It was much easier to buy him a present than it was to give him one. In the name of Rapunzel, I had no idea how I was going to give him. I hadn't seen him throughout the entire day, not even in the council office. And although twilight had taken hold and darkness would inevitably replace it, my thoughts were all muddled up. After finishing my work, I exited Greenwich Hill, only to be greeted by the person who had the potential to churn my insides, rendering me anxious all over again. While reading over some files, he was conversing with Senior Chase. I stood there quietly waiting for them to finish talking. Senior Chase nodded and walked away, turning on his heels.

Now it's my turn!

I took a deep breath and moved closer to him. Standing in front of him, I cleared my throat slightly. When his eyes met mine, all of my anxiousness sank into the pit of my stomach. I forced a quiet exhale as my hands clenched into fists. "Um... I'm sorry, I've caused you a lot of trouble, and thank you for... you know!" I smiled as I pulled out the small wooden box.

Thank you for what, exactly? You know!? Argh, why can't you speak up in front of him, Soph?

I offered him the package, our fingers slightly brushing against each other, making me blush all over again. As he opened the box, his gaze never left mine. His thumb caressing the engraved words, his eyes dwelt on the necklace. He cocked his eyebrow at me, silently pondering the significance of those two words.

"Justification from the heart is the true spirit of soul, and I love stroking the contours that are as sharp as thorns and as soft as silk. That's all I see, when it comes to you. Laden with sin, and flawlessly imperfect. In a nutshell, you're... Sinfully Imperfect. "

I had no idea where I gained the confidence to say all those words, but I'm elated that I told it like it was. I uttered what I felt was correct, genuine, and just... for him. Some thoughts, when they itch to rush down and brush against your sentiments, are best left alone to discover their own path, seek their own destiny, and hover over their repercussions. And I followed suit, without hesitation, anticipating that it would be one way or the other.

His gaze sharpened as he scrutinized my gestures, as if allowing those words to perforate him to the core. I tried to emulate his intensity in attempting to figure out what was on his mind, but he was masterful at concealing it. He closed his eyes for a brief while while raking his fingers through his hair, then gently opened them.

"Stroking them? Even if you know it's intended to stagger you off? " His words made me chuckle, softly. Despite the fact that he knew the answers better than I did, he was aiming the arrows at the soft core. He had a way with words, almost as though they begged him to play with them, and he whirled, coaxed, confounded, and ultimately pierced them flawlessly. But there was no way in hell I was relinquishing on comebacks.

Now, now, now, where's the fun in that?

"When I've already stumbled blissfully, it makes no difference. It's a convoluted soul's labyrinth that has the ability to ruin, devour, and soothe me. You know better than me, don't ya? " I never saw a single fleck of emotion on his face. He was well-versed in my reactions, feelings, and desires, and heck! He even knew that it was he, him, and... himself!

I wanted more of him in a twisted way, with forbidden cravings that even he was all too willing to satisfy.

"Labyrinths are meant to mystify, rip apart, and delicately ruin you. Sometimes, even morphine turns lethal. " Why was he provoking me? Why was he getting on my nerves? Why was he so adamant about proving to me that he was deadly? But what he didn't realize was that his words just poured fuel on my smoldering flames, mingling and coursing them with ecstasy.

As the following words flowed gracefully, I smiled, my eyes never leaving those enchanting ones, "Sometimes, sucking poison grants a life."

"Have you seen our schedule of exams, Soph?" Ivy whimpered on the bed, hissing. I responded with a hum while continuing my work.

"What do you mean, 'hmm'? It starts the next week, and I'm still unprepared." I gave her a sidelong glance and rolled my eyes, "Then start your preparations. What are you awaiting? Santa Claus? Wonder Women? Echinodermata?"

"Nah, Harry Styles! If only Annelida could talk!"

"Keep waiting, it's going to be great! The aunts of Ireland, and grandmothers of Mexico are looking forward to seeing him. Let's see when you get your Harry Styles."

"Octopuses are so fucking adorable. Have you seen their heads? Their tails.... they are far more attractive than Claire's hair." Her ridiculous comments made me laugh out loud.

NEWS FLASH: A girl named Ivy Morris has gone insane. Poor girl, she can't stand the stress of the exam! Please arrange a place in the asylum near Mr. Octopus's residence for anyone who is generous enough.

