Five shots of Vodka

Liora's POV:

The water was cold, so cold it made my skin tingle, but no matter how long I stood under the shower, I couldn't wash away the feeling of his touch. The drops fell from above, hitting my shoulders like little pebbles before streaming down my body, tracing the curves he had held so tightly in my dream.

The steady rush of water filled the small bathroom, its rhythm matching my racing heartbeat. It drummed against my skin, cold and relentless, but the heat in my chest wouldn't go away. His words still echoed in my ears like whispers in the quiet night.

"Let me take care of you, my princess."

I closed my eyes, letting the water pour over my face, hoping it would drown out his voice. But his face was there, waiting for me behind my closed eyelids. His eyes were deep and dark, looking at me like I was his whole world. His smile was gentle, so gentle it made my heart ache.

I felt my cheeks burn, my ears growing hot as the memory of his hands on my body made me shiver. His touch had been so warm that even now, under the freezing water, I could still feel his fingers on my skin.

"Dear God," I whispered, lifting my face to the cold stream, letting it wash over me. "Please... please don't let me see Nova today. I can't face him...."

I opened my eyes and looked through the tiny window above the shower. The sky was a clear, perfect blue, mocking me with its brightness. How could the day look so normal when everything inside me was in chaos?

It took me an hour to get ready after my shower. My hands wouldn't stop shaking, making it hard to put on makeup. I messed up my eyeliner three times before I finally got it right. I stared at my reflection, my heart pounding.

"This is a disaster," I muttered, my voice trembling. "Don't think about him. Don't you dare think about him, Liora. He should not be the one. He is not the one....."

But his face was still there, his eyes, his smile, his deep, alluring voice. I was still enveloped in the same euphoric sensation as I experienced during our kiss and his tight embrace. His fragrance clung to me, wrapping me like a dream that had showered me with an intoxicating spell.

'Jackson?'

Why did he look like Nova? Why did I feel so much for someone who I met in a dream?

Shaking my head in defeat, I hung my tote bag over my shoulder, locked my door, and tried to calm my racing heart. It was just a dream, that's all. It didn't mean anything. It was just my mind playing tricks on me. I repeated that to myself over and over again, hoping I would believe it.

I turned the corner and almost ran into Sia. A new Sia.

Her hair was darker today, falling in loose waves around her face. Her eyes sparkled, warm and cheerful. Her smile was bright and beautiful, and just seeing her made me feel a little better.

"Wow, Sia! You look beautiful," I said, genuinely admiring her.

She blushed, her cheeks turning a soft pink. "Thanks, Li. I decided to go back to my natural colour. Do you like it?"

"I love it! It suits you so much," I said, linking my arm through hers. We walked together toward our class. Sia's presence eased some of the tension in my chest. I hoped it would stay that way.

The sunlight was gentle, and the air was warm as we made our way across the vast parking lot. I looked around, my eyes searching for something they shouldn't have been. I tried to stop myself, but my gaze drifted to the spot where Nova's car had been yesterday.

He is not there. Good. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Maybe today will be normal. Hopefully!

"Kai!" Sia's voice was bright and cheerful as she waved excitedly, and my heart dropped.

Kai...? My head snapped up, and I saw him getting off his bike with a wide grin as he waved back at Sia.

I closed my eyes, taking a slow, deep breath. Calm down, Liora. It's just Kai...I let out a shaky breath. I felt foolish for getting worked up over nothing.

"Li," came a soft, familiar, and dangerous voice not far away.

My heart stopped. I turned slowly, my eyes landing on him. My heart slammed against my ribcage, and I couldn't breathe anymore.

Nova!

His dark grey eyes fixed on me. His face was calm, but his gaze was intense, piercing. My knees felt weak, my hands trembling. I gripped my bag tighter, trying to steady myself. Thank god Sia's arm was in mine.

Don't look at him! Do not look! Don't! My head tilted up, betraying me, my eyes meeting his. His gaze was piercing and intense as if he could see straight through me.

My heart raced, my throat tightening. The memory of his lips and his touch, which had not left my mind for a second, intensified. I wanted to run, to escape before I did something foolish—before I gave in to the temptation to see if he felt as warm as he did in my dreams. I wondered if this time would be different.

This is a disaster...

"Are you upset with me?" His voice was gentle, his head cocked to the side, his eyes searching mine.

My heart twisted painfully. Why do you have to be so close?

"I-I... no, I..." My voice shook. I tried to find the words, but my mind was blank.

Nova and Kai exchanged a fleeting look.

"My favourite Junior, Sia," Kai spoke, startling me a little. "If I may say, you look stunning today. I really like your natural hair colour."

Sia turned red, "thank you, Kai."

