Fear is a powerful type of emotion for it can do both physical, emotional and soon mental interference to people. It is a basic response when people feel that they are in jeopardy. It is a very unpleasant feeling where you feel inferior towards the things that makes you feel threatened, to feel scared.
Though it's like a type of virus where it can mutate into something worse it's not all the time that wrong. In some cases, you don't need to be in danger just to be scared. You don't need to feel life-threatened to feel distressed.
But fear is not really the problem. The issue it the response that we give to it. It relies on our mindset in how we'll handle such situation.
Levi held Audrey tightly on to his arms. It's like he's verifying that she is really in front of him and not an illusion. He was really terrified that something bad had happened to her and that whatever it might be is that he might not be to forgive himself for it.
But as he was anxiously embracing her, he was startled for an abrupt sound coming from the door and a voice made him aware that they're not alone.
"Levi, if anything bad happened to Audrey I swear I'd..." Aiden stopped when he saw the two.
Relief run down on to him like cold water as he just sighed heavily and sat at the chair besides him trying to contain all of his emotions all together. What he just saw is not what he really expected to see at all.
He then took his phone out of his pocket and called someone and said helplessly, "Cancel the search. I already found Audrey. Yes. Yes. Thanks. Okay. Bye."
He looked down at the floor and rested his elbows on his lap as he held his phone with both of his hands as if he's praying.
Audrey gently pushed her brother away and was surprised to see Aiden herself. He thought that Levi must have called for him for help. Now she really felt bad.
Levi had indeed called Aiden to tell that Audrey had gone missing, he frantically panicked. He didn't want to call him at first but he thought that he needed to know. He doesn't want to admit it but he actually needed his help.
Kylie on the other hand felt the tension fill the room as silence confined them. So, before anything started to get out of hand, she decided to take the first step by dragging Levi towards the kitchen by saying, "Now that Audrey's here I guess we should prepare some dessert and more food now that I'm here and Aiden too. What do you think?"
Levi immediately caught what she's trying to say for the baffling silence is starting to make things awkward so he replied, "Yeah. I guess."
"Audrey dear. Why don't you take Aiden to your room first to talk? I really don't like being stared at whenever I'm cooking." Kylie said as she puts on an apron.
"Err..." Audrey looked at Aiden and saw that he's staring at the floor seriously.
"Geez. Go!" Kylie pulled the two and pushed them towards the stairs leaving them no choice but to go up.
Audrey went to her room nervously for she's afraid that Aiden might be angry. She can't just stay quiet and not say anything now that they are alone. So, she said with uncertainty, "Uhm, sit anywhere you like. Make yourself at home."
Aiden then chose to sat at the empty chair parallel to her study table. He silently sat as he try to think of what to say first for his mind is in total chaos right now.
He's carefully trying to choose the right words in his mind before telling her anything. He's terrified that all his mixed emotions right now may complicate things more.
"Are you mad at me?" Audrey asked.
"What? No!" He exclaimed as his eyebrows furrowed as he refrained looking back at her.
"Then why do you look like one?"
"I'm really not."
Audrey was not convinced. She then walked towards him and said, "I'm sorry. I..."
Aiden sighed in defeat. He suddenly stood up and quickly pulled Audrey to his embrace. He held her real gently as he let all of his frustrations go away.
He took a quick gaze at her face but her innocent expressions lured him. He slowly caressed her cheeks with his long fingers like he's trying to confirm whether the person in front of him is real or not.
He then surprisingly embraced her once again and didn't say a word. He's just happy to know that she's okay
Audrey felt her heart beating fast echoing on to her ears like a reminder that she still needed to find out what her feelings really are towards him. But if he's being like this, it makes her feel like she is indeed enjoying the embrace that he's giving her.
"If you keep on holding me like this, I'm afraid that I'll get used to it." She said nervous.
"Then get used to it."
"Don't worry I'm fine. I just got lost earlier but hey I'm back in one piece."
"That's great." He embraced her more.
"Are you trying to squish me?"
"No. I'm trying to imprint my scent on to you."
"What???" Audrey gently pushed him away and turned her back out of embarrassment.
"You're blushing. So cute." He teasingly said as he pokes her cheeks.
"I'm not!" She said as she cupped her cheeks.
"I'm sorry I was just really relieved that you're here now." He said as he relentlessly sat besides
Audrey's bed.
"I must have worried you. My brother really is such a freak panicking immediately like that. I'm really sorry about this."
"I thought that something bad had happened. That you might be kidnapped or had an accident or worse! Just don't do something like that again okay? It really unsettles me. Well it's not just me but you really did worry all of us."
"Okay." She felt really bad. For now, she can't tell that she was stalked for she's afraid that it'll only make them worry.
"Please don't do this again okay? I don't know what I'm going to do without you."
Her heart skipped a beat. She thought that he's telling her that it's okay to be spoiled like this. So, she clenched her hand on top of her chest and said, "S-top. Are you really trying to make me fall for you?"
"Am I?" He looked at her in the eye making her more conscious of his very presence.
"If you are mocking me, I'm telling you I don't have any more energy to be teased by you right now." She defensively said.
"You're right. You must be really exhausted after getting lost earlier. You should rest first then. We'll talk later."
Audrey was surprised that he agreed with her that fast. She thought that he will continue teasing her which he usually does. She then realized at that moment that something is really off about him right now.
Aiden stood up and was about to leave when he felt Audrey's hand grab him. He looked at her questioning her what's wrong. She then answered honestly.
"Don't leave yet."
"But you needed to rest."
"Yeah. But I'm afraid that if I rest for a moment, I might actually fall asleep and might not be able to see you again when I woke up."
He wryly smiles and sat beside her bed and said, "What's with that? You always see me at school though."
"It's not like we can hang out like before. Or meet up at the library like we used to. You've been Angela's manservant ever since she arrived. And it's irritating."
"That makes me think that you're jealous."
"Yes I am."