Dark memories

"This isn't the first time I've done something like this." As I confessed about the fresh and faded bruises on my arms, I spoke in hushed tones. When I look up, I notice Logan has a scowl on his forehead. He was sitting on the single sofa chair in front of me, and I was sitting on the edge of my bed, legs crossed.

There was a brief silence around us, and the only sound I could hear was my own heavy breathing. I lower my gaze, unable to make eye contact with Logan. Before proceeding, I counted to ten.

"I've hurt myself before when the pain was unbearable for me. This is the fifth time I've done it...Or so I believe," I said, trying to recall how many times I had done it.

"You mentioned that your parents were murdered; is that the reason for your self-harm?" Logan inquired, his face flushed with confusion.

"Seems like I have to start from the beginning," I said, letting out a shaky, humorless laugh. I clenched my bottom lip as I braced myself for another journey through those dark memories. Let's get this out of the way.

"It had been eight months, the day before my nineteenth birthday. "The way my father lay unconscious on the basement floor with blood pooling around him and how my mother was tied and b-beaten badly is still fresh in my mind," I swallowed heavily.

"Those cunning green eyes of that man who laughed at me when I pleaded with them to stop..." When the same haunting eyes passed through my mind again, my throat became stuck. As tears welled up in my eyes, I tightly clasped my hands together.

"He shot my mother in the head right in front of my eyes. I noticed how her lifeless body had fallen near my legs. T-Then he shot my father, who was already unconscious. Who knows, he might have been d-dead before I arrived. They didn't even give me a chance to say goodbye. When they took mom and dad's lives, I was only able to stand there, frozen in the grip of the other man. I couldn't do anything...." I whimper loudly as tears stream down my cheeks.

Logan rose from his seat, his warm arm wrapping around my shoulder as he sat beside me. He clutched me close to him as if he was afraid I would break apart if he let go.

I counted to ten once more, controlling my breathing rate. Aunt Jamie, Sheriff Wilson's wife, taught me this technique. As I composed myself, I wiped my tears with the back of my sleeves.

"I'm fine," I said as I shifted to the side, away from his grasp and from him. If I'm going to open up, I'm going to need some space. Logan's presence is clogging my mind. Logan appeared to be hurt by my actions, but I ignored him. Logan sat on the bed, while I sat on the sofa chair.

"For a month, I secretly stayed with my mom's distant friend, who was also the Sheriff of the town. His wife is-"

"Karolia" My eyes moved from my lap to his. Logan's expression was indecipherable.

"What did they do to you?" he asked, and my heart began to race.

"W-What?"

"What did they do to you after he killed your parents?"

"T-they l-left me a-alone," I said. I lied and turned away from him. He remained silent for a few seconds before speaking up.

"You stuttered," I remained silent, my gaze fixed on the ground. "You only stutter when you're nervous or lying," he went on. Of course, he knows that info about me. I swallowed hard. I had a feeling he'd say that. Logan is someone who pays attention to every detail. So I knew I couldn't sneak this information past him as I had with Grecia and Scarlet.

"Lia..." he sighed deeply. "Look at me," he said and I slowly and hesitantly raised my eyes. Logan's eyes communicated a variety of messages, but two stood out: reassurance and support.

"Don't be worried," he says softly. "Take your time, but I need you to let out everything you've been holding in there," he said, pointing to my heart. "Believe me, love, you'll feel so much better after that."

I nodded at him and counted to ten again, taking deep breaths. "After that, they drugged me. When I awoke, I was in a filthy, dusty basement. My arms and legs were shackled to a c-chair."

"The room was also locked from the outside. Even when I screamed for help on the first day, no one came to check on me. I was starving and terrified, the image of my parents' bloody and lifeless bodies haunting me for hours." Logan had already dragged the sofa chair I was sitting on towards him. He took my hands in his and rubbed circles on my skin, soothing me and instilling a sense of security in me.

"From the second day on, someone would come and force me to eat a loaf of bread and half a glass of water. Various thoughts were racing through my mind, but the thought of killing myself was at the top of the list." I hiccupped, but no tears rolled down my cheeks. "I kept mourning for my mother and father, and the pain just increased day by day, to the point where I just wished to die so I wouldn't have to face this pain and torture."

