Before the incident.
Denver watched as Rhea ran, he crossed his fingers hoping she will turn back eventhough it was just for a second but she didn't, she ran away from him again, he looked at the bag in his hand, did he overstep his boundaries, he felt his legs move on its own, no, he didn't know about her situation and then he began running following the route she had followed, he was inconsiderate. He finally reached her apartment and without wasting time he entered the corridor, he was going to talk to her , he wasn't going to sugarcoat anything , he was going to say it as raw as it was but....., the elevator was full .....he couldn't wait, if he missed her again he won't be able to see her again, he looked at the exit stairs and then he literally ran through the stairs not taking a break for breath and then finally he reached the door, he flung it open and there he saw it , the piece of trash of an uncle holding her by the collar as she yelled and then he pushed her on the floor , his jaw clenched , his eyes blazed with raw anger, he looked around , his eyes caught sight if it, a terracotta flower vase with almost wilting sunflowers sitting at the corner of the hall. Without wasting anymore time he carried it, both Rhea and her uncle who was about to hit her was unaware of his presence and then " smash", Denver broke the vase on her uncle's head causing him to collapse on the floor.
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Sirens of both a police car and an ambulance was wailing infront of the apartment , people had gathered downstairs , they mummured as Rheas uncle was pulled out from the apartment with a stretcher , he was conscious now but he couldn't talk due to the pain at the back of his head, they put him into the van and drove off .
Rhea, Denver , the landlady and two police officers were still at the second floor, Rhea answered the question s if the assault by her her uncle and explained that what Denver had done was an act of self defense , " thank you for your cooperation but we will like to further address the issue, would you two come to the station tomorrow to give a statement?", both Rhea and Denver nodded in unison as they both agreed ." And there is also a possibility you may get sued.... it's better you get ready", said one of the officers , Denver nodded, " of course I will do that...", Denver replied politely, one of the officers turned to the landlady , " we will like to also have a word with you...", said one of the officers , the landlady nodded as she went with them untill they were out of sight , Rhea heaved like she had been holding her breath for a long time , she had been so nervous when the officers had questioned them, she looked down at their entwined hands, to stop the wound from bleeding out Denver had held her hand , she ungrasped it quickly, her hand was sticky and covered in blood , his wound still open and bleeding, he had saved her , she couldn't just leave him like this , she sighed as she took hold of his bleeding hand once again, clasping it on hers, " we need to disinfect the wound.....", said Rhea , Denver who seemed unaffected by the wound on his hand smoked warmly , he gripped her hand more firmly, drops of blood fell to the floor surprising her but she didn't flinch.
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The beeping of someone trying to punch in their passcode was heard and then the door opened but Rhea held the door contemplating if she should let him in but he had saved her life, she sighed as she opened the door, thankfully it wasn't messy it was just stuffy and dark. Rhea didn't want to look at him , what kind of reaction could he be having now?,this was the first time she was bringing someone into her home other than Daniel who had literally broken in no one else had been to her home, she guided Denver through and then she sat him on her bed, she couldn't clearly see his expression because it was dark, she removed her hand from his, " hold it up so that it won't bleed out", she said flatly as she went over and switched on her table lamp which gave the room a dim lamination, she could finally see him, he didn't look like he was uncomfortable, his face looked normal you couldn't easily tell how he was feeling, he looked at her and the dim lamination made his hazel eyes look like it was glowing.
Rhea cleared her throat as she could feel the air thicken, " I don't like like light so.....you will have to manage ", she said , for some reason she was nervous , she had never had someone in her home before , now she did and not only that but it was Denver of all people and they were alone..., Denver shrugged , " it's okay...I don't really like lights either", his voice still so kind and warm, his eyes so soft contrastingro how he looked earlier like he was ready to kill her uncle.
She shook away those thoughts as her eyes fell on his wounded palm, he was holding it up just like she had asked him to , " I will go get the first aid kit .....don't drop your hand .....", she said, it almost sounded like a warning, it was stern , as she left Denver smiled, she was so adorable when she was nervous not long after she was with the first aid kit, she pulled her reading chair and sat opposite Denver, she geastured for him to bring out his hand which he obediently did like a little kid obeying his mother, she held his hand gently , she could feel the callouses from the tips of his fingers, it was rough probably due to his job as a chef, she held the medical scissors and a cotton wool which had been dipped in an antiseptic, " tell me of it stings...", she said her voice calm, Denver nodded , Rhea gently dabbed on his wound luckily it wasn't deep so it didn't require stitches. As she tended to his wounds the room was silent, it wasn't akward , it was peaceful , Denver finally had a closer look at her, her ruffled hair that was still a mess after the fight with her uncle, his eyes scrolled to her cheek, the deep red marks and busted lips due to the slap, his heart ached and burned with anger, she wrapped his hand with white cotton and bandage, " its all done", she said as she wanted to drop his hand but he held her hand, she looked up at him confused , " what are you.....", her eyes got caught in his again, you could tell he was hurting.
