Chapter 64: Chapter 64

Fathia thought, her hand's grip slightly loosening as they arrived at the basement of the building she could never forget. Sebastian's apartment. Turns out, she was wrong. In fact, she felt even more drawn to Sebastian, to the point where she felt out of breath. Just trying to keep up with Sebastian's pace was overwhelming her.

"Sebastian," Fathia finally groans. They're in the elevator that specifically takes them right to the front door of Sebastian's apartment. "Hurts."

"Hurts? Did I hurt you?" Sebastian asks with concern, suddenly looking like a kidnapper. He releases his firm grip. He quickly brings Fathia's hand, which he was holding before, closer. He gazes at her intensely, causing Fathia to hold her breath. She tries to pull her hand away a bit, but Sebastian stops her.

He gently kisses the part that seems reddened because of his actions. He feels guilty afterwards because Sebastian went a bit too far. He shouldn't have scared Fathia or made her hurt like this. "Sorry," he whispers.

Fathia can't take her eyes off of what she's witnessing. Sebastian is back, just like in the early years after losing both her parents. A time when her heart was filled with sweet memories with Sebastian. The man who used to be quite distant from her still refuses to let go of Fathia's hand even for a moment. Until the sound of the elevator's chime distracts them.

When Fathia leaves Sebastian's residence, she remembers that she's still harboring anger. She's annoyed at herself for smoothly disclosing the event at her campus. It makes her walk clumsily as she follows Sebastian, who's leading the way. Her memories force her to recall her promise to Clara. Also...

"What's wrong with you?" Sebastian asks, noticing that Fathia has been trailing behind for a while. "Is something up?"

Ignoring Sebastian's question, Fathia chooses to ask about the woman she nicknamed "The Fox". "Is Aunt Clara here?"

Sebastian can't help but let out a chuckle. "What do you think?"

Fathia's lips pout even more. "I'll just go home then. Jess can find me, Sebastian."

"After what you did to me?" Sebastian asks pointedly as he opens the door to his apartment. "Come in. What are you waiting for?"

"What did I do wrong to you? I didn't do anything." Fathia still doesn't want to move from her spot. She lets Sebastian enter and swing the door wide open. The interior of his living room is clearly laid out before her. Everything is just as she remembers it.

Hearing Fathia's response, Sebastian falls silent for a moment. There's a small grin forming at the corner of his lips unconsciously. Once again, he turns around, walking confidently towards the girl who's blinking repeatedly at him. Her steps retreat as Sebastian keeps moving forward with determination. His hands are tucked into his pants' pockets. Sebastian deliberately aims directly for Fathia's nervous eyes as the distance between them shrinks. Plus, behind the girl, her back is already against the wall near the elevator that opened earlier.

"W-what do you want?" Fathia squeaks, slightly frightened.

"To punish you."

Sebastian stands towering in front of Fathia. This forces Fathia, who used to be able to avoid his gaze, to now look up. Reluctantly.

"Punish?" Fathia mutters, just as softly as her previous words.

The man nods without hesitation.

"I didn't do anything wrong." Fathia remains puzzled about the connection between the nonexistent mistake she made toward Sebastian and the punishment. What kind of punishment is this? Oh... could this be about her appearing and not immediately informing Sebastian? Is that it? But she has a different plan. She'll reveal her presence as soon as she figures out what...

"Oh my God! I have to go back to the office, Sebastian!" she exclaims as if realizing something. Right, she needs to be at the office for the archive room.

"For what?"

"Just know I need to get back to the office as soon as possible. Something important. Don't let me miss it. It's an important file."

"Important?"

Without hesitation, Fathia nods. Still in such close proximity, her face tilting upwards, she gazes at Sebastian with a pleading look. "Take me back to the office again. Please, please, please," Fathia begs. She even intentionally makes her eyes look pitiful.

"No."

"Yes?"

"No. I won't take you to the office until you explain everything."

Fathia groans in frustration. "It will be hard for me to get another chance later."

"What are you looking for anyway?"

"An old file," Fathia quickly responds. "Come on, please. After you take me back, I'll find whatever I need in the office, then I'll tell everything to Sebastian. Please," Fathia pleads with Clara's spirit. With whatever bravery she has left, Fathia grabs one of Sebastian's hands. She gently shakes it, just like she used to when she would whine to Sebastian for something.

Something that had never been rejected, even though his face always remained stiff while granting her wishes. That's fine. As long as her current goal is achieved.

"Do you forget who's in front of you?"

"Yes?" Fathia still doesn't understand Sebastian's words.

"What kind of old file do you need? I can have Vino deliver it."

Fathia facepalms. How could she forget this one fact? Sebastian works, and worse, he's leading Group Azure.

***

"So all this time you've been learning to make coffee?"

Without hesitation, Fathia nods. She slowly brings the freshly brewed cup of coffee to serve to Sebastian, who's now sitting comfortably in the living room. He's taken off his expensive blazer, leaving a faded green shirt rolled up to his elbows. The tie that was once around his neck now hangs with the blazer.

And Fathia too. She's changed out of her uniform into more casual clothing. A sleeveless dress that clings tightly to her body, which she grabbed straight from her own room. Truly, entering her room again was something she never expected to happen so soon.

Sebastian's prohibition wasn't a joke. He absolutely wouldn't allow Fathia to leave his sight. She carefully asked Vino about the file she needed. She also left a message with Jess, letting her know she's safe with Sebastian. Fathia is sure her friend will be searching for her with great concern.

