Chapter 106: Moments

AGL 106

MOMENTS

He kept staring at her while she kept staring at Penelope. Both of them were together but different thoughts were running through their heads. At first, Axel wanted to tell her, to let her in on what was happening around them but seeing her like this, so peaceful and relieved, he didn't have the heart to tell her.

This was one of the days when he wanted to see her like this, one of the times he wanted to remain in this moment, just watching her staring while her eyelashes fluttered whenever she blinked. But he knew that this moment would not last. Honestly, he is shocked that she has not shifted from her position yet. Maybe because she was distracted or just too focused on who she was staring at that every other thing seemed to fade away, leaving only herself and whoever she was staring at.

This moment, however, would not last, and the scars that they both dreaded would appear.

Axel frowned when he saw Hannah shift in her seat. She turned to look at him and subconsciously, he held his breath when he saw her face. Not that she was smiling before or anything but now, she was back to being the Hannah he met that day and tried to kill him. Her face had hardened and her eyes were blank and unreadable. He had expected this. He knew she was going to leave, she had to go, but he didn't want her to. Why should she when he was there to take care of it? Was it not better that she stayed here instead of going to fight those assassins? Heaven only knows how many they were.

His thoughts were interrupted when Hannah stood up suddenly. He grabbed her hand almost immediately and she turned to face him with a glare. He should have left her at that point after seeing the murderous expression she adorned but he didn't. Instead, he pulled her to himself and wrapped his hand around her.

Hannah was surprised, shocked even, he could feel it but he still held her close. Even he didn't know what he was doing, all that mattered was that she was here, in his arms and he would not let her go. She began to struggle with all her strength but he didn't let go. Luckily, they were at a spot where the lighting was dim and not many people were at, else, they would have caused a scene.

For a moment, Hannah stopped moving and Axel thought that she had finally decided to cooperate. He released his hold on her just a bit and when he felt trying to move, he tightened his hold again.

For a while, they were both still, neither of them wanted to make a move. That was till he felt Hannah's fingers trailing upwards, toward his nape. He was dazed for a second until he realized what Hannah wanted to do. He closed his eyes and sighed before pulling her away from him.

Their eyes locked, both their hearts racing and neither of them could say a word. Axel's eyes reflected disappointment and pain while Hannah's reflected her resolve. Suddenly, Axel dropped his hands and helped Hannah stand. She was confused, her face said it, but he didn't stop. When they both stood up fully, Axel reached out his hand and carefully removed his jacket from her shoulders. He had put it on her when she was chilly back inside the restaurant and now, he was taking it back.

Hannah dreaded the feeling when the extra fabric left her shoulders. She was cold, awfully cold and she knew it was not normal. That gesture, however simple it was, did many things to her heart.

Axel only stared at her, his gaze lingering in her eyes for a full minute. He could sense how confused she was and he wondered why. She had just tried to knock him out, what did she expect? That he stayed and kept holding her?

He let out a mocking scoff before walking away.

Horror washed over Hannah as she watched Axel walk farther and farther away from her till he walked through the entrance and disappeared from her line of sight. She wanted to go after him but what would she say, 'sorry?' She would not deny that she had tried to knock him out and for that, he would certainly not forgive her.

If she was in his place, she would not forgive herself either.

Hannah could not believe how fast it all happened. One minute, she felt like she could stay forever in this moment but she ruined the moment for herself. She had chased away the only person who could tolerate her, the only person who could comfortably sleep in the same room with her, not fearing that he would never wake up, the only one who did not find her disgusting…

She sent him away…

Axel stopped by his car and fiddled with his phone as he waited rather impatiently for Alena to return his calls and messages. He would only leave when he hears that all is settled. He had walked out of Hannah's presence, alright but he wouldn't be leaving her alone. She was his responsibility now.

He was hurt when she tried to put him to sleep but what was he expecting? He was trying to stop a killer from killing, that much was expected. He was even lucky that she didn't place a knife on his throat!

He looked up from his phone and saw Hannah just standing and staring at him. He creased his brows when he saw the distance between them, she was at least 20 feet away from him. He could tell that she wanted to come but was hesitating or maybe having an internal debate on whether to come to him or not.

If he said that he was not irritated, he would be lying.

Was it so hard to come to him? Would she rather have him gone than come to him?

While he was still questioning himself, he saw Hannah take a step forward and for some reason, he felt his heart beat in excitement and expectation but that only lasted for a second as she stopped walking. He could swear that her resolve to come to him was waning and she was going to turn back.

Axel humphed in disapproval. In the end, she would rather risk her life than come to him!

He turned around and hopped into the driver's seat making sure to shut the door loudly so she would know that this time, he wasn't staying back. This time, he was really leaving.

Hannah's eyes widened when she heard the car's door shut. She was shocked. She didn't think he would actually leave her here. She looked at Axel who was in the car but he wasn't even looking at her. He looked really pissed. Maybe it would be better if she just let him go, being with her, around her all the time, was bound to ruin his life. He had taken responsibility for her without knowing what he was talking about and he was going to pay a heavy price for that. It was time he realized his mistake and stayed away from her, that way, both of them would have their separate lives without needing to worry about the other.

These were the things she thought and said to herself but when she heard the sound of the car's engine roaring to life which was extremely loud in her ear, especially since the parking lot was too silent, Hannah found herself taking a step forward, then another before she broke into a run.

At that moment, when she heard the car engine and saw that Axel was going to leave, she realized that she would not be able to do it. She would not be able to watch him just leave like that. She was not being selfish, it was just that he had taken responsibility for her just yesterday and subconsciously, even though she gave him a warning about it, she had begun to rely on him. She was his to care for and his to look after. She was now his to control every decision she made.

At that moment, Hannah realized that she would not live normally with Axel absent. So when she ran to him, she had no regrets. If anyone should be regretful, it should be Axel.

He was the one who had taken her annunciator, she didn't ask him to do it, he did it himself. He was the one who had hugged her to sleep when she was scared of the dark. He was the one who said the harshest words to her and told her that she would never get to live a normal life, but still carried her out of the middle of dead bodies. He was the one who got her a coloured dress and forced it on her even though she hated it. He was the one who cradled her head and brought her home when she was drunk, that too, was his decision. He was the same person who refused to send her away even after she held a blade to his throat but got her food instead, and he was the one who made her his responsibility and told her to rely on him.

All of these were his decisions. He was the one who brought all these upon himself, so why should she let him go? It would be unfair to her if he just left her to herself after doing all of that. It was unfair that she would have to live with an empty heart while he returned to his own life and work.

In the end, she would be the one at a loss, and she didn't want to lose. Even though she knew that he would scold her when she makes mistakes while working or pour water on her when she was angry or for being an irresponsible parent, she would stay by his side. Even if he was to switch between a blizzard and a wildfire, she was ready to get burned or frozen to death just so she would be by his side.