"I would hold my breath for so long that I passed out, hoping that it would finally kill me. But I suppose God didn't want me with him because I'd wake up eventually. I had lost all hope and refused to fight for my life. I didn't bother asking what day it was or what they had planned for me. I was hopeless."

"I knew they wanted me for something, which is why they didn't kill me with my parents. I overheard once that the boss was preoccupied with something, which was why he couldn't settle things with me. That man who held me down when my parents were shot came in one day, maybe the fourth or fifth day since I was brought there. The mask he was wearing told me he was the same man. It was the same one he wore the day before. He kept staring at me as if he was undressing me with his eyes." I shuddered at the thought and felt Logan's fingers tighten around mine. He remained silent the entire time, which I appreciate.

I hiccup as my throat constricted from all the memories. "He then began teasing and humiliating me by t-touching my body. That's when I started yelling again. But he silenced me by slapping me and blackmailing me that if I opened my mouth, he would do more. He left me that afternoon for some reason, but returned drunk that n-night and cut the r-rope around me." My hands were trembling violently. Logan was keeping a close eye on me. I looked into his eyes, hoping to see some emotion, but all I saw was a visible clenching of his jaw, indicating that he was angry.

"D-Did he…?" Logan's words got stuck and he swallowed heavily.

"That was his intention, but I was saved as someone pulled him off from me before he could rape me." I closed my eyes, the scene fresh in my mind.

"P-please, don't," I begged, tears streaming down my cheeks. I struggled to free my hand, which was tied behind the chair I was forced to sit in, and my feet, which were taped together. My entire body was throbbing with pain, and my head was heavy.

He looks smug, pressing his hands harder against my thighs as he sits on his haunches and leans in closer to my face.

"Soo pretty," he mumbled. "It would be stupid to let you go," he says, and fear creeps up my spine as I realize what he wants.

"Please, no," I pleaded, shaking my head. But he slapped me and told me to stop talking. Before picking me up and tossing me to the floor, he removes the tape from my hand and legs. I jerk backward, attempting to get away from him. He steps on my legs, causing me to scream in pain.

"Shut up, bitch," he yelled, removing his shirt and tossing it to the ground. He knelt down and begins to unzip my dress, squeezing me with his body.

I whimpered helplessly as I closed my eyes. Someone drew him back before he could do anything to me. Profanities and curses were heard, but I didn't waste any time fleeing the dreadful place.

"I took advantage of the opportunity to run away. Fortunately, there were only those two men in the building at the time, so I was able to escape quickly without being caught. I just kept running for a long time to get to the main road because the location was somewhere in the woods." I finally let the tears roll down my cheeks as I said to Logan.

Logan immediately picked me up and sat me on his lap before tightly hugging me. Sobs erupted from my body as I pressed my face against his neck.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through that," he said softly, kissing my head several times.

"I didn't want to say it because I was afraid you wouldn't see me the same way now. I don't want to lose you, Log," I sobbed. Logan's arms tightened around me.

"You're incredibly strong. I'm so proud of you, love. And you don't have to worry about losing me because I'm not going anywhere. Never." Logan mumbled the final part before running his hands through my hair. All of my anxiety dissipated immediately, and I was replaced with a sense of assurance.

I hiccuped, "Thank you."

"What happened then?" he inquired. I drew back from his neck and looked into his eyes before looking out the balcony door. The sun was at its highest point.

"I didn't know where to go or who to approach as I wandered around the empty streets, hiding whenever I sensed anyone's presence," I continued. "That's when I ran into uncle Sheriff Wilson." As I stared into my sweaty hands, I recalled every memory.

My heart rate increased whenever I heard any noises close to me. The streets were pitch black, and I couldn't tell where I was. All I have to do now is get to a nearby police station and report everything that happened. I don't trust anyone in this state. I prayed in my mind that whatever had happened in the previous few days was just a figment of my imagination and that when I arrived at the police station, they would notify my parents and I would see them soon. That's all it is, just a bad nightmare.

