-...
Left alone in a strange bathroom, Tilia froze in place, her hand still lying on the first button of her shirt, as if petrified. If it weren't for the persistent smell of Ilex Davenport in the bathroom, she might have remained in this position for a long time.
“If I don’t wash, we won’t be able to do this...?”
Her flushed head tilted slightly.
Is this how it usually works? Even if you're in a hurry, do you still need to wash yourself first?
Tilia thought for a moment and, with a blank expression on her face, reached for the second button.
But this cannot be. The book Judy brought didn't say anything about taking a bath first. However, Tilia tried to accept the situation by unbuttoning the remaining buttons.
Whether she realized it or not, she had no choice but to follow his instructions. Now, no matter what anyone said, Ilex Davenport was in control of the situation. Due to her lack of experience, she had no choice but to rely on the advice of an experienced one.
Concluding that the novels were most likely exaggerating, Tilia undid the last button. The skirt fell and the shirt came off. Finally, her sweat-soaked underwear slid down her white legs, leaving her completely naked.
The cold air touched the hot skin covered with red spots, and she involuntarily shuddered.
It seemed that she was in an unreal dream. The luxurious bathtub, which was not suitable for a dorm room, only added to the surreal feeling. She had heard that there was a huge difference between regular and special dormitories, but this was beyond her expectations.
Lost in her dazed thoughts, Tilia staggered into the bath. The warmth that had been briefly dimmed by the cold air and the desire that had temporarily subsided began to rise again.
"It's too hot."
Tilia reached out and turned the cold water valve. The water that poured out was ice cold, but it was not enough to cool her body, which felt as if she had swallowed a fireball.
“I’m burning... I think I’m going to die.”
Her insides, especially one indescribable part, felt as if the sun itself was growing inside of her. The sensation was no longer just unpleasant; it became painful.
No matter how much she doused herself with cold water, the fever did not subside. At the same time, her whole body was shaking, as if she was frozen.
Tilia looked in the mirror in front of her. In the reflection, she saw a woman with red, bloodshot eyes. She looked pathetic, like a wet mouse, her empty green eyes showed nothing but desire and thirst.
Little by little, Tilia felt her rationality slip away completely.
What she thought was her limit before was just an excuse. Now she had truly reached her limit.
She was sure that if she held on any longer, something inside her would finally break.
I need to go out.
Like a puppet on strings, Tilia fell out of the bath. She didn't even look at the pile of clothes she'd shed like skin. Before she finally reached the end of the huge bathroom, she stumbled several times, her knees turning red.
Drip, drip.
Cold water dripped from her body onto the beautiful carved brass handle.
She needs to go out.
Breathing heavily, Tilia placed her hand on the doorknob. She needed to go out and find someone who could cool down this unbearable heat. She needed to hug someone who would extinguish the flame inside her.
Consumed only by this desire, Tilia turned the doorknob.
Click.
The sound of a lock turning smoothly reached her ears.
Click... click, click.
But contrary to her expectations, the door did not open.
Her hand turned the knob with more force.
What's happening?
The once smooth handle began to make rough sounds. Even when she twisted it harder, the lock did not budge.
Why doesn't it open?
Frustrated, Tilia stomped her foot, irritation growing as the knob spun uselessly in her hand.
I need to go out. I need to cool my body.
The warmth spreading through her body made her more and more worried with each passing second.
The poison-like sensation caused Tilia to bite her lips repeatedly, not allowing her to stop even when she needed to, and she ended up biting her lips until they bled.
Her white cheeks were now wet with tears, rendering her previous washing useless. Tears of fear streamed down my face.
She was scared.
She was afraid that this fire, which seemed to melt her insides, would consume her completely and turn her into ashes. This fear controlled her every move.
Let me out.
Please someone save me.
But despite desperate prayers, the broken doorknob did not help her free herself.
When she felt that she could no longer bear this suffocating sensation, when she was on the verge of losing her mind, she heard a voice.
- Tilia?
Along with the sound of approaching footsteps, the voice of the man she longed for reached her ears.
- Ilex.
Tilia, feeling as if she had just heard the voice of God, quickly straightened up from her bent position.
- This door... doesn't open. I think it's broken. Please open it,” she said in a hurried, cracked voice, desperately banging on the door.
The footsteps outside, which had died down for a short time, became faster.
There was the sound of movement quickly approaching and she felt him place his hand on the doorknob she was holding.
Although Tilia knew it was impossible, she felt his warmth through the brass handle.
As she desperately clung to the handle, holding on as if her life depended on it, her savior spoke from the other side of the door.
- Tilia, are you holding the doorknob now?
- Yes, yes.
- Let go for a moment. I need to turn it with force to open the door.
Like an obedient child, Tilia immediately let go of the handle and quietly knelt in front of the door.
- I let go.
Gently placing her trembling hands on her knees, she waited, and then, like a miracle, what she had been waiting for so long happened.
Click.
The doorknob, which would not budge no matter how hard she tried, turned with a loud click.
The wet brass handle turned slowly. The scene played out in slow motion before Tilia's eyes.
The handle turned all the way and finally the door began to open.
Even in her foggy state, Tilia instantly knew that this moment would forever remain in her memory, no matter how irrational she felt or how much she would regret it later.
When the sunlight penetrated through the narrow crack, the face of the man who was supposed to quench her insatiable thirst appeared.
- Sorry, I forgot.
Ilex Davenport's beautiful blond hair was wet, as if he had just taken a shower. There was a hint of awkwardness in his features, which were better described as fine than merely handsome.
Kneeling, Tilia stared blankly at her savior with her light green eyes.
“You must have been shocked because the door didn’t open...
Ilex spoke looking into the distance, then he directed his gaze down to where Tilia was sitting at his feet.
Oh.
The moment his eyes met hers, Tilia's body involuntarily twitched.
She saw a faint shadow of awkwardness flash across his gentