Kiss Me Better
Amira Sinclair is the daughter of one of the biggest hoteliers in the UK. She is also one of the top students at Ashford High. But the only problem is she is one of the top and not at the top. All thanks to a certain someone. Amira hates Aslan Werner with every fibre of her being. She studies day and night to strengthen her position but she is yet to achieve it. Because if she doesn't she will have to pay the price for it. All she wants to do is to graduate senior year with the first rank and move to her dream college. Nevertheless, her plans are downtrodden by her father. Aslan Werner is the only successor of Werner Hotels. He is tall, masculine, alluring, and the school's basketball team's captain He is academically gifted and has been the top student at Ashford High forever. Grades don't matter much to him since he is already working as the CEO of his father's business and he is future-set. However, He is willing to do whatever it takes to stay at the peak just to rub it in the face of "Princess" Amira Sinclair, the girl he dislikes. And simply because he loves to annoy her. But when he learns that there is more to Amira than what meets the eye. When he realises that he has played a significant role in pushing Amira to do the unthinkable. Will he be able to Kiss Her Better? Or will it be too late? ×××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××× TRIGGER WARNING: Please be aware that this book contains content that may trigger certain audiences: domestic violence, mention of abuse and murder, anxiety, eating disorders (anorexia nervosa), claustrophobia (fear of confined places), hemophobia (fear of blood), astraphobia (fear of thunder and lightning). This book is the intellectual property of @ lunalyrahkarkhi. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be produced or transmitted without the written consent of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote the brief passage for review purposes only.
Chapter 17: Why does the last line bother me so much?
Aslan Werner.
Present.
It's been about an hour and a half since we entered The Arcade and we've been playing one game after the other.
"Let's eat something,"
Arnold suggests, shooting balls in the basketball hoop as fast as he can. His indicator shows that he has 56 points in 48 seconds.
Whereas mine indicates 63.
"Yeah, sure,"
I agree,
as we continue to throw the ball in the hoop when my gaze darts towards the girls playing table tennis or more like Amira playing table tennis while Laura tries to hit the ball with her racket.
"Try" is the operative word, because she isn't even holding the racket properly. Amira on the other hand keeps striking the ball every time Laura serves, with much ease.
After a few failed tries, Laura throws the racket on the table and raises her hand to her head in the universal gesture of "I surrender"
Laura huffs dramatically Amira simply laughs at her friends' antics and goes on her tippy toes to pat her head in a soothing gesture, like a mother would do to a child. The notion of it is ridiculous because of their height difference since her hand can't even reach Laura's head without Laura bending halfway down to meet her.
"Aslan!"
Arnold exclaims.
I break from the spell that I was in and turn toward Arnold and see him smiling smugly. I was so busy watching them that I didn't even hear the one-minute timer of the basketball game buzz.
The score reads 74-67. He won by 7 points.
"I won. The loser pays for the dinner which means you are paying for my dinner."
He continues, that smile still intact on his face like he has just won a big lottery.
"And pray tell, when did we decide on this bet? because I don't recall placing any bet before the game began."
I say to him
"Well, that's because we didn't. I decided to place the bet just now and since I am the clear winner by a whole of seven points you are paying for my dinner."
He declares as if he can't afford it himself.
Like he isn't the son of the biggest pharmaceutical company owner in the country.
"Alright. It'd be my absolute pleasure to pay for your meal, Mr. Curry."
I humour him, calling him by the name of his favourite basketball player.
"That's right. It should be."
He says, haughtily, puffing his chest and squaring his shoulders, playing his role.
"Now, hurry, let's go, find others and eat something."
He continues, still in his character, he looks me in the eye with a serious expression and,
"Or else, I might just make a hole in your pocket."
"I don't have any pocket."
I state, with the same seriousness.
We stare at one another for a beat
and then we both lose it and start laughing hysterically.
"Let's go, feed your stomach before you make a bigger hole in my nonexistent pocket."
I say, throwing my hands over his shoulder and steering him towards the others.
