World After Worlds - Chapter 288

CHAPTER 034

Tiana noticed Kraig’s dissatisfaction in his countenance as she gazed up at him. He was not pleased to see her. She was uncertain if she should head to his house after her conversation with Lyndon. Before she knew it, she found herself heading to Kraig’s house. She was somehow a little excited to visit him because he would often exhibit the delightness whenever she saw him and came over. Rather than her, he seemed to be expecting someone else’s arrival.

‘R’, is he anticipating someone with that … beginning letter of a name? Who is that? Is ‘R’ more important than me? Ronan? Raine? Roy? Is it a girl who he was waiting for? Rana? Resha? Reene? Who is that R?! Tiana bit her lower lip as she held herself from asking him suspicions, queries. Her entirety was filled with anxiety as she felt Kraig was so indifferent to her. Her stomach felt nauseated that she was overloaded with these ideas and she had to repress them to herself.

She didn’t want to appear as his renowned girlfriend to him. A selfish bitch, always jealous, insecure, and untrusting. She was well aware of how much Kraig disliked that kind of mindset. She knew because Yanarym was always like that to Kraig… she was a jealous girl—eyes would always glare on envy towards women who were close to Kraig, especially to Tiana. Insecurity that she would mumble whenever the crusade of harming her failed. Untrusting to anyone and would doubt every person who would associate with Kraig.

Tiana did not want to become the other version of the type of woman Kraig hated. He said he left Yanarym for that reason and… that cannot be the same reason why he would abandon her. Kraig can’t rescind her for such a thing. Yet, no matter how much she reminded herself. The thoughts kept on rumbling to her head.

It is not the ‘R’ person who I am thinking of, right? Tiana was baffled, R…? Is it … Rym? Is it Yanarym? No. That could not be it. No, that was simply nothing but outrageous, why would Kraig expect Yanarym’s arrival with some blissful grin on his face? Are they meeting each other at this time? How could they? What is going on between them? From earlier and now. How is this even possible? Just recently, Kraig was standing to her side, shielding her from Yanarym’s evil schemes! He is supposed to hate Yanarym, then why? What is happening?!

She had decided to ask Kraig, to clarify what was happening to her. At least explain the situation… if it was his way to restrain Yanarym from hurting her or whatever it was. Why was he doing all this to her? To them… She needed to know. And if his answer was a little downgraded to her anticipation—if it was a worst-case scenario… she had to use what Lyndon had told her.

“Tiana, are you just gonna stare at me? I’m tired, what is this about?” Kraig intercepted her thoughts. “Why did you come here at this hour? Do you realize what time it is?” Tiana blinked her eyes, she could hear the irritation in his tone but evidently, he was making an effort to hide it in his calm voice. She swallowed hard and suppressed herself, she pulled both of her hands behind her, concealing her clenched fist.

“I need to talk to you.” His face was wrinkled, indicating he was not in the mood to talk to her. Nevertheless, she could not retreat anymore. She toughened her abdomen and briefly nibbled her lip. “Can you let me in?”

“It’s late, can this wait tomorrow?” He quickly replied, as if he was determined to propel her.

“No, I have to say it today.” Kraig looked at her a little annoyed and she was staring back at him with resolute eyes.

Eventually, “Fine,” he sighed heavily and led her to the living room. Tiana silently rejoiced and followed him. Kraig didn’t bother lighting the fireplace and sat on the lion’s fur, this became a special spot for him, he didn’t want Tiana to step on it.

“Won’t you sit on the sofa?” She asked as she was settling into the seat. Kraig watched her moves, subconsciously examining her appearance. She was wearing a simple white dress in floral design. Her hair was flat straight to her chest. Tiana’s modest energy was so far from what Yanarym exquisite.

He could remember how she looked while she was on that sofa, only in his shirt… with the gleam of fire swaddling her skin. Her long big curly hair was messy, her eyes were intense—Yanarym was breathtaking. “Kraig?” He regained his senses and gulped.

“I’m fine here, should I offer you a drink?”

“Can I have some water, please?” Kraig nodded and stood up. Tiana looked around, nothing had changed, it was the same as it was the last time she visited him.

Kraig’s an orphan, his relatives were living outside the town. When he decided to finish high school at Azkin’s Academy, it meant he would be living alone in the town. Since they became close to one another, she had been coming back and forth to this house. And he would always welcome her, yet when he opened the door earlier, it was not how he used to greet her. He was treating her like an uninvited guest he didn’t wanna see.

Everything was still the same—the place was but the person who lives in it felt remarkably different.

“Help yourself,” he placed down on the coffee table a pitcher of cold water and a cup of empty glass. Tiana poured herself a drink while Kraig got back sitting on the lion’s fur carpet. He always hated that fur but now, it seems like he doesn’t want to share it with anyone. “So, what do you want to tell me?”

“Earlier, at the rooftop. I’m sorry that I walked out.” She drank her water and put it back on the table. Kraig remained silent for a second. He almost forgot the event at the rooftop. He didn’t notice that Tiana left. He was too fixated on watching Yanarym leave with another man.

A smile appeared on his face, realizing that if he did not witness that scene at the rooftop, Yanarym wouldn’t have become his girlfriend. He was grateful to his girlfriend’s uncle then. Marcus made Kraig acknowledge something he hadn’t cherished before.

“Yeah, I’m sorry too, I was occupied but what is it about? That you were an azkin, right?” He asked nonchalantly.

Tiana held her breath and nibbled her lips, what’s with his reaction? What was that smile about? He looked like a lovesick teenager. It is not what I think it is, right? I am over-interpreting things, right? She took another deep breath, she can’t be emotional. She cannot outburst like what she did on the rooftop. She must stay logical, this was the only chance left for her to salvage their relationship that unknowingly broke within a day.

“Yes, I am an azkin. To be precise, I am the reincarnation of Azkin.”

“Oh, that is… surprising.” Kraig was amazed, even if it was a lie of hers. The new theme was quite fascinating. Azkin’s reincarnation? Wasn’t that an amazing title? But frankly, he didn’t care about her anymore. Looking at her, the scruple was resolved.

Did he genuinely like Tiana? Or did he like using Tiana to torment Yanarym? To his conclusion, he was using Tiana to torment Yanarym. That was Tiana’s role, his tool for tormenting people, Lyndon and Yanarym. However, just like what he had decided, he no longer wanted to hurt Yanarym.

“Congratulations.”

“Congratulations… ?” Tiana was dumbfounded, “That’s it?”

That was all he had to say? Congratulations? Kraig bobbed his head, he didn’t even bother to have a glance in her direction. “What else, do you have more intriguing news for me?”

Tiana was in trance. Her eyes were somehow hot and it was like it would shed some tears soon. Looking at Kraig’s disinterested behavior, it was like that thing—that broken thing about them. That invisible wall that was there between them since this morning was concretely established. Are they over? They were not even starting.

All this time, what is all that Kraig? Tiana was devastated. How could he express some strong favorable affection to her as if he was going to marry her and turn into someone like a stranger the next day? She could not even complain about anything because there was no certain distinction of what relationship they are becoming. They were friends… but they were more than platonic ones.

She suppressed her sorrow because she cannot weep in front of him.

“No-nothing… w-what about Yanarym? I saw you talked to her earlier, what was that about?” He grinned like a little kid, he peered at his eyes and chuckled.

“You are my trusted friend, right?” He asked in a bubbly manner. Tiana nodded her head astonished with his genuine smile. “Since you are my friend, you’ll be the first one to know.”

“About what?”

“Rym became my girlfriend.”

“…. What… Did you just say?”