When I heard the sound of a car approaching from a distance, my breath caught in my throat. My optimism grew when I noticed the red light on top of the vehicle, indicating that it was, in fact, a police car. I quickly began running towards it in the middle of the road, waving my hands with whatever energy I had left. My hands shielded my already irritated eyes from the flashing red light. The car came to a stop just a few feet away from me, and I heard the sound of the car door opening.

"Karolia, Is that you?" I open my eyes and look at the familiar person's curious eyes. As soon as I recognize him, a wave of relief washes over me.

"S-Sheriff Wilson? " I unknowingly let go of the breath I was holding. My tears, which I had suppressed in order to remain strong in the long run, began to flow freely as I felt hope. He was a friend of my father's, and even though we never had any major interactions, my father always told me to go to him if there was any trouble. But I had no idea it would be now.

"My goodness, how come you-" He was cut off by the voice from the walkie-talkie that hung around his waist.

"Could you please come in, Sheriff?" " The person on the other end of the line inquired.

"Stand by," the sheriff said quickly, dismissing the person on the other end of the phone line. He quickly cut the call and turned to face me with a solemn expression.

"Come with me, I have to get you out of here." When he led me inside the car, his face was filled with worry and caution.

As soon as he started driving out of the street, he quickly turned off all radio communications in the car. When I noticed my photograph on the files kept near his dashboard, my brow furrowed.

"What happened at your house, Karolia? What were you doing for a week?" His panicked and concerned tone caused me to burst into tears. My breathing became labored as I relived everything. I told him everything that happened.

"When I got the call and arrived at the crime scene, I couldn't believe it. The first thing that came to mind was what happened to you because we couldn't find your body anywhere. Since you became an easy target after that, the police are looking for you everywhere. They are investigating the claim that you murdered your own parents, burned down the house to make it appear to be an accident, and then fled. Despite the lack of evidence, your absence caused everyone to turn against you." I couldn't make out what he was saying because everything was hazy to me.

"No, I-wait, burnt?" My lips trembled. My breathing came to a halt for a split second there. The sheriff looked at me sympathetically and nodded his head, his eyes sad.

"Yes, at first we thought it was a house fire, but when we got the autopsy results, we found the bullets in your parents' bodies, so we concluded that it was indeed a murder because the house was burned after both of them died, according to the reports." When I found out what they had done to my parents, I burst into tears. I can't even imagine they're dead bodies that have been burned. Please, no, no. Why does this have to happen to them? The pain was so intense that I couldn't even breathe for a minute. But I quickly remembered what the Sheriff had said. I couldn't understand why everyone was blaming me for my parents' murder. How could they possibly? Me?

This is all ridiculous! Who is doing this?

"They're still looking into it, Karolia. Perhaps your statement will be helpful, but because you don't know where you were held or the faces of the kidnappers, they will be suspicious. They'd just think you're making up stories to get out of trouble with the law. "Are you sure you don't remember the location?"

"No, when I escaped, all I could think about was getting somewhere where there were people. I didn't pay attention to where I was running; all I cared about was getting out of that basement as soon as possible because I was afraid they'd find me soon." I sob into my hands. When I curled up and cried my heart out, the sheriff looked at me with such sadness. In my mind, only one thought stood out. I just want to die soon so I don't have to go through this agony. Please, please, please save me from this.

I sobbed as I remembered uncle Sheriff finding me in my most vulnerable state. Thinking about him made me realize how much I missed him. The tenderness he had shown me was still vivid in my mind. Oh, how I wish I could talk to him right now. I would have sought his comfort every time I was reminded of the past events if he hadn't made me promise not to contact him once I moved to New York. Only he and aunt Jamie understood how I felt during those troubled times.

"After that, he took me to his house, where I hid for nearly two months before moving here. They didn't have any children of their own, so they treated and cared for me as if I were their own for the duration of my stay. Aunt Jamie, who was a psychologist, provided me with one month of counseling to help me recover from the trauma. Even though they said I was doing better, I knew I wasn't finished, and I never would be. I'd always had a void inside of me. They were also the ones who caught me when I cut myself the first time. My treatment has become a little more intense since then, with medications and all."

"What about the rest of your family? "Relatives or even close friends?" Log inquired, his face befuddled. I shake my head.

