Santi: The Devil's Pioneer

Chapter 66 - The One Where Kiki Confessed

*Kiki's POV*

Two weeks before Santi officially dated Emman, I had approached her. I wanted to acknowledge my feelings for her. No matter her reaction, I only wanted her to know.

"Hey," I greeted her behind the school parking lot. I had told her to meet me back here. It had been at least a month since she invaded all of our lives.

"Hi," She replies. "You told me to meet you here?"

"Yeah, I have something to tell you," I began. She looked anxious. "I am going to say it directly because I don't handle bottled emotions very well. It's not something you might hear everyday, most especially from me. But you should know, lest we have to continue our friendship."

"What are you talking about?" She laughs a small laugh, innocent, genuine, yet slightly evil. She was enjoying my panicked features.

"I like you," I blurted out. This was it. No take backs. "I have liked you from the moment I saw your smile. The joy you bring me. The humor you have with you. You' re special, and I knew it right from the start."

Santi was left speechless. Her face indicated no emotion at all. I could gather nothing from her. I had no way to know whether or not she was happy about my declaration. But I took it as my cue to continue.

"You are a sparkle of sunshine and a breath of fresh air in this suffocating, dark, and gloomy city. Since knowing you, every day felt a little more lighter, a little more brighter. And I know I'm just some Greek you happened to befriend or share some friend group with, but I really hope to develop a connection with you. I want you to give me a chance." I finished, panting. I had never felt so flushed after talking to a girl before. Nor had I felt so humiliated and brave at the same time.

Santi remained silent and I internally panicked.

"What's wrong? Did I say it wrong? You know, I also like take no for an answer. I am not pushing or forcing any type of answer out of you. I just want you to acknowledge that so that, hopefully, we can move on from here."

She shakes her head, chuckling lightly, eyes sparkling gleefully.

"It's not that," She finally speaks up after being mute for some time. "It's just that I left my gym clothes by the locker and it's the only pair Emily lent me."

I felt stupid. So stupid.

"Come on, I'll come with you to the gym. We'll fetch your clothes." I take her by the arm, completely disappointed with myself. This was the first time I poured my heart out for a girl and this was how it ended.

Rejection was a b***h.

On the way over to the gym, Santi stops in her tracks. She was walking slightly ahead of me and so I waited for her to continue walking again, but she didn't. She turns around, meeting my gaze and takes my hand in hers.

"I am sorry if I made you feel stupid or unappreciated. It's not that I don't like you. It's just that I'm not used to being liked. I'm not a very likable or approachable person, you see. The humor, the smiles, and the sunshine I bring you? I am not at all aware that I have that. It's very intimidating for you to describe me in a 360 way of how I see myself.

"You underestimate yourself too much, Santi," She said, walking beside me.

Thank god.

I was ready to leave town and get this over with. Not wasting any more time, I quickly pulled away from the flat that Santi had been staying in since our separation and headed in the direction of the motorway.

I was eager to go out of town and finish this. I hurriedly pulled away from the apartment where Santi had been residing since our disconnection and headed for the highway, not wanting to waste time and energy.

Santi said, "You've always grossly overestimated me." "I'm not going to let you sell a piece of history like Everest Mansion, no matter how bad it is."

"If you had said so," I whispered, fully realizing Santi would never say such a thing.

When we came, Graham would be so confident about herself.

When it came to the status of the property, I'd be the first to confess that I had some responsibility. My brother, Haden, was the present viscount, but he'd handed Everest to me to look after. It was one of our family's last unencumbered holdings. But it was already rotting and damaged in places when I bought it, and I was afraid that attempting to repair it would bankrupt me.