Bab 18: Chapter 18
I LOOKED up. Even in the dark, I recognized him.
"X-Xylon..." My voice was trembling.
"What are you doing here outside? Did you follow me?"
I could not answer. Fear still gripped inside of me. And I froze again when I felt something cold in my leg. I hugged Xylon in an instant.
"Why? What—"
"Xylon! There’s something… in my leg..."
"Huh! What?" He looked down at my feet.
I felt something wriggling on my knee. I jumped to lift and cling to Xylon's neck. He was fast when he automatically carried me in his arms.
"Take me away from here! Hurry! A creature is biting my foot!"
"Biting?" I couldn't see Xylon's reaction. I just immersed myself in him. ‘I'm scared to death, damn it!’
There's the scary sound again. And it's close. Really close to us.
"P-Please, Xylon... Let's get out of here," I pleaded as I hugged him tightly. I could feel him breathing, almost panting.
"O-Okay," he said, slightly moving.
I heard another sound like panting. I know it’s not Xylon. We have company. ‘What was that? A monster in the woods.’ I gripped him even tighter.
"Hold on tight, Softy. He's at my feet and if you move a little, he's sure will bite us," Xylon whispered on top of my head.
My body froze. I know there's something in there. I don't want to look at it and decides to close my eyes.
"X-Xyle..."
"Hmm?"
"What's your plan?" I asked weakly and lifted my face slightly to see him.
"Leave it to me. Just hang and hold on me tight."
So I hold unto him almost hugging his neck. I could smell his masculine scent. I closed my eyes and inhaled him.
‘Damn! What kind of perfume is he using that I'm beginning to lose myself?’ I felt him moved and walked slowly.
"X-Xylon, be careful. It might bite you," I warned him.
"Don't worry. I'm wearing my thick pants. He won't bury his teeth in my legs," he assured me calmly.
"Don’t say that. What are you going to do when you're poisoned by his bite?" I asked him again, worried.
"He won't." He kept walking gradually.
‘How could he do that while he’s carrying me? Am I that light?’
"Xylon. Is it still there-"
"Shh. Don't be so loud. It’s still behind us.."
"H-Ha ? W-What kind of creature is following us?" I couldn't help but ask.
"It has a scary look. It's black. His eyes are glaring and he has sharp fangs..." His foot moved as if he’d kicked someone. Is it biting him? And he’s struggling to escape? Oh god!
"Just be quiet. We'll run away from him. I'll take care of it."
I was silent. I could still feel the fear yet I should be thankful that Xylon is here. I’m in his arms and he will not let me go. Carefully carrying me not to let me fall.
"Xyle..." I whispered as he walked back to the house. He just hushed me.
"I just want to say thank you." Gradually my fear disappeared. I clung more to his warm body. I feel like he won’t leave me. And I was totally relieved he’s safe.
He sighed and laughed softly. "Thank you is out of fashion, Softy. There is an exchange for everything..."
I swallowed and remembered his sudden walk-out earlier together with those words he said before he left me at home.
"I-I'll replace your books..."
"I don't need you to replace them." The sound of his voice in my head terrifies me.
"In that case, what do you want in return?"
"Easy. Just be kind to me. No more shouting. No more cursing. Just show me the soft side of you. Starting this very moment."
I was wrong that I even asked him. I wish I had just kept my mouth shut. How can I do what he’s asking for?
I felt the cold floor and was slightly hurt when I stepped.
"What's wrong?" Xylon knelt at my feet and touched my leg. And there was a tingle in my skin I couldn't properly explain when I felt the heat of his hand.
"U-Uh, it's nothing. Just some scratch I think," I said and I bit my lip.
"We need to clean this up." He stood and stared at me. His eyes dropped to what I was wearing. I couldn't explain but my body was changing temperature. Then he immediately turned his eyes away and cleared his throat. "D-Do you have any other clothes other than that?"
I looked at myself and noticed the dirt on my long shirt. "I do," I answered but my mind is playing with the clothes I only have. Those sexy, intimate dresses.
"Go change. I'll tend to your wound after."
I was surprised by what he said. His touch already made goosebumps all over my body. Just imagine him tending to my wounds.
"O-Okay," I replied but both of my feet were still intact on the floor.
"Sorry to scare you."
"Huh?"
"I was away for a while." I saw the side of his lip lifted. "I need some fresh air. Those books were... uh, important to me."
"I know," I nodded. With the intensity of his anger earlier, I already knew how important those things were to him.
"But you still have to repay them." His eyes went dark. "Remember?"
I felt heat by the tone of his voice. ‘What is happening with me? I feel something is going on under my undies.’
I cleared my throat. "And that is to be kind to you," I shifted. He wanted to see my soft side. Can I really do that? Ever Since I've known him, we always argue. He always teases me. So I always tease him back. Then he took advantage of me and we ended up betraying Fiore. How can I be kind to him?
"I know it would be too much to ask in exchange for my books being torn into pieces. And," he touched his nape, couldn't look straight into my eyes. "...compared to what I've done. But while we're just here together, can we be... Uhm... close?"
I swallowed. My chest is pounding hard right now. There was something strange in his words. Added to that smell he left on my shirt when he carried me. My body hadn't responded like this before. Even when I was with Fiore.
"We're friends, Xylon," I said, trying to harden my voice. "You are the best friend of the only man who loves me..."
‘Yes, dammit, Miranda! You really have to keep on reminding that to yourself.’
"So, yes. I'll be kind to you while I'm still here. Also because you saved me from that wild beast in the forest."
He held his breath and then nodded. If I were to explain his reaction -his gazes were dark, hands clasped inside the pocket of his pants, head a little bent over— he wasn't really happy even if I agreed or not to be kind to him.
Hadiah
-- Hadiah diterima Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone