~Xander~After the walk, we made it back to the cottage. Zareena went to the room to rest, while Aoife engaged with Zach in the kitchen. Yeah, he was excited, and so was she for the evening.Matt and I stepped outside onto the porch, and I turned to him.“Why did you bring her here?” “She called your mom and found out about this trip and knew I would join you guys soon.”“So?”“She called me to pick her up along the way,” he replied blankly.I knew my mom would have told her about our trip.“I think she’s jealous of Aoife. With you changing your behavior toward her, she might have noticed.”Yes, he was right. I could see the anger in Zareena’s eyes towards Aoife.“Is there something going on between you and Aoife? She seems upset with you.”Why wouldn’t I be surprised? Aoife must have told him something, or maybe she didn’t. But I knew Matt had doubts about me since the beginning, and I didn’t want to entertain any of his doubts about me.“No, nothing is going on between us. I was jus
“Let go of my hand,” I whispered, facing back to him. He moved closer, whispering the words I did not expect. “Aoife, please... stay...” It was hard for me as it was getting away from his grip.“Please don’t leave me,” he begged, dropping my hand.I took a few steps back, needing space between us. “I am sorry. Aoife...” his voice changed completely. I turned and looked at him, pursing my lips together, attempting to stop the tears in my eyes.“I am sorry.”I didn’t know why I listened to him. But I knew when I looked into his eyes, it would break me.“Can we go for a walk?I didn’t say a word and started following him. The rustling of the dry leaves and the moonlight filled the environment. We were quiet for a long while before he once again placed the jacket over my shoulder, and I didn’t find a reason to jerk it away.“I am sorry for what I said earlier. I didn’t mean to say that, but it happened,” Xander whispered. “Can you forgive me?” He looked through the corner of his eyes.
~Aoife~In silence, we went back to the cottage after he fixed his jacket over my shoulders, and I could feel his warmth envelop my body. We hardly said ten sentences, but I felt light-hearted next to him now. It’s early to say, and maybe wrong, but I believed he completed me the way I had never felt before.The only thing was to not to let him know. His playboy image didn’t suit me, nor change how I thought about him.We reached the cottage, and we quietly entered the house. Suddenly, someone turned on the lights and we found Zareena standing before us, and if looks could kill, she would have given me ten deaths now.“What are you doing with him? Didn’t I tell you to stay away from my man?” “I... I...” She pushed me, and I hit the floor.“Hey!” Xander thundered. “What the hell are you doing?”I got up, fixing myself, trying to present something in my defense. Before I could speak, Xander came in between us.“Back off. Don’t talk to her like that.” He snarled at her.“Seriously, Xan.
The group left me at my dorm later that day. I thought about calling Matt, but I was unsure about the chance of him being with Xander or Zareena. Either way, he always seems to be the responsible one who always handles other people’s messes. I went for a hot shower to relax my mind and finally focus on my studies. I was flipping through my books, busy making notes, when suddenly my phone buzzed.“Hello, Aoife. Where are you?” Matt blurted out.“I am in my room. Why? What happened?” I replied.“I need you to go to the city hospital right now. It’s urgent.”“Why, are you okay?” I panicked.“I am fine. It’s Xander; he had an accident and didn’t call anyone except me. So please don’t call anyone.”“But where are you?”“After dropping Zareena off, I came to visit my mom. It’s a two-hour journey, but don’t worry, I’m on my way,” he answered. “Please check on him and call me.”“Okay, I’m on my way.” I hastily grabbed my stuff, changed my clothes, and headed toward the hospital. God, please
~Aoife~When we reached the dorm, I asked for the door keys from Xander.“It’s in my pocket,” he smirked as he tilted his waist towards me.I rolled my eyes as I tried to take out the keys.“Little to the left… yeah, there.” His signature devilish smile played on his face, thinking he was being slick.I opened the door, helped him settle on the bed because he was limping, and placed his things from the hospital on the table. Looking around to find some privacy, I asked casually. “Would you like to take off the clothes?”With the same smile, he raised a brow at me. “I would love to,” he teased as he pulled my crop top.“What? No, no. I mean your clothes. I think you should change out of these ripped things.” I didn’t even have to wonder what was going on in his naughty head.“Oh Yeah,” he frowned as he blew out his cheeks. “But I can’t lift this hand. I’m pretty banged up.” “I am sure your entire body is sore,” I added.Something was cooking in his head. He tried to tease me; now it’
A diary hidden behind other books. I opened it and started reading and it was full of beautiful letters to an unknown person. Someone wrote it to a beautiful girl, and the writer was clearly male. Shaking me from my thoughts, Matt came out as he slammed the door behind his back.“What are you doing?” He burst out his anger at me.“I am reading this journal. Who is this? It’s beautiful,” holding the diary I questioned. Matt’s eyes popped open wide, and he snatched his diary from my hand.“How can you touch somebody’s stuff without asking?” he snorted.I looked at him with shock, not expecting his anger to spill over on me.“I’m sorry.” Looking into my worried eyes, he regretted the very next moment he yelled at me.“It’s mine,” he added. A smile reached my eyes when I heard he wrote all those letters and poems.“Are you in love with someone? Only a person who is in love could write so beautifully,” I excitedly said.“I am not in love with someone, and even if I am, I would not tell
~Xander~Consumed, huh? She wants love and passion in her life. Am I capable of it? But I like her. Being with her, I feel free.There was an urge inside me to be with her all the time. Listening to her melodious voice and watching those sparks in her eyes when she talks about falling in love. It’s not only a physical attraction; I found myself emotionally involved. Her tears, smile, and how she expressed her worry for me in the hospital touched me deeply. How am I going to convince her to give me a chance to fall in love with her? I know she and Matt had a strong bond, but I know he sees her as a friend. I was lost in my thoughts as she entered with a hot soup bowl in her hand.“Hot chicken soup for you, sir.” She smiled as the clouds of vapors covered her beautiful face.“Help me.” I winked.“Hahaha... I know, but no more teasing me.” She sat near me as she blew the hot soup with her plump, red lips. “Where’s Matt?” “He is talking to his mom.” “He is still angry with me.” I sigh
~Matt~Quietly, I took the laptop from her lap while she slept comfortably. While sitting on the floor, I watched her for a long time. Pushing a long curly hair behind her ear, it tickled her, and the edge of her lip curled up as she slept.“I wish I could tell you who my inspiration is,” I whispered and pecked a delicate kiss on her head.Reaching down, I held her hand in mine for a moment, caressing her cheek with the other. A smile played on my face when I thought about how she followed me like a baby and wanted me to listen to her. She is an innocent girl with a pure heart.“I am scared to lose you if I tell you what I feel for you,” I murmured as I put her hand under the blanket.~Aoife~My phone buzzed from my phone alarm, and I cursed that sound. “Shut up.” I covered my ears.I never liked winter days if I had to get up in the morning. I pulled my warm blanket over me with the thought of taking a quick nap. We all like that small nap after our alarm buzzes; the sleep between t