"I was young and, I don't know, I was—" she stammered, her voice catching.
"Don't." I stopped her before she could finish. "You don't have to bring it up. It's fine."
I realized how difficult it would be for her to bring it up.
"No, it's not," she said, her voice breaking as though she was on the verge of tears.
I watched her eyes grow wet, tears threatening to spill as she stared at me. My gaze pierced through hers, and I found myself studying her face. I couldn't care less about their past anymore. She looked so beautiful sitting there. She was more like a beautiful stranger to me than a guardian.
"It's fine," I repeated, my voice softer this time. "Whatever you're about to say can't undo the past."
"So you've forgiven me?" she asked, hope flickering in her wet eyes.
I only nodded. Did I even have the right to forgive her?
She smiled widely in relief and then leaned in, wrapping her arms around me. Her warmth pressed against my chest, and I froze, feeling the closeness linger even as she slowly pulled away.
"I brought some homemade sandwiches and fresh fruit," she said, unpacking containers. "There's also some of those chocolate croissants you used to love. I was sure you hadn't eaten anything proper."
Why exactly was she here? I questioned, studying her. After five years, she decides to come find me now?
She spread a small blanket on the floor and arranged the food carefully. I was actually starving, so I sat cross-legged and joined her. I watched as she ate delicately, with every movement graceful and refined. Sometimes she'd steal glances at me, and I always met her gaze, neither of us looking away first.
There was something different about the way she looked at me now.
"You've kind of changed," she said suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence. "I mean, you look different, definitely more handsome. And your hair is different too, which is very nice." She gazed away, staring into nothing as though she couldn't maintain eye contact. "And there's something different about your personality. You're so confident now, not as… shy as before."
Shy? I guess that's how she remembered Kaelen. The awkward kid who could barely speak around adults?
Then she looked directly at me, her eyes searching.
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"What?"
"I can see you don't," she said with a knowing smile.
"A player then?"
Where was this line of questioning going?
I kept my expression neutral and stood up calmly. The tension in the room was becoming too much.
"Thanks for the food," I said, giving a slight bow before heading to the bathroom to freshen up.
I needed space to think. Being close to her was putting thoughts in my head that I had no business thinking. By the time I was done, she would've gone back.
I took my time in the bathroom, letting the cool water wash away the confusion. She was intoxicating in a way that made no sense. This is insane. She's my supposed guardian, but the way she looks at me…
I stayed in there for about an hour.
I came out wearing only shorts, using a small towel to dry my hair. The apartment felt warmer somehow.
I opened the bathroom door to find her dozing on the couch. Why isn't she leaving? It's already past nine.
The creaking sound of the door woke her. She sat up slowly, and her eyes immediately fell on my bare chest. Her lips parted slightly in what looked like shock, her gaze frozen on me.
The way she was staring, I could tell she was fighting hard to resist something.
"Aren't you heading back?" I interrupted her stare.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said, standing up quickly, her cheeks flushed. "I was waiting for you to finish so I could tell you—I can't go back today. My flight isn't until tomorrow morning, and I don't know any hotels around here."
Of course. In this cramped studio apartment with just a couch on one end and my small bed on the other.
"Alright," I responded calmly, walking toward the drawer to get a shirt.
"Thank you for letting me stay, Kaelen," I heard her say softly.
I turned and nodded.
She disappeared into the bathroom next. When she emerged, I nearly choked. She was barely covered, just a small towel clutched to her chest and wearing what looked more like panties than shorts.
Damn! Is she doing this on purpose? She was freaking hot.
"You're huge," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I looked down and realized with mortification that I was completely hard. There was no hiding it, my body had betrayed me long before my brain could catch up.
Fuck. This is not happening.
She stood there frozen, the towel barely clinging to her chest, her legs slightly parted, chest rising and falling with each shaky breath. Her eyes didn't leave my obvious arousal.
She's not moving away neither was she looking away. What the hell is happening here? Her staying the night might've been a bad idea, will I be able to control myself? Do I want to?
"I'm… sorry," she whispered, but she didn't turn away. "I shouldn't have said that. I didn't mean to stare."
I stood up and stepped closer, instinctively. "Really?"
She looked up at me slowly, her face flushed with heat and want.
This is crossing every line imaginable. But I can't stop myself.
"I didn't mean to…" she said softly, her voice trembling.
"To what? Tempt me?" The words left my mouth before I could stop them. I was standing right in front of her now, my bare chest only inches from the towel that was her only shield.
She's beautiful and that was driving me insane.
"You're like a little brother to me," she stepped back slightly, but her eyes never left mine.
"But you're not acting like a big sister," I said as a joke.
"This is…" she whispered.
I closed the gap between us, letting my hand hover near her waist, not touching yet, but close enough that she could feel my heat. She wants this as much as I do. I can see it in her eyes.
"Why are you really here?" I asked, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.
She looked up at me, surprise flickering in her eyes at the sudden shift in my tone.
"Huh!? I told you, my flight—"
"No," I cut her off, stepping back deliberately. "Why are you really here? After five years of nothing, you show up with food, want to stay the night, and look at me like…" I trailed off, running a hand through my hair.
The silence stretched between us.
I grabbed a shirt from the drawer and pulled it on, creating a barrier between us.
"I need some air," I said, heading toward the door. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll be back later."
I walked out before either of us could say anything else, before I could change my mind, before I did something crazy.
Yes, I shouldn't care about what old Kaelen would do, because he was gone and I could do whatever I wanted but maybe not now, maybe not today. But if presented with another opportunity, I'm not thinking twice.
I stepped out and climbed to the rooftop. The stars were beautiful tonight.
The cool night air hit my face, clearing my head slightly. I needed this distance, this clarity.
The stars seemed brighter than usual, while watching the stars, the system window suddenly materialized in my vision, translucent and glowing:
[ QUEST ALERT: DIVINE INTERVENTION DETECTED]
WARNING: Forgotten goddess proximity confirmed
Proximity Alert: IMMEDIATE AREA
Status: AWAKENED
Danger Level: S-RANK
"What?" I stared in shock at the screen. "A goddess nearby?" I looked around, seeing no one. Who could it be?
Then I saw her, a figure silhouetted against the night sky on the neighboring rooftop. A girl with long white hair that seemed to glow like captured moonlight. She was facing away from me, standing at the very edge of the next building with an otherworldly stillness.
I squinted, trying to make out her features, but she remained frustratingly unclear in the darkness.
"Hey!" I called out, my voice cutting through the night air. Why did I call out that loud?
She turned slightly, just enough for me to catch a glimpse of pale skin and quickly, she turned back and jumped.
My heart lurched. I ran to the edge of my rooftop and leaped across to the other building, my enhanced abilities carrying me farther than should have been possible. I landed hard and sprinted to where she'd been standing, then looked down at the street below.
She was nowhere to be found.
I stood there, breathing hard, staring at the empty space where she'd been. The system window flickered back into view:
[MISSION UPDATE: First Goddess Sighting Confirmed]
Identity: UNKNOWN