"Mom's family did not support her relationship with Dad and cut off contact with her when my parents married. Dad was adopted, but he had a step-brother, Dave Fernandez, who was also estranged from us, especially after the death of my father's foster parents."

"We had a close family friend, Micah, who was also my father's business partner, and then there were my high school friends, but I was just.... afraid to go to them, especially in that condition. Because they were all afraid of getting involved in the case, no one attended my parents' funeral except Micah. That's what Uncle Wilson told me. I was grateful that at least Micah did it, especially since I, their own daughter, was unable to attend the funeral." I looked down at my hands as I was overcome with emotion once more. Logan shook his head, a frown on his face.

"What about the people who kidnapped and murdered your parents?" "Did the cops arrest them?" Logan inquired, perplexed.

"A week after I returned, the sheriff informed me that two men had surrendered to the police station and admitted to the murder. It appears that both of them admitted to having some vengeance against Dad while doing business with him. The case was closed in court after they were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. I refused to attend the court hearing because I was afraid of seeing them again. Aunt Jamie agreed because it would only trigger me because I had just started therapy at the time. But I still regret not asking why those men didn't kill me and instead held me as a hostage. It's something that has always bothered me, but I suppose they just wanted me for their entertainment."

"When uncle Wilson realized I wouldn't be able to continue my life there because of what had happened, they decided to send me here for my own good. I had Scarlet here, and with her parents' assistance, I was able to move in and get a place at the university where I am now studying. But, before flying to New York, uncle Wilson gave me my mother's diary, which he discovered at the crime scene. It was inside a safe case that contained some of dad and mom's important documents, so it wasn't completely burned. I'm just grateful for it because I can keep it as a memory of my mother." I say and look at the brown diary on my bedside table.

"So both of the men who murdered your parents are now locked up?" He inquired, his face relieved.

"I had the same thought." When the events of the day before flashed before my eyes, an unknown shiver ran down my spine.

"What exactly do you mean?" Logan inquired, his grip on me tightening.

"It was one of those men who attacked me yesterday. I'm still not sure how he got out. He also told me that he had been looking for me everywhere and that his wife was d-dead because of me. Logan, I swear to God, I have no idea what he was on about. I'm afraid I can't-" My throats became clogged once more, and I gasped.

"Shhh, it's okay, love. You didn't do anything. You no longer need to be worried because you have told me everything. I'll handle it from here, baby. " Logan shushed me and hugged me. He picked me up in bridal fashion and walked around the bed, laying me down on one side.

"I'm afraid," I whimpered, clutching his shirt collar in my hands. I was terrified of letting go of him. To let go of his warmth, which provided me with comfort and assurance.

"I'm not leaving you, love. Never. "Do you understand?" Logan inquired as he pushed all the baby hairs from my face and gazed deeply into my eyes. I felt as if I was getting lost in those blue orbs. I nod slowly, maintaining eye contact with him.

"Relax, my love. You must be exhausted." He informed me when he noticed my eyes becoming heavy.

"Please stay," I begged.

Logan kissed my head firmly before whispering, "Always." My eyes closed automatically in response to the reassurance, and I succumbed to the sleep that I had been missing since yesterday.

*******

A warm hand rubbed against my cheek, and a pair of warm lips pressed against my brow. I snuggled closer to the warmth, letting out a small yawn. When I heard someone chuckling beside me, I opened my eyes. With a small smile on his lips, his ocean blue eyes looked at me adoringly.

"Hey, love," he said, his voice becoming huskier and deeper.

"Hey," I said as I let out another yawn. "Did you get enough sleep?" he inquired, and I nodded.

"I haven't slept this peacefully in a few days," I admit to him. He hummed in response before pecking my lips, which caught me off guard.

"Get dressed," he says, and I frown, perplexed.

"Why?"

"Because I'm taking you somewhere to take your mind off things," he said, grinning.

It's been nearly an hour since we left the apartment, and I'm already bored, with neither the scenery outside nor the music on the radio helping. He jolted me awake from my peaceful slumber, telling me that he had some plans for us today and ordering me to get ready in twenty minutes. A girl requires more than that. But someone wasn't listening and dragged me out of the apartment as soon as I put on my clothes.

Logan hadn't said anything as we rode past the city. Mr. I'm Full of Surprises appears to have been ignoring my question the entire time.