"Octopus don't have tails, Iv. They have eight legs. "

"Then it's got to be a shark. I frequently get confused between the two. " I laughed at her while clutching my stomach.

"Are you insane? From which angle do an octopus and a shark seem alike? " She screwed up her face and scratched her scalp, creating various expressions.

"Isn't it true that if an octopus eats a shark, its body would resemble a shark's? And if a shark consumes an octopus, its body will resemble this... pokey-pokey... " She scowled and drew her fingers to her sides. I chuckled as I whacked her upside down.

"Ah, Soph, by the way, I'm always wondering... if a shark eats an octopus, would it excrete poop or octopus?"

"IVY FREAKING MORRIS! Shut the heck up, eww! Some people, unlike you, like studying and excelling in exams. " As I hurled pillow after pillow at her, she laughed and dodged.

"But you have to understand... my question is 100% logical."

"Says the one who doesn't even know the definition of logical."

"Geez, that's little rude."

"Just sh..." My phone rang, and my words were cut short. I gave her a cold stare before picking up my phone. My smile faded as soon as I looked at the number, and I felt a wave of rage. I sat there and watched her go out of the room with the empty water tank.

"You've got to be kidding me right now!" He'd finally had the courage to call me after all those years. I was enraged by his actions. What in the universe did he think of himself?

I picked up the phone and remained very silent while doing so. For a few seconds, none of us said anything, until I eventually heard him sigh. I was adamant about treating him to silence.

"Well, no hi... hello... noth.." Seriously? Is that all he has to say?

"Give me a goddamn explanation or get lost!" I yelled, cutting him off.

"Damn, still the violent one. Ethel was absolutely correct. " He chuckled, which infuriated me even more. He frigging talked to E, and Ethel chose not to tell me.

"Oh, my gawd! You and Ethel had a talk. I'm so going to slaughter that son of... my mother. " First, I'd finish him, accompanied by my dimwit brother. I couldn't believe they were still in touch after I hadn't spent a single day without grieving for him.

"Hey, hey, hey, tiger, slow down!" His tone had evolved since we last spoke. It was much deeper, manly and subtly authoritative at that point, but I simply disregarded his words.

"Don't. Slow. Me. Down! Listen up, Devil... it's time for you to start speaking out... the clock is ticking. Only ten seconds! " I hissed, knowing that my patience with him was fraying at the edges and that it might snap at any moment.

"Windows 10, pay heed..." Windows 10?

He had the audacity to call me that? He'd squandered that chance and that place the day he left us... abandoned me.

"10"

"I'm genuinely sorry..." Sorry, my ass! Where had his apologies been all those damned years?

"9"

"It was critical for me to leave..." without so much as a text or a message?

"8"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Silence.... With him, my patience had run out. I'd had enough.

All the rage that had been building inside me for all those goddamn years surged to the surface. "DON'T SHUT ME UP! YOU WERE THE ONE WHO LEFT ME WITHOUT EVEN LEAVING ME A SINGLE MESSAGE. " I paused, exhaling. "Five freaking years, Devil! You got rid of all your contacts for five years! You just vanished, no explanation, no goodbyes... poof! And now that you've called me after five years, expecting me to welcome you with open arms, you're mistaken. " He couldn't possibly be so self-centered. I loved him, but he had betrayed me. He abandoned me just when I needed him the most. He assisted me, taught me how to confront my anxieties, and promised that he would always be there for me, but he eventually abandoned me, leaving me devastated. I felt wetness on my cheeks, and it didn't take a scientist to figure out that was from my own tears.

"I know, I'm really sorry, Soph!" He inhaled deeply and sighed. I didn't interrupt him throughout that period, allowing him to say whatever he wanted. "I didn't mean to... my family needed my presence. I turned 18, and you're aware of my family rivalry. We were at a loss, and Dad's health was deteriorating... " As he exhaled, his voice cracked at the end.

"Holy shit, how's he doing now?" I sniffled and wiped away my tears.

"Yes, much better! All of these circumstances necessitated my presence, princess. I never intended to leave you... believe me. Princess, you're the loveliest thing that's ever happened to me. Never, ever, ever think like this. I never meant to hurt you. Please don't cry, and forgive your devil. "

"Not so quickly!" As more tears flowed down my cheeks, I heard his faint chuckle. I kept my mouth shut, but I knew he knew I was sobbing. He knew a lot more about me than I did.