Sia had a massive crush on Kai the moment he entered our classroom to invite us to the party. And since then, she has been looking forward to spending time with him.

"Would you like to get a coffee with me?" Kai reached out his hand for Sia to take.

Sia glanced at me with her big, doe eyes, silently pleading with me to agree. This was her chance to get to know Kai. To be with him alone. Seeing her desperation, I nodded in agreement, and within a moment, she took Kai's hand and left, leaving me and Nova by ourselves. Great!

I was standing facing Nova, lowering my head. His fingers brushed against mine. A surge of electricity surged up my arm, making me gasp. His touch was so electrifying it sent shivers through me.

"You are... you are red," he murmured, his fingers reaching up to touch my cheek to see if I had a fever.

I had always turned crimson whenever he drew closer to me. Do you not know Nova?

He brushed my cheeks gently. "Are you feeling alright?"

My heart raced like that of a galloping horse. And today would be the day I died of a heart attack. What was he doing? I was already struggling to keep my calm.

I leaned into his touch without thinking, my eyes fluttering shut. His palm was soft and warm against my burning cheek, much like how a cat nuzzles into the gentle caress of a beloved hand, purring softly at the affection. I felt my heart race, my body melting into his touch like a puppy collapsing blissfully into a warm embrace after a long day. I could stay like this forever, wrapped in the comfort of his presence, lost in this intoxicating moment.

But then reality came crashing back, and I pulled away, my body stiffening.

What am I doing?!

I looked at him, searching for any sign of annoyance. Strange, there was none. Thank god!

His eyes were soft, his expression gentle. "Li... I couldn't sleep last night."

My heart skipped a beat once again. Why? Did you… did you dream about me as well?

To my astonishment, I managed to sleep a full seven hours without interruption, without any nightmares to haunt me. To achieve such restful sleep, do you have to invade my dreams, Nova? Why are you the one? Why do you have to be the one? Please tell me. I asked him telepathically, hoping to get an answer which would never come.

"I apologize for how I acted yesterday. I shouldn't have been harsh. I understand that a simple apology won't fix what I said or how I behaved..... I am not typically like this."

He was still talking, his voice low, soft. But I couldn't hear him. His lips were moving, but all I could think about was how they felt in my dream... how they tasted. The softness, the warmth, the way they pressed against mine so perfectly, like they were meant to be there.

Stop it, Liora! Stop thinking about his lips!

"I am just having a hard time with something. So it was my mistake to be so tough with you yesterday. Allow me to treat you-."

Before I realized what I was doing, my fingers found his lips. They were warm and soft, just like in my dream. My thumb traced his bottom lip, pressing softly, testing, wanting to know if it felt the same. I felt his breath catch, the warmth of his exhale brushing against my fingertips.

His eyes grew larger, his pupils dilating as he watched me, his body still as a statue. He didn't push me away. He didn't flinch. He just stood there, letting me touch him, letting me explore. I was not sure how long I had been absorbed at that moment or how long my fingers had been tracing his lips, but then I suddenly heard a loud swoosh, something shattering—a glass breaking, followed by the sound of it collapsing to the floor. My senses returned when he grabbed my wrist and stopped my movements.

I was about to turn toward the sound when his hands snaked around me, pulling me closer."Your attention is required here." Leaning forward, he whispered in my ears.

My heart leapt, my eyes snapping up to meet his. His gaze was intense, burning, his expression unreadable. There was something in his eyes, something dark and powerful that made my knees weak.

"I-I... I'm sorry... I shouldn't-"

He leaned in closer, his face a breath away from mine, his voice low and husky, sending a shiver down my spine. "You shouldn't what, Li?" He was enjoying this, wasn't he?

"I-I had... I had five shots of vodka this morning..." I blurted out, my voice trembling. Why did I say that?! Well, that could explain to him why I am behaving recklessly.

He raised an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing. "You did?" He leaned in, his nose grazing my cheek as he inhaled deeply. "Funny... You don't smell like vodka."

My heart stopped, my breath hitching. His face was so close, his lips so near. I could feel his warmth, his presence overwhelming, surrounding me. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think.

"If you don't go away... I... I am gonna kiss you!"

The words escaped before I could stop them, my voice breaking, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it. My face burned, my skin tingling. I felt dizzy, my vision blurring. What have I done? What did I just say?!

A surge of panic flooded my being, and my body moved without my control. I shoved him aside, seizing the moment of his astonishment, my form twisting away from him. "I-It's not me! It's Eve's ghost talking!"

I didn't wait for his reaction. I turned and ran, my legs moving before my mind could catch up. My heart was racing, my face burning with embarrassment. I didn't dare look back. I couldn't.