Chapter 6

I started to panic when his knocks on the door became faster. My heart pulsed like it's about to win the race when I didn't know what to do. 

And what I should settle right now is to hide Mezakiel. After fidgeting my fingers on my lap, I rapidly pulled Mezakiel's wrist while he was busy munching the cookie. 

"H-Hey! You're too rough!" he complained but I marched him towards my bedroom then pushed him inside. He was very shocked that I'll lock him there. "W-Wait, slow down. You're very early for this." 

What?! What is he talking about?! He's aware that Aspen's here so he must cooperate. 

"Shh! You're too loud and I'm dragging you to hide there, that's all!" I replied with a worried tone but Mezakiel lied down on my bed as he waved his hand. 

"Bye bye, then!" This guy! He's not even worried that Aspen will see him here, in my apartment. I closed the door and immediately opened the main door for Aspen. 

And, right. He was actually in front of me. This is getting scarier. 

"H-Hello, Aspen?! Why are you here?" I asked with a fake laughter, trying to hide how nervous I was. 

He smiled but he's very curious. Curious why I was almost sweating and trembling. "I'm sorry to bother you without your awareness and about me, visiting your place suddenly." 

He roamed his eyes in my apartment simply that made me close the door. I was too shy to show my messy dwelling, that's it. 

"Are you in the middle of sleeping? Did my knocks wake you up?" he questioned that made me shook my head instantly. We're outside. 

And, thinking that Aspen's really right in front of my place wasn't so comfortable at all. 

"N-No, I was busy washing my dishes and I hurriedly finished it before opening the door for you. Sorry if I couldn't let you go in, it's messy inside. By the way, why did you pay a visit?" I said with a question and Aspen's shoulder even jumped in surprise after staring at me. 

He was actually staring at me. Right, that's not something to make me assume but his eyes were giving me higher expectations. 

"Ah, yes. By the way." Aspen took out something from his pocket and that made me gasp. 

"My red ribbon!" I reacted and accepted the red ribbon from him. He was chuckling when he saw how happy I was. He must realize how worried I was when I lost this very important thing. 

"You really value it. That made me want to give it back to you," he stated and slid his hands on his pocket. "I noticed that you lost your ribbon when we're at the infirmary so I searched back at the walkshed."

"No kidding! You did that just to find this?" I was too shock to know it.

I must've dropped  thus ribbon when we were taking our stroll or when I was hit by a baseball. Good thing he found it for me. 

"Yes, I really value it. I don't know how to thank you for this!" I happily said and tried tying my ribbon on my hair. 

If only Aspen knew how important was the ribbon for me after all the happenings we had today. Even if we just talked, he helped me aid my head and he let me walk with him, those moments and chances were really enough to make me smile all day. To make ne sleep peacefully tonight.

Aspen shook his head. "Not a burden at all. It's my will to bring it back for you." 

"Especially that it really looks good on you, Karin," he added and it made me stop from tying the ribbon on my hair. He's flattering me, right?! It's obvious that Aspen's wary about my feelings for him yet he's intentionally making me expect and assume. 

About what he had said. That's to not make me expect furtherer but he's actually not letting me do it. 

But it's good this way. It's for the wager anyway. It's for Mezakiel's sake, my sake too.

"Let me do it for you," he offered and I was too late to stop him when he held the ribbon. My nape felt the chills after his fingers touched my hair. 

I was throbbing. It felt like I was very tired from a race on my situation. He's now fixing my hair! 

"Y-You don't need to!" I said but even if he's not looking at my face, he could imagine how red I was. 

And I was letting his fingers brush my hair. He looked like someone who's not good at styling hairs and doing hairdos but Aspen's making me imagine like he's the greatest guy when it comes to hairstyling. 

Whatever he's offering right nowz, I was embarrassed but happy too. 

He finished fixing it when he put my ponytailee hair on my shoulder as he faced me. I looked away.

"You look better! See?" he said and I believe it's a lie. 

"T-Thank you. But I am actually looking red right now, swear," I answered. He chuckled. "Sort of, yes." 

It's your fault. 

"Well then, I need to go now. See you tomorrow?" he remarked and faced me. Aspen's really expecting that we'll see each other sooner again, eh? Well I couldn't wait for that too. 

I nodded at him, trying to hide my blushing face. "Okay. I'll accompany you to the building's lobby," I offered.

"No need. It's fine," he answered but he let me walk with him. My eyes couldn't stop staring at his long eyelashes, they were longer than mine.

"Just this time. It's for the kindness you showed. You even went all the way here for the ribbon." He just shrugged at me. "I told you it's my own will." 

He's very kind to be true. I didn't expect that I will be walking with Aspen like this. This was the kind of thing I only imagined and didn't expect to have a chance. 

