Chapter Six.

Jhelani's POV:

This can't be happening. I came all the way down here for one reason, just one fucking reason, and yet I have a whole different trouble following me up right behind.

I am being watched. My every move, my choice of action, the way I love my coffee, my favorite flower, every damn thing. The intruder knows of it.

Who broke into my home? Who kept this here? Who was it that was talking to me in my apartment without me knowing? Those were the exact questions that rang in my head with no answers to them.

I threw the coffee into the sink in my kitchen, the whole thing going down the drain before I tossed the cup into the bin next to the sink.

Then I turned to the envelope, my heart racing faster as I took a step closer to it. With trembling fingers, I swallowed hard while opening the envelope, then I brought out what was in it.

It was a photo of me jogging down the street this same morning in my outfit that I still had on, showing that I was right. I was already being followed. And I wonder who it could be. What do they want?

“Cute ponytail. Red lipstick next time,” the message read, with the sender leaving his name anonymous.

This is getting crazier than it looks. I feel like I am being stalked. But for what reasons?

Fuck. I need some fresh air to clear my head. I murmured while grabbing my water bottle on my way out with the envelope in hand. I made sure that I had my door locked up pretty well. I need to change the locks since someone seems to have broken into my house.

Once I was outside, I tore the whole thing and threw it away in the garbage bin outside.

Yes, I might have an attraction towards dark stuff, but for such a terrible thing to happen to me in reality isn't what I bargained or wished for.

I just want a normal girl's life while daydreaming over a Dark Romance life.

I don't want to be stalked by some obsessive guy who might be interested in me for some psychotic reasons. Or someone willing to kill anyone, burn the world down to ashes, ruin the life of everyone if they ever step in his way of having me.

That would be fucked up as hell if it ever happens. I tried to calm myself down, believing that maybe, just maybe the voice speaking to me was all in my imagination and there was no one there. And the envelope? I definitely do not know what to make out of it.

"You seem lost in thought. What's up Pretty head?"

I turned to the voice and saw Kian leaning on his motorcycle, smoking.

My brows furrowed, "What are you doing here? When did you move down to this block?"

"Long before you got back here. Maybe a few days after you left town. I don't know. But don't answer my question with another question or else we'd keep going back and forth on the same damn thing. This is your last time, Pretty," he said, pulling up his body from the bike and walking over to me on the other side of the street.

"The least you could do is to avoid smoking that shit in my face. I knew you'd be useless but I didn't expect you to be this 'USELESS' after graduation," I said, irritated by the smokes he was puffing right in my face, his gaze penetrating into my skin.

He tossed the joint on the floor, grinding it under his boots until it went off.

"You're good now?" He arched his brow.

I crossed my arms over my chest, "Maybe."

"That's a good affirmation compared to last night. How about we crash at a cafe to grab a steaming hot cup of coffee while we talk over. I know a pretty good coffee shop down the block. They opened not too long, but I bet you'd like 'em."

"I don't know about that. I just planned on taking a walk outside for some fresh air. You should know better than treating me to a coffee when we still have some unsettled scores, Mr Blackwood." I snickered.

"Then why don't we settle them now? As you can see, the wind is getting stronger, and I am pretty sure that with this outfit you have on, you'd be catching a cold anytime soon. Here, you can put on my jacket in the meantime," he handed me his jacket and I almost snatched it from him because honestly he was right.

I was freezing in the wind with goosebumps all over me. I don't know why the wind became much stronger when we got closer with just two feets separating us.

"I don't need your jacket, Kian. Keep it to yourself. And why do you care? As I long as I can remember, you didn't give a damn about me in highschool. So why do you care now? You know, maybe it might feel much better and practical if you don't fake things. Because no one would believe this shit you're putting on." I hissed.

"Fake? Baby, if I was faking, you’d be eating it up like everyone else. But you’re not, are you? You’re fighting it. Which makes me wonder… why are you so damn bothered about whether I care or not?"

"Because first you had a bottle smashing into your back just to protect me and then now, you're offering me your jacket to protect me from the cold? Oh please, don't lie to me with a straight face. I am not so dumb not to know when someone is throwing shots at me. And don't ever call me baby. It made me cringe so bad hearing that from someone like you," I shivered as the word kept ringing in my head while I walked off but then I was suddenly pulled back by my wrist.

"You don't have a choice, baby. We're grabbing a cup of coffee down the block. No buts. No refusal. No arguments. Yes?" He said while taking me to his motorcycle then swung his leg over it, starting up the engines and it roared to live. "Hop on. You can wear my helmet if you want to though," he urged on.

I didn't move an inch. I only stared at him. And when I say stare, I meant glaring daggers into his soul.

"What are you staring at me for? Don't tell me you also need me to put you on my bike too."

"You really do have a liver, Kian," I said in low tone that should probably scare him.

"You know what, that ain't nothing new. I've always had one since I was born. So now, get your ass on there baby before I do that for you," he groaned.

"I would love to see you do that," I said, walking off nonchalantly.

I walked a few blocks back to my house. Surprisingly he didn't come after me, but I don't know why. I sensed someone following me behind and it wasn't Kian. I've looked over my back like a thousand times already but there was no one there.

"What the heck?!"

My quickening steps froze right in place when I found Kian's bike parked right outside my apartment. I looked around then saw him leaning on the door frame that was also the entrance that leads into my house.

"Such a dare devil," I groaned, pinching the space between my eyebrows in frustration.

"What were you running from, babe? Someone's hot on your tail too? Shit, I thought I was the only one feeling that bullshit," he said. "Maybe a cup of coffee would help clear up our minds. What do you think?" He asked, yet I ignored the question.

"How did you get here so soon? And how come I didn't hear a single sound from your bike? Are you a ghost or something?" I asked, feeling both curious and annoyed.

"Rule number one, Jhelani. You don't answer my question with a question. Rule number two: you do whatever I say if you want me off your back. And lastly, rule number three: take rule number one and two very seriously like your life depends on it," he said in a very dangerous manner that made a cold shiver crawl up my spine.

It's just the cold. I thought, shaking off the feeling then I began to laugh.

"Hello yeah, take rule number one and two seriously. That's right. Now get out of my way. I need to freshen up man," I said forcing myself through, but the next second I was flipped, my chest pressing on the door frame, and a sharp gasp escaped my lips.

He was hot on my back, pressing his towering body frame on me while he snuggled into the hook of my neck.

Fuck, I really wanted to hit him in his crotch, punch his jaw or do anything to get him away but this man was a step ahead of me, his hand gripping both of my hands behind my back.

"Hot cup of coffee, pretty head. Yes or—yes?" Kian murmured into the shell of my ear, his lips hovering just an inch away from my skin. I could feel his warm breath on me. It was what I needed because the sudden cold weather wasn't helping matters.

"Fine," I gritted. "But first, let go of me. And I mean 'Right Now'"

"Deal?" Such a bastard. Yet I thought Jace was worse than him. Seems like I was wrong all along.

"Yes, deal. Whatever," I groaned and I was finally let off.

He was so quick to let me off and get on his bike, wearing the brightest smile ever like he didn't just threaten me. "Great, let's go."