Chapter 289 - § THIS TIME §

CHAPTER 035 

Kraig was standing at the gate of the academy, seemingly anticipating someone to greet. Students who knew him and that would pass through him would greet him and would ask why he had not gone in yet. He would smile each time and answer that he was waiting for his girlfriend. Those people assumed it was Tiana—the girlfriend he was referring to. However, the reveal would be mouth-dropping when they realized it was Yanarym, Tiana's rival. 

Kraig saw her at the alley, she was wearing her usual string strap sandals and yellow dress. It was plain but she wore it gorgeously. She was in her usual walking stance, eyes on the ground, hands occupied by books, messy hair bouncing with her unhurried pace. Kraig smiled widely, he raised his arm and was about to shout her name to get her attention but paused. 

Marcus was behind her and had a blank expression but felt like he was emitting an ominous aura. However, Kraig was not frightened of Marcus' dominating air. Instead, he was in a sour mood himself. Why did he have to send her to the academy? What's with him? Kraig grumbled as he peered at Marcus. Even though he was gratified for Marcus' appearance on the scene where it made him realize Yanarym's importance to his life. It didn't feel right seeing him lingering around his girlfriend. Marcus looked young, too young to be her uncle, also, what worried Kraig the most, they were not blood-related. That man might not see Yanarym as his niece or even a family member. He did not want to have these thoughts… 

Kraig was about to call her name again as he waved his arm. "RY—" Yanarym halted mid-way she was on the way, swerved, and hurriedly walked back to Marcus. Kraig pressed his lips together and put down his arm, eyes were keenly glued on her. He did not even notice Tiana in front of him. 

"Kraig, good morning," Kraig was deaf, his sole focus was on Yanarym. Witnessed how 'his' girlfriend kissed Marcus' right cheek and whispered something to him. Marcus nodded and kissed the back of Yanarym's hands before leaving. "Kraig, are you listening?" Finally, he could hear Tiana's voice, she was annoyed and he didn't care. 

"I'm sorry Tiana, I'm with my girlfriend today, you go first." He told her without much of an engagement. He rushed his feet to Yanarym's location where she was still waving goodbye to Marcus. 

Was he overreacting because he was too territorial with Yanarym? Am I being too sensitive? I guess, no, is it normal that they are too intimate?

"Rym," he uttered her name and grasped her waving a right arm to his palm. Gently he made her twirl to attain her attention. He had a lot of questions to ask regarding Marcus and her but as soon as her eyes landed on him. He forgot. "Good morning," he smiled at her and pulled her to kiss her forehead and the hands that Marcus kissed—he overwrote his mark on them. 

"Kraig?" She was stunned, when he looked up to her, he saw her eyes wide open as her cheeks were blushing pink. "What a-are you doing?" She mumbled and drew her hands back, Kraig did not let her go. He intertwined their fingers which caused her to be speechless as well as those watchful eyes. 

"I'm greeting my girlfriend… and waited for her so we could walk together in our first class." He said with a boyish grin, "Won't you say good morning to me too? And kiss me back?" Her ears reddened as she bowed down to avoid his eyes. Kraig was very pleased. He bent his head to peek at her expression. "Rym?" 

"I… d-don't know." She answered weakly. If he wasn't leaning close to her, he might not have heard her. "I'm so… confused right now. I thought what happened yesterday was a dream." He set her hands free so he could touch her face. 

"It's not, Rym. We're in a relationship. You are my girlfriend." She raised her eyes to meet him. He reached out for her hair and tucked them to her ears. "Starting tomorrow, I think I should fetch you from your house. Don't you think so?" 

"Is t-this for real, Kraig?" She mumbled with her tempting lips. Kraig gulped. 

"Come here, I want to squeeze you. You're so adorable right now." Before he could contemplate anything else, he had drawn her into his arms. Her small frame fitted to his embrace so perfectly. Her scent tingled his nostril. She was soft and warm… he was aiming to disperse the filthy thoughts but holding her made it worse. "Do you want to come over later?" He whispered to her ear, he did not intend to say that but it was like something was taking control over his body. 

"K-kraig," Kraig came to his senses within seconds. What am I doing? Seriously? What's wrong with me? Did I lose my mind? He loosened his grip on her body. 

"I will be cooking tonight. I am hoping you could join me." He bluffed like it was his intention from the start. But … in reality, his storage of food was already empty. He was planning to refill that after a week because his schedule was too packed for him to go and get supplies. But what? He was inviting her to come over? Because he would cook dinner? Where is my damn brain? 

"I could come over to your house again? Is that true?" She asked with her hopeful eyes. Her hands that were trapped between their bodies moved so that it took Kraig's attention. Those delicate fingers were at his chest. Kraig gulped again. There was something wrong with him… to his body. To his brain. 

"Of course, Rym. You are free to come to my house anytime you want." She clamped her lips tight but the smile on her face was too apparent. Kraig dazed on that blithe expression. She looked so happy with his answer and the spectacle for some reason was making his heart race. 

She rarely smiles. He knew that most of her expressions were disgruntled, rigid, depressed, and glum. Unlike her, Tiana talked a lot, was always happy, smiling, laughing, fun to be with, and had tons of ideas for adventures. Maybe that was the reason why he drifted away from Yanarym. Because he thought she was too dull… boring. Her presence was overshadowed by Tiana. It did not take long for her to be austere, dire, and corrupted—she began to bully Tiana. But right now, he was just glad that he came back to her… and witnessed this unforgettable moment. She's prettier when she's happy. 

He was such a jerk for turning her into a terrible person. When in fact he was the first-rate person who had experienced how thoughtful and caring she was. She could not even kill an ant, she was the most modest and gentle girl he had met other than his mother. She was soft-hearted and naive. She was not the kind of person who could hurt her peers, not anyone. She was a very scared-cat person, she would rather choose to stay at the library and learn school stuff than mind people's business. Yet, she changed, because of him. She liked him a lot, to the point, she could hurt someone and offer her virginity as a parting gift. Tiana might be a crucial person for him to have his revenge on Lyndon but he couldn't let Yanarym get over him. He can't lose her… 

Kraig bit his lower lip and leaned close to kiss her right cheek, I did choose the right person this time.

"You're already pretty, but your smile was beyond words, do you know that?" She was silenced, her eyes lowered once more but he held her chin before she could do so and locked eyes with her. 

"S-stop it," She struggled to break free but her arms, or particularly her body, were so lethargic—like he was draining her vitality or life energy. Like gelatin. "I feel s-so embarrassed right now, can you stop… Can you let go of me?" She stuttered. 

"No, why should I? You are my girlfriend, the most beautiful woman that ever existed… I only speak of the truth. Are you embarrassed by the other students?" She shook her head. 

"No, I don't care about them. I… I feel ashamed of myself towards you. I did all stupid and crazy things to have your attention and now that it's finally mine… I don't know what to say or do. Even if you're just doing this for Tiana, I can't even complain. I'm just so happy that—"

"Rym, I'm doing this for myself. Because I can't lose you. How did Tiana even get into this conversation?" She did not respond. Kraig let go of her body and picked up the books that fell on the ground when he hugged her. "Let's talk later, alright? Let's go, we'll be late for the first period. Hold me.." He held out his hand to her and she hesitated for seconds before reaching for him.