Chapter 23
I AM A LOVEABLE FOOL
ETHAN
I shook my head and slowly blinked just to know if what I was seeing wasn't a dream or a nightmare. I couldn't decide. Ariana finally looked at me and gasped, covering her mouth, and staggered back in shock. I wondered if it would be a good time to wave at her.
I looked beside her at Kiara. Her dark brown eyes were wide with disbelief and shock, a few strands escaping her ponytail now framing her face, which was flushed red.
"What are you doing here?" Ariana squeaked in fear.
I wanted to give her a smug smile and say 'I heard everything' walking away dramatically. But I was sure Kiara wouldn't appreciate it, so I held it back.
I couldn't believe that Ariana wanted to be with me so that she could get closer to Kiara. I didn’t know whether to laugh at the thought or feel bad about it.
Somehow, the image of them kissing flashed in my mind and being a straight guy, I found that extremely hot. Shaking my head, I controlled my hormones and walked out of the washroom, ignoring Kiara.
"Ethan, wait, it's not what it looks like!"
I took a deep breath, walking aimlessly around the library. I knew Kiara was following me, her soft thuds of footsteps padding after mine along the wooden floor.
"Ethan. Stop!"
I didn't. I was angry. I was confused. I didn't know where I was going. I might just bump into some book rack and have an existential crisis.
The soft pressure on the crook of my elbow made me turn and look at the panting Kiara. I frowned, worrying about her when she held up her hand to take a deep breath.
"It's not what it looks like, E,” she said. “She came onto me.”
I nodded absentmindedly because I was getting irritated by the strand hiding her face. So, I stepped closer and tucked it behind her ear. There. Now, I can see her.
"Ethan."
I glanced down at her eyes. "Yes?"
Kia smiled, a soft crimson blush spreading on her cheeks. "Did you hear what I just said?"
No, I was too busy staring at you.
I grinned sheepishly. "Yeah."
She clicked her tongue playfully and crossed her arms. "What did I say then?"
"That . . . I’m looking very handsome right now?"
A soft chuckle bubbled out of her throat. I felt proud of myself because making Kiara laugh and seeing her smile with me because of something I said or did was one of my favorite things in life.
I knew, at that strange moment, after seeing her kiss my ex, standing between the stacks of ancient books, that I was in love. I was utterly, madly, deeply, passionately and as-many-adverbs-there-are-to-describe-love, in love with an enigmatic beauty named Kiara Sharma.
I snapped out of my strange realization when I felt her arms wrap around me, giving me a hug. I hoped she wouldn't feel my wildly beating heart. "You're weird," Kiara said, her voice muffled by the fabric of my shirt.
I felt like a fool for not realizing this early.
I loved her snorts. I loved the fact she could eat as much as me after my swim practice and wasn't self-conscious about the muffin-top (Food Baby).
I loved how she secretly used my new razor and told me to feel her baby soft legs when we were at Target—one of the employer, Claire, was gobsmacked.
I loved how she talked passionately for hours about her new story idea.
I loved how she cut her nails every Sunday because the idea of long and colorful nails scared her.
I loved how she sometimes forgot that either I or her family existed and continued to write her story.
I loved how she clung to me like a leech because she forgot to talk to me for a day and then proceeded to kiss my neck and jaw all the time, hiding her face in my neck.
I loved the tiny golden specks in her warm brown eyes when they were in the sun, especially when they were staring at me.
I loved how she kicked in her sleep and made me fall on the floor, but I never complained because she was adorable.
I loved how she was always smiling and a giant bubble of positivity.
I wanted to take her away with me and hide her from this world, kissing all her worries away.
I forgot what to reply, so I lamely said, "I know," and whispered softly in her ears. "Kiara? I think I just took a fart on the heart."
My heart was beating like a wild animal and I could feel my blood pounding in my ears when she chuckled. "Of course you did."
She pulled away to grin at me, dimples poking her cheeks. She kissed me, tipping on her toes, and said, "You're a lovable fool."
Sweet Jesus, help me, for I am a lovable fool.