"Watson, how much longer?" For the millionth time, I sighed.

"Patience, Kingston," Logan said, not taking his gaze away from the road. I narrow my eyes at him, planning various ways to strangle him in my head. Should I dig my fingers into his neck until blood flows, or should I squeeze the life from him?

"I prefer neither," he chuckles before reaching out his free hand and interlocking our fingers. Hmm...he's locking my hands so that his life is not at risk. Do I feel embarrassed that I spoke my wonderful thoughts aloud? Certainly not!

"We've arrived!" After a few long minutes, he said. At last! I stepped out of the car, eager to feel the ground beneath my feet. I shake my limbs violently, wiggling my fingers to see if it's still working. Logan rolled his eyes at me and mumbled, "Drama Queen." Whatever!

I took a look around the place. It appears to be crowded, with diverse types of music playing in the background. Where exactly is this? Logan approached me and took my hand in his.

We walked together to the main entrance of what appeared to be an open park. But once we got inside, I realized it wasn't just a park.

"Is it a carnival?" I inquired, raising my brow as he shrugged his shoulders.

"This is a one-time-only celebration held once a year. I was here with my mother a few years ago. So I thought this might be the best option to brighten your day." He said this while smiling at me. I thanked him with a smile and a squeeze of his hand. Definitely a great place to forget about the day before.

Logan had gone to purchase the tickets, while I stood in front of a gaming booth, taking in the sights. A massive Ferris wheel dominates the carnival's center. There were numerous stalls set up all around us. Couples walked around with their hands intertwined, and there were a few families, all with bright smiles on their faces. I turned around only to collide with something solid. I winced, rubbing my head.

"I'm so sorry, miss," I said as I opened my eyes to see the guy I had just run into. I blinked a few times to clear my vision. Is his chest made of bricks!?

I heard him laugh before he said anything. "No, it's genetic - rigidity," he smirked jokingly. "But are you okay?" He inquired out of concern.

"Yeah. "I'm fine," I said as I regained my composure. What's the deal with me and speaking my mind today?

When I noticed the carnival symbol on his shirt pocket, I realized he was one of the workers here. His brunette hair was perfectly slicked back, complementing his tanned skin. His teeth clenched into a toothy grin. He was attractive but not as attractive as Logan. Karrie, are you serious? You're comparing him to Logan now!

"My name is Dexter. "Nice to meet you," he said as he extended his hand.

"Karolia." I smiled as I shook his hand, then retracted my hand as I felt his touch become more prolonged.

"Are you here by yourself?" He inquired, his grin never leaving his face.

"She's here with me. Is there anything wrong?" Logan's presence was felt beside me before his arm snaked around my waist, drawing me closer to him. His face was filled with bitterness and another emotion that I couldn't quite place. Is it jealousy?

"N-Not at all, sir," Dexter said, his smile awkward. He tried valiantly to hide his disappointment, but he failed miserably. What a pity!

"I'll see you later," he said as he stumbled away.

"What was he after?" Logan snapped, his gaze following Dexter's silhouette until he vanished into the crowd.

"Oh, he was just looking for someone to flirt with," I explained, adding a dash of spice. Logan's jaw clenched and his grip tightened around my waist. He's jealous.

"Bastard," he muttered, and I bit my lower lip, a small smile on my face.

"Let's start from there," I exclaimed, pointing to our first stop. Logan chuckled and shook his head at my enthusiasm.

We handed our cards to the man standing in front of the room, who swiped them through a machine.

"Enjoy your day," he said with a bright smile. Logan abruptly exited the darkroom, leaving me behind. I had to run after him to keep up with his fast pace. I dashed into the room, only to dash into something hard again. I rubbed my temples and grimaced. When I opened my eyes, there were eight of me. Ugh... Why did he abandon me? It's extremely difficult to find him in this Mirror house.

I walked around the room looking for him, occasionally bumping into myself in the mirrors. I've got a bump on my head from slamming into these stupid mirrors. Suddenly, I caught sight of Logan ahead of me. I ran to him without thinking, only to collide with the goddamn mirror again! Ugh!!

