Chapter 23: You’re Driving Me Crazy
A bookshelf had tipped over, but it hit the wall, so it didn't completely fall to the ground. It's dangerous if the shelf falls completely, especially if someone is underneath. And someone called me in that direction. "Sapphire..."
Even though I couldn't see who it was, I immediately knew it was Ash. I'm familiar with his voice already.
"Ash, are you alright?" I asked and tried to bend down to see what had happened to him, but I quickly backed away when I felt the books move again.
My grip on the phone tightened. I was scared. I don't know how to get to him because every movement here causes more books to fall.
"Don't come near me, Sapphire..." he said in a hoarse and weak voice. "It's dangerous here. Those books you love to read seem like monsters that want to hurt me to hell," he added, trying to chuckle despite the pain. He told me to stay away, but his words made me want to go to him more.
"Are you stuck there? Can you move, even just a bit?" I muttered, but in the silence of the library, it echoed throughout the place.
"Just go, Sapphire," he said with authority, raising his voice slightly. "You might get hit by falling books. It would be better if you ask for someone's help than act like a hero trying to help me."
I rolled my eyes at him, even though I knew he couldn't see me.
"Do I look like an idiot like the ones you watch on TV, Ash?" I asked, annoyed. "Of course, I called the maintenance team earlier. I'm not stupid to follow you here without a backup plan." "Should I thank you, then?" he asked, his tone sarcastic.
I didn't answer. My eyes twinkled as I found a small hole that could lead me to him.
"This is my payback for the help you gave me earlier. Don't misunderstand," I explained as I kept staring at the small hole.
"You don't need to return the favor. I did that earlier because I wanted to. Now, go," he replied.
I felt butterflies in my stomach as he said that. The tone of his voice was boastful, but the context of his sentence was... unexplainable.
"Not even my parents can dictate to me. What makes you think you can, Ash?" I told him before adjusting my clothes and re-tying my hair. "Wait for me there, and don't move."
I took a deep breath before carefully crawling into the hole I found. I couldn't see much because both of my hands were on the floor as I crawled, and my phone was in my right hand.
It was too hard to move in a confined space like this, but I knew I could make it.
Or so I thought.
"Shit!" I cursed as my foot hit a part of the shelf, causing books to fall.
I grimaced as one hit my right foot.
"Why are you so persistent?" asked Ash, pulling me closer to him despite him being weak. "I told you not to come here, didn't I?"
"Maybe you bring bad luck, Ash. I just wanted to help you, but fate doesn't want it," I told him as I shook my head. "How are we going to get out of here?"
There was no way out now. Both sides were blocked, and there was no signal in this spot either.
"Anyway, are you okay?" I asked before pointing my flashlight at his body. It would be rude to shine it directly in his face. "Wait, you're sweating." I touched his chest. "Your heart's racing, too, and you're shaking a lot." "That's because of you," he teased, but I know there is something wrong with him.
My eyes widened as I saw him running out of breath.
"Do you have claustrophobia?" I tried not to show it, but I was panicking. "Shit, Ash. Why did you end up here?"
If he hadn't come to this part of the library, we wouldn't have this problem now.
"It was too... dark," he answered me in a weak voice. "I wanted to hide, Sapphire. I hate darkness..."
"A-Ash?" I couldn't help but stutter as he hugged me from behind.
"Let me hug you for a while," he said in a pleading tone before tightening his embrace.
He was still shaking. I could feel it in his arms as they wrapped around me. I wanted to push him away, but I also wanted to comfort him.
I'm afraid of the dark too, but who would have thought that someone like him also has fears? He looks like someone who can handle it all... but he's afraid of enclosed spaces like this.
I don't know how to comfort someone, but I should try if I want him to calm down.
"I can't tell you not to be scared, but I'll always be here... at least for this moment," I gently stroked his hand. "If you have bad memories in a place like this, you can let it go... I'll help you."Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.
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I turned to look at him to see if he was okay now, but I wish I hadn't because he was so close to me. I was mesmerized and forgot to breathe for a second.
"S-Sorry," I stammered when I realized I almost kissed him.
I was going to look away, but he didn't let me as he held my chin and pulled my face closer to his.
"This is the only way you can help me, Sapphire..." he said in his deep and husky voice as he leaned in and kissed me.
I know that this is wrong, but surprisingly, it feels so right.
Ash and I were kissing like some hungry animals on the streets, giving all we have as if there were no tomorrow. I was struggling to breathe, same as him, but no one wanted to stop. "I'm running out of breath..." I told him.
He gave me some time to rest, but a few seconds later, he kissed me again.
Ash sucked on my tongue and seductively bit my lower lip, causing me to open my mouth in surprise. I hadn't fully recovered from the breathlessness he caused earlier, but here he was again, suffocating me with his kisses.
Now, I was straddling his lap, kissing him and slightly pulling his hair as his kisses traveled from my lips to my cheeks, down to my neck. He wasn't missing any part of my skin. He was brushing his lips over every inch. He was swirling his tongue and sucking my skin a bit, making my mouth open wide as I arched my back.
I wasn't begging for his kisses, but my body was. So badly.
"Your neck's delectable," he said in a deep tone that sent shivers down my neck and through my whole body. "I also love how your body reacts to my kisses. You're making me crazy, Sapphire."