I was about to stand up when I noticed a man's figure from afar. Just like the first time I saw him, he's standing in the same position again. Ash Gray Ventura is biting his lips while his serious deep ocean eyes roam around the ambiance of the place. It was quite a few days when I haven't seen him and now he's more pleasing and charismatic. No matter how serious and arrogant he looks, it will only make him more appealing.
When his eyes search in my direction, my heart suddenly palpitates in tension. I quickly hid behind the bench because we can't see each other right now. The last time we've crossed paths again, things turns unhappy.
I observe his actions and it seems like he's looking for something which makes him look annoyed. I wonder what is the important thing he is searching for why he looks eager and his eyes narrowed. Afterward, he turned his gaze back to the bench where I was sitting earlier. I don't know if he notices that I'm actually behind the bench. He became more serious as he places his thumb on his chin revealing the edge of his chiseled jawline. I cloud see from his direction how his eyes thoughtfully scanned the bench. I breathe out heavily when he chuckled sexily as he thought of something while caressing his lips.
When I saw him turn around just then I realized he is leaving. I don't know what was happening to me when I quickly got up to follow him. His plain shirt was designed for his broad shoulders, engraved by his manly torso, and lastly the veins on his burly hands. His long and slender legs were inside his jeans, making him taller than his normal height.
I continue following him silently when he's heading his way to the areas where there are lots of people and tourists wandering. I do not think of the reason why I'm doing this right now. I just want to know what he wants to do why does he always make me curious even if it's not his thing to answer it.
The pavement was like a commonplace of his rule, walking imposing that attracts the roving eyes of beautiful ladies wearing elegant dresses. I no longer wonder why he is pulling all the attention of the people without even looking in their directions. He and Viktor share the same aura.
Amidst the crowded place, he makes his way to the breathing space where an old man was busy blending contrasting colors. The old man v placed. Indeed, the old man is a painter because of his passion for arts and crafts. The old smiled at Ash Gray Ventura and hug him like they no each other for so long. Ash Gray nodded lightly looking over inside of the man's small space when the old man murmured something to him. Later on, a familiar woman came and that's when I realize that she is the old woman he rescue that day when a big truck appeared.
The wind was milder and gentle than before when suddenly he reaches the old woman's hand and caress it like a mother to him. Whoever his mother was, I could say she's proud to have a son like this man. He never smile at the old woman but instead looked at her eyes with so much respect and care. I don't expect that I'll see him this way.
He looks keenly at one of the canvasses being lost in something he only knew. The old couple looks at Ash Gray with so much tenderness. I covered my mouth when I remember his canvass. Is it the reason why he seems determined to go here? Is it really important why it seems like his life depended on just a folded canvass? Or is it because that canvass was for someone he wanted to paint? I remember someone's name the way how Beatrice pronounce it arrogantly. Her bestfriend named Ava.
That only means that I need to return it to him. I thought he will leave early but I stopped when he sit in one wooden chair and did the same thing as the old's man work. I stopped in areas where lots of people are walking by not too far from him. I'm facing his back and every time he is bending forward to blend more paints, the thin fabric of his well-built body creased making its clothes fit into his arms and back revealing his defined muscles.
I observe the way he strokes and the moments his back arched. The canvass was still clean because he was just stroking traces again. I don't know why I looked longer at the thing he is doing. I was taken aback when I notice his hands surrendered in colors. He then slowly turned his eyes to the spot that is uncertain for him because even I was unsure and in doubt why on earth he suddenly looked at the bench. It's like the same feelings that our eyes locked together because his deep ocean orbs are searching for something.
I enjoyed looking at his side appearance and didn't even realize that I've lost in every single way to hide. I never predicted that this man is observant in all ways. I stepped backward with heavy breathing when he finally caught me with a meaningless stare. It is as if he had already gotten the answer he was searching for when I saw him holding the bristle tightly.
I turned around to walk away from him. I know he won't give any attention to this. We're both strangers to each other. Why did I let him catch me? What now Maryam Amira? I shouldn't let it happen no matter how small a thing it is. I shook my head repeatedly at the things I am thinking. I haven't that the amber sky is slowly receding which makes me stop to look at the location where Notre Dame cathedral looks even more fascinating within the shelter of the wide yonder.
