6: Be Set On Fire
953 Words
This housing estate was run-down and the motion sensor lights in the hallway had long been broken. Darkness surrounded them after Mrs. Linton closed the door, with only the moon in the sky providing a faint, chilly light.
The two of them exchanged a glance at the dark hallway.
Daicy could see his eyes shining brightly due to his intoxication. It made her heart skip a beat, so she looked down and took a step down before turning to ask him, "Shall we go?"
Chris didn't say anything more, he just breathed evenly. His intense gaze remained hot, unaffected by the moonlight.
He stayed silent for a while before softly responding.
Daicy let out a sigh of relief and deliberately slowed down her pace to accommodate his drunkenness. She waited for him.
He followed behind her, matching her steps, careful not to make a sound.
Daicy was glad he hadn't gotten too drunk to walk on his own when she suddenly heard a strange noise from behind.
He seemed to have lost his balance and bumped into the wall.
The dull sound startled her. She quickly turned to look at him, catching his gaze in the darkness.
Bright yet dark.
He leaned against the wall. His head pressed against it as if he was about to pass out. His breathing became heavier.
Daicy took a few steps up and asked him how he was doing.
He still didn't say anything, just looked down at the steps beneath his feet. After a while, he lifted his gaze to look at her, slowly saying, "I'm fine."
Even a fool could see that he was just putting on a brave face, afraid that his troubles would escalate. Daicy reached out and held onto his arm. "Take my hands."
Chris made a sound of agreement and slowly straightened himself up.
Daicy exerted her strength to support him. Her heart inexplicably raced.
Maybe it was because of the strong smell of alcohol emanating from him, or maybe it was because of his high body temperature, but she felt a bit dizzy herself.
Though he wasn't fat, he was tall and imposing, making even a short distance feel challenging for her.
Finally, they reached the ground floor.
The evening breeze of summer blew into the hallway, refreshing their senses.
Daicy took a deep breath of the fresh air, feeling more awake. She looked at him and noticed that his face was still red, his eyes watery, as if covered by a thin layer of moisture.
After standing upright, he gallantly stepped aside and let go of her support.
Daicy blushed and tidied her hair before picking up her phone to call an Uber.
She asked, "Which hotel?"
Chris pondered for a few seconds before answering, "Royal Palace."
Daicy couldn't help but be amazed.
The City L wasn't particularly well-developed. The tourism industry wasn't mature enough, so there weren't many hotels and accommodations.
But every city has a landmark hotel, and the Royal Palace Hotel was L's iconic one.
She had once gone there with her friends for a buffet, and it cost her several days' worth of meals.
She typed the destination onto her phone's screen.
In her mind, she thought that Chris truly was a young master.
While they were waiting for the ride, the two of them didn't talk.
Seeing that Chris remained silent, Daicy followed suit and stayed quiet too.
The guy she had in mind wasn't much of a talker. And now that he was drunk, he probably felt like lying down immediately, with no mood or energy for socializing.
It was just awkward.
The evening breeze blew, and she suddenly felt cold, getting goosebumps on her arms.
She thought they were just going to grab a meal next door when she left home, so she didn't dress warmly.
It was scorching hot at noon, but now it had suddenly turned cold.
She instinctively rubbed her arms.
Suddenly, Chris, who was behind her, asked, "You cold?"
She turned her head in surprise, "A little bit." Then she withdrew her hand and stood up straight.
Chris's gaze darkened, and he didn't say anything more.
The wind tousled his hair, and his deep eyes were partially covered.
The Uber arrived shortly after. They sat together in the backseat.
The driver, glancing at Chris who reeked of alcohol, asked Daicy with concern, "Sweetheart, is your boyfriend gonna puke?"
Daicy stopped her hand that was fastening her seatbelt after hearing it, and looked up to explain, "No... he's not my boyfriend."
The driver didn't care about this part and only cared about what he wanted to know, "Is he gonna puke?"
"I... I don't think so," Daicy turned her head to glance at Chris.
He leaned against the car window, with his eyes closed. It looked like he was asleep and had no intention of speaking.
The driver mumbled, half-jokingly, "Better not puke. If he does, you guys will have to clean my car."
Daicy chuckled as she lowered her head to fasten her seatbelt.
Seeing that Chris was quiet, she didn't say anything either. She stared out the window for a while, then took out her phone to play with it.
In the dimly lit taxi, the light from her phone screen illuminated her face.
At this moment, Chris slowly opened his eyes and silently watched her for a long time.
Seemingly lost in thought.
Just like Mr. Linton had said he wasn't drunk. Drinking only made his face flush, but his mind was still clear.
However, he could feel that his emotions were on the edge, more precarious than usual.
It was as if all it took was a spark, and he would be set on fire.
- Writer
