13 JEALOUSY

ILIYA NARA POV

"What did you say??"

He glared shamelessly and snapped at me harshly just when I almost gulped my drink after finishing my lunch meal. I spontaneously choked and coughed hardly then tapped my chest to manage my breath after I heard his sudden reaction. While I'm doing this, he still glared at me with the same expression while I gazed back at him. Bemused of his silly and ridiculous act.

"Gezzz… what is wrong with you?"

I sneered at him with a confused look and a deep frown between my eyebrows. I have just finished my lunch when he suddenly popped out of nowhere and sat next to me leisurely. Then, he starts blurting question after question about the exhibition that we held several days ago.

"How was the exhibition?"

"Did it go well?"

"What is art?"

"Why human like it so much?"

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. Gosh! Can't you stop being a constant distraction to me?

When he showed up, the first excuse that he told me was because he wants to get close with me and investigate me better than find out the main reason behind my supernatural powers. But somehow, still, for a specific reason, I feel that he just made it up. And his facial expression suddenly changed when I mention the person who showed up in the last minute just before our closing time. The one who truly insisted bought my painting at three folds higher price and summoned me to deliver it by myself to his apartment this afternoon.

"Who was his name again?"

Azalel asked me back with a suspicious tone. Seriously? Why did he suddenly become so weird like this? And why did I feel something strange about him today? Why I can smell a tint of jealousy in his voice? Perhaps?

"Monav Mokshit…" I replied to him nonchalantly.

Well, I should get prepared. I've got this terrible headache since yesterday. Right after I won a heated argument against my former buyer. It wasn't easy though but the price that would be paid by the new buyer will be more than enough to pay the tuition fee for next semester. Yeah, it shouldn't be a good start and omen also for me. But, I wish, this would be my first and last incident in my early career as an artist.

"I never heard of him.."

Azalel replied to me back with his childish look and tone. A tone that irked me so much that made me really want to smack his head inwardly. Of course, I imagined it….

O lord, how I wish to have another superpower to get rid of this annoying creature in front of me right now. Argghhhhhhhhh!!!

"Have you finished already? No more questions?" Because I have to go now…"

I tidied up my meal box and stoop up. Get ready to do my things now. Packing and delivering the painting before the sky turned dark.

"Wait!"

His hand suddenly waved and stopped in mid-air. Stopping me to move any further. Then, he swift smoothly and placed himself in front of me. A scent of rain and earth filled my nostrils. A scent of his body. Azalel stared intensely at me and his facial expression looked so serious.

"I'm going with you.."

I blinked my eyes several times in disbelief. What the hell are you…

"Wait. What? Where?" I snapped him back. Confirmed the words that I just heard before.

"I'll be going with you to his place…"

"Delivering your painting…"

I spontaneously glared at him and before he spat another word from his mouth, I shouted.

"NO!"

"And why is that?"

He moved closer at me. Closing the gap between us. Asking for an answer. I can feel his warm breath and heat that radiates from his body. I feel thousands of butterflies are jumping and dancing wildly inside my tummy while my heart beats erratically inside my rib cage. I gulped unconsciously before then, I pushed him harshly.

"Because I'm a grown-up… And I can take care of myself. Okay?"

"You are not my guardian and you don't oblige to babysit me, Aza…"

Azalel stepped back spontaneously after he heard my sharp words. His eyes widened in disbelief and great shock. Stunned by my harsh action. I let out a heavy sigh before finally, I throw my final words at him.

"We are not that close, Azalel. You're not my friend and we just a pair of perfect strangers. You are nobody for me…"

"From this day onward, please keep our distance…"

"Stay away.."

"Stop disturbing me and leave me alone okay?"

I tried to suppress the guilt that slowly crept inside my heart and hold my unshed tears while I'm looking at the beautiful man in front of me now. There's a glimpse of sadness flashed in his shady eyes. A slight heartache because of my rejection before. Then, without saying anything else, he disappeared.

Once he was gone, I knelt on the floor and wipe my tears. It was me who threw the words and pierced his heart but it was me who felt the pain and bleeding inside. I know that he didn't do anything bad to me. An angel or not, it doesn't matter to me. I don't care though. We were getting along and blending in perfectly in these past months. And to be honest, having him around me has given me some sense of peace and comfort. It's like having a brother or at least, you know that there was someone who truly cares for you unconditionally.

But the problem is me.

I believe myself as a bad deed. Someone who always brings misfortunes of people around me. The people that I dearly hold and love the most. So, before I fall too deep into this. Before we become too close and inseparable. Before I took everything for granted. Before the pleasure we had turned into pain, I pushed him away. For the sake of us. For the sake of him. And me.

"I'm so sorry, Azalel.."

"But I have to do this…"

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