The Bad Boy Has A Soft Spot

Chapter 22 One Piece

Roselia's POV

According to google, relief is defined as the feeling of reassurance following a release of anxiety. This means that I had to first experience anxiety, release it and finally experience relief. I've been through all the stages that precede relief; stage 1, the cosmic gravity of anxiety started to heave me as it falls into an endless blackhole; stage 2, a warm, gentle and soft hand clasped around mine to guide me out of loneliness and; stage 3, relief washed over me as the darkness failed to trap me. It has all passed. It happened an hour ago when my paramount adrenaline took over my body. If it has all passed, why was I still stuck in stage 2?

His hand clung to mine as if it was the only thing that mattered to him and I hung onto his as it anchored mine to this world which seemed distorted at the moment. His hand twitched from time to time as the car sped at lightning speed and at some rare moments, his thumb drew circles at the back of my hand, easing the spewing magma of anxiety back where they belonged, deep within the mountains.

He was still conscious but he had no energy to lift his eyes or say a single word. The bleeding stopped and what remained was dried blood at the sickening gash on his thigh. Slowly but surely, the color in his face returned, gifting him back the evidence of life in his defined cheeks.

I haven't realized he was the one who made me feel relieved until an instinctual exhale escaped my lips and with it, the burden that sat on my shoulders. All his other friends risked their lives to illegally invigorate justice and save him from an equally illegal abduction. Based on how they were unfazed by the dangerous situation and the confidence they emanated, this wasn't the first time they came across this situation. But I couldn't bring myself to worry about them long as I know he was safe beside me.

Why was that so?

The warmth in my heart did not dissipate. As a matter of fact, it rose with each passing moment he was in my presence. That tug in my chest was lifted as his head on my shoulder clarified he was leaning on me for support. The calm in his face also brought a wave of relaxation into my own. Our fake relationship had nothing to do with this because a juvenile relationship usually wouldn't involve diving into their world this deep and not drown. No, the meaning behind this was beyond the criteria of a fake relationship.

My heart forgot to beat for once as my brain and heart agreed on a consensus.

I was running out of reasons to push him aside.

Crap. This was dangerous. He was dangerous. The rumors surrounding him were scandalous and vile. Only an idiot would go after him.

'Idiots liked him because he is hot.'

'Yeah. Definitely not me.'

Well, I couldn't deny that his chiseled face, strong jaw and built body didn't make my hormones rage out at times but something else drew me to him. The fading fire in his eyes, the antagonizing decay of his heart and the 50-feet concrete walls he built around him hypnotized me into an abstraction that I knew would only lead to either one of our demise. This situation was dangerous. He was dangerous. I needed to run away from this as soon as this fake relationship was over.

Right! I'll do just that after he's stitched up into one piece.

The backdoor of the car opened and many pairs of distressed eyes invited us to the golden mansion we knew. Ari opened the car door from the other side and grasped my arm. At the same time, employees of the mansion and Ari pulled Jasper and I, respectively. We were pulled apart and I was left standing beside Ari in front of the mansion. Our fingers disentangled from each other and I shuddered at the cold of the spring air.