Falling for Aphrodite

04

Chapter Four

In which he saved her. 

- Ayne Kent - 

My eyes dropped,

     fluttering it close as my thoughts linger on what has happened into my life in just a couple of years. Even though I have been free for a huge amount of my life, I still saw it all surreal. To be able to get out of all that was already a huge thing for me- maybe fixing myself would be another one of those achievements. 

    However, as far as it does good; I still have enough encounters that seem like people still remind me of a fragment of my past. Somehow, I think it's becoming a part of me and I didn't want that. I was moving on for my own, not to get more tangled in my head than I already was. It's like no matter how hard you tried to keep everything hidden and locked on the back of your mind... something or someone just won't.

     The warmness of my coffee serves as the aid to my freezing hands. It was a cold night; the way the wind blows through the night sky didn't help my situation—or the fact that I choose to sit outside rather than the cozy atmosphere that is offered inside.

     A scoff almost escaped my lips. Five years... and still, I choose to remember.

     "A penny for your thoughts?"

     That voice alone had me cut my thoughts as I slowly flutter my eyes open, a smile almost escaped from me upon seeing the owner of the voice, "Tristen... what are you doing here?"

     "To grab a coffee, Ayne," he answered immediately before looking at the chair that was placed just right in front of me, "Is this seat taken... or I should move out the way?"

     "You can sit there," I offered softly.

     A ghost of a smile appeared on his face, "Thank you."

     There was nothing but a silence that surrounds us... but the heat of someone being with you seems to make things a little bit warmer for me—or maybe, it's just because of how my blood boiling due to being close to him. I couldn't even enjoy being here with him as my mind was doing its thing where it's freaking out at everything and everyone.

    Sometimes, it makes me emotionally drained.    

    Why did that have to happen to me, I wonder.

     "Is something troubling you?" His voice was soft, careful.

     I squirm in my seat, trying everything I could to not see his eyes. I am clearly uncomfortable with the topic and I don't think I'm comfortable in knowing that he'll be the first to know what was going through my mind. Not that he seems untrustworthy... 

    ...but this is very personal for me.

    Even my mother is finding it hard to understand what's going through my mind, I doubt that Tristen would even know what was going through my head and why I'm thinking thing in that kind of way. I somewhat feel outcast to my emotions, embarrassed that I'm still thinking like this. 

     "That's fine, you don't have to."

     My eyes met his, surprised at his words. Tristen's eyes were soft as his lips formed into this small smile that he seemed to offer to me. A chaste of a smile appeared into mine before it vanished, as I duck my face due to embarrassment.

     "They are right," he whispered softly, but it was enough for me to hear. Upon seeing my interest in his words, he continued, "You are adorable, Ayne."

     My cheeks shed its tint to his compliment, making him laugh softly—but it seems like he's rather amused rather than making fun of me. I saw him shake his head before mumbling that I was really being adorable.

     This isn't helping my cheeks, honestly.

     "You know, I know this place that could help you forget."

      At his words, my eyes grew wide before it met his. I was that desperate for something to forget whatever is going through my mind as my heart ached by remembering things—and so far, no one can offer their aid. No one... but him.

    Tristen Aze.

     His lips were set into a thin line as if he's looking through my soul, he seemed to be thinking something that would suit best with my condition. There was something different from what he's showing me right now—it seems like I'm not talking to the usual Tristen that he introduce to people.

     "Wh—where? Do you think I'll be possible if I went there right now?"

    "Right now?" He asked, raising a brow.

    I nodded, "Yes, do you think they're still open?" 

     "Hmm," he took a second a look at me before a determination flashed before his eyes, "I'll take you."

     My lips parted in what seemed like a surprise as my eyes almost bulged out of its socket, "Wait, really?"

     Tristen responded by finishing his cup and throwing it carefully on its destined place, which was the bin. As soon as he stands up, I saw that as an indication to follow wherever he was headed. I was ready to follow the man to the depth of the earth just to forget everything that's running through my mind. 

    I kept my distance through the awkward walk in the parking for reasons that I don't quite understand. Tristen would look at me once in a while and I swear that I could hear him chuckling at me, finding whatever my actions as something as comedic. 

    The long walk takes us to a silver motorcycle, which itself made me frown. Looking at Tristen, I could see the proud glimmer in his eyes and I just couldn't help get more confused as I already was. He hopped on to it and it took me a whole minute to realize that it was his. That was weird, I never saw him ride a bike before... let alone a motorcycle. 

    "Of course you have a BMW," I mumbled. 

    He grinned, "I never really liked driving a car but I liked BMW." 

    With a shake of my head, I just looked at his motorcycle in awe. It was painted in nothing but black, some accents were made but you could hardly see them. The very sight of it would make someone who knows a thing about motorcycle would probably be at awe.

    Without even noticing it, Tristen grabs hold of my hand. All my focus was driven to the man who was looking at me with such serious expression. He offered a small smile before uttering the words that seemed to be haunting him. 

     "Do you trust me?"

     As if it was a body experience, my mind wasn't conscious as to why I didn't even need a second to nod my head. His eyes showed surprise to my action but nevertheless, my face still showed what I was feeling. More than everything in the world, he holds a huge part of my trust at this certain time.  

     Right now, I needed every aid that could help me forget. He could. He could take it away and with that, I trust him with everything right now.

     Everything that could cure me.

     I beg, even just for a day.

     "You're dangerous," he finalized. 

     A frown appeared on my face, "That's quite new to my ears."

     "Come here, danger," he called, beckoning me to take a step closer.

     And as soon as I did so, such rough hands fixed a helmet to my small head. It doesn't cover my whole head, just the top of it and it seems really cute-and pink. My body stilled in realization to the helmet that I was wearing. Tristen was wearing a black helmet which seemed like a definite part of the motorcycle while mine seemed like an addition of some sort. 

    Why does he have this? 

    Tristen took his time to fix that and as his soft hands touched a fraction of my skin... I swear I could feel them sizzle. What's happening to me? 

     "Is that too tight for you?" He whispered, almost making me jump as I felt his breath just above my eye. It didn't occur to me that we were already in this proximity. Another huff of breath escapes from him, "Ayne?"

     Gulp, "Yeah... it's okay."

     Tristen's hand left my head and back to his ride. My heart continues to beat erratically to whatever the f**k is happening today as he seems fairly unfazed, looking as if everything is just in the ordinary. He beckoned me to his back.

     "Hop on, danger."

     "I am nowhere near dangerous."

     My mouth responded back to him almost immediately; I didn't let him settle the words before doing what I was told. Let's just say that I needed more than a couple seconds to settle in his back. Why, you ask? My hands were in a frenzy as I look for the right place to hook my hands.

     "Tristen, where—"

     He didn't need another word before he acted, moving in a swift motion. Warm and full hands settled on mine before it tugged me closer to his back and before I know it, I was hugging his back. With us being this close, I could feel the warmth of his body... and my hands that's placed close to his heart was sure that it was beating in the same tempo as mine. 

     "See?" He whispered, chuckling, "Dangerous."

     I was about to respond to his tease but at the moment, I didn't. Now, the parking was dark and not enough light illuminates the area; people could see things that they didn't really see—or something that was just a fragment of their imagination. It was understandable due to its surrounding.

     But my eyes feels like its right.

    Just right before we passed the parking... I could have sworn that I saw Lucas.