From behind me, I heard a chuckle. When I turned around, I saw Logan with a smile on his lips. He had done it on purpose. I approached him slowly, letting my hands caress his face before heaving a sigh. Finally, it's him, not one of those idiotic mirrors.

"Clumsy?" With a chuckle, he teased, and I rolled my eyes.

"You're an idiot to leave me alone like that," I said, rubbing my throbbing temples. His eyes followed my movement, and a small frown formed on his lips.

"Does it hurt?" he asked as he approached me.

"Certainly not. It feels like heaven," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm, causing him to roll his eyes. He cupped his large warm hands around my face, checking for bruises. He then began kissing my temple. Aww,...such he's a romantic person.

Between kisses, he asked, "Better?" As I nodded, a sigh escaped my lips, and he drew back, a soft smile on his lips.

"Go hit yourself again," he said, and I averted my gaze from him.

"For what purpose?" I inquired.

I slapped his chest as he smirked, "so I can keep kissing you."

I muttered under my breath, "Asshole," and smiled. After a while, we left this 'confusing room.' I will never choose this location again!

"So, what's next?" he inquired, while my stomach grumbled. As I flushed crimson red, he chuckled. It's so embarrassing.

"Food, then it is," he said, and we entered a stall and ordered a snack.

***

"Mmm... this is delicious!" I was savoring the taste of my cotton candy when I said this. It simply melts on my tongue like butter on toast.

Logan took a bite of his caramel apple and said, "I guess you're enjoying your day out."

"Hell yeah," I replied truthfully. In fact, I haven't had this much fun in a long time. This place truly took my mind off things.

"What do you want to do next?" he inquired.

"Let's play a game," I proposed.

Yes, why not," He said it, but his face said otherwise.

"How about 'would you rather?'" I inquired, my heart racing in excitement. He narrowed his eyes at me, as if I were insane, and shook his head no.

"Come on, come on. Pleeasse…. It would be enjoyable, and we would be able to get to know each other better." I tried to persuade him by giving him my best puppy eyes, and he fell right into my trap.

"All right, fine. But I'll ask first..... "Would you rather spend the rest of your life with someone attractive and hella hot or with an ugly-looking guy who is smart?" he asks.

"Perhaps someone with both looks and brains,"

"Well, you're lucky because the right person is sitting in front of you," he said with a wink.

"Conceited much?" In amusement, I raise my brows.

"Babe, it's a fact," I say as I roll my eyes before asking my question.

"Would you rather be alone for the rest of your life or be surrounded by irritating people?" I snickered as his face expressed displeasure at my cutting him off, but it soon softened into a soft smile after I gave him my puppy eyes.

"I'd prefer to be alone," he said, casting a glance at me.

"Would you prefer to relive your past memories or see your future?" He inquired. We came to a halt and sat on a bench, facing each other.

"Difficult decision. But I'll stick with the past." I sighed, feeling nostalgic as I recalled my childhood memories of my parents. I'd gladly spend any amount of time with them.

"Do you prefer green or blue eyes?" I inquired. He locked his gaze on mine, holding me captive.

"Brown," he said huskily, and for some reason, butterflies erupted in my bellies. "But that isn't an option," I told him. He shook his head and gave me puppy eyes. He's just playing my own game here, ahh. I dilated my pupils but let it go.

"3 or 5 kids?" he inquired. Whoa! 5 children! That would be a lot of pain.

"I guess 3 is fine," I mumbled, blushing furiously. A small frown formed on his face, and he mumbled something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like "I'm fine with 5." But, in order to avoid the subject, I didn't press him any further.

For a while, we kept questioning each other, and I got to know Logan even better. I was surprised to discover that he was being truthful with me.

"All right, last question. "Clowns or scorpions?" I inquired.

"Oh, come on! You can't do this, Lia." I raised my brow in response to his whining.

"Clowns," he said quickly, and I looked at him, trying to figure out what he was talking about.

"Do you have a fear of Scorpions?"

He rubbed the back of his neck and said, "No."

He's lying, he's lying. When he is lying or nervous, he has a habit of rubbing his neck.

"You're lying," I said, and he looked around but not at me.

"Okay… "I'm afraid of that thing," he said softly, which I couldn't quite understand. Nonetheless, I heard it all the way through. As soon as the words left his mouth, I burst out laughing.

