Chapter 399
(Author’s POV)
“What can you give me, uhh?” Alaric gazed into Myra’s eyes. A flashing grin danced on his lips.
Myra, on the other hand, found that smirk of his rather annoying. To be honest, he was not behaving like his usual aloof, irritated self. He was acting like more of a flirt. He seemed possessed. For a second, she thought, Dion and Alaric had swapped their souls with each other. She was so perplexed by his actions.
Then, with a blunt tone, she stated, “I don’t think there is anything that I can give you other than my words of gratitude. After all, you lack nothing at all, Mr. Everests p>
“Hmmm~ you are right about that,” he mumbled. “But that’s only partial. There is still something that only you can give me.” Saying this, he raised her chin and looked at her slightly parted lips as she was biting on the lower one without knowing.
Myra noticed where his gaze was lingering. He smacked his hand away and immediately pressed her lips in a thin line, as if concealing them from him. Her sudden, funny reaction made him laugh, “Ohhhh~ moon goddess~ where is your mind, Myra? What are you thinking I was going to ask?” He burst out laughing.
She became flustered when she saw him laughing so openly. He had never displayed such a carefree side of himself, at least not in front of her. ’This guy~… something definitely is up with him. How can someone behave so~ so out of character p>
With one hand supporting the side of his hip, his other hand was on his mouth. Only then did she notice the fresh white cotton gauge, strapping him. It was the same hand she had jerked away a few seconds ago. She was doused with a guilty conscience.
But her remorse only lasted until he opened his mouth again, “You really think I would be interested in something like that, uhh? That too, with someone like you. Really p>
Every ounce of regret she was feeling was thrown out of the window. Now only coldness lingered, as she spat a sarcastic reply, “Yeah! Of course, Mr. Everests is in a league of his own, where he would only be interested in people just like him.” She added in her mind, “Insane, arrogant and pathetically irritating, people like that.’ Then she uttered, “How can you possibly think like that about someone like me p>
“Did you satirize me just now?” he commented while stepping a bit closer to her.
Myra backed away, feigning innocence, “No, no. How can I~ mock you p>
“You better not,” he said while showing no sign of halting his slow advancing steps.
Myra became nervous and kept retreating. She soon had her back plastered to a tree trunk. Her eyes flickered repeatedly as Alaric, who was only a few inches away from her now, placed a hand beside her face. He zeroed his eyes at hers and said, his voice raspy, yet clear, “You know what~ I just had a change of heart. I would also like to experience something I haven’t done before. Stepping out of my comfort zone and exploring an uncharted territory, what do you think?” Alaric said, his tone playful yet held a hint of seriousness.
“Mr. Everests~ Myra’s voice held a tremor; her eyes turned a bit watery. This time, seeing her reaction, he didn’t feel amusement. It was rather replaced by discomfort. He blurted out the same question he had been wanting to ask in the library, “Do you hate me so much that even my presence irks you?” He then tried to explain, his words all over the place, “In the library as well~ I~ it was not my intention to~ He paused, hesitating to say. “It was just a normal bodily reaction. I~… was not~ trying to do anything to you. I p>
Myra remained silent, her eyes gazing at the now slightly crumbled, colorful flower bed beneath them. It was an apt depiction of how her simple yet vibrant life had been crushed like these flowers ever since her encounter with them. There was not even a single day she felt at ease or could find peace. She has been under constant anxiety and stress.
The tense moment was broken by the sound of Myra’s phone’s ringtone. She quickly pushed him away and answered the call without checking the number. Yelena’s loudhailer like voice pierced her ear from the other side, “MYRA~ WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU p>
“I am just here~ Myra glanced at Alaric. “What happened?” she asked.
“You tell me, Ra-ra, what happened? Your video of confronting that shady Nigel outside the university gate is all over the campus forum, and that’s not even the most talked about thing. That weirdo~ That moron, Alaric~ why do you seem so close? Why is he embracing you from behind? What’s going on? Is he bullying you again?” Yelena asked, perplexed. Her voice wasn’t too loud, but Alaric could listen to every single word.
Myra peeked a glance at Alaric, whose expression was unreadable. His gaze remained intense. She then softly mumbled into her phone, “I will tell you in person, okay~ bye p>
“Myra~ hey~ Yelena uttered, but Myra had already disconnected the call.
“I need to~ she was in the middle of talking when Alaric’s hands circled around her waist as he pulled her close to him. He then met her nervous eyes and questioned, “Weirdo~ Moron? Bully~ hmm p>
“I~ Mr. Everests~ Her eyes darted nervously.
“Nahh~ it’s weirdo~ isn’t that, right?” Alaric tightened his grip on her body. “I even helped you, and you are using such foul words for me This calls for a punishment p>
“I did not say anything like that~ Myra tried to explain. Their closeness was making her heart race a mile a minute. Even she didn’t know why she had been feeling so nervous around him. Usually, this would have made her feel repelled, but in that moment, the flutter in her heart said otherwise.
To Be Continued…….