Her phone and bag were left in the locker. She didn't have the chance to grab them because Sebastian pulled her away so abruptly. Thinking back, Fathia clearly displayed her annoyance.

"Why are you like that?" Sebastian asked, confused. As he watched how Fathia went about making a cup of coffee, the smile on Fathia's face never faded. It sparked Sebastian's imagination. What went on in his mind was brewing. Did Fathia's smile remain on her lips all the time she served him coffee? He was quite curious about it because Fathia partially covered her face with a mask. But now? Her lips were showing a hint of displeasure instead. What could be wrong? Was something off?

"Just annoyed. I left my phone. My bag too. You're used to it, always insisting," Fathia grumbled, promptly dropping herself on the sofa not far from where Sebastian was sitting.

This clearly made Sebastian chuckle. "You're the one at fault."

"Ugh! Why am I always the one to blame? What have I done wrong? I've been cornered by Sebastian all this time! Instead of being glad that you can still meet me. Do you prefer it when I'm no lo—"

Fathia's eyes widened as, without warning, Sebastian leaned in and kissed her right on the lips. There wasn't even a momentary pause because the kiss caught Fathia off guard. In her surprise, her hands ended up perfectly wrapped around Sebastian's neck. This unexpected move was met with a slight grin in the midst of the kiss Sebastian was planting, when someone gently pulled him back. It was Fathia.

Initially, Sebastian sent that kiss as a culmination of all the feelings he had been holding back. His sorrow. His loss. His regrets. The longing he couldn't suppress until now. Also, the happiness he couldn't truly contain when that reality appeared before him. That his Fathia was still alive.

And as that sweet sensation reached him uncontrollably, Sebastian deepened the kiss. Slowly drawing on the thin lips of the girl who had ruled his heart for so long. Shifting slowly but surely, displacing Felice's presence that had been irreplaceable in his heart. Her cheerful voice. Her laughter lines. The way she smiled. Her playful behavior. They had robbed Sebastian of his sanity. This time, he wouldn't let even a small fraction of his gaze, his attention, his whole life, be diverted from the girl who seemed restless beneath him.

Don't ask how Fathia's heart was pounding. Its beats could probably nail a mirror to the wall with their strength. And the touch Sebastian was giving, it was only adding to her confusion about how to react. Her body tensed. Her eyes were still wide, not believing what was happening in front of her.

The man she had yearned for so intensely, he was truly there in front of her. She wanted to touch him, but Fathia was certain that if she let go even a bit, she might fall. Although what she truly desired wasn't just to hold onto Sebastian. Running her fingers through his hair, for example.

Fathia was never ready when Sebastian nibbled on her lip. Even if it was gentle, it still surprised her. She let out a muffled cry that was silenced within the kiss that Sebastian was intensifying. Using the tip of his tongue, Sebastian traced each of Fathia's teeth one by one. This only caused Fathia to tighten her grip even more. As if not satisfied, he again pressed his lips against Fathia's and once more devoured her.

This made Fathia almost collapse, not just because of Sebastian's body pressing closer, but also because of all the teasing that Sebastian was giving. She had felt his lips before. It was truly electrifying. The effects had made Fathia smile for days, even though it had only been a brief greeting.

And this time?

It felt like a thousand times multiplied. Making her weak. Truly, it felt so different. Fathia experienced a plethora of emotions in every inch of their lip struggle. A mix of frustration and longing, just as intense as Fathia's. Unbeknownst to her, she had reclined on the sofa, cushioned by its soft armrest. Part of the man's body that was supporting her remained on the edge of the sofa to prevent completely crushing her.

In turn, Sebastian seemed insatiable as he tasted the sweetness of Fathia's lips. It didn't matter if the girl beneath him might be running out of breath. When a muffled moan escaped the girl's lips, Sebastian created the tiniest gap just to allow them both to catch some air.

"Never dare to leave me again, Fathia."

Those words were like magic to Fathia. Firmly spoken, right above her lips. They moved with a rhythm that sent shivers down Fathia's body. She could only respond with a slow nod.

Sebastian was so close, immersing himself in the depths of Fathia's calm and warm eyes. How much he missed this girl. In such a delicate proximity and an incredibly intimate position, Sebastian silently pleaded with God that nothing else would ever come between them again. His life was a mess because of it.

As if Sebastian's exploration of Fathia's face never reached its end, especially when his gaze landed on the scar he had wanted to ask about. His strong hand, which he used to support himself and prevent from collapsing onto Fathia, rested on his elbow. Slowly, his fingers traced the fairly long scar. This finally made Sebastian understand why Fathia covered it up.

He couldn't imagine in his mind that the girl under his protection had gone through something so horrific. Even the scenarios in his head couldn't quite capture the reality of that event. The event. The point at which they separated. Leaving behind numerous open wounds that needed to be covered, one by one.

"Must have hurt a lot, huh?" Sebastian asked, almost like a murmur. Unclear. But because they were so close, Fathia could hear him.

"I even forgot how painful it was." Slowly, she released her hand's hold on Sebastian's neck. She let him continue to gently stroke her left cheek. It actually sent a shiver through part of her, but there was something she really wanted to do. "I," she hesitated. Fearful as well.

"Why?"

Their eyes met again. Sebastian's breath, who knew how many beats it had been, caressed Fathia's face. It was as if he was waiting for what Fathia would say or do next. Then, her trembling fingers reached out to touch Sebastian's hair so tenderly. It brought about a dramatic effect within Sebastian. His eyes closed, feeling the softness that Fathia created through her touch. Then, she tugged him slightly closer.

"I want to hug you, Sebastian."