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His fingers gently grazed my cheek , it was cold but at the same time warm, I could feel the callouses at the tips of his fingers, it was cool and rough, a certain emotion flickered through his eyes and the air thickened, eventhough we weren't close to each other the gao between us seemed to shrink, I didn't flinch when he touched me, I should pull away but I just couldn't , his finger traced the mark on my cheek, I was almost left breathless but I stayed composed and then his eyes met mine, the burning resentment in his eyes had gone and now his gaze was soft, his eyes appeared to be more beautiful in the dim lighting, I clenched my hands by my side, my heart beating so fast, it was like I was trapped in his gaze , his hands were still on my cheek , the room was silent, neither of u knowing what to say, his fingers on my cheek made it tingle, his eyes held that if an emotion that I could not decipher and before I knew it .... he was closer and I just froze, ten years and my feeling for him had never died , in the midst of my abyss he just jumped in, I didn't want him to be close to me, I didn't want him to be associated with my problems, before it could escalate..., " what are you doing right now.....", my voice came out in a whisper all of a sudden, he paused the air around us suddenly went cold, that dazed expression he had a while ago morphed into realization, his hands slowly fell from my face , I instantly lost the warmth, he backed away a little, " I'm sorry ....I overstepped my boundaries again.....", he said with a deep sigh, I heaved, u had almost lost my breath when he had leaned in, " ice it.....it may leave a bruise", he said, he was calm and collected while I was a dying wreck.
I nodded as I stood up, you can get going....it should heal in a weak , change it every night and apply antiseptic, don't allow water to...., " I know that, I'm a chef , I get cuts on some days....", he said as he stood up, of course he was a chef after all, he gets cut once in a while, I felt I had been rambling. " Ooh...", I simply said, it was awkward, he smiled and almost laughed, I could see how he was trying to control himself and then his eyes diverted from my face to my room untill it was fixated at one spot, what was he looking at , I turned my head to where his gaze had been fixated on, my table with my books, " are you going to stop writing ?", that question shook me , I turned to him about to say something, " if I ask you about your situation.....would you sign my book?", his words taunting my last words, his smile so warm, it was annoying, " I don't know yet...", I replied simply as I folded my arms.
I wanted to talk him to leave but I feared I would sound rude, " continue writing....", I looked up at him, he looked so sincere , " and eventhough you stop writing....", he stepped closer to me and my breath hitched again, his fruity scent enveloped me and I suddenly had this tingling feeling in my chest, " just think about yourself, don't think about anyone else...", he said , if only it was that easy, I would be glad to just do that , I scoffed as I bent my head low, " you don't know anything...", I looked up at him , my tone turning cold, he didn't look surprised at my words , I wasn't angry at him , he just unintentionally provokes me, I heaved settling my voice in, " you come from a warm home, being close to me, knowing about my turmoil isnf your cup of tea, so.....please leave", I said , he looked at me with that same expression, he came closer to me but I didn't move , I wanted to stand my ground, it was not like he was intimidating me or anything but I wanted him to know that there was no room for him in my life anymore.
And then he lifted his hand and touched the tip of my hair, his hands gently weaving through with the strays and strands of it, our proximity was closed and in the silence I could clearly hear his heart beating so was mine, " I can't argue with you....I indeed came from a warm home and I am greatful for that but....", he came closer to me and our bodies almost collided into each other, I clenched my fist against my sides , eventhough his gaze was soft , it held a certain emotion that was raw, he leaned in closer, I could feel my throat burn all of a sudden and his scent seemed to rearrange every cell in my body and then he leaned to my ear, his warm breath fanned the tip of my ear and my whole body felt hot, " for you I will jum into every turmoil.....that is how much I like you Rhea....", it was almost like a whisper , he pulled away a little and this time his eyes were on mine , under the dim light his eyes appeared to be golden in close proximity, his eyes scrolled down for a second and then he looked at me once more , " so....don't run away from me ", his tone was restrained,almost pitiable, it was like any slight pressure could completely break him, his eyes showed he was hurt deeply.
Ten years of waiting, I could hear the desperation, the hidden sorrow in those beautiful eyes, Denver....should I be greedy.