Chapter 190: Power Outage
With bloodshot eyes, he looked at me and said, "Didn't you say you'd repay a life-saver with your body?"
So, it was really about that, huh?
But seriously, was it worth paying such a steep price for someone who couldn't love him back? Was he doing this out of love for me, or was it 'cause Zoe's betrayal made him remember my quiet support, where I once gave him everything he wanted?
He'd told me about his regrets, and Zoe had spilled the beans about his feelings for me. But time had moved on, and we couldn't rewind to that autumn when we were eighteen. Hurt doesn't just vanish with an apology. Not loving someone doesn't change just 'cause someone pretends to be all lovey-dovey.
Now, all I knew was that Brad was the guy I wanted to love forever. And Daniel, well, he saved my life, so I felt like I had to take care of him out of duty, not love.
That day, I flat-out rejected his idea of living together. Since then, he got all gloomy. His eyes, always following my voice, had this dark, hungry look, like a wolf waiting to pounce.
At those times, I felt like he wasn't really blind; he could see me. 'Cause a blind person's eyes shouldn't have that kind of light.
This feeling got stronger one warm afternoon.
The night before, I stayed up late drawing, and the next morning I had a packed schedule, so I had to get up early. I was dead tired from lack of sleep.
After class, Brad took me back to the apartment for lunch. Seeing how exhausted I was, he plopped me on the sofa, telling me to take a nap.
When I woke up, the sunlight was perfect, shining warmly through the window onto me.
Daniel's wheelchair was parked opposite the sofa. He had headphones on, staring blankly at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window.
Brad came out of the bathroom, saw I was awake, and walked over, squatting beside me. He gently kissed my forehead with a warm smile.
Still groggy from sleep, I felt even more drawn in by his kiss. I couldn't resist and wrapped my arms around his neck, wanting him to help me up.
Before Brad could react, a white flash zipped past his face, out the open window.
We were on the sixth floor; anything falling would be toast.
Brad and I were startled and turned to Daniel.
We saw Daniel holding the headphone cord in his hand, his eyes cold and full of hostility.
It took a moment for Brad and me to realize that the white flash was his phone.
"Why'd you throw your phone?" Brad asked him sharply.
And he threw it so accurately, right out the open window! Even someone with perfect vision couldn't throw it that precisely. If it was a coincidence, it was one heck of a coincidence.
Daniel clenched his hand and said coldly, "Nothing, the novel's plot pissed me off, and I lost it."
The school's project was in its final stretch. Around 8 PM, Brad called to tell me he wouldn't be back until 11 PM. He might not be able to pick me up, so he asked me to head back to school early.
After tidying up the apartment, I told Daniel that Brad was gonna be home late. He just nodded, didn't say a word.
I filled the bathtub, set out the towels, pajamas, and toiletries in their usual spots, then pushed Daniel into the bathroom and told him to holler when he was done.
Daniel had gotten pretty used to the place by now and didn't bump into stuff anymore. After some practice, he could bathe and dress himself without any help, way easier to handle than before.
Usually, when Brad was around, he took care of Daniel's bathing. But today, it was just the two of us, so even though I wasn't thrilled about it, I had to step up.
The weather was hot, and skipping a bath would make anyone feel gross.
Maybe his previous request was too much, 'cause ever since then, whenever I was alone with him, I felt this chilling fear, always on edge.
Today was no different. Since he went into the bathroom, my heart had been racing, and I felt this overwhelming urge to bolt.
About half an hour later, Daniel, in a bathrobe, opened the bathroom door. I pressed my wildly beating heart, ran over, helped him into his wheelchair, and pushed him back to the bedroom.
Fresh from the bath, his body was warm, with a faint mist rising from him, and the scent of body wash lingered.
I got him onto the bed, and he asked for water. After handing him some warm water, he asked for a large towel, saying his hair was a bit wet and he wanted to dry it.
The wound on his head had healed, leaving a light pink scar. To be safe, I imitated Brad and carefully wiped the droplets on his head with a large towel.
Just as I draped the towel over his head, the room suddenly went dark. The blackout was too sudden, and I screamed in fright. My hands lost their aim, making Daniel groan under the towel.
It was overcast outside with no light, and the streetlights were also out, making the room totally dark.
Not being able to see heightened my fear, and my hands turned icy cold.
"Are you trying to kill me?" Daniel said harshly.
"The power's out, it's so dark," I trembled as I spoke to Daniel.
I forgot he was blind; the power outage didn't matter to him.
He remained silent.
I didn't dare say more, fearing it would trigger his insecurity.
Suppressing my fear, I hastily wiped his head and turned to put the towel away, intending to find my phone and turn on the flashlight.
But just as I turned around, a strong force gripped my waist, and in less than a second, I was pinned on the bed with a damp body pressing down on me, the scent of body wash invading my nostrils. A bony hand groped my waist, making my hair stand on end.
Daniel, what was he doing?
"Daniel, what's wrong with you? Get off me." I said, my body trembling with fear, my skin and muscles twitching violently. I subconsciously curled up to protect myself.
But no matter how weak Daniel was, he was still an adult man. His long limbs spread over me like a sheet, making it impossible for me to protect myself.
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