He is no longer waiting for her response and even, without saying goodbye to the host, Cristan immediately walked out of the house and slammed the door harshly.
Arissa was flabbergasted and flickered her eyes several times in disbelief when she saw Cristan's ridiculous behavior. Feeling uneasy, she hurriedly excused herself from George and Mrs. Leila and quickly getting into Cristan's car.
Once Arissa get in and closed the door, Cristan quickly started the engine. In the next minute, the sports car has already rolled down the main street. As if he unwilling to spend more minutes in Lavender Hill.
Seeing he drives crazily at flash speed, Arissa was utterly shocked.
"Cristan !! What the hell are you doing!! Why do you speed up like this!! Arghhhhhhh!!!"
But hearing her panic voice, Cristan hit the pedal and even increase his speed.
"Arggggghhhhhhh !!!!"
Arissa closed her eyes in horror when she saw the car swooping down the hilly road at divine speed while on both sides, they were only bordered by a rudimentary road that divides directly to the steep ravine below.
"Okayyy .. Okayyy… I give up !!! I admit it!! I was wrong !!! I am sorry!!!" Arissa screamed in horror as her body curled up and trembled in fear because of this crazy speed. Both of her hands are holding onto the dashboard tightly as it would save her life. Right here, right now. Even though Arissa was confused and completely has no idea about why she must apologize but she just wanted Cristan to stop speeding and drives like this.
NOW!
Instantly, the sports car's stopped dramatically when Arissa, with a shaken body that still trembled greatly, patted Cristan on his shoulder and signaled him for the car to pull over to the side of the road for a while.
Cristan followed her instruction obediently.
As soon as the car pulled over, Arissa got out at once and vomited several times on the side of the road. Throwing everything inside her stomach, including the super delicious pannacotta pudding that she just ate before.
Meanwhile, Cristan just watched her casually and whistling cheerfully.
After a while, Arissa returned. Her face is pale like a white sheet. As if all the blood in her body had just been sucked by a vampire.
Cristan handed over a flask of hot tea that they brought for lunch. Arissa quickly took a few sips of it and feels so much better afterward while Cristan waited patiently until the color on her face returned and she can manage her breath.
"Have you finished?" He asked her briefly expressionlessly. Arissa glared at him and nodded lightly.
"Never ... ever do that again ..."
Seeing her response at him, Cristan let out a chuckle and smiled lightly. Soon, after they both inside the car, he started the car engine once again. But this time, at normal speed. Not long after, they finally arrived at the apartment.
.........................
Cristan had just finished taking a shower when he saw Arissa was busy transferring the photos that she took earlier into her notebook from the card reader in the living room. Her expression was intensely serious when she focusing herself on what she's doing now. Then, she felt a strange movement next to her.
When she turned her gaze instantly and saw Cristan, still with his half-wet hair and fresh scent of soap filled her nostril. In her eyes, his sexiness radiates ten times folded in her eyes. Arissa felt heat crept on her cheeks all sudden and her heartbeat was pounding erratically once again. This time, even more wildly. Quickly, Arissa looked away and tried her best to hide her red ripened tomato face. Back to her works and pretending to focus on her notebook while Cristan still stared intensely at her.
Unfortunately, that slight change was quickly caught by his eyes.
"Sorry… I didn't know that you had lots of assignments today. If you were told me earlier, I wouldn't bother you for a favor and take me there .. " Arissa tells him nervously while her eyes glued and keep staring at the screen in front of her.
"Hmm… apologizing surely is not enough. I've had sacrificed a lot. Especially spent some of my precious time. Honestly, I would like compensation .. "Cristan replied casually like a businessman who made a deal with one of his clients But, deep down inside his heart, Cristan was laughing hard amusedly. Slowly, he drew himself closer to her and smell her scent. Hmm .. why does she smell so good? What scent is this? Is it musk?
Arissa who heard those words soon turned her head away and glared at Cristan. Prepared to shoot a protest to this shameless guy.
