Chapter 21: Finally


    It waste afternoon and the sky was dark, creating a halo of dim light enough to make you want to


    stay in bed, wrapped up like a cocoon while enjoying a hot chocte moment.


    The beauty of dark, strong withering trunk and brown almost dull branches devoid of leaves outweighs


    its lifeless appeal. Any moment now, snow woulde and paint everything in white.


    It is amazing how nature had to be disrobed of colorful flowers, leaves, wildflowers, the beauty it has,


    leaving everything bare and lifeless in able for spring toe and rece what was lost into something


    more beautiful and more colorful.


    Just as how life works.


    This moment should have been perfect. Alone in the woods, enjoying its lifeless beauty if not me


    waiting for the alpha toe.


    Hurt, anger, confusion, fear are messing with my emotions, turning them into a hurricane of swirling


    regrets and what-ifs.


    Some might think I was overreacting. But no one would really understand the extent of pain one is


    going through even if you look them in the eye. The eyes don''t give it all away.


    I knew he was near even before he made his presence known because for unknown reasons, I always


    knew when he''s around. It''s an instinct which never led me wrong.


    "Beautiful. Like the first snow of the year." Xyrus'' deep voice held sincerity in it.


    I nced his way and caught him looking at me warmly just as the snow slowly dropped on his ck


    hair. I always wanted that shade instead of my fiery hair, like fire and blood.


    I looked up at the sky and noticed little snow crystals starting to descend slowly in a synchronize tune.


    Hands tucked on his jean pockets, two buttons undone from his shirt earlier showing his chiseled chest


    and a genuine smile appeared on his lips. He was perfect, far from how imperfect I am. Why would he


    want someone like me?


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He cleared his throat. "You call for me?"


    "Yes..." I said in a cracked voice. Too many emotions swirling inside of me. I remembered Elony''s


    words of me being imed, the reason I asked for him to meet me here.


    "What is it princess, tell me I''m all ears." He reached to hold my hand but I put it in my back fast like fire


    on the skin which made that thin line on his forehead and brows creased.


    His gaze lingered on my now hidden hand on my back. "What''s - wrong?"


    Xyrus looks a bit tired now that I noticed it, there was a dark semi-circle under his eyes. It seems he


    was not sleeping properlytely.


    "Why did you do that?" I asked in a low voice, wanting all of these unwanted questions and confusion


    to end. I felt betrayed. I thought at least he would respect my decision not to be imed.


    Xyrus tried to reach for my other hand but I moved away. My indifference getting a toll on him. Irritation


    slowly showing on his face but he masked it with a smile.


    "Done what? I- I don''t understand. Princess, what''s this all about?"


    "Don''t call me that! Don''t you ever dare call me that again?" I was done with him calling me nicknames.


    I am not special in any way, just a girl who longs for a normal life.


    His smile faded at the slightest movement as he titled his head to the side, cupping his chin with his


    forefinger and thumb, and then smirked. He seemed to be thinking hard then blurted out. "Little cloud,


    can I call you that then?"


    "I am not a cloud!" Is he for real?


    "Yes, you are." He said smiling then pinched my cheeks softly. "You are like a little cloud, sometimes


    bright, sometimes dark... depends on your mood." He added proudly.


    I swatted his hands and red at him. How could he still throw jokes when I am right beside him


    fuming with anger.


    "Ouch, violent much little cloud?" He faked hurt, holding his hands near his chest.


    "I am not your little cloud!"


    "Then can I call you princess again?"


    "Urgh!" Frustrated I was. He''s unbelievable!


    I turned my back at him. I closed my eyes and breath deeply to calm myself. Breath in. Breath out. Hold


    it together Willow, you didn''te here for this.


    Breath in.


    Breath o---.


    "What''s that on your back? Is that..."


    Xyrus was closer than I thought. He pushed me gently aside, my back on him, and tucked some fallen


    hair on my neck. My hair was in a bun. I felt his fingertips glide from my nape to the side of my


    shoulder. I shivered at his touch.


    "Finally." Those were the words that fell from his lips but his gaze turned dark, calcting, far from his


    gentle voice.