Chapter 68 Lack of concentration
Uriel's POV
"Did you bring me here to stare at the ceiling?" I breathed out after minutes of deafening silence.
His mood abruptly changed once we left school, like he wasn't feeling it anymore.
I wanted to give him the benefit of doubt so I didn't question him and still kept clinging onto him - you know, reciprocating the energy I thought still lingered.
But now, I was tired of pretending like nothing was wrong. Like he was acting okay.
His hand roughly scrubbed his face, a heavy sigh leaving his lips.
Pushing myself up, I announced, "you don't have to drop me off. I'll just -"
"No, no, no. Come on, I'm sorry." His hand snaked around my waist, his voice soft and calm.
His lips pressed softly against my temple, his hand strongly pulling me back to the bed with him, "please?"
"You just suddenly started acting like I was forcing myself on you. I don't like it." My voice came out small, like a baby.
He pulled me into his chest, tightening his hand around my body. I raised my eyes to meet his, spotting the heaviness in his eyes before he could hide them away.
"I didn't mean to make you feel that way."
"What's the matter?" My hands lifted up, moving until they landed on his soft, smooth face.
"There's -"
"I see it, Ryder. Something's disturbing you." I raised my eyebrow at him.
He sighed, pinning my gaze as he negotiated, "will you also tell me what had your mood all messed up yesterday?"
"That's -"
"A little birdie told me if had something to do with Emma coming to the cafe." He smirked.
"No way! So how did you get this little birdie to talk, huh?" Promised her a kiss or ..."
"I don't like where this is going." Ryder darted his eyes to the corner of the wall.
My heart clenched fast, seeing he was running away from the conversation. "You promised her a kiss? Or something more than that." My voice was hard as I spoke.
His head snapped back to my direction with force, I feared his neck will snap. His eyes were wide open, "jeez no. It's not - why would I just go around, randomly promising shits like that to people. Is that really how you see me?"
"You... I don't know. I don't know anything about you Ryder." I sat up. "You could be playing me, I don't know."
He scoffed, releasing me from his grip. We both sat up, creating space between us. None of us spoke; only our breaths echoed through the room, keeping it alive.
"I may not have a good record with girls but you're not just any girl, Uriel." Ryder was the first to break the silence this time. Our faces turned just in time to meet.
"Then..."
"I didn't like that I was in the dark so I went back to the cafe to ask questions. I had to tip one of the staffs to spill. That was it. She described Emma and I figured it just had to be." Ryder's jaw ticked as he spoke.
A long sigh escaped my lips, releasing the knot that tied my chest, "I'm sorry, I ... I thought -"
"Don't worry, it's fine." Ryder shrugged, averting his gaze to the door this time.
Swallowing hard, I choke out, "my mum is cheating on my dad."
"What?" Ryder blurted out, looking at me with an expression that ran deeper than hatred. "H-how did you find out?"
Then I began to narrate the phone call incident and the shopping incident to him. After that, I narrated how Emma used it to blackmail me so as to take my hard earned money.
"Fucking bitch." Ryder muttered lowly. "So, have you told him yet?"
"I should." Was all I said, looking down at my palm.
My chest tightened, my eyes stinging as tears brewed.
The terror I felt yesterday when I thought Emma had broke the news to him.
Flashback
"Why didn't you tell me?"
I paused, unable to move
"Father, what are you talking about?"
"Emma!"
My heart jumped, tears blurring my vision already.
She really did tell.
God.
"Father, I'm sorry. I really am sorry, I know I should've told you." I began to blurt out to him.
"You should. It is not right for Emma to walk on you like that. Honestly, she went far by trying to sabotage the dance you worked hard to perform. If Cain hadn't come to tell me, I wouldn't have known too."
Instantly, my mouth parted. The tears stopped falling.
It was about the dance incident.
Though I felt relieved for that moment, I knew that wasn't all.
End of flashback.
"Shhh! Don't cry, Kinky." Ryder's thumb brushed the tears away, cooing softly.
Sniffling, I shut my eyes in an attempt to stop the tears
I just couldn't
"I can't tell him because I know it'll hurt him. I don't want to be the one to hurt him."
"You won't be the one to hurt him, baby. Trust me, you won't." Ryder pulled me into his big chest, rubbing my hair softly.
"Emma said my mum wants to opt out so bad but if I know her correctly, she'd turn it into a big deal for all of us, especially me. She'll put me on the line and call me awful names. She'd say I scattered the family."
"But you didn't. You know she's lying, Uriel." He paused his movement on my hand. "She cheated. She's in the wrong and you shouldn't be blamed for the consequences of her actions."
"What if my dad hates me? What if he's better off not knowing?" I asked, looking up at him
His jaw ticked, his eyes pinned down on mine. "It's better he hates you for telling him the truth than hate you for covering her up. Always protect your loved ones."
What he said settled deep into my soul.
"Promise me you'll do that, Kinky." Ryder's voice was authoritative, showing another part of him.
I nodded, "I promise. It'll take time but I'll do that."
"If you need me to hold your hand while you do that, then I'm always here." He squeezed my body into his chest, making me giggle. "Let's go feed you."
"Nuh-uh, not yet." I pulled him back by his shirt, smirking at him with my red eyes - must be frightening.
"What?"
"It's your turn. You can't play smart, Ry-Ry." I wiggled my eyebrow at him. He scrunched his face
"What sort of nickname is that?"
"Ry-Ry? Sounds cute." Snorting, I covered my face in shame. "Come on, don't change the topic."
"You need to eat." He tried to stand up but I wasn't having it as I jumped him, wrapping my arms around his neck.
His eyes widened.
"Kinky..."
"I'm not getting off your legs until you tell me." I said matter-of-factly
"I can't concentrate, Kinky. You don't get it." His hands found my waist, holding tight.
"Why?" A small frown etched on my face as I adjusted myself on his thigh, grinding into him unintentionally.
He jerked, his nails digging into my waist, "I swear to God, Kinky, if you keep doing that -"
His chest heaved up and down, his breath ragged. My eyes moved up to meet his, my lips parting instantly when I felt it brushing against me - right there.
My mouth closed, a mischievous smirk taking over my facial expression as I looked at him through hooded eyes, "what will you do, Ryder?"
A soft gasp escaped his lips when my hips rocked forward again, "a dare?"
His hand curled around my neck, pulling me closer with a sinister smirk on his face.
His lips was inches away from touching mine when the door flew open, revealing a young girl that wasn't Desire, his cousin.
"So this is why you haven't been picking your calls huh?"