Chapter 44: You can’t be anyone else’s
Honestly, Knox would have laughed at Azrael’s posture that exactly mimicked a mother’s pose ready to reprimand his troublesome child, if only he wasn’t caught in that predicament.
But because he was that disobedient child, all he could do was step back involuntarily, until his back touched the wall. He shivered from the coldness brought by the tiles against his white long-sleeved polo shirt.
Observing Azrael slowly made his way to him, Knox felt like he was a rodent getting cornered by a ferocious cat. His heart hammering inside and his stomach was even more churning from the intense nervousness. Azrael looked like an executioner walking toward the sinner with his scythe up, ready to slice it forward.
Knox gulped. A brave thought dashed in his head, boosting his fallacious courage, ’Why do I have to hide and fear him? I clearly told him I had an appointment! I’m not committing any crime here!’
He thought like that, but his lips refused to part and voice them out. There was nothing to do except avoid him for now. So, in the blink of an eye, he disappeared from where he stood and slipped inside the cubicle once more at an amazing speed that could rival a bolt of lightning.
But the thunder coming his way was even faster than light since before he could lock the door again, Azrael’s towering figure loomed over him. His eyes glowed like a predator lurking in the shadows watching his prey, the glares were left in their spot as they moved with his every movement.
The door Knox pushed forward was held in place, and it even creaked from two opposing strengths.
Azrael leaned closer, "Why are you trying to hide? You’re feeling guilty?"
Knox widened his eyes at Azrael as if telling him – ’who wouldn’t hide if you come at them like that?!’
"I’m trying to be patient here," Azrael added. His voice tinged with seriousness and forced calmness, unlike the emotions that swirled in his eyes. He was trying to suppress himself from shouting and scaring Knox, as their last conversation in that same place echoed in his head.
"But you keep exhausting my patience thin, Knox Arden. You cowered whenever you saw me. You said you were scared, so I was trying to be more considerate and gentler. But you’re meeting a man behind my back instead. And you looked like you were f*cking enjoying his presence! Have you ever smiled like that to me? I’ve never seen you giggle like a lovesick fool in my presence!"