We finally decide to move to the bowling area where Arden is casually throwing a ball in the lane while Laura and Amira are lounging in our usual spot in the furthest corner of the bowling area.
Arden slumps beside Amira and throws his left arm over her shoulder and says,
"Missed me, Girlfriend?"
"Stop trying to steal my girlfriend from me, you thief!"
Laura exclaims to his brother before Amira can respond all while dragging Amira from her right arm and I don't miss the hiss that comes out of her mouth but Arden has her in a tight hold.
The tug-of-war continues but both of the siblings seem oblivious to the obvious distress etched on Amira's face and her pleas to stop.
"Guys, Stop! Don't hurt her."
I hear myself growl.
They all freeze and turn their heads to me. My eyes lock with Amira whose expression has morphed from distress to utter surprise. Something about the utter surprise on her face makes my chest feel heavy like someone has put a rock over it. Not being able to stand her gaze I divert my attention to my twin friends who are stone still.
I am not sure if their shocked expression is because they didn't realise they were hurting her or because of how quickly I lost my calm demeanor and practically shouted a command at them in defence of my so-called enemy and I am also not sure I want to find out which one of the two is correct the former, the latter or both.
And I am surprised by myself too that I practically boomed at my friends when I could have told them patiently but it just happened before my brain even gave the signal for it to happen and
I am not a guy who loses his temper easily yet seeing that it resulted in the distressed expression no longer being there on her face makes me feel so relieved.
I know I am in the wrong. I should have handled the situation more nicely and also that they didn't mean any harm to their friend. They would never mean any harm to anyone so I apologise for it.
"I am sorry. That came out wrong.
I should have said that nicely. She looked like she was in pain and I... I just... I didn't mean you were hurting her on purpose for that I apologise."
I tell them, sincerity laced in my voice.
"No, it's okay. We know you mean good.
In fact, I am the one who's in the wrong. I should have been careful of my actions."
Laura says, looking extremely guilty and turns to face Amira,
"I am sorry. I was so in my head I didn't even think that I must be hurting you. I won't make the same mistake twice."
"I am sorry too, Girlfriend. Are you hurt?"
Arnold enquires.
"I appreciate your apologies. But it's okay, guys. I am fine, really. Thank you for asking."
Amira says, downplaying her discomfort.
"Thank you for noticing."
Her voice is raspier and huskier when she addresses me, her eyes seem bluer than ever.
I can't quite place the emotion but something about her voice is different.
Appreciate your apologies? Thank you for asking? Why is she thanking her own friends for asking about her well-being when they were the cause of her distress in the first place? And.... Thank you for noticing?
Why does the last line bother me so much?
And I am surprised by myself too that I practically boomed at my friends when I could have told them patiently but it just happened before my brain even gave the signal for it to happen and
I am not a guy who loses his temper easily yet seeing that it resulted in the distressed expression no longer being there on her face makes me feel so relieved.
I know I am in the wrong. I should have handled the situation more nicely and also that they didn't mean any harm to their friend. They would never mean any harm to anyone so I apologise for it.
"I am sorry. That came out wrong.
I should have said that nicely. She looked like she was in pain and I... I just... I didn't mean you were hurting her on purpose for that I apologise."
I tell them, sincerity laced in my voice.
"No, it's okay. We know you mean good.
In fact, I am the one who's in the wrong. I should have been careful of my actions."
Laura says, looking extremely guilty and turns to face Amira,
"I am sorry. I was so in my head I didn't even think that I must be hurting you. I won't make the same mistake twice."
"I am sorry too, Girlfriend. Are you hurt?"
Arnold enquires.
"I appreciate your apologies. But it's okay, guys. I am fine, really. Thank you for asking."
Amira says, downplaying her discomfort.
"Thank you for noticing."
Her voice is raspier and huskier when she addresses me, her eyes seem bluer than ever.
I can't quite place the emotion but something about her voice is different.
Appreciate your apologies? Thank you for asking? Why is she thanking her own friends for asking about her well-being when they were the cause of her distress in the first place? And.... Thank you for noticing?
Why does the last line bother me so much?