n

n

nI turned to face him because I don't feel safe with my back facing him, you know. It's better when I can see everything. But seeing his dark self affront is even more terrifying. My knees wanted to give up support and run away from here. But haha, that's not possible.

nLooking at him, I gulped.

nOh, he's so angry…

n

"Why— Why are you here?

" My voice came out smaller than I expected. Like a timid cat, or a deer caught on a headlight. Both are not good. It made me sound scared, which I am but we shouldn't let it show.

nLukas didn't say anything and just moved in a flash. I seriously just blinked and then he was already towering over me. My body shrank in response, jolting away from his suffocating presence.

nI kid you not, I could see this dark ominous aura emitting from his body. It's making the hairs on my body rise!

n

"Why am I here? Don't you think I should be the one asking you questions?

" His gruff voice came from above me.

nI refused to look up to him and nailed my eyes on his chest instead. Because even if I don't look, I'm pretty sure he is scowling at me. I could feel it.

nI opened my mouth to answer but Lukas was quicker and had already grabbed my jaw. He then forced me to look at him and did not let go of me again. He's so close I could smell him and feel the heat coming off from his body. But it's hotter in my jaw where his palms and fingers stayed.

n

"You better not pull the same trick twice or you'll regret it,

" he sneered.

nI'm in such a difficult position at the moment and I meant it literally. My lower back is pressed on the edge of the dresser behind me. My arms are on both sides, serving as support so I wouldn't fall back. My legs are trapped between his, while he casually leaned over as he stared.

nMy heart began to thrum faster…

n

"I won't… I won't… So calm down, okay…

" I pacified and then tried to push him away. It was futile. He wouldn't budge. Hence my hands stayed on his chest in defeat.

nThe light from the moon hit the side of his face and created an illusion. Now that I am forced to look at him, I am also forced to see this scene. Like an angel of death with glowing purple eyes that hypnotized people to fall to the dark side.

n

"I am calm…

" He replied.

nNo, you're not.

nYour whole body is taut and stiff, and your eyes look at me with hostility. How are you calm?

n

"Okay…

" I accepted it nonetheless. I don't really have any choice here.

nHe tilted his head slightly to the side.

n

"Are you going to tell me the right answers now?

"

nMy head was in a frenzy at the moment and I could not remember what I practiced for the whole day. It was jumbled. Plus him staring at me so intently is making me more nervous than I already am.

n

"It's… It's my anima.

"

nLukas did not react strongly so it gave me the courage to continue.

n

"It's one of my powers- I mean, part of— It's like– It's like uhh It's like a branch of my abilities…

" I rambled, trying to piece my incoherent thoughts properly.

n

"A branch,

" he repeated.

nHe was still holding my jaw so I couldn't nod but I did agree verbally.

n

"Yes. I know things– unconventional things, but also not really. Uhmmm…

"

nWhat was that again? Oh gosh, why did I forget what I'm supposed to say…

nLukas narrowed his eyes when I didn't continue and started mumbling off. That simple movement scared me and made me raise my defense.

n

"It's very hard to explain, okay? I just— I just know. I don't even understand it either.

"

n

"You read minds. Is that what you want to say?

" He said.

nI strongly shook my head.

n

"No. Nope. I can't do that. I don't hear or see anything. It's my anima… It tells me things. I know certain things that are fairly related to the people around me because of it. A select few I'm interested in… I guess? It's in my head. My anima tells me… sort of,

" I rambled off again.

nHeck, I'm not even sure if I understood what I just said.

nLukas raised his left brow.

n

"So you're crazy.

"

n

"...

"

nHow did he arrive at that conclusion?

nLooking back to what I told him, it did sound ridiculous. My anima tells me but I don't hear it? How would I even understand it in the first place? But it's also a good enough reason, how stupid it might have sounded.

nFrustrated, I blew out air from my nostrils and rattled.

n

"Look, I just happened to know, okay. And it's not just you. I know some things about the others too. I mean, who would tell me all of that if you didn't divulge it to someone else, right?

"

nThere was a pause between us, and it was quite long. Proving that the last sentence I said was a valid reason and proof at the same time. He knew that no one else knows those things except for him and had never confided it to anyone. And now I'm in the picture. I know about it despite keeping them a secret. How else would I learn about that if it didn't come from him nor to anyone else?

nCheckmate, Lukas! Hah!

n

"Tch.

" I heard him click his tongue in annoyance before glaring at me minus the killing intent.

nAt that point, I knew I had escaped from his suspicion.

n

"Can you let go now? And step back? You're too close for comfort…

" I muttered and tried to push him away again.

nLukas remained rooted in his place and refused to budge.

n

"This is not yet finished.

"

n

"Oh goodness, what do you want? I already told you my side,

" I whined in exasperation.

nWhat else am I supposed to tell him?

n

"Do you expect me to believe everything? Your power? Really?

" He was unrelenting and clearly nitpicking.

nAnnoyed, I frowned at him.

n

"Then tell me, how can you conjure fire?

"

n

"It's my–

"

n

"Power,

" I cut off and arrogantly stared at him.

"Exactly.

"

n

"...

"

nLukas seemed to run out of words.

n

"I'm not going to spill all your little secrets, alright? You can trust me on that,

" I declared, giving him my assurance.

n

"I don't trust anyone,

" was his immediate and tepid response.

n

"Even your friends?

" I pointed out.

nLukas lifted his eyebrow in amusement like what I said was a big joke to him.

n