Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 71595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
I slowly shake my head.
“Did he do anything to you?”
“He must have,” I whisper.
Yuki blanches.
“Because you’re here and you’re not real.”
For a moment, there’s nothing, only Yuki staring at me—-
And then he’s crushing me back into his embrace. “Don’t fucking scare me like that.”
The numbing pain in my head worsens. Definitely a hallucination, I think dazedly. Not only does this imaginary Yuki sound like he cared, the shudder that racks his body as he pulls me closer to him is even more incredulous. It’s almost like he’s weak with relief at the thought I’m okay—-
Impossible.
And to prove myself right, I slowly reach out to touch him, the tips of my fingers gingerly grazing his side.
The heat of his body seeps through me—-
Hot.
Too Hot.
Only someone real can be this hot.
The realization makes me jerk, but his arms tighten around me, preventing me from moving away, and my dazed gaze flies up to him. “Y-Yuki?” My head is reeling, and I feel like I’m about to throw up and faint at the same time.
He pulls back.
“You’re really here?”
“Yes.” His nod is clipped.
I look around us, and that’s only when I realize how silent and empty the whole place is. Except for Nina, everyone else is gone, even the guy who tried to force himself on me—-
Memories flash in my mind.
No!
I don’t want to remember, but still they pour in, poisoning my thoughts, and every second of it is frightening.
Sickening.
Yuki’s jaw clenches. “Hikano-san.”
A moment later, Nina approaches us, and I realize Yuki’s addressed her by her surname. “Is there a robe here that—-” There’s a telltale pause. “Chariot-san can use?”
I close my eyes. If I needed any more proof that this is real, then that’s it. Locals only allow themselves to call another person by their first name if it’s someone they’ve known for years or someone they’re close to, like a girlfriend – or an ex-girlfriend. But I guess I don’t even qualify for that since he just GOTYE’d me.
“Yes. I think so.” Nina’s voice is shaken. “I’ll get it now and—-” Nina turns to me with a look of guilt and regret. “I’m so sorry about this, Katerina.”
“Nina, no—-” I’m miserable and horrified that she could blame herself for what happened. “It’s not your fault—-”
“I should never have left you alone. I had a feeling from the start...” She shakes her head. “I’m just really sorry.” She swallows hard. “Anyway, let me get you a robe. The sooner you can leave this place, the better.”
I stare at her retreating back. I’ve done it again. It’s started all over again.
And when I look up at Yuki’s face, I see the same thing.
“You think I’m too weak, don’t you?” I ask dully.
Yuki’s arms abruptly loosen at my words. “I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to. I can see it in your eyes.” I hate the way my voice has suddenly started shaking like an earthquake’s just struck my throat, but I can’t help it. Ursula to my Ariel, remember? And I have a feeling that any moment now I’ll be bawling and he’d have succeeded in making it impossible for me to speak.
“Do you, really?” Yuki’s lips curve humorlessly as he rises to his feet and looks down at me. “Do you really think you still know me so well after all these years?”
I suck my breath. Guess that’s another thing about him that hasn’t changed. He always did know which words could kill you in a second.
“Can you just tell me why?” I ask tonelessly. “Why are you being such a jerk when I’m willing to forgive you—-”
“I don’t recall asking you to forgive me—-”
“Then stop doing nice things for me!” My voice rises drastically, causing Nina to come to an anxious halt by the open doorway of the changing room. If I have one ounce of self-respect left, I know I should just leave it at that and not have anyone else witness my breakdown.
But like I said: I do crazy things when I’m hurt.
In a blink of an eye, I’ve lunged towards Yuki, trying to scratch his face—-
Nina lets out a shocked gasp as we fall back into the Jacuzzi.
“Stop it,” Yuki growls.
But I don’t.
“It’s your fault!”
I can’t.
“Stop this—-”
And so I keep trying to scratch his face, his neck – anything I can reach. I just want him wallowing in the same pain I’ve been drowning in the past three years.
Yuki’s face grows grimmer as he evades my clawing fingers. “Stop it—-”
“Then stop messing me up! Stop confusing me!” The hysterical note in my voice is appalling, and it makes me want to lash out at him more. “You s-say you want me out of your life, but then you’re always there when I need you!” I beat his chest as hard as I can, but it doesn’t even make Yuki flinch. I hit him again and again, but we both know I’m hurting myself more than him. “Say something!”