"A compensation?? What do mean by ...."
Her words stopped and died in mid-air when she realized how close the gap between them. She even can feel his warm breath on her face. A pair of navy-blue eyes of hers meet with his pair of brown eyes which it intimately close with her right now.
".... that?"
Arissa meets her dead-end. She was frozen on the spot. No way out.
The blush on her face returned. His heartbeat is pounding loudly. Almost jumped from its rib chest.
"Kiss me…"
...............…
Only two words!
But those words can make her face turned as red as a boiled crab and extremely nervous. Cristan has enjoyed the sight in front of him while he is flirting with this girl now.
"So…?" Cristan asked it again amusedly while his eyes winking mischievously.
Arissa inhaled deep breaths several times to calm her down.
"Ok .." She replied to him softly.
"Close your eyes.."
Cristan obeyed her instruction and closed his eyes. Then suddenly, he felt a soft, lightning-fast touch on his cheek and panicked steps running away from him and the sound of the door being shut locked from the inside.
CLICK!
Cristan opened his eyes and frowned confusedly.
Arissa and her laptop were nowhere to be seen.
He was still stunned, puzzled about what had happened while holding his cheek that Arissa had kissed earlier, and shown a huge grin on his face like an idiot.
Arissa… Arissa….
You're the only one who can make me feel like this….
..............................… ..
Arissa sat limply while she leaning behind the door inside her bedroom. Her breath still panting heavily because he had just run fast while her other hand holding the notebook.
Her heart still beating frantically inside her chest. Her cheeks radiate with heat but not as warm as before. Her feet feel like Jell-O. She even couldn't stand straight after that sudden kiss.
Oh my….
Is this the symptom of heart disease .... she was puzzled of herself?
What is exactly is going on here?
She looked at her index finger which was used to give a "kiss" to Cristan's cheek just now. They both live under the same roof but their communication was never so intimate before. And just now…what was… that?
Arissa did lying to him if she used to admit to being an asexual. She is still a straight lady. But previously, her first sexual experiences with the male were traumatically painful. Ever since that day, she never wanted to be touched by any male again.
This strange feeling was completely awkward for Arissa, who never had any romantic experience with men before. Yes, she is close to Jojo but Jojo is not a "real male" like other regular guys. Jojo looks and acts much more "feminine" than herself most of the time when she compared herself to him especially with her casual and tomboyish looks.
Okay…
Firstly, Cristan and her. They both. They did sleep together on the sofa, but that was a whole different story! At that time Cristan was pretty messed up and she was helping him so he won't be getting sick in the next day. Well… she didn't do it on purpose, to be honest !!
It just an act of mercy of hers and she didn't emotionally link with him at that moment. She only did what was she had to do at that time. Yes, that's it…
As natural as close friends would do. It's so normal. But…
Cristan ... you ...
You're the only one who can make my heart thumping wildly like this ...
..............................
Cristan was watching TV when suddenly, a notification hit his cell phone.
It's from her. Arissa.
Both corners of his lips curved upwards when he read the message. Even though they both have been lived together for some time now, but today he feels much more intimate with Arissa.
"Sorry that I left earlier before. There are some urges that I should do immediately. Uhmm .. how about this? My photoshoot will be not too busy tomorrow. How if we have lunch together afterward? Think of it as my fine repayment for you? "
An idea crossed his mind.
Hmm… is she just asking me out for a date? Oh my…. How sweet she is…
Cristan was so excited. The smile on his face grew ridiculously wider and he felt like he's in the seventh layer of heaven already.
Alright, my dear princess….
Since you're the one who asked for it, I'll make sure our first date will be so memorable... hehehehe….
With one push button on his phone, Cristan called Jade.
After several rings, Cristan can hear his voice across the line.
"Jade, please make a reservation for lunch under my name tomorrow at Heaven's Palace…."
"Yes, young master…"