A DANGEROUS HEARTBEAT

"You're hurt."

He said in a calm voice yet I could sense worry within him.

I faced him directly. My master was standing few meters away from me, his eyes was fixated on the wound on my shoulder

"It's just a scratch, it's not deep"

I replied, holding my hurt shoulder. The injury hurt, but it's nothing compared to to the heaviness in my heart

He moved a step nearer. "Follow me."

He turned quietly and walked toward the main hall without waiting for my reply. I paused briefly before deciding to follow him.

I could hear the whispers of the disciples behind us, but I didn't pay a single attention to it. No one had the courage to question the master's actions, yet I could see the curiosity in their eyes about why he was taking care of me himself.

When we got to his personal chamber, i stood uncomfortably at his door side, he brought out a small porcelain medicine bottle

"Take a seat," he commanded.

I paused briefly before sitting down on the wooden stool. He came closer and bent down in front of me and gently pulling up my sleeve, his touch was gentle, yet I still recoiled

"You shouldn't be so careless,"

he whispered, as he applied the chilled medicine to my injury.

I gulped nervously, observing his expression

His usual cold expression was there, but his hands.. His hands were careful, almost gentle.

He was angry. Not because I got hurt, but because I had been distracted.

Because of him.

"You were not focused today," he continued, his voice quiet. "Your mind was elsewhere."

I dropped my eyes. "It will not happen again, i promise "

There was silence in the room and his fingers stopped for a moment before he continued to apply the medicine.

"You need to let go of what happened last night,"

he finally said, his voice hardly a whisper.

I quickly looked up and his expression was firm, but there was a little tension in his jaw actually.

I gripped my hands tightly. "Is that really what you want? "

He did not respond right away. Rather , he carefully wrapped a bandage around my shoulder in a calm manner.

When he eventually spoke, his voice remained calm. "What I desire is irrelevant."

The words impacted me more deeply than I thought

I paused my breathing, scanning his expression for any hint of doubt. Yet he was an expert in self-discipline, in regulation

He spent many years getting rid of anything that will distract him from cultivation, anything that will make him weak

And now, he was pushing me away too.

I should have let it go. I should have walked away. I shouldn't have done it

But I couldn't.

Because I knew that no matter how much he denied it, he felt it too.

I felt something suffocating in my chest, it was pressing down on me as the silence between us grew heavier

"You…" My voice was barely above a whisper. " But You kissed me back."

His hands froze.

For the first time, I saw something interesting in his eyes, something raw, something real.

But it disappeared immediately

"You should leave," he said.

I felt my throat tighten. I wanted to argue, to make him admit the truth. But I knew him too well.

So, I stood.

I turned to leave, my footsteps slow and heavy.

But before I reached the door, I heard him speak again, so softly I almost thought I imagined it.

"…Be careful."

I paused for only a moment before walking away.

But my heart had already decided.

No matter how much he pushed me away, I would not give up.

Because I knew… he was afraid.

And I would not let him run from me forever. Who knows maybe love that ran away from me since I was born is here

The grand palace was quiet as usual, the moon was shining brightly in the courtyard, the air was cool and I could perceive the scent of lotus from the lake which was behind.

I stood outside the Forbidden Chamber, my heart pounding in my chest.

This place was restricted to disciples. No one was allowed to enter except the elders and the sect master himself.

And yet, I knew he was inside.

Without thinking about anything, I walked forward.

The doors were slightly open, the candle light were dancing with the wind inside, i stopped for a very brief moment and then i finally entered

Inside, rows of ancient scrolls lined the walls. The scent of old paper and burning incense could not escape my nose, my master was standing just right at the center with his back to me.

He knew I was there.

"You should not be here," he said without turning around.

My hands clenched at my sides. "Neither should you."

He slowly turned to face me and for a long moment none of us said a word.

Then, finally, I took a step closer.

He stiffened but didn't move away.

"Why do you keep running from me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He didn't answer.

The shadow from the candle light was across his face and his usual cold demeanor was there, but aside that i could sense an atom of hesitation within him

He wanted me.

I knew it.

So I moved.

I reached up slowly and touched his cheeks, his skin was warm in the cold night and his breath was shallw6

He didn't move.

He didn't stop me.

So, I took another step closer, until there was barely any space between us. His scent filled my senses.

"Say it," I whispered.

"Tell me you don't feel anything."

His jaw tightened. He stood still

But he didn't say the words.

Instead, I felt his breath hitch.. Oh that was the smallest sign of weakness.

And that was all the answer I needed.

Without thinking, I closed the distance between us.

I kissed him.

Softly.

Slowly.

He inhaled sharply, his entire body going rigid.

For a moment, I thought he would push me away.

But then, he didn't, rather he grabbed my waist to pull me against him,The kiss deepened.

He was no longer just standing there. He was kissing me back, just like before.

But this time, he didn't stop. His lips pressed harder and his hands tightened around my waist as though he was finally allowing himself to feel me

The world outside faded.

But then, we heard a sudden knock on the door to the chamber

We froze.

Reality came back into place.

He pulled away, breathing heavily, his hands still gripping my waist.

But then as if he was just realising what had happened between us, he let go of me

"Leave," he whispered.

I stared at him, my heart still pounding.

His expression had already shifted, his walls were back up, his restraint returning.

But it was too late.

Because this time, I knew.

He could not deny it anymore.

And neither could I.