Arven's breathing was uneven, his face just inches from Cior's, his hands planted firmly on either side of her head as he struggled to keep himself from collapsing onto her. His voice was hoarse as he murmured, "I think… the potion is taking over. I'm barely holding on."
Cior's heart raced, her eyes locked onto his, unable to look away. She could feel the warmth radiating from him, and her cheeks burned despite her efforts to stay composed.
"Yes… yes, we need to get you the antidote. Right now," she said hurriedly, her voice trembling.
Arven shook his head, his forehead almost touching hers as he closed his eyes tightly. "I don't think I can move… It's too strong."
"You have to try," she whispered, her voice soft but firm, as if trying to convince herself as much as him.
"I… I can't," he said, his voice breaking. His arms trembled, his strength faltering. His gaze flickered down to her lips before he quickly shut his eyes again, visibly fighting the overwhelming pull of the potion.
"Arven," she said softly, placing her hands lightly on his shoulders in an attempt to steady him, her touch gentle yet hesitant. "You're strong enough to fight this. Come on, let's get you the medicine—"
"I'm sorry," he interrupted, his voice barely audible, filled with both anguish and desire.
"For what—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Arven's restraint shattered, and he leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a desperate, fervent kiss.
Cior's eyes widened in shock, her hands freezing on his shoulders. The world seemed to blur around her as the kiss deepened, his emotions pouring into it—raw, unfiltered, and consuming.
For a moment, time stood still. She could feel the weight of his feelings, the conflict within him, and the overpowering effect of the potion. It was both overwhelming and… strangely grounding.
Finally, Arven pulled away, his breath ragged, his forehead resting against hers as he whispered, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to—"
But his voice faltered, and he couldn't bring himself to say more, his emotions written all over his face. Cior, still stunned, remained silent, her heart thundering in her chest, unsure of what to say or how to feel.
The tension hung heavy in the air as they both grappled with the implications of what had just happened.
Cior quickly composed herself, her heart still racing from the intensity of the moment. Without thinking, she grabbed the antidote she had prepared earlier and teleported it to Arven, who was still struggling to regain control. Her hands trembled as she pressed the vial into his hands.
"Drink this," she said, her voice tight, almost robotic as she kept her emotions in check. "It will stop the effects."
Before Arven could say anything more, she teleported him straight to his room, making sure he was safely settled there. She didn't want to risk anything else happening. The situation had spiraled out of control far too quickly, and she needed space to think.
With a heavy sigh, Cior stood in her lab, the walls closing in on her as her thoughts swirled around the events that had just unfolded. Her mind couldn't quiet the thoughts racing through it. Two of them know my secret now. Will I be able to continue this facade? she wondered, the weight of the realization sinking in. She had always been careful to keep her true identity hidden, but now things were different. Arven and Amaias had seen through the mask she had worn, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to face the consequences.
The pressure, the constant need to juggle the lies, and the fear of being discovered had taken their toll. What if this is the end of everything? she thought. She had never allowed herself to become close to anyone for a reason. She had buried everything deep inside, keeping her emotions locked away. But now, they were starting to slip through the cracks, and she didn't know how to stop it.
Cior teleported to her room, trying to block out the overwhelming emotions threatening to consume her. She crawled into bed, pulling the covers tightly around herself as if trying to shield herself from the storm inside her mind. Sleep didn't come easily, but eventually, exhaustion claimed her, and she drifted into a restless slumber, hoping that when she woke, the confusion and doubt would have faded.
But deep down, she knew it wouldn't be that easy.
As the days passed, Cior found herself growing more withdrawn, keeping a distance from the boys, especially after everything that had happened with Arven. She locked herself in her lab more than ever, pouring herself into her research. The door was always locked from the outside, a silent barrier that kept everyone, including her friends, at bay. It felt safer that way, a way to keep the chaos of her emotions under control.
But then, summer vacation arrived, and things began to shift. One afternoon, as she sat at her workbench, going over the data she'd collected, she heard a familiar voice calling from the door.
"Hey, Cior, why not you spend some time with me and Ziven at my house this time? Amaias and Arven are busy with their family things, and you've never stayed with anyone, right? It will be a good experience," Mateo said, his tone hopeful and insistent.
Cior hesitated, her eyes flicking to the door where she had spent so many solitary hours. The thought of leaving her lab, even for just a short time, felt uncomfortable. She was used to the isolation. But Mateo's offer, his kindness, pulled at something inside her that she had buried for so long.
She sighed dramatically, putting on her usual act to hide her true feelings. "I don't know, Mateo," she said, putting on a face of reluctance. "I have so much work to do in the lab, and I really don't know if I can…"
Mateo raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "C'mon, you deserve a break. You've been locked in here for days. You can always come back to your lab later."
Her dramatic sigh deepened, but it wasn't because of the work. It was because of the lingering guilt and doubt she had about everything. "Fine, I'll go… but only because you won't stop pestering me."
Mateo grinned. "That's the spirit! Trust me, it'll be fun. You need to relax a bit."
Cior reluctantly agreed, knowing that Mateo wasn't going to let it go. And, in some small corner of her heart, she realized she might actually welcome the chance to be with her friends again. As she gathered her things and prepared to leave, a wave of uncertainty washed over her. What was she doing? Spending time with them meant opening up, and that was something she had avoided for so long.
But as she walked out of her lab and joined Mateo, she couldn't deny the strange sense of relief that came with leaving her secluded world behind, if only for a little while.