It was time the stars make their appearance in the clouded sky which gave a creepy yet eye-catchy ambiance along with the hook of the show, the moon. The breezy weather was still there, but the only divergence was, the weather had worsened.

The gentle wind which felt like wind caressing my face turned into a crisp breeze, sending goosebumps to my whole body.

The bus came to a halt and the professor got up from her seat and announced, "We have reached the Tiveden Forest at last. The bus can't go further, so we have to walk to reach the small town."

I glanced at Vian, and he gave me an assuring smile. I was glad for some reason that we had developed a good relationship after all. Sharing my thoughts with him, which I didn't think I would even share with anyone, felt peaceful.

Relationship?

Friendship!

He was a great listener, which felt even more comfy to share with. His eyes could portray that he never judged me for what I was, even in my low times.

After getting off the bus, I examined around, and I started developing Déjà vu vibes. This place had something antithetical to it.

"I'm going to die this night. Promise me, you won't part with me, you won't cease loving me, promise me you will encounter me in my following beingness." I comprehended someone whisper in my left ear.

"I'll be there for you not till death make us apart, until our souls, our psyches are severed. I give you my soul promise." Outright, I heard a whisper in my right receptor.

I shook my head vigorously and saw delirious emerald-deep green trees everywhere and just one pathway.

It felt like someone groped my neck, I clenched the fabric of my jersey sticking close to my neck, and pulled it outward to breathe.

"Are you okay?" Vian asked me, seeing my juxtaposed expressions.

"I'm fine, a little tired, I guess," I coughed.

I heard the esthesis of moving water and started to take deep breaths to calm my senses down. "There's a lake nearby," Vian surd in my ear in his deep gruff voice which sent a crisp zephyr to my neck making me vulnerable in front of him.

"How do you know?" I articulated as he started walking beside me.

"The article, I read that too. I'm guessing this is the one." He stated, to which I hummed.

We reached the village after traversing for a couple of minutes, the only source of light was our roaming flashlights.

Finally, entering one cottage, the professor divided the students into pairs to send them to their cottages rented for a week.

I was mesmerized by the beauty of the village, even in the darkness. It was like a hidden wonder inside a forest, different from an ordinary world.

"Josephine, are you well-heeled dwelling with Vian. We have an odd number of girls here, you see," the professor pointed at me.

Before I could say anything, Chloe interrupted, "I can share the room with Vian, Josephine can reside with my partner, right Bonny?"

I looked at her face which had a hideous smirk and then at Vian. His face was expressionless until he decided to talk differently.

His hand reached my hand and trailed his finger to my palm and wrote on it. "8"

What's an eight? I thought.

It's infinity dumb.

"I'm fine, professor. And you don't have to worry Chloe, I appreciate your kind gesture," I spoke and fake smiled at Chloe.

How dare she? I'm going to throw hands.

Control girl. She's not worth even talking to.

"Yes professor, we can work on our novella more comfortably that way," Vian chimed and intertwined our hands.

"Vian! You are finally opening up with your persuasions. I guess a project in pairs was a good idea after all," the professor chirped and smiled.

What's this feeling? Why am I getting tingles all over my body? If my heart goes abnormal every time I get near him, I would be dead for sure.

Chloe and Bonny scoffed and rolled their eyes at us and made their way while the professor gave us the keys and directed us to the location.

"Thank you for saving me from her," Vian said, detaching our hands to hold the luggage.

"What's with the 8 or infinity? I didn't understand!" I nudged him.

"It was an infinity. That you and me- nothing it was just a signal to save me," He busied himself in counting the number of bags I brought.

"What's in there? Planning to live here forever?" He asked in a serious tone.

"Maybe, die forever," I accidentally spoke, which I was not intended to.

That was my line to keep this in your heart, not to tell everyone. Duh!

"Don't say this, please. Just never okay?"

I laughed, but it was not funny at all, seeing his expressionless face again, I decided to keep my mouth shut.

We entered the cottage, which was giving me historical vibes. Like it was built many years ago. A large room with an attached washroom and a small kitchen, perfect.

Essential food items were already kept on the small kitchen island and after wandering for a while, it seemed that the place was cleaned recently.

The fragrance of the soil was hypnotizing. A rain pour could be predicted easily. Even I had agreed to live here, the thought of living with Vian under one roof felt shingle comfortable.

I'm excited.

"I'm hungry," I blurted out loud without even knowing.

Why are you speaking everything out loud! Jeez, stop!

"Huh? Shall I cook something? Let's see what's there in the pantry, okay?" Vian said out of the blue.

"You cognize cooking too? Seems like I'm the only one left without this skill!" I pouted.

