Chapter 74: Chapter 74

Sebastian glanced briefly and found Fathia deep in her slumber. Her breathing was steady. Luckily, Sebastian had adjusted the seat for her to make her comfortable during their journey back this time.

Fathia asked to go home to her large house, but Sebastian didn't allow it. He remembered that Kenzo was there, even though the man knew Kenzo would stand behind him. Sebastian still didn't know if Kenzo had found out what his father did. But it's highly likely that Kenzo knew. Considering how much Kenzo cared for and loved his mother.

Sebastian sighed softly. He hadn't turned off the car engine. He could easily carry Fathia to her room, but Fathia's words had left an impression on him. Since they bid farewell to Ronald, not a single word had come out of Fathia's lips. She chose silence. As if enjoying the journey, even though Sebastian was sure the girl's mind was occupied.

"You're wrong if you think I don't feel the same way, Fathia," Sebastian said. Even though he knew Fathia couldn't hear him, he still spoke. Hearing Fathia's emotional outburst drew him into a series of events from that time.

A time he considered bleak. He lost a beloved lover. Lost a role model who had replaced his parents, who had been gone for a long time. And then... entrusted with such a huge responsibility? While gathering his thoughts, he had to quickly move forward to execute what was entrusted to him. Well. With the simple thought that Alvin and Rossie hadn't chosen him for no reason.

He had known Alvin for a long time and had learned a lot from him.

"I feel the same loss, just so you know."

The soft hum of the engine accompanied their silence. The softly playing audio in the background filled the gaps in time.

"I don't want to take advantage of the situation with what has happened. There are nights when I remember your brother. But being left with you, I realized something. Life must keep moving. What has passed isn't meant to chain us down. With you, innocent, cute, having a habit of sulking, but above all, always following my wishes."

Sebastian glanced over to make sure the girl was still asleep.

"At least, I'm not alone in this world. That's why I'm so annoyed and angry at myself for not being able to protect you. To keep you safe. To have you face terrifying things alone. I was wrong. I truly apologize."

Gently, Sebastian leaned in towards Fathia. He adjusted her hair slightly so it wouldn't disturb her peaceful sleep. "In the end, I understand how God filled my loneliness. With you coming into my life. You mean something to me, Fathia."

Sebastian took a moment to enjoy the innocence on Fathia's face, gently touching her cheek.

"And I hope you won't be lonely living with me in the future."

And with that, Sebastian placed a soft kiss on Fathia's forehead. Slowly, he opened the car door after making sure the engine was off. He didn't want to disturb Fathia's sleep. So, he prepared himself to carry the girl. With Fathia's weight in his arms, Sebastian tried not to disrupt her slumber.

In reality, Fathia had woken up when the car came to a stop. She had planned to open her eyes, but Sebastian's voice made her change her mind. She listened attentively, even though her eyes were shut. She pretended to be asleep. And when she received a kiss on her forehead, it caused an effect that made it difficult for Fathia to breathe normally.

What did he say?

"In the end, I understand how God filled my loneliness. With you coming into my life. You mean something to me, Fathia."

Ah, it sounded so sweet to Fathia's ears. Loneliness? No. Fathia wasn't lonely being around him. However, the loneliness Fathia referred to wasn't about this. She was happy, extremely happy in fact, to have her closeness with Sebastian back. Even closer than when they were first separated. Filling in each other's gaps. Adding colors to each other's lives. Although it was clear then that Fathia saw Sebastian as an older brother.

Someone she admired more and more with each passing day. Someone for whom the term 'older brother' was starting to shift into a different desire. A desire she kept to herself for a long time. Wrapping herself in a fake smile, especially when Sebastian always mentioned Felice in their closeness.

Fathia was self-aware. Sebastian still loved Felice deeply.

But now? With everything they had been through? Could Fathia hope for more? From the man who was now holding her so carefully?

"Are you awake?"

Fathia tensed suddenly. Maybe it was her fidgeting that finally made Sebastian realize that the girl in his arms was awake.

