Chapter 146: When Arlen’s heart moved
He pulled Ravi into a hug, wrapping his arms around Ravi as he took in a deep breath of him to relax, "Thank you! I signed an NDA so I can’t talk about it but thank you for worrying about me, Ravi. I am so stressed."
It was as if all the burdens on his shoulders slowly melted away. As if fresh air had been breathed into his being, the tension in his heart loosened. It was a strange feeling but at this moment, Arlen noted, it was actually familiar.
He was not sure when but he always felt more relaxed around Ravi. He traced up Ravi’s back, caressing it as if tenderly stroking an extremely precious treasure.
Arlen did not want to let go.
"Better now?" Ravi’s throat felt as if it was burned, and the words were light, weightless as if carried by a single exhale. He could not bear it, he could not beat Arlen touching him like that. His restraint and his self-control were being more of a facade each passing moment.
"Just one more minute." Arlen hugged him tighter, his words were a little indistinct as if he was on the verge of sniffling if Ravi pulled away.
"Was he planning tricks again?" Even though Ravi thought this, he did not move away, allowing Arlen to tighten the hug even more.
These past few days were like a rope tied around his neck was fastening more and more as each second passed.
His protesters outside was a waiting bomb, less than four days to the time limit the Phantom gave for the diamond, they had already kidnapped one of the most influential youth in the town and Arlen had to keep it to himself, not even letting her parents know that the people holding her daughter would not hesitate to kill her to advance their goals.
He could not offer anything but empty words of consolation and Arlen had not imagined how much this passive situation would make it hard for home to breathe.
But now, he took in that scent, he could breathe again, pulling away gently, "En. I feel better now. Thank you."