Chapter 8 THE PROPOSAL
OLD BUILDING
Anya exhaled heavily.
The door creaked ominously behind her, echoing through the hollow, deserted space. Dust motes danced in the streaks of sunlight that filtered weakly through grimy, cracked windows. Cobwebs clung to corners like forgotten memories, and the air was thick with the musty, choking smell of neglect.
She rubbed her eyes, already tired from the whirlwind of her second day at the university.
I haven’t rested since I got here… she thought, sighing as her gaze fell to the broom leaning against the wall.
Grabbing it, she muttered under her breath, "Not again…" frustration lacing her tone. She had barely begun, and already the place made her skin crawl.
As she swept, the soft sound of footsteps echoed behind her.
Her heart jumped. "Great… what now?"
From the shadows, Nikolai emerged.
"What do you want from me? I’m doing this punishment just because of you, just leave me alone!" Anya exclaimed, spinning around, broom raised defensively.
Nikolai didn’t respond. He ignored her completely, striding calmly to a corner of the room where a dusty old bench waited. He dropped himself onto it, Shadow curling beside him like a dark, silent sentinel.
"He’s so weird" she muttered, shaking her head.
Setting the broom down with a determined huff, Anya continued her work, sweeping with deliberate force. But the sensation of eyes on her made her uneasy. Each time she glanced up, Nikolai’s head was slightly tilted, eyes closed, unreadable.
This happened three times, the tension building like an invisible thread. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore.
"Why are you staring at me?" she snapped, dropping the broom and stepping closer.
Nikolai opened one lazy eye, then the other, and finally spoke, his voice calm but laced with something dangerous. "Stop being delusional"
"I’m not! Just… stop staring at me and stay away from my business! And you didn’t have the right to kiss me!" she said, frustration spilling over.
He smirked slightly, reclining against the bench. "About the kiss… I actually had the urge to. Your lips were looking tempting"
Anya’s face burned crimson. "You’re a freak!" she spat, pointing a finger at him.
"That’s new," he said nonchalantly, a shadow of amusement in his tone. "I will add it to my black book"
"Just stop talking already!" she growled, her hands trembling with anger and embarrassment.
Nikolai tilted his head, the faintest grin tugging at his lips. "Be my girlfriend"
Anya froze. Her broom slipped from her grasp with a soft clatter, and she took a step back, eyes wide.
"What!?" she finally managed to blurt, disbelief and shock intertwining in her voice.
Nikolai’s gaze locked on her, unblinking, calm, and unnervingly confident.
"I said it. Be my girlfriend" he repeated, his voice low, yet carrying an edge that sent a shiver down her spine.
Anya’s mind spun. This was the same boy who had kissed her without warning, the same boy who hurt her on her first day. And now… he wanted her as his girlfriend?
"I—I’m not… I can’t—" she stammered, her voice faltering.
"Can’t or won’t?" he countered smoothly, finally opening his eyes fully, their intensity almost hypnotic.
Anya glared at him, fury and confusion battling within her.
"Both!" she shouted, then whirled around, snatching up the broom again. "Now leave me alone, Nikolai! Stay out of my way!"
Nikolai just leaned back on the bench, arms crossed, a faint smirk curling on his lips. "Oh, I’ll stay… for now. But we’ll see how long you can resist me"
Anya’s jaw tightened, her chest heaving.
Nikolai finally pushed himself off the dusty bench, Shadow padding silently beside him. He stepped toward her slowly like a predator circling its prey.
Anya tightened her grip on the broom, instinctively stepping back.
A faint smirk played on his lips. "You have less than twenty-four hours to give me a positive answer" he said.
Before Anya could reply, he turned sharply on his heel and walked toward the creaking door. Shadow followed obediently, tail swishing like a dark banner behind him.
The door swung shut with a heavy thud, leaving Anya alone, heart racing, cheeks burning, and the stale air of the old building pressing in around her.
She sank to the floor for a moment, broom still in hand, trying to process everything.
"Twenty-four hours"… she whispered to herself, voice trembling. "This boy is indeed insane…"