"Princess?" I didn't reply, expressing my displeasure as well as my affection for him. It had always been our way.

"Please, love, don't cry. I promise I'll make things right, and this time I won't break them. Windows 10, we'll meet shortly. Princess, I love you. " He hung up since he knew I wouldn't answer for a while. I nestled into my pillow, clutching the phone tightly. "Devil, I love you. I miss you terribly. "

"Where're Felix and Saphy?" As we all sat together in our break hour, Damien inquired.

"Suckers gotta date." Ivy chirped in, her brow wrinkled and her shoulders tight.

"Are you okay?" Austin inquired as he sipped his juice.

"O traceable abs of Chris Evans, I need to meet Prof. Ross." She whined as she ate her pizza, causing me to roll my eyes and the lads to laugh.

"In the name of Gigi Hadid's curvy figure, may I ask as to why you have a 12 o'clock on your face?" Damy commented as he chewed on his burger.

"Exams are approaching, you dunderhead!"

"Well, well, well, is our little birdie unprepared for the exam? Oh, I remember, how will she when her entire interest is in someone with amber eyes and traceable abs, am I right, Ivy darling? " She glared at him with a tomato face as he smirked.

"Who has her entire interest?"

Whoa, speak of the devil!

"What are you doing here?" I blurted out as they sat across from me. Senior Chase feigned to be hurt. "I'm hurt, Hazel Eyes. We were on the lookout for a good time. So, here we're! " I squinted at him, refusing to believe his bullshit.

"He brought..." he whispered as he leaned forward, cupping his mouth. "Chase, do you want to say anything?" His deep-velvety voice cut him short.

Senior Chase instantly straightened his back, nervously chuckling, "No, nothing at all, bro! I'm perfectly fine. I was just yawning, 'ya know... " He yawned, which was obviously a phony one.

"Well, I was actually asking that.... do you have any temptations, Hazel eyes?" What made him suddenly ask me such a question?

"Nah, not particularly! Just a few sinful thoughts 24/7. Temptation turns you into a sinner."

Gee, I'm already a great one!

I replied nonchalantly, as if my words had no significance. Except for Senior Aylwin, everyone's jaws literally dropped as I made my unexpected revelation. A smirk delicately grazed his lips as he peered at me closely, a ripple of amusement lurking behind those orbs.

"Why not let them? Each night upholds a new taste. " He spoke up, his voice laced with a hint of challenge and teasing. I'd give him a challenge if he wanted one.

"Each night leads to a new tempt." I mirrored his smirk with a smirk of my own. Others would perceive it as blatant dirty talk, yet it was anything but dirty in actuality. The precise essence of those words was drenched in rawness, imbued with molasses, and spilled forth in an excruciatingly exquisite tease.

"And, where's the pleasure in that? Let it be rough. It's not worth satisfaction. " I could feel the atmosphere heating up with each of his words. Satisfaction? There was nothing in the world that could satisfy anybody, and temptations were far from it.

"Worth to core. Worth to risk. Worth to sin." I retorted, luxuriating in the game of temptations.

Mr. Temptation will be on cloud nine now!

"Tempting sins, aren't they?" His eyes darted, penetrating within me as he cocked his head, scrutinizing my features. He molded himself inside of me, and I molded myself inside of him. We were playing a game that was incredibly dangerous, sneaky, and tricky.

Quite a lot! With you as the sole one!

"Imperfect sinner, aren't ya?" Our gaze was too fierce to endure, but none of us cared to look away. A slow burn challenge, one more striking move, and I was so done.

Until Senior Chase coughed loudly, our table was deafeningly quiet the whole time, evidently enjoying our interaction. "Umm... folks, I know you've got a lot of temptations, but please spare a thought for our poor virgin ears."

"Are ears also virgin? And here I thought that it's just vag... " Before Ivy could say anything nonsensical and humiliate herself, I clamped her mouth tight.

"No harm done." While Damy broke out laughing, I murmured, glaring at her and taking in the amusement of the others.

This chick is utterly devoid of self-control! What am I going to do with you, Ivy?