He tells you everything? Hayes asked Inessa. “Well, of course, we are siblings. You, of everyone, should know how close we are!” She replied with a little shrug of her shoulders, as if to emphasize the obviousness of their bond.
She felt a sense of pride in their bond, recognizing that not many siblings shared the same level of closeness. Despite the occasional arguments, as siblings do, they always had an unspoken agreement to forgive and support each other. Their parents had instilled in them the importance of family and being there for one another. It was ironic, considering her father and his brother no longer spoke. Inessa wondered if that was part of the reason why he emphasized the importance of loyalty between Renlin and herself. As for her mother’s sisters, whenever they were together, they always seemed to be smiling and laughing.
Inessa’s smile began to falter as she contemplated the possibility that she wasn’t being entirely honest with Renlin. While she wasn’t actively lying to him about anything, she realized that she was avoiding telling him anything in general. This realization weighed on her, casting a shadow over her previous sense of pride in their close bond.
Though she rationalized to herself that she had no reason to tell details about her summer to Renlin. After all, summer was over, and soon it would be just a distant memory, replaced by the chill of autumn and the demands of the present.
Inessa’s brows furrowed slightly as she considered Hayes’ question. Was he implying that Renlin might be hiding something from her? It seemed unlikely, given Renlin’s notorious inability to keep secrets. She met Hayes’ gaze with a curious expression. Why do you ask? Do you know something?"
The girl nodded slowly, absorbing Hayes’ words. inessa knew that Renlin often acted impulsively without considering the consequences. She couldn’t help but wonder if his thought process had involved her well-being at all before he made his decision. Renlin had never been one for making pros and cons lists. He tended to act on instinct rather than weighing out the advantages and disadvantages of his decisions. While this spontaneity often led to exciting adventures and unexpected opportunities, it also meant that he occasionally found himself in sticky situations that could have been avoided with a bit more foresight.
She preferred to approach life with a bit more caution and calculation. While she admired his spontaneity, she couldn’t help but feel frustrated when she got pulled into the aftermath of his decisions.
Inessa chuckled softly at the thought of Hayes enjoying the ball. It seemed like an unlikely scenario, given his usual preferences. She imagined him more at ease in the corner of the room, observing the festivities, perhaps with a cigarette in hand, lost in his own thoughts.
As Inessa took Hayes’s hand, she felt a rush of warmth flood through her. His touch was familiar yet electrifying, a mix of softness and roughness that seemed to encapsulate his nature. She hesitated for a moment, considering the implications of intertwining their fingers, but ultimately settled for a comfortable grip, acknowledging their friendship without inviting unnecessary speculation from others. As they walked together towards their first class, she found solace in the familiar sensation of his hand in hers, a blend of softness and roughness that somehow felt right.
Inessa’s thoughts swirled as she walked alongside Hayes, the rhythm of their steps matching the cadence of her inner reflections. She couldn’t shake the sense of vulnerability that his presence seemed to invite, a vulnerability she wasn’t entirely accustomed to. It was as if he had effortlessly dismantled the barriers she had meticulously constructed around herself, leaving her feeling exposed yet strangely liberated at the same time.
The ease with which he made her feel comfortable was both comforting and disconnect.With each step, she found herself inching closer to the edge. She had spent so long shrouded in the safety of her walls. Yet now, in Hayes’s presence, those walls seemed to crumble like ancient ruins weathered by the passage of time.
She let silence pass over them as they walked. But soon Inessa slowed her pace. “Do you ever feel like… there’s something missing? Like there’s a part of you that’s just not quite there?” her voice taking on a more serious tone.
As they approached their classroom, Inessa shook her head, as if to dispel the whirlwind of emotions threatening to engulf her. Glancing up, she realized they were just moments away from their destination. “You know,” she said, her voice tinged with a mixture of apprehension and relief, “never mind. We’re here!” It was a subtle retreat, a withdrawal from wjat she had been teetering on, a return to the safety of the familiar confines of academic routine.
@astxrism cutie boy Hayes