Chapter 166

Chapter 166
Chapter 166

bonfire kiss

Alex’s POV

The moment Andrian opened his mouth to answer that question, I knew I had to leave.I didn’t want to hear it.Didn’t want to hear him talk about his first kiss.Didn’t want to hear the way his voice softened, the way his lips curled slightly in reminiscence, like it meant the world to him.Didn’t want to feel the sharp, unfamiliar ache in my chest that has been there for the past three years and still counting. I refuse to acknowledge it, I just buried it, just like I had buried my emotions.So I left.The cold night air hit me as I walked away from the fire, the sound of laughter fading behind me. My heart was pounding, and I hated it.Hated that I was feeling this way.Hated that no matter how much I tried to be unreadable and indifferent, Andrian still had a way of making me feel things I didn’t want to feel. Things I had hidden inside deep where I could not easily find it. But andrian makes it so easy for those feelings to come crawling back.I made my way toward the edge of the camp, where the trees provided some solitude. The party was still going strong behind me, the bonfire’s glow flickering through the gaps in the branches.I leaned against a tree, inhaling deeply, trying to push the tension out of my body.He didn’t even know when I left. When I couldn’t take it longer. My heart had felt like it was crushing, Ike I was being pierced with a hot knife, and when I couldn’t take it any longer. I ran, like I normally do.The moon was unusually bright this night, as if it was mocking me and my stupid stupidity not to let go. I felt tears on my cheeks.Jesus, I am even crying.Then I heard footsteps.Slow. Measured. The familiarity was too much.I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.“You left,” Andrian’s voice came, laced with something I couldn’t quite place.I scoffed, keeping my gaze on the dark horizon. “Didn’t realize I needed permission.”my heart hammering wildly in my chest. My breathing was unsteady, and I hated it. Hated the way he was making me nervous.“Then why are you here” he asked suspiciously.I forced a laugh, tilting my head to the side with a smirk. “You’re being dramatic, Andrian. I needed fresh air from all the intense love drama.”His sharp eyes didn’t waver. “You were crying.”My body tensed.I scoffed. “Crying? Me? That’s ridiculous…”“Alex.”I swallowed. There was something about the way he said my name, steady, certain, like he knew I couldn’t lie to him.I turned to face him, putting up a brave font. I dont know who i wanted to prove to. To myself , I am not affected by whatever he says, or to him that i was not hurt by his words.He took a step closer, and before I could step back, his fingers brushed against my cheek.I froze.He wasn’t touching me, not really. It's just the faintest trace of warmth against my skin. But my body reacted like he had set me on fire.His eyes searched mine. “Why did you leave?”I forced a smirk. “Maybe I got bored.”“Liar.”The smirk faltered.I hated this. Hated that he wasn’t letting me run.“I don’t care about your stupid first kiss story,” I snapped, taking a step back. “I don’t care about…”“You do.”My chest tightened. “Andrian…”“Why did you leave?” His voice was firmer now. “What are you so scared of, Alex?”“I’m not—”He was quiet for a moment, then, “You always do this.”I smirked. “Do what?”“Run.”I stiffened.Andrian took a step closer, and I suddenly felt trapped despite the open air around us.“What are you so afraid of, Alex?” His voice was lower now, more probing.I clenched my jaw. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”His eyes studied me, sharp and knowing. “Yes, you do.”Silence stretched between us.Andrian was waiting.And I… I didn’t know how to hold it in anymore.“I don’t know, okay?!” The words burst out of me, raw and sharp. My hands clenched at my sides. “I don’t know why it made me feel like that. I don’t know why I care, I just…”My voice cracked.I bit my lip hard, willing the sting in my eyes to disappear. But Andrian had already seen it. It was of no use to keep on hiding again.His expression softened. “Alex…”“Don’t.” I turned away, running a shaky hand through my hair. “Just don’t. You told me not to lie. Then don't lie to me, too. You don't beed to do that to make me feel better.”I turned to walk back home.I heard him take a deep breath.Then, in a quiet voice, he said, “I wasn’t talking about a girl.”I stilled.His voice was steady but hesitant. “When they asked me if I had someone I loved, I wasn’t talking about some random girl or anyone else.”I turned slowly, my chest tightening. “…Then who?”His lips parted slightly, and for the first time tonight, Andrian looked nervous.His hands clenched at his sides, then released.“You,” he said.I stopped breathing.My brain refused to process it what was happening.What was I hearing.“You,” he repeated, softer this time. “That night. The day we kissed.”A shiver ran through me.My throat felt tight. “You…”“It was always you.”My heart felt like it was breaking apart and coming back together at the same time.And for once… I didn’t know what to say.“I…”In one step, andrian was in front of me. He held my hands in a swift hold.The touch sent a spark through my body.A dangerous, electrifying spark.For a moment, neither of us moved.Then he exhaled, his grip tightening slightly. “Tell me to let go,” he murmured.I didn’t.I couldn’t.Despite everything, despite the anger, the rivalry, the tangled mess between us, his touch felt like home.And that terrified me more than anything else. It terrified me because it was a plan spoiler. I was supposed to not feel attached . This was the difference between Andrian and I.But staring into his green eyes that was looking right through my soul, I didn't know when I blurtered,“Kiss me”And before I could take back my words, his lips crashed onto mine, shutting whatever I had wanted to say.It was not gentle. It was not soft.It was hungry, rough, and desperate.I let out a small moan, my hands tangling with his hair as firecly as he was gripping my waist. His body was flushed against mine as he pressed me to the nearest tree. Claiming me.His teeth brushed against my lower lip. He was bitting me a little as he demanded entrance. I gasped at the slight pain, and he took that as his pass. His tongue invaded my mouth in a fierce possessive motion that left me breathless.Heat exploded in my veins, setting every nerve on my body on fire.My vision was spinning, and my surroundings were blurring as my leg threatened to give out.We separated after a long, intense, deep kiss, we had just shared. I could barely make out my surroundings as I continued to gasp for air, his strong hands the only thing keeping me steady.“Let's take it to the cabin” his voice that resembled that of a dark angel whispered in my ears.I nodded in agreement.