"Ahh, this? My mom had a nine to five job, but she had to leave two hours early and reached home two hours later after her work, so practically she was never at home except on weekends. So I learned it," he remarked, and put the oil on low heat while chopping the potatoes into fingers.

They are called potato fingers. Ughh! Why am I trapped in your body?

"I see," I hummed in reply to Vian and ignored the voice of my inside.

"Mia loved these potato fingers, I hope you will like them too," he said and made some paste out of the various spices available and coated the fries-then dropped them into the bubbling oil.

He seemed comfortable while talking about his family now! I couldn't understand him, even after spending so much time with him.

He was like an open book with blank text that could only be read if he lets me to.

Taking the fries out from the oil and after removing the excess oil with the tissue, he blew on one to cool down one till I whined, "Don't!! I prefer eating them sizzling hot."

Oh la la, hot!

Shut up!

"You can burn your mouth!" He exclaimed, raising one eyebrow.

"Exactly! The real taste comes to me then. I know I'm weird, welcome to my world Mr. Wat- Vian, Vian Marshall. I like your last name more, though, Marshall!"

I ate the fry and huffed while exhaling deeply and chewing at the same time, that my face got red.

He grinned at my peculiar expressions and said, "You like my last name? Keep it if you want..."

I choked on the food and widened my eyes until they were ready to pop out. "Jeez, relax, I was kidding!" He exclaimed.

"You are so different today. Or this is the real you, and you tried to portray yourself as another person till now. Knock that bubble and come out, live freely like you are now."

"Okay My Lady, as you say," he said and bowed at me at 90°.

"You are so dramatic today, what's gotten into you?"

"I don't know, there's an unknowing aura of this place, I swear I don't know what I am saying, sorry," he said humoring lightly.

"If you apologize again, I'll not talk to you. I have told you this earlier, don't say sorry for who you are. You didn't say anything wrong, you are not someone's slave that every time you speak for yourself, you will get punished."

"Maybe I was." He said lowly.

"Exactly! Maybe you were. But you are not now."

"I think I just wanted to listen to this. I'm feeling good all of a sudden," he said and tossed the potatoes newly bubbling in the pan.

"Make some more," I giggled sheepishly.

"Wait- let me make them this time. I want to try too," I said, being impressed by his skills.

I tossed one fry into the oil, and before it could be fried, some hot droplets of oil welcomed themselves on my wrist, making me cry out in pain.

Before I could do something, Vian shouted for my name.

"What is it? Show me!" He shouted, to which I flinched a little.

"It's nothing," I said and hid the burnt mark with my other hand.

"No, you said ouch, what is it? Is it hurting? Show me. Is it bad? Is- it-"

"It's nothing, Vian, calm down. I'm fine!" I assured him. His hands trembled like he was the one feeling the pain.

He took my hand and dragged me towards the couch and made me sit there. I gawked at his actions when he brought a towel drenched in a little cold water and sat on his one knee taking my hand in his and gently placing the towel on my wrist moving it swiftly on the burnt mark and blowing on it simultaneously.

I just stared at his gentle actions and didn't say anything out loud. Though I could feel the burn, but my cheeks were getting hotter.

"Does it feel better?" He asked, looking at me from between his hair falling near his eyes. I was so lost that instead of replying to his question, I focused on our breathing, which was clearly audible and in sync.

The music of our breathing was soothing to my ears. A sudden urge of listening to it nonstop glinted in my eyes.

This weird eye contact didn't seem weird after a while. "Why can't I stop moving my gaze from your eyes? What are you doing to me?" He spoke and scooted a little closer to me, his eyes traveling to my lips and then back to me.

His face was a lot closer to mine that his hot breath was fanning over my face, and I closed my eyes automatically.

With my eyes closed, I felt soft lips touching my wounded skin, to which I let out a shaky whimper and opened my eyes slowly to witness him giving soft kisses to my hand.

"Feeling better now?" He asked in his deep raspy voice, to which I nodded multiple times and pulled my hand to myself, realizing what I was doing.

He did this to distract you from the pain. Don't think he has superpowers. That was hot, though.

My heart was ready to explode any minute, I could feel my cheeks were on fire, and sweat beads starting to form on my forehead even in the chilly weather outside.

I was feeling this for the first time. This feeling was different. I got up, excusing myself, and walked towards the washroom and looked at my reflection in the mirror.

Why didn't I stop him?

Because you wanted him to kiss you. Admit it.

I looked at my flustered face in the mirror and thanked the darkness for giving me shelter to show my face glinting a deeper shade of red.

I'm so enjoying your shy face. Bahaha-
He was so hot for this, though. I will say this every time to remind you of this now.

Shut up!

But-

─•❉᯽❉•─

Thoughts?🦋