Audrey ran away not knowing what to do. She was ecstatic at that very moment. She felt her pulse raise the moment Aiden touched her. She knows that it wasn't the first time that he touched her. She's also aware that if she's going to count it wasn't also her first kiss with him yesterday!
All this thought are making her more confused than she already is. She then stopped at a fire exit at their floor. She's even asking herself now why did she even kiss him back at the first place. Can't deny the fact that she was lost at that very moment that she kept thinking about it, she felt her heart beating loudly as ever.
She then scolded herself for she's read way many romance fiction books that it's making her think that what she's feeling right now is something that can only be felt towards the person they like. She likes Aiden as a friend and nothing more but somehow it's starting to confuse her even more. She doesn't want to misunderstand if what she feels is just gratitude or admiration.
"Audrey."
"Oh God." It's Aiden. She was so surprised that she felt her knees fell on the floor as she held as hand at the hand rail of the staircase forceless for she's not expecting any company at all.
"Sorry. I guess I scared you."
"You almost gave me a heart attack. I really thought you were a ghost or something"
"Do I look like a ghost to you?"
"What? No. It's just that this place, this fire exit had a dark story. A scary one."
"And you're here? I never thought that you like haunted stuff that much."
"I do not! I run absentmindedly that I ended up here." Audrey sat at the stairs and tucked her knees together trying to contain her heart that is beating like crazy right now.
A small baffled silence enveloped the two for a moment. The wind was even rustling silently too. Aiden wasn't comfortable with the fact that the deafening silence is making him real agitated. Audrey was making him worry that he decided to ask something that he fears that might happen.
"Do you hate me now?" He said while slumping down at one of the stairs above Audrey.
"No." She answered quickly.
"Then why did you run away earlier?"
"I was err…"
Though all that Aiden can see is Audrey's back, he figured out that she must be embarrassed. He then apologized.
"I'm sorry."
"No. I should be thanking you because the medicine worked on me that I'm feeling much better than I should be."
"Just so you know I don't treat other girls like the way I treat you."
"W-what do you mean?" The moment Audrey looked back, her gaze was immediately captured by Aiden's eyes. He had a very serious expression that he's making it difficult for her to analyze what he is thinking.
"You're different, one of a kind."
"Stop saying such things to me." Those words that he kept on saying at the spur of the moment are making her very much confused.
"I'm serious."
"Stop…saying such things."
She is happy whenever he sees him at school especially whenever her eyes met his. It makes her feel like she's being drawn into a world where there's only the two of them. It feels almost surreal thinking that it should feel lonely just being the only ones inside such world but being together with someone who makes you happy is already enough that it makes you feel complete as a person.
His mere presence is making her feel nervous yet ecstatic. It's as if the spark inside of her is slowly igniting into something terrifying. Audrey doesn't want any more confusion to happen. She don't want to name out what she's currently feeling for she is not sure herself about what it is.
"Thank you and I'm sorry about what happened yesterday. You're making me so confused with all the things you've been saying and doing to me." She then stood up.
"Audrey."
"Aiden, why are you doing this to me?"
"What do you mean?"
"I thought I'm the dumb one here but I guess I'm not." She replied sarcastically with a smile.
Aiden tried to analyze Audrey's expressions before saying something. He knows exactly what she means but he can't tell her that. He knows well enough that though he wanted everything to go according to his plan, it won't always be how it will go and end.
He wanted to tell her how much he wanted to wake up every day wanting to see her and be with her again. He wanted to tell her how much he's hurting but a simple smile from her was enough to ease the pain that he's feeling. He wanted her. He needed her. But don't want his selfishness to destroy her more that he already did.
He loves her so much that it hurts. But for him his love alone won't bring anyone back to life. It was complete torture that he had to live his everyday wishing that it should have been him. He wanted to end everything up after he learned the truth but had chosen to live knowing that the person he loves the most is still alive.
"I'm sorry."
After hearing his reply, Audrey's tears flow unannounced. She felt rejected at that very moment as if her heart fell and broke into pieces. She put her gaze down to feet not knowing what she should say. Her mixed emotions flowed unexpectedly as she cries.
Aiden didn't expected that she would react like that. Seeing her shed tears is breaking his heart. It reminded him of the moment where he sworn to himself that he'll protect her to those who plans on hurting her but he'd forgotten that he should have protected her from himself first.
He then bit his lip trying to stop himself from doing something unnecessary but it wasn't enough. Seeing how hurt she was is excruciating.
He stood up walked towards Audrey, pulled her close to him and embraced her and said, "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry Audrey."
"Let go of me."
"I'm really sorry." He felt that his eyes are starting to get watery so he dumped his face off on her shoulders. There was so much to tell her that it turned and swelled up into an emotion that he himself cannot handle anymore.
"Don't be like this. You're making me more confused."
Aiden just embraced her more not knowing what to say. Audrey wanted to hug him back and let everything be the way as it used to be but she can't. She doesn't want her confusion eat her up. The more they spend time together the more it'll confuse her. She needed to put a stop to this.
"Let's keep our distance from each other."
"Do you really mean that?"
"Y-es."
"Will you be happy with that?"
"Yes."
"…okay."