"Octavia! Are you there?"
Amanda's voice floated from behind the door, soft but insistent.
I froze for a second, my heart thundering in my chest. My palms were sweaty, and I struggled to calm my racing thoughts. With a trembling hand, I turned the doorknob, pushing the door open wider to invite her in. But she didn't move. She stayed standing just outside, hesitant, almost shy.
She was wearing a two-piece nightwear set—a simple singlet and shorts combo. A lot of her skin was visible, and the strawberry scent she carried wafted into the room. I wondered if it was a strawberry-scented soap, or if I was just losing my mind. Either way, my heart skipped another beat. She was obviously ready for bed, looking serene and casual at the same time.
Then I noticed the books she was holding tightly against her chest. My mind raced. I silently prayed she wouldn't keep holding them there too long—otherwise, the view would be… well, distracting. 🥹
"What's up?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant, though my chest threatened to betray me.
Amanda took a small step back, almost as if she were measuring the room and her courage before speaking. "I was having some trouble with my assignment," she said softly. "Your grandma said I could come to you for assistance."
I closed my eyes for a split second, whispering a silent prayer of thanks to my wonderful grandma. She truly had a way of blessing my chaotic life.
"Come on in," I said, forcing a casual smile and gesturing for her to step inside.
She hesitated for a moment, then finally stepped over the threshold. There was a heap of unfolded laundry on my chair, which, thankfully, forced her to sit on my bed. My stomach twisted with anticipation.
I slid closer and stretched out my hand. "Here, give me the books," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Oh, sorry," she murmured, handing them over. As she did, the thin material of her nightwear shifted, revealing a glimpse of her curves. My eyes lingered for a fraction too long before I snapped back to the books in my hands, pretending to study.
From the corner of my eyes, I could see Amanda fidgeting slightly, awkwardly trying to cover her chest. I couldn't help the small smirk that tugged at my lips. She was adorable, flustered in a way that made my heart race even faster.
I opened the book and let out a silent sigh of relief—thankfully, the problems were simple. I explained each question carefully, giving examples and walking her through the answers. She nodded along, her hair brushing against my arm from time to time. I felt a strange warmth in my chest each time our hands accidentally touched while flipping through the pages.
After we finished, Amanda stood up to leave. I immediately got to my feet too, offering to walk her to the door. My legs felt like jelly, my heartbeat thundering with every step.
As she reached the doorway, she turned back to me, her eyes locking with mine. My breath caught in my throat. Then, almost shyly, she leaned in for a hug.
I wrapped my arms around her waist instinctively. The warmth of her body pressed against mine, her curves soft and supple. I could feel the subtle contours of her figure, every curve and slope that made my heart skip a beat. My legs wobbled, and my chest felt like it might burst from the sheer intensity of the moment.
For a few seconds, time seemed to stop. Her strawberry scent enveloped me, and my mind was a chaotic mix of awe, desire, and fear. My hands tightened slightly around her waist, as if afraid to let go, afraid that letting go would somehow return me to the cold, lonely reality of my empty room.
Finally, I whispered under my breath, "Shit."
I didn't mean it as a curse exactly—I meant it as a confession of how utterly lost I felt, how overwhelming everything about her presence was.
Amanda pulled back slightly, just enough to look me in the eyes. There was a softness there, a hint of something unspoken, and my heart lurched again. I wanted to say something—anything—but my voice had abandoned me.
Instead, I forced a shaky smile and stepped back, letting her leave. My room suddenly felt too quiet, too empty, as if her absence left a vacuum I didn't know how to fill. My heartbeat slowly returned to normal, but the memory of her hug lingered like a spark—warm, electric, and impossible to ignore.
I sank back onto my bed, burying my face in my hands. My thoughts were spinning, a tangled mess of feelings I didn't have the words for. Every moment of that hug replays in my head like a movie I don't want to end. My chest still ached from the closeness, from the intoxicating warmth of her body pressed against mine.
I knew one thing for certain: this wasn't going to be easy to forget.
…To be continued.