263 Lover's Quarrel

Bang!

At the mention of those words, it felt like a bottle was broken in her mind. 

Astrid was in a daze. She stood there looking at Cari like someone who had seen a ghost or something. 

"Astrid!"

No Answer! 

"Astrid," Cari called out her name louder than before but there was still no answer. 

'Seriously, did I shock her so much with my confession?' Carl thought to himself. 

He raised his free hand in front of her face and waved at her. 

After about three waves, Astrid got herself back. 

"Huh... What happened?" She asked, slightly out of her daze. 

"You blanked out. Lost in thoughts, I presume?"

"Yes, sorry." 

A sweet smile curved up on her face to push the question and attention from herself, away. 

'What! Did he just... No, no, no... He just confessed to me. Why do I feel odd? Like I am... Urghh, what do I say to that? I do not like him, my heart belongs to Jareth.'

As she mentioned Jareth's name in her mind, her face fell. 

Here she was, loving the person who refused to return her love back, where as there is someone craving her. 

Cari noticed her sudden change in expression and thought his confession made her sad. 

"Hey, hey, hey... What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. Thanks. I should get going now, though."

She made to leave again but Cari was faster and held unto her shoulder keeping her in place. 

"You will go soon. I just want to cheer you up before you do. I am sorry of my confession made you feel burdened. You do not have to give me an answer right away. Just think about it and tell me tomorrow or when you are ready."

"Okay then. I would let you know my answer. Goodnight."

"Close your eyes. I have something to give you."

"What's that?"

"It is a surprise. Just close your eyes, okay?"

"Alright."

Within a second, Astrid obeyed and shut her eyes close, silently waiting for the surprise. 

Cari waved his hand in front of her face, making sure her eyes were perfectly shut and she wasn't seeing him before bridging the gap between himself and her. 

'Why is my heart beating fast? Looking at her pretty face and succulent lips, my... Jareth, your fail, my gain. Here goes nothing.'

Slowlynhe let her hand drop and moved his to her face, bringing his face closer to hers. 

Astrid waited and waited for what seemed to have been forever for the surprise to come. 

She was growing impatient but decided to kick against it and give him the time to show her his surprise. 

With each passing second, Cari brought his face an inch closer to her face as Astrid awaited her surprise. 

Snow who had been ignored all these while and angrily went inside the house on his own, suddenly came out when he heard nothing coming from them again.

His master had her eyes closed and stood in front of Cari whose face was inches away and his lips barely an inch away from touching Astrid's. 

'Oh no!"

"Master! He is about to kiss you! What are you standing there just waiting for him to?"

"What! Kiss?" She asked through their mind link. 

Astrid was shocked beyond words and just like a spell broke free, Astrid opened her eyes and met Cari's lips too close to hers. 

"Whoa!"

Quickly, she took some steps backward from Cari and actually spoke out. 

"What do are you doing?" Her words were like ice, cold and domineering. 

Cari opened his eyes slowly and met Astrid looking at him through squinted eyes. 

He moved his head back and stood straight, clearing his throat at the same time. 

"Umm... I  sorry. I got distracted and went way overboard." He reached his right hand up to scratch his hair as the already awkward situation became more awkward. 

"Hmm. Goodnight." Without waiting for him, Astrid turned around quickly and walked over to her house. 

She pushed open the door and ushered Snow in. 

"Come on baby, let us go inside."

"Yes, master."

Somewhere not so far away, another figure was seen lurking around at a dark corner. 

A dark glint flashed before his eyes as he stared at the direction Astrid and Cari stood a while back. 

Although Astrid had gone inside, Cari still stood outside, like someone who was lost in another world. 

A minute passed and both went to their respective places. 

****

At Dawn the next day, some of the villagers woke up and startedbgetting ready for the day's activities. 

Astrid had slept off while waiting and thinking of Jareth. Due to thw event of thw previous day, she was too tired to get up. 

At that moment the door swung open and Jareth stepped in. 

His sudden badging in had woken Astrid and Snow up as boh of them sat up at the sound.

Astrod rubbed the sleep off her eyes as her gaze locked on the celebrity of the day.  

The thoughts of him had clouded her mind and thinking for so long that she could not help it anymore. 

She tried so much to push the thought of him away but it only came hack stronger. 

Jareth's gaze scanned the room briefly and walked in, ignoring het as always. 

Unfortunately for him, Astrid had already had enough of it. This was the 7th day, yet things haven't changed between them. 

She basically dressedbup just to catch his attention, yet he never even showed up. 

One could understand Astrid's anger when Jareth eyes locked with hers before moving down and taking in her whole appearance, but did not say anything. 

The look in his eyes showed shock. And although it was but for a few seconds, he quickly replaced it with one of indifference and swallowed his words. 

'Damn! She looks breathtaking. Even though she is stressed out and just waking up, it still did not change the fact that she looks good. Seeing her up close like this... I want to... Stop it. You can't.'

As much as he wanted to compliment her, he just couldn't bring himself to doing it. 

He did not want to lead her on and he needed the distance so as to keep the remaining part of his body that worked without yearning for her, sane. 

"Jareth!"

He was already backing her and about to take his shirt off when he heard her small cute voice call on his name. 

He turned around and was surprised she was already standing close to him. 

Looking down at her, his brow arched up in a questionable manner. 

"Jareth," her voice came out louder than before and much more determined. 

"Until when would you treat me like this?"

"Treat you how?"

"What do you mean by treat me how? You don't talk to me, you don't even sleep on the same bed let alone the same room. You leave everyday and come back briefly the next morning. What did I do to deserve this kind of punishment? Huh! Why are you treating me this way?"

As she spoke her eyes began to water, blurring her vision and threatening to fall. 

He could see she was hurt. She was in pain, all because of him. 

He never wanted that and he knewnhis actions hurt her but he just could not stop now until she probably forgets her feelings for him. 

"You do not know what you did?"

"No."

"Really now? All the times you went against my word and clung unto Cari... Wasn't that wrong?"

"Clung to Cari? Where is that coming from, Jareth?"

Jareth knew he was wrong and just being a jealous jerk, still he couldn't stop because it was not just about him wanting to drive her away, he also felt hurt seeing her with someone else. 

"Can you deny it? Can you deny it when after you are done with Sabrina and the others you end up with him till the end of the day?"

"And what do you want me to do when you won't even talk to me about anything and you would just leave me alone? Haven't I tried enough to be patient? Of what use?" Astrid shot back at him. 

She was done feeling so guilty when in actual sense, he was just not ready. 

"Patient?! I did not talk to you for one night and you were already moving with him next."

"It was not like I ran to meet him or something. He kept on coming and I could use the company."

"Just like you could use the kiss he was bringing your way, huh? Don't you think? Okay it would happen and you would say it happened just like that." 

Jareth's voice rose as he spoke. His breathing became erractic as his anger began to boil. 

"Wait, wait, wait! Are you spying on me, now?"

"I did not. I happened to be on my way. Next time give me heads up that you would be having a man in your bed."

"I wasn't having a man in my bed, Jareth. It isn't like that," Astrid defended herself. 

"Thwn you should have thought of that before, you kissed me."