"Oh, my god. Scorpions frighten Mr. Big Bad Watson! I was out of breath when I said it, and he rolled his eyes.

The teasing continued for quite some time before I noticed a photo booth nearby. As soon as I saw it, a smile appeared on my face. I dashed to it, dragging Logan with me.

We purchased the tickets before entering the small booth and closing the curtain. It was a small room with a small bench in front of the camera. While we posed for the photo, I was almost sitting on Logan's lap. His arms were tightly wrapped around my waist in a vice-like grip. As I felt his minty breath on my neck, a shiver ran down my spine.

I smiled at the camera, but from the corner of my eyes, I could feel Logan's intense stare. Logan tightened his grip on me, making it impossible for me to focus on the Polaroid. As his dazzling gaze penetrated my soul, I turned to face him. I got lost in the depths of his ocean blue eyes for a while. He broke the stare by looking at my lips. His lips brushed against mine as he leaned in closer. I closed my eyes and waited for his lips to brush against mine. But he kept kissing everywhere but my lips, which irritated me greatly.

"Just kiss me already," I said, earning a chuckle. from him. He leaned in and passionately kissed me. I immediately responded, and he deepened the kiss even more, and my arms drooped around his neck, tangling his soft hair. With our foreheads leaning against each other, we drew back to catch our breath.

We exited the booth and took the photo from its small pocket. I flushed bright red when I realized the photo was taken while Logan and I were having a passionate kiss. Logan smiled as he looked at the photo before kissing the top of my head.

"It's cute," he said, and I agreed. It was, indeed, a cute picture. We walked around for a while, cracking jokes and teasing each other until the sun went down. We eventually decided to ride the Ferris wheel. After a long line, we received our tickets and climbed into our seats before fastening our seat belts. Logan sat next to me, his arm around my shoulder. Even though I am not afraid of heights, being this high tested my nerves. But it all went away when Logan wrapped his arms around me. It's still a mystery to me how I just relax and feel safe in his arms.

By the time we got to the top of the Ferris wheel, the sky had turned reddish-orange. The view from here was breathtaking. The vastness of the setting sky was breathtaking. Unconsciously, my hand moved to my neck, brushing against the delicate pendant Logan had given me.

"It's beautiful," I said, leaning my head against Logan's chest and savoring the moment.

We quickly left the location. The ride home was deafeningly quiet. Logan never let go of my hand during the entire experience. He kept looking at me as if he was afraid I'd vanish into thin air at any moment.

We walked into our apartment and immediately sat on the couch, without bothering to change our clothes. The day was wonderful, but it was exhausting. Logan was lying on his back, his head resting on my lap. I started ruffling his soft hair, gently tugging on it. As soon as I retracted my hand, I heard him groan. He caught my hand in the middle before returning it to his hair. "Don't stop." He said it quietly, which made my heart skip a beat.

As I massaged his hair, a thought occurred to me. I feel safe whenever Logan is near me. No one will dare to touch me, I believe. But how long will it take? How long can he keep me safe? It is not possible for him to accompany me everywhere I go or for me to accompany him everywhere he goes. He already has a lot on his plate, and I don't want to be a burden to him. We aren't a couple, after all. Even I'm not sure if he likes me or not. I'm sure he has feelings for me. Is it just a crush? But what if those are sisterly sentiments? What if he only sees me as his sister? Isn't it true that brothers protect their sisters? However, brothers will not kiss their sister on the lips. What on earth am I thinking? What do I mean to him? Everything is so damn confusing!!

"Hey Log," I called out, and he hummed back.

"Who am I to you?" When I asked, I noticed him tense up before he opened his eyes and looked at me.

"What exactly do you mean?" He inquired, his voice husky.

"For example, do you see me as a sister, a friend, or something else?"

Logan arched his brow in response to my question, his mouth curling up. I watched as he raised his hand towards me, grabbed the back of my head, pulled my face towards him, and kissed me on the lips in spiderman fashion. My toes curled and my fingers tightened their grip on his hair, sending tingles through my entire body.

"I don't think a brother or a friend would kiss you like this, the way it curls your toes, love. So it's definitely something else.'"

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