"Or pretending to sleep?"

This immediately made Fathia feel embarrassed.

"If you want me to carry you, just say so. I'll do it even if you're heavy."

"Sebastian!" Fathia finally protested. "You're so annoying."

Luckily, they were already in the elevator. Sebastian gently put Fathia down but didn't allow her to move away. "Am I always like that in your eyes? If not hot-tempered, then... annoying?"

Fathia pouted.

"Answer, Fathia."

"I always have to answer all your questions. Even though it's true that you're hot-tempered, annoying, stiff, indifferent, and your way must be followed."

Sebastian chuckled. "That's how I appear in your eyes?"

"Yeah. A hundred percent true."

"Okay. How do you want me to be then?" Sebastian still maintained his playful laughter. He toyed with the ends of Fathia's short hair. "Grow your hair longer again, huh."

"Oh ... we're not talking about hair, Sebastian." Fathia gently brushed away Sebastian's hand that was still playing with her hair. She pouted, which was met with a laugh from him. Just as the elevator dinged, signaling that they had arrived at their destination. They waited for a moment for the elevator doors to open. Sebastian chose to step out first. When he realized that Fathia was a few steps behind, he turned around immediately.

"Fathia?" Sebastian called, his brow furrowing. The girl stood silently right by the closed elevator door. "What's wrong?"

"Do ... I mean anything to you, Kak Sebastian?"

A small smile appeared at the corner of Sebastian's lips. He stepped closer to Fathia, who didn't move an inch from her position. It was as if she was waiting for him to approach. She tilted her head slightly when Sebastian was right in front of her. Their eyes locked, sinking into each other's depths.

"Yes."

"How much do I mean?"

Sebastian fell silent for a moment. "I can't assign a value, because that's for you to determine." He stepped closer. "You can feel everything about me now." He brought both of Fathia's palms to touch his face.

She closed her eyes, and when her palms made contact with his face, trembling slightly, she felt the tenderness she had longed for in Sebastian.

"Now you're allowed to doubt me, the way you thought I still loved your sister. I'm okay with that. But at the very least, don't stop me from giving you a lot of love now, for your life. Until you realize that I really do love you."

Fathia was speechless. Her body froze, not able to move much. Even the gentle caress she had been doing on Sebastian's face came to a halt. "You... love me?"

Without hesitation, Sebastian nodded.

"Since when?"

The distance between them decreased as Sebastian encircled Fathia's waist to draw her nearer. "I don't know exactly when. Especially after you left me. It felt like I was living half a life. And now that I know you're alive and back by my side, don't stop me from giving you a lot of love."

"When did I stop you?"

Sebastian smiled. "True. I'm the one who restrained myself."

"Why?"

Sebastian gave a gentle shake of his head. It wasn't that he didn't want to answer. Before, he had been afraid. But now, he didn't want to waste the opportunity anymore. "Because I was afraid of falling too deep. But it turns out... I've fallen without realizing it."

"For me?"

"For who else?"

"Not for Clara—"

Sebastian cut off the unfinished sentence with a kiss right on her lips. It was sealed with a small peck that turned into a long, passionate kiss. The touch he received on his face, he no longer felt. Fathia's hands were now perfectly looped around his neck. As if to support him because of what Sebastian was doing, which was intensifying.

"Never mention someone else's name when you're with me, Fathia." Sebastian said this right above Fathia's slightly swollen lips from the kissing. "Calling my name is much better."

Fathia furrowed her brow.

"Can you do that?"

Obediently, Fathia nodded.

"Try." Sebastian adjusted their positions because he knew Fathia might have a little neck strain from tilting. In one swift motion, he lifted Fathia's body, causing her to yelp in surprise. He placed Fathia on the table that was functioned as a place for guests to be entertained before entering his unit. This made Fathia slightly taller than him.

"You scared me," Fathia complained as she pushed away her hair that was blocking her vision.

Sebastian completely ignored that. Once again, he said, "Try calling my name correctly."

Fathia still didn't quite understand the meaning of the words from the man whose body was partially right in front of her.

