majestic. He’s genuinely mesmerizing. Pale skin, deep blue eyes, a soft straight nose, small but full lips and his jawline is defined but he still has plump cheeks.
His lashes flutter with each blink, and I find myself strangely entranced by the sight. He doesn’t pay me any attention as he’s transfixed on the road.
It’s already pretty dark outside. I can’t be bothered to check the time, but I’m guessing it must be at least midnight. My body keeps telling me to shut up and close my eyes, but I want to keep watching Aoi drive.
A song comes up on the radio and it makes his lips curl into a faded smile. Oh, so he likes this song?
As if out of reflex I take a look at the screen indicatingNot strong enoughby Boygenius. I don’t know the song, never heard it before but I know from this night on I will listen to it whenever I can.
The blue of his eyes darkens as the singer sings 'always an angel, never a God. I don’t know why I am the way I am'.
He looks so conflicted with himself, and I want to reach out to comfort him. But then I realize that he probably didn’t mean to let me see him experiencing raw feelings out in the open. He doesn’t cry, doesn’t utter a word but his eyes tell a whole story in the blink of the night.
As we arrive, I pretend to be asleep, and let him carry me up to the apartment. It’s a hassle to keep the act up and not expose myself but Aoi’s so kind. Maybe even too kind. So generous that he’d let the world hurt him without fighting back.
He carries me all the way to his bed, laying me down like a princess as he tries his best 'not to wake me up'.
Will he get mad if I stop pretending?
As he’s about to take off, I call out for him, “Aoi?”
He turns around, facing me, but I can’t discern his features with the lights off.