I don't know if I should be thankful after confessing. I mean, it's obvious to tell that I won't have a chance with this guy who was admired by the other better girls and now? I wasn't even grabbing the chance, it's already on my grip. 

That's why I like Aspen. It's because I've been witnessing his kindness. I've been watching how he copes up with the world. He's too good to be called a teenager guy on high school. He's very great that even I could only end up confessing, nothing's more than that. 

We stopped walking by the exit of the building and he faced me. "You didn't even talk until we made it here." 

Didn't I?

I blinked out of the realization. Really? Have I been letting myself drown in deep thoughts about Aspen while we're walking? 

"I was just thinking about something," I responded and he raised his brows on me. "About something? That something's too catchy enough to make you gawk in silence." 

"I didn't even have a chance to start a topic," he added with a smile that could literally make a woman fall for her. This guy's looking like a literal flirt but that's not what's in his mind at all. 

My lips parted. "Then, I'm sorry if accompanying you here became really awkward," I apologized but he shook his head. 

"Not bad at all, Karin. To think that you---" 

Eh? He didn't continue what he's trying to say. I looked away when he stared at me, his lips were open. I was waiting for his words but even though seconds had passed, he let silence rule over.

Don't let me expect anything again here or else I'll be suspecting that you have some bad intentions to me. 

After all, I was having the bad intention to interact with you. 

"To think that I--- what?" I questioned, showing how suspensing he became. 

"Nothing. It's to think that you're too nice as well for doing that," he stated and the trace of honesty flashed across his eyes. 

Even if he'd said something positive, I couldn't stop believing in every good thing he says. 

I like him, right? I like Aspen because of his kindess, as one main factor. Then I shouldn't doubt about this heavy treatment he's showing.

I blushed again and looked away. "You should stop saying things like those to me. You know something about me towards you, right?" 

"Yes, and I couldn't stop thinking about that since it happened. I also don't know why," he added and I was so slow to  gaze at his eyes. 

"It just felt different." 

Silence. 

Here we go again. Every word he threw was like an arrow, darting on my heart that could make it stop beating in a second. That's his impact. 

I should be the person who should make a move to him. He's the target. He's our target but with this situation, I was being the target. It was so bad but too good for the gamble's part. 

My lips pursed. "Then, I-I'm happy that I was too nice in your perpective, Aspen." 

He nodded. "Then, I better go now. See you tomorrow if chance approaches us both?" 

"I'm hoping," I told him before he left. "Hoping to talk to you tomorrow if you want to."

I don't need to hope. I will actually let that happen tomorrow. 

After the talk and how I understood Aspen's personality very well. I found the guilt I've been avoiding. I was very guilty because it felt like I was toying him. 

And I know, the only way to make this guilt vanish is to make myself love him for real. Even if there's no such thing as gambling. Despite being a player, I'll target Aspen. 

While going back to my apartment, my phone rang meaning someone's calling me. 

A playful voice welcomed me that I even drew the phone away from my ears.

It was Coraline. 

"Hello Hello! Karin! Oh my gosh, I just saw you and Aspen by the lobby! By the way, I didn't want to ruin your moment so I'm arriving at your apartment now. See you!" 

Wait, what?! Coraline was here and I didn't even notice her! It's because she ditched from my sight and she did see me with Aspen. Now that's very embarrassing. Wait, again. Why is she here in the first place and how carefree of me to think that Coraline witnessed such a scene?! 

Why is she here?! And where is she going?! 

"H-Hey, wait! D-Don't---" 

"Why? Hiding something, Karin? Maybe a gift Aspen gave you?" She even giggled on the call so I gulped and ran across the hallway.  

It's because, maybe Mezakiel's there! 

"Just wait me first!" 

She ended the call! Oh bother! What is she planning? Once she sees Mezakiel on my place, Coraline will surely suspect badly that anyone around would discover it due to her. 

I don't want Aspen to meet Mezakiel and I don't want anyone to know that I was acquainted with that guy or else some person would recognize who he is. And they would recognize who am I to him. 

Out of my fear, the only way for me to not let Coraline meet Mezakiel is to stop her from entering the place. And to wish that no one's in the apartment anymore.

I dashed until I saw a girl's figure on my door and now, I'm wishing that Mezakiel's gone in my apartment already.  

But I was late when Mezakiel's the person who opened the door before Coraline could even do it. I don't know but it felt like I was the luckies person today. 

"Wh-Who are you?!" Coraline asked him.

"Oh, bother. Karin? Who's this handsome guy in your apartment?" she added again when she saw me standing near them, catching my breath and gulping in fear.

I gulped and stared at Coraline who was glaring at me, her hands were in her waist.

What should I tell her now?