CHAPTER 21: CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

As Rhea’s mind and focus spiral, her feet moving at a pace of two and a half a time, slowly making the walk to Zeenare’s office longer than before.

"Sir?" Rhea ventured, clutching her backpack straps.

Zeenare didn’t move immediately, as the silence stretched, thick and heavy. Rhea’s pulse quickened, a prickle of unease tracing her spine.

Then, slowly, he turned his head, his silver eyes lifting from the book to meet hers. There was no surprise, no acknowledgment of her presence until that moment. It was as if he had been waiting, simply chosen not to react until she spoke.

"Ms. Rhea," he said, his voice a low murmur that seemed to fill the quiet room without being loud. "You’re back."

Of course I’m back, she thought, a faint irritation stirring beneath her unease.

"Yes, Sir. To continue with the essays." She walked over to the side table, placing her bag down, consciously avoiding the chair directly facing his desk. Instead, she opted for the one where her back would be mostly turned to him, as she had done the day before.

As she settled, she could feel his gaze on her, an unseen weight pressing on her shoulders. He didn’t say anything, didn’t move, yet the air in the room seemed to vibrate with his unspoken attention. She could feel him watching her, every move, every small shift.

A few minutes later, she heard the soft scrape of his chair as he pushed back. Her breath hitched. She didn’t turn around, pretending to be engrossed in what she was doing.

She heard his footsteps, slow and deliberate, moving towards her side of the room. Her heart pounded, a frantic drum against her ribs.

What did he want? Was the question in her mind.

He stopped beside her. Too close. She could feel the warmth emanating from him, the subtle scent of his cologne enveloping her. He leaned in slightly, and she tensed, her muscles locking. "Are you making good progress, Ms. Rhea?" His voice was so close it brushed against her ear, a smooth, almost intimate tone that made her skin crawl.

"Yes, Sir," she managed, her voice a little breathy, still not looking up. She felt his hand lift, and her entire body braced. It rested briefly, lightly, on the back of her chair. Just a touch, barely there, but it sent an electric jolt through her.

"Good," he murmured, and she felt his gaze sweep over her, lingering for a beat before he finally straightened and moved away.

Rhea let out a silent, shaky breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

As time flew and the wave of tension die down. Rhea was now more comfortable, engrossed in the essays.

Truthfully, she enjoyed reviewing the essays, because it gives her insight to different perspectives of cases and how differently they were handled.

"Sir why don’t you look at this," Rhea stood up from her seat and strode towards Zeenare’s chair, standing at the same side of his chair, not the other side of the table, placing an essay before him, pointing to an area with issues.

Zeenare threw a glance at her by her suddenly close proximity, but she was invested in what she was showing him.

Not aware by how close she was to him.

Zeenare said nothing, instead he leaned in, and explained to Rhea how to go about a situation like that, along side brushing his arms on hers.

"Thanks Sir." Rhea said, still in her own dimension of essays.

Rhea trailied her eyes over the sheets as she made her way back to her seat, sinking slowly on it.

Few minutes later Rhea went back again with another issue.

"Zeenare." She called out.

Zeenare eyes brows shot up. A faint smile on his serious face as he slowly eyed Rhea.

Can she hear herself, right now?.

With each closing steps she took towards him, his gaze softened, like a child who got what he was promised.

"I think this person is entirely wrong." She uttered. "Look at this, the citations are not correct." She said, either of her hand flanking him: one on the table edge, the other on his chair armrest. Leaning forward her back bent to the same level of his head as she placed it down, showing the spot to him.

"Yeah, this entire section is wrong," his voice cut short of air.

As he was explaining Rhea slightly stood straight, her eyes locked on the side of his face, her face was inches from his. The room went silent as if time had stopped.

Her eyes zoomed out from his face, to his eyes, taking in every detail of his eyes shape and colour. Then trailed down to his sharp pointy nose, then settling on his lips.

Rhea swallowed a lump forming in her throat.

"His lips look so fresh and pretty." She said between breath as if she was in a daze. Her heart fluttered softly in her chest.

Zeenare didn’t move, didn’t blink.

"Ms. Rhea were you saying something?" Zeenare asked, snapping her back to reality.

The sudden shift made her more consciously aware of her surroundings.

Rhea threw her hands over her mouth, stepping backwards.

What the fuck did I just say? Her mind swirled.

As Rhea continued moving backwards, she suddenly tripped on the pile of boxes behind her, loosing her balance, stumbling backwards.

"Rhea!" Zeenare stood up in seconds clamping his arm around Rhee’s waist yanking her against his chest. "Are you okay?"

Rhea nodded, her eyes wide open. Her hands between their bodies.

Her heart wrestling between her rib cage.

"Um... Thank ... You." She said in a disoriented manner. Before pulling away from Zeenare’s arms.

She grab the essay and glided back to her seat.

What the hell is wrong with me, today. First it was Luke, now him! This is fucking embarrassing. Why did I even say those things. I hope he didn’t hear?

She glanced at Zeenare over her shoulders, his eyes were directly fixed on her — like a hawk on a chicken.

"Hic." She turned hurriedly away, as the sound escaped her lips.

Shit shit shit I don’t like that look in his eyes! Why did I have to go stand there? She placed her hands over her head.

Zeenare stares at Rhea watching every movement she made.

"Ms. Rhea?" Zeenare called, causing Rhea to jolt his voice at a distance. "I’m stepping out."

"Okay." Her voice low.

Okay what is wrong with Rhea? He chuckled inwardly. I know she’s definitely dying of embarrassment right now. And probably looking for a way to run.

He let out a short sudden laugh.

Should I have let her know I heard what she said earlier?

After sometime Zeenare came back, he stood at the entrance for a while watching Rhea and saw that she was now back to her usual self. Then stride to his seat, his steps measured.

I think she certainly wants to finish the essays today.

"Sir?" Rhea tilted her head upwards, her hands pinching her nose bridge. "Do you’ve a tissue by chance?" Rhea turned to Zeenare.

Zeenare’s heart stopped, as it fell to his feet. His eyes darting on the blood spot beside Rhea, then to the table with blood. He bolted towards Rhea, tissue in hand.

Placing it on her bleeding nose.

"Thanks" she said bringing her head back down.

Zeenare eyes drifted to the table. And it was filled with blood.

His mouth tightened, trembling at the corners, eyes dark with something close to terror. He staggered back a step, breath stalling, as dread carved itself across his face.

"Rhea..." His hand trembling has it reached for Rhea’s face. His tone voiceless that you can barely hear him. "Are you okay?"

Rhea blinked back in confusion, as her head jerked back a little from his cold touch.

Why is he making that face, it’s a mere nose bleed.

"How long have you been having a nose bleed, Rhea?" His voice small.

Now that he mentioned it, i think it’s becoming frequent. I had one when I was watching a show at home too.

"It’s nothing." She said stepping away from him, into the chair.

Zeenare stood still staring into space. "It can’t be nothing, with that quantity of blood on the table. Rhea go home."

"But I’m almost done." She said.

"Please go home, Rhea" he begged.

Rhea could hear the pain in his voice and his face held no difference.

"Okay." She said softly.