Admiring his beauty

After getting freshened up Ariana had some snacks inside her room and decided to write down the notes Julianna gave her. She had already missed so much and had to cover everything. It was better if she doesn't waste a second and speed up.

Placing the pile of notes on her study table, Ariana took a seat and started noting down everything. While she kept writing she also kept reading them simultaneously grabbing some of the points into her mind.

She was so busy with her work that she forgot the time and kept on writing until she finished half of it.

"You have great speed and good handwriting" Ariana flinched in her seat pushing everything on the table and turned her head behind.

Lucian stood tall with his hand clasped behind while his eyes looked at the notes she was writing. He was quite amused with how she noted down everything as if she was typing something. Everything written was neat and clean with no chance of mistakes.

Shocked by Lucian's sudden appearance it took Ariana some time to calm herself. "When did you come," she asked looking at the closed door behind him.

"A minute ago, but guess you were too busy with your homework that you failed to sense my presence" He sounded a little displeased but quickly covered up and moved his eyes from her.

Ariana watched him look around her room carrying a serious face. He looked like an old man as he keep examining the space around him.

"Hehe," the sound of her sweet giggle made him turn back at her.

"Why are you laughing?" he asked eyeing her with his knitted brows.

His sudden words made her stop smiling. She could tell he didn't like how she smiled at him.

"Nothing.." answering quickly she turned and resume back her work.

The frown on his forehead deep more when she ignored him. Taking a quick step he stood next to her and kneeled. "Tell me. What thing about me did you find funny?"

Ariana once again flinched when she saw him kneel next to her with his eyes intently staring at her.

'Why is he so close' she thought to herself and quickly pushed jumped off her seat standing on the ground.

Lucian almost lost his balance at her sudden movement but he quickly composed himself and stood up. His eyes watched her looking elsewhere as if she was trying to avoid answering him.

It had been more than two hours since they returned home and never once he saw Ariana step out of her room. Instead, she asked Fret to bring the snack inside her room leaving his yearning heart long more.

Though his restlessness had stopped the moment he had seen her enter the class but still his heart wasn't content enough to let her go out of his sight.

Pushing his yearning aside, Lucian returned to the topic but this time he asked bringing his hands crossed over his chest.

" Tell me, Ariana, did you find me funny which was why you laughed at me or is there something else you are trying to hide from me"

Lucian was now determined to know what she was thinking while staring at him which eventually bought a smile to her face.

Ariana gulped when he didn't stop inquiring. He kept being persistent to know what did she found so funny about him but she doubt he wouldn't like her answer.

"First promise me you won't get upset if I tell you the truth?" Ariana wanted to be assured because she had seen his aura slip into the scariest one within a second. She just didn't want to faint.

Lucian observed Ariana for a few seconds before he bobbed his head. "Okay I promise" he replied.

Ariana gaped with her eyes wide staring at Lucian in disbelief. She didn't think he would easily agree with her. 'Why is he so stubborn' she thought suddenly feeling her palm sweat.

The curiosity in Lucian's eyes was making her nervous. She wondered what would be his reaction after she tells him she refer his action to an old man.

"I am waiting" she heard him say and without wasting a few more seconds she blurts.

"I thought your actions were similar to an old man" Dropping her head down she quickly closed her eyes.

Ariana felt like her words might offend him and he would end up getting upset with her, but as time passed she didn't hear him speak a word, and that made her lift her head as she slowly peeked at him with her one eye.

"Huh!"

Ariana's mouth was left half open while her eyes bulge out wide in shock. 'Is he trying to fight his smile back'

Lucian stood there with the corner of his lips twitching to stop himself from smiling. This was something he never did before but when he heard what Ariana thought about him his lips automatically curled up.

"Are you smiling?" Ariana couldn't stop herself from asking. Though he looked kind of strange with his lips curling up every now and then still she found him cute.

"What! No... why would I smile" Averting his face elsewhere Lucian tried to hide his embarrassment from her. He was so busy with his thoughts that he failed to notice Ariana's shocked eyes on him.

Closing her mouth Ariana's lips stretched into a smile. "Don't lie to me, I know you smiled. My eyes can't betray me" She couldn't believe Lucian was unknown of this kind of emotion where he fought to fully smile.

'Or was he shy' she thought and started to smile even more openly.

Lucian who couldn't avoid Ariana anymore turned to look at her and the moment her sweet laughter reached his chords, his entire body relaxed. As if that smile on her face soothe his heart and he found himself openly smiling back.

He was known for being aloof and indifferent who never once moved a muscle on his face but today he came to learn a new thing about himself. He could smile and the person who made him do was standing in front of him.

Lucian was so busy admiring the beauty in front of him that he didn't realize it when he reached his hand up to her head and started patting it lightly.

Surprised by his sudden action Ariana stopped smiling and froze on her spot. His big hand kept caressing her head as if he was coaxing a pet and that led to a blush creeping over her cheeks.

"Ahem, I have to study," she said taking a step back suddenly feeling shy with his gesture.

A moment of awkwardness occurred between the two and Lucian quickly pulled back his hand.

Balling his palm into a tight fist, he tried to hold back the softness of her hair, but still, it slowly disappeared. He so wanted to keep touching her letting her know how hard it was for him to keep his hands off her, but he also knew, he had to take baby steps if he had to make some space in her heart for himself.

Watching her turn and take back her seat, Lucian slowly pulled out of his thoughts and composed himself. He couldn't scare her, that's what he kept saying to himself all the time.

Ariana was too shy to even face him. Her heart skip a beat the moment he touched her hair and she almost started to feel dizzy.

She could feel a thousand butterflies dancing into her stomach for that fleeting few seconds and she almost found herself leaning closer to him.

If she hadn't pulled away, Ariana thought she would've ended up kissing him. He was like that drug that kept her desire for him.

'What is he doing to me' she asked herself and closed her eyes trying to stop her restless heart.

"Do you want any help" a hot breath fanned next to her ear and she almost stilled on her seat, inhaling the same wildflower fragrance that emitted from him.

'Lucian' calling out his name she slowly turned her head and found him extremely close to her.

"Why are you so handsome" came her words while her eyes shamelessly admired his side profile.

Lucian: "..."