SLOWLY FALLING
ZARYA'S POV
Hali talked to Khal for a minute. I did not face him. I was busy bathing and cleaning my body after the steamy scene. I felt so tired that I was thinking of lying on the bed. After I finished bathing, I went to the vanity mirror to brush my wet hair and dried it using a white towel. I saw Hali in the reflection in the mirror, he opened the door and slowly walked towards me.
"What brings Khal here?" I talked to him in the reflection of the mirror.
"He brought food, minding if we eat because he knows I have no single penny." He stopped walking when he was about to reach me. He blew a loud sigh, turned his back on me, and then went to the bed. "I'm gonna sleep here."
I nodded my head slightly. I did not mind him even though my head was so curious about why was he sleeping there beside me? Even if my apartment was small, it had two rooms, the purpose was when they wanted to sleep in my apartment.
I stayed in front of the mirror for a long period of time, gazing at myself. I was not the old Zarya, I was stronger and braver, but my heart was still fragile. I realized I was slowly falling for Hali. Slowly and gently. I grabbed the brush and gradually comb my hair from the top down to the edge. I felt so sleepy, but I could not move. It was awkward, Hali was in the bed.
I settled up, moving out of the room with my messy mind. Good thing, that there was a veranda, even though my apartment was just small. I gazed at the surrounding. The light from the houses was viewed from my direction. The scenery was making me relaxed. If my brother, Zaiden, was here, he would laugh at me. He used to do that when I had a crush or was infatuated with someone and yet they did not like me back. I missed those teases of him. I longed for his presence. My little brother would make my world chaos in the middle of my silence.
I inhaled heavily and blew it out as the cold air touched my skin, which was why I hugged myself and created friction on my shoulder.
My body could not move when I felt someone hug me from my behind. He leaned his chin on my shoulder, his hands were crossed to my belly and then, he touched my shoulder with his lips. There were no words between us. The only sound could hear was the whistling of the wind and the bark of dogs from the houses below our location. We were on the second floor, the view was perfect in this area.
"Not sleepy? Why not dance with me?"
I felt like I was deaf. Did he invite me to dance? Or it was just my delusion?
He touched my cheek with his lips and then suddenly I felt him walking away from me. I thought he would go back to the room, but hearing the music shocked me. I was not a fan, but I heard the song. Adore you by Miley Cyrus.
I did not hear footsteps which were why I did not expect that he would hug me from my back for the second time. He dragged me inside. I looked up at him, his height was too high for me. I watched the formation of a small smile on his lips. He grasped my hand, gradually raising it up, and rested it on his shoulder. Then, he wrapped his hands around my waist.
"How to make Zarya happy? This is my second time asking for your happiness." He raised his right hand and touched my cheek. "Just tell me what you want for tonight. I'll serve as your wish fulfiller."
I scoffed in sarcasm. "What did you eat and you are sweet?"
"Pussy." He chuckled, showing me his white clean aligned well teeth. "Your pussy." He repeated while laughing. I caught myself riding his joke.
"You're not funny."
"Why smiling, then?"
The music made the scene extra special. I loved how the singer sang the song. It was really emotional, causing us to sway, steeped side by side, and dance romantically.
"I only dance with rock songs and perform in hip hop, not this kind of shit." His voice was not annoyed, just stating a matter of fact.
"You're lucky you can dance. Me? I was in the theater when I was in hush school, but I was not good at performing. I just care to do it." I caressed my hand from his neck down to his broad shoulder, tracing its width.
"I escaped schooling at the Elemental Kingdom. My classmates are my brothers. That won't give me thrill." He moved his face near me, gluing our noses and cupping my both cheek.
"What are your interests?"
He shrugged his shoulder, his gesture told me he was thinking. "Fcuking pussies? Nothing, actually… I just go with the flow, ride women, and work hard to learn how to be a great warrior. I don't want to be a king either. I have no interest at all."
"Your life is boring."
"Nah…" He brushed my hair from the top slowly down to the edge, reaching my chest. My hair was not that long due to my office attire, curl design, and shiny black color. "When you have no interest in everything, you have no worries…"
I stared at his face when his hands were playing with my nipple covered by my nightie until he inserted it inside.
"Then, touching me won't satisfy you?" A small smile was established on my lips.
He did not respond to my question. Hali was a man who did not like to reply to a topic that would be unsafe for him. Not a man of words. Slowly, he used his forefinger, playing with my nipple in a circular motion.
"After killing the fuckers who killed your family, what's your plan?"
"Exploring life." I placed my hands on his chest, tracing every skin going down to his tummy, teasing each other was a good feeling. Who would be the one who surrender and kiss first?
His fingers went to my lips, touching them smoothly. Afterward, he glued our forehead, closing his eyes, inhaling and exhaling heavily as if he was thinking of something uneasy.
"Zarya…" His eyes were still shut. "You need to need someone."
"Are you making me hurry to find so一"
"Yeah."
"Why?" I touched his chin, and moved his head up, our eyes landed on each other. "Does something bother you?"
"Nothing. It's just… your safety is necessary. You need someone who will take care一"
"I can fight for myself, but sure I will date someone."
"Khal is my suggestion."
My eyes widened in shock. "Khal?"
But Colden had already confessed to me? Why him?
"He likes you." He looked down at the center table in front of the black couch. "No… he loves you."
"No, that won't gonna happen."
"Do you think he went here for me? To bring me some freaking food? He went here in spite of her mother in the hospital because he cares about you."
My eyes were blinking as I gazed directly into his eyes. The coldness was radiating to me. "How about you?" I gasped for air, the nervousness filled my chest. "Did you care about me?"
His mouth opened and then closed. He looked down and whispered. "I won't be Hali if I care about you."
"Can you please care? At least… a little?"
He shook his head. "You must be tired. You should rest."
"You are unbelievable! Does fucking me the only thing that matters to you?"
He did not respond. He walked towards the speaker and was about to close the music when I hurried towards him. I kissed him, but he moved his head to the right.
"Don't kiss me again." His voice was low, he spun the speaker button and closed the music.
I slammed my butt on the carpet while staring at him. What was happening to me? For one hour, I hated him then suddenly, I would just feel my heart pumping as if it only needed him to survive.
Hali glued our forehead as his knee was on the floor and his right hand supported his weight. "Don't kiss me. I kiss you."
He fixed our lips together. I caught myself, following every sway he made. On the floor, we made love.
No, I am not infatuated. I am on the way to deeply fall in love. Admittedly, I felt jealous of Seraphina.
Maybe I planned to manipulate him, not because I wanted to control him, but to make him love me.
The game is over if I ride with his flames. How about my avenge to my family's murder? I can't love King Water.
I can't… as many people I love, the rate of pain will be high.
I don't want this feeling, especially when he is the guy.