CHAPTER 18

"Have you been punished?" he asked. He was bugging me all day yesterday and until this Sunday about what happened to me when I stayed inside the studio. Nothing happened. After my sentimental talk with Chaz, he told me to relax. He advised me to take physical practice more seriously. Mental ability alone wasn’t enough to face threats in the future.

I told you so. I don’t. Chaz gave me a special task. " I don’t want to be emotional about telling him what we talked about. He was my friend—the closest one. Telling him about my conversation with Chaz wasn't in my confidence. There are things we should keep to ourselves and not tell others.

We had entered my room. We’re not flirting, kissing, or having sex. I don’t know why people always think of that thing when there’s a boy and a girl in a room together. Life isn’t always about sensuality. We live because of other things. Though there’s a debate that sex is as important as food and clothing.

Angelo has my brothers’ permission to enter with one condition. We shouldn’t be kissing or closing the door. As if we’re going to do that. I wasn’t the flirt type. Since the day I was born, my lips had been virgin and dry. The thought of kissing someone disgusts me unless it’s a handsome guy like Angelo. Oh, God! What was I thinking?

"You have a lot of books?" Angelo said.

I sat on my bed. At least it was made before Angelo crashed into this place. Pillows were on top, and the soft pink blanket was perfectly aligned.

"I had more in our previous house. My brothers are too busy to pay attention to getting all of our things. I don’t even know what happened to my parents’ corpses after what happened. Maybe Felix was the one who took care of it. He’s the oldest and the most responsible one. Too bad I wasn’t able to see them after that dawn.

"What’s with books when you can watch movies?" I rolled my eyes at what Gelo said. People who say that thing annoy me the hell out of me. They’re usually the types who don’t read. Did I say something wrong?

I hate people telling me that. And to answer your question, I would like to tell you that in books we have fancy words, characters we treasure, and striking lines that make us cry. Reading a book also releases stress, improves attention span, and widens our vocabulary. "

I can’t argue enough with a person like you. Too smart. "

I stood up again and gave the broom and Clorox wipes to him. We had to start cleaning if we wanted to finish it before lunch. Usually, I listen to audiobooks whenever I’m cleaning. But Gelo was here, who would constantly talk and not keep silent.

"I wasn’t smart. I’ve watched a video about that.

I removed some clutter from my cotton white table. Pen lids, unused pens, erasers, and even bits of paper. I placed the trash in the bin inside my room while the things I’d be using again were placed on the ground. I glanced at Angelo, who was still not moving, glancing at my small collection of books.

"Should I start reading as well?"

I don’t turn a person into a bookworm. You should give it a try. Reading is fun. "

His fingers slid through the spines of the book. "Will you let me borrow your books?"

Yes, yes. Just take care of them. " I don’t usually lend books to other people. He’s a friend, and he saved me from death. Lending him a book every week or so was not a huge distraction. "I suggest a thriller book for beginners and guys like you."

"Are they good?"

"They were fantastic." I walked toward him and picked up a book for him to take to his place. I chose a third-person point of view for my domestic thriller. The one that crept up on me one time. "Try this."

Okay, so I’ll place it here first. I'll take it home once we’re finished. "

We started by brooming out the dirt under my bed. I wasn’t able to clean it consistently. I wasn’t short, but it’s difficult to clean it alone. Since Angelo was the tall one between the two of us, he used the broom to reach every corner of my bed. His shirt was a rug on the floor. Once he was finished, I was embarrassed about the amount of dirt we gathered.

"Do you clean your room enough?" he asked.

"I do. But that part was difficult to clean alone.

Angelo smiled at me. The morning smile could be compared to a sweet cappuccino."Then you should ask my help next time when you’re cleaning your bed."

I rolled my eyes and started to wipe my table. Angelo brushed the dirt on the floor before exiting my room. When he came back, I asked him again, "Are you going to the Ivy League for your university days?"

"What’s that?"

A person who doesn’t know about the Ivy League? Everyone’s dying to get into those schools, and Angelo doesn’t even know what it is. "Ivy League" universities are the most prestigious universities in the state. Harvard, Penn, and more. I wanted to go to Harvard, but I bet I won’t be able to pass because of transferring here. I can’t believe you don’t know about them. "

Oh, I get it now. I don’t think about getting there. I plan to apply to the university in the nearby town. My brothers and sisters got their degrees there. Everyone says it’s good. Also, I’m not a smart person to go into your Harvard. "

I didn’t apply to Harvard. I knew I wouldn’t pass. I hope to pass at UCLA. That’s my dream school. As I’ve said, I don’t know if I’m going to pass because I transferred to this unknown high school. "

So, you’re leaving once we graduate? Aren’t you staying here for good? "

I don’t know. If everything goes according to my plan, which is to be admitted to UCLA, then I’ll leave this town and start to live alone. I hadn’t told my brothers yet. But if it’s my dream, no one can stop me. I’m going to leave this town all by myself. I'm going to bury my identity. I’m still a human. Not a werewolf. "

"If that’s the case, He moved towards me. My legs were trapped on the floor. "I won’t be able to protect you." He was so close to me and I couldn’t breathe properly. He should move now, or else I’ll collapse.

"Y-You don’t need to protect me all the time. You’re not my bodyguard. " I averted my gaze from his. He’s a blinding statue. I can’t straightly look at his face and keep my sanity.

But protecting you is an activity I do enjoy, Catharine.

"Fine." I changed the topic. What are your plans? Aren’t you deciding to leave the town like Minnie and Sage? "

I’ll stay here. I love this town. " What he said sucks. This town doesn’t have any beauty except for the lakeside where I finished reading a book. "And I don’t want to leave Nana. She raised me. It’s my duty in the future to take care of him.

"And you’re her favorite grandson."

Nana doesn’t have favoritism. I am not the favorite grandson. It’s just that I’m the only one who stayed the longest with her. We’re on each other’s sides, like buddies, ya know?"

My bad. I don’t relate to what he was saying. I never knew my grandparents, and I learned to live my life alone whenever my brothers and parents were not at home. I’m the only one who wanted to stay at home most of the time in our family.

When I finished wiping the table, I quickly stood up. I was not informed that Angelo was still behind me, so I collapsed with his body. Out of balance, we fell to the ground. I was on top of him. My eyes were staring at his perfect face. Our lips were a few inches from each other. We froze. Our faces were serious.

Skin to skin. From tension to tension. Suddenly, I thought of placing my lips on him. It’s wrong. It’s a mistake to kiss a friend without permission. So I closed my eyes and let go of that thought. Before I could stand up, he asked a question, "Have you ever kissed someone before?"

I haven’t. But if he’s going to be my first kiss, I won’t regret it. Catherine, stop fantasizing about him!