Irene slid her hand through the straps of her bag and opened the door but before she could step out, Ilyan held her back. Her head turned to him. She looked at his hand gripping her wrist. And all that she could do was wish that he had not stopped her because by that time, her grip on her own self had loosened so much that she was sure that she would no longer be able to hold herself back if he said even a word.
At that moment, even his mere voice could have been a trigger that she wanted to avoid at any cost.
"Ilyan, not right now, please."
His fingers loosened their grip on her wrist just as soon as his ears heard her urging and the next moment, he let go of her wrist without any argument.
She got down the car, followed by him.
"Can I come?" he feebly asked. "Please?"
She said nothing but made her way toward the elevator. He had not moved from his place. It was not until she stopped and turned around that he looked up.