I was about to close my eyes when suddenly I felt the heat stick in my arms. I could almost feel the hotness run through my veins penetrate my hands. It took me a few seconds to finally face the someone who holds my hand. In every delicate blink of my eyes, I realize how beautiful how our position is when the misty rose and coppery sky make their way to reveal our shadows. I looked at his muscular hands which were carved with veins. I give all my best to withstand the uneasiness I felt and look plainly at his tough gaze.
"What are you doing mister?" I asked him while looking at our hands.
I am thinking about how long he'll withdraw his hands but he remained to hold mine. I couldn't either do it by myself.
"I caught you" He replied sparingly.
Because of his baritone voice, I looked at him again keenly. I saw how he bite his lips boringly without avoiding my eyes. His plain white shirt swayed lightly along with his clean-cut black hair when the wind started to be in motion. Why is he always looking alluring in my eyes even in his simple movements? I blinked my eyes and took a deep breath.
"Excuse me? What are you talking about?" I asked acting like I don't know what he meant. I even tried to look at him oddly to prove to him that I don't have an interest in his business.
"I caught you lady. I know that you know what I mean." He said with languid eyes and placed his hands on his pocket.
I touched my arm and he look at it too as if he forgot what he did.
"I don't know what you mean" I replied with a serious expression again.
I noticed how his lips grinned as he touches his chin playfully. He seems amazed at the way I responded to him. This unknown feeling I feel is dragging me in the incomprehensible reason why I adored his grace every moment.
"Lady, go on with your business," He said in a mellow voice like he was trying to test my patience.
I could even tell that he is smirking despite the way how he hides it. I don't know why he seems to have fun messing up with me. I mean this isn't big deal and so what if he caught me? From what I remember he has someone right? So why he is acting this way or should I correct myself to think this way because maybe this man is just fooling me? Right! If he thinks that I let him trick then he should stop it.
"I don't have any business with you to talk about. I also don't know why you are this bothersome or inconvenient to me. You even crossed the line by touching me without even thinking if I could allow someone in that way to treat me. That's rudeness mister and I don't even know why are you so persistent and gutsy to ask me the thing that I didn't ever do." I said annoyingly to let him know that I'm not happy that we are talking to each other.
I taught he'll get exasperated by the way I talk to him but seriously he smirks even more and this time it is shown vividly. He looks untroubled and he makes me feel like a fool trying to explain my side to him. How could he act like this despite the annoyance I showed to him? I felt like I need to put more mechanisms for him to comprehend that I'm not used to the way how he stares at me.
"Lady, why are you looking irritated? I just said I caught you." His voice was now in a blend of huskiness and baritone.
"Only if you'll say the truth" He added while wiping his bottom lips.
My spirit was awakened by the way he spoke. We didn't realize the changes in the atmosphere and the people walking and leaving. He came closer to me to close the distance between the two of us. My heart skipped a beat when his deep ocean blink gently. It's like he invades everything in me with just his serious face.
"I have nothing to explain to you. Mister, it's getting late. Would you mind if I'll go first? If you want to ask for someone's company then that person is not me." I even tried to sound genuine to make him believe.
What else will I do to make him leave me? I'm sure Viktor will ask some of his men why I'm still not home though he allows me to do everything I want still, I know it still has boundaries. Not that I'm keeping myself to him rather I want to cooperate so that in the end he'll finally set me free.
"I know what I am doing lady even the words I said. I know exactly the right thing to do and with all due respect, I can give you the explanation that happens a while ago. For sure that you'll be on my side If I say that I caught you observing me. To make this all short, you indeed stalking me." His jaw clenched along with the veins in his neck.
His eyes were like speaking making me lost in my sanctuary. I don't know the reason for my sudden silence and where my eyes will stare because no matter how hard I tried to avoid him my eyes always stares at him.
"So what if you caught me? It is not that this place is forbidden to look at. Are you thinking that I'm stalking you for real mister?" I asked him unbelievably but he just smirked and mess his hair.
"Yes, absolutely lady. Because if not then how can you explain why you were hiding earlier on the bench." He said arrogantly which cause me to stiff and stare open-mouthed.