"Fathia," Sebastian urged impatiently.

"Sebastian?"

Sebastian shook his head slowly. He once again planted a kiss on Fathia's slightly swollen lips without any pause. It immediately left Fathia flustered. She wanted to push him away a little, but it felt impossible. Her body was responding differently from what she should be doing. Instead, she was welcoming every gentle touch on her lips. She matched his every move, even when Sebastian used the tip of his tongue to stroke her lips open, Fathia allowed it without hesitation.

He stroked slowly, sucked, and intertwined his tongue with Fathia's, who hesitantly played along. Sebastian was getting impatient to deplete the air in Fathia's lungs. They were panting, not wanting to let go of each other. These were the two things they were doing now.

"Call my name properly, Fathia."

Those words seemed like a spell of their own to Fathia. They were spoken right above her moist lips. It felt like a mesmerizing dance, paralyzing her innocent brain's function.

"Tian." Fathia closed her eyes as she whispered the name softly. She had never spoken Sebastian's name without any title before. She hoped that the man in front of her wouldn't be angry. Instead of anger, he grinned widely. It was as if he had won a huge tender; his heart was bubbling with joy.

And as a reward, Sebastian didn't hesitate to kiss the lips that had just melodiously sung his name. It made the girl lose her breath again, but Sebastian seemed not to care. Not to mention his hands, which were still securely at her waist, he lowered them a bit. He gently caressed Fathia's exposed thigh. Blame it on Fathia's choice of outfit that Sebastian couldn't resist himself.

Ah... Fathia never picked the wrong clothes. Everything she wore always looked sweet and left Sebastian amazed. It fit perfectly and emitted a unique aura from her.

This clearly stirred a small hesitation in Fathia. Quickly, she restrained Sebastian from giving more touches. "Why?" Sebastian asked, which Fathia immediately appreciated as their lips parted. Even though there was a sense of loss, Fathia used the opportunity to fill her lungs with air. Even just Sebastian's kiss had left her feeling this week.

Asked like that, apart from normalizing her pounding heart due to Sebastian's touch earlier, she also had to think rationally. "Don't," she whispered softly, although truth be told, Fathia was quite curious about the sensation Sebastian had just created.

"Oh, okay." Sebastian gently stroked Fathia's cheek again. "Sorry if I scared you."

Fathia shook her head quickly. She wasn't scared. Not at all. She just... she just... Oh my God! She couldn't even find the right words to express how she actually liked the way Sebastian touched her. But... they hadn't even gone further yet? Couldn't they do it inside?

Sebastian wanted to scold himself for not being able to control his urges, but what else could he do? In front of him, Fathia seemed to surrender to his teasing. Fortunately, her prohibition came at the right time. If not, Sebastian himself wouldn't have dared to imagine it. That's right. He'd better head inside. Preparing dinner was better than staying close to Fathia like this.

Just as he was about to put Fathia down, she actually stopped him. Making Sebastian furrow his brows. "What's wrong?"

Fathia kept glancing at Sebastian and then looking away. She was actually embarrassed but... she closed her eyes briefly. 'Carry Fathia to her room.'

Sebastian chuckled softly. "Is that all?"

Truly, Fathia was beyond embarrassed, but she was already in too deep. What she could do now was just nod slightly with her face becoming more and more downcast.

"Look at me when you talk, Fathia."

Fathia shook her head.

"Do I need to insist?" Sebastian wasn't out of ideas. He gently lifted Fathia's chin to make her look at him. When their eyes met, her face was as red as a ripe tomato, ready to be plucked. "Say it properly. Don't look down."

"Carry me to my room."

"Ask correctly, Fathia."

She felt like she was being teased. "Sebastian," she protested a little annoyed.

"Call my name properly."

Her lips pouted, but she still did it. Because Fathia knew who she was dealing with; Sebastian Sachdev. He wouldn't let go easily until he got what he wanted. However, instead of being opposed, Fathia found herself getting more and more into it.

"Tian, carry me to my room."