Do I annoy you?

"Yes, but I bet you're worried because of your dream more than you let it show." She grinned, her eyes narrowed, her mouth twisted into a wry unattractive face, and she looked away. She did not like that I penetrated her calm appearance. "I'm wrong?" I added quickly and she shuddered. She pretended not to hear me and it made me smile. "I knew it! Will you let me help you in your research?"

"And why do you care about it?" she asked, still looking elsewhere.

"I just want to help." I admitted to myself rather than to her. "But if you prefer to explore alone..."

Apparently, her discernment was greater than my own - she went directly to the bottom of things when I was shooting around the bush in search of clues. In truth, the details of her dream should not concern me! Yet, they concerned me directly! However, she had not yet recognized me. I was quite worried about what she thought. I was not used to being the least insightful in a conversation. I was too dependent on my ability to decipher others but I was not as clairvoyant with her as I thought.

Alma sighed and glared at a random pedestrian. Something in her frustrated appearance was funny. The whole situation, the conversation was funny. No one has ever been so close to the solution of a problem and yet so far away than this girl! At any moment I could, distracted by the captivating conversation, also confess the truth, and she was irritated because I did not answer her questions!

"Do I annoy you?" I asked, smiling and thinking about such nonsense.

She gave me a quick glance, and seemed caught by my eyes. "Not really. I annoy myself, rather. I'm so dark sometimes!" She frowned and appeared suddenly upset by her remark.

I observed, in the grip of utter amazement. I did not know if the reason for her sudden irritation was that she thought she was unable to communicate, or if she had withdrawn, or if she was just sad. And it was weird! I had never been so eager to understand someone in my life.

"I do not agree!" I objected, and I felt strangely taut. As if there was hidden risk where I ventured. Suddenly I was on my guard, this intuition rendered me anxious. "Why do you say that? How dark? Beyond your understanding?"

"I do not know! Yes, maybe!"

"I do not believe that!"

"So you have to be very good!" she guessed, making a hypothesis that was the exact truth.

I smiled, opening my lips to reveal a row of gleaming teeth.

"Mostly, yes," I confirmed without realizing that I was revealing so much to her.

Her body was closer to me than before. She had unwittingly advanced during the conversation. Why does not she move away? She certainly must have seen enough of my bewitching side to guess the attraction she felt, intuitive as she seemed to be.

A passing fire truck honked and attracted the attention of everyone at that moment, and she turned away from me. She seemed a little relieved by the unexpected intervention. However, I was hoping that was not the case.

Clearly, some form of magic began to grow in me, even if I tried to get rid of it, I would still find her captivating. And what about her? Was she captivated by me too? I was anxious and I wanted to have another opportunity to hear her voice. I wanted to know more about her, about the life she had led, her relationship with her parents. All these insignificant details that would allow me to deepen my knowledge of her character. Yet every second I spent in her company was a joy, even without these details.

She passed her fingers through her hair in a distracted manner, just as I turned my head to look at her again. A wave of air scented with her intoxicating aroma hit me hard. It was like the first day! It made me dizzy. I had to hang on the ledge of a shop window to stay upright. Yet, I was able to control myself. I found her fascinating. I thought she was attractive. She was so lovely to me...

"Estrange?"

As soon as I heard her voice, I wanted to run away - which would have wiped out the good impression I had tried to give her during our discussion. Could I ever tell her the truth about me and hope she didn't see me as a monster? Will I one day feel the joy of finding her by my side and smiling at me? One day... I closed my eyes and inhaled the cool, moist air as if it were a balm to my heart. I put as much distance as possible between us to pull myself together, if only for a second... Again! I breathed deeply and looked to my right, where Alma was waiting outside the door of a shop. She noticed the savagery in my expression.

"What happened?" she asked in an anxious tone..

"A discomfort," I mumbled.

"Come on then. Hurry up. I would like to see inside."

She went to open the door, but I was faster. I led and took her hand. I felt her pulse racing and I froze. It was the first time I touched her on my own!

"Ladies first." I smiled holding the door and helped her across the threshold.

I followed her in silence, frustrated. It was a real achievement to remain quiet. Was she having the same difficulty too? I knew that our meeting was driven by fate itself. And I just had to explore the hidden meaning of it.

She went to open the door, but I was faster. I led and took her hand. I felt her pulse racing and I froze. It was the first time I touched her on my own!

"Ladies first." I smiled holding the door and helped her across the threshold.

I followed her in silence, frustrated. It was a real achievement to remain quiet. Was she having the same difficulty too? I knew that our meeting was driven by fate itself. And I just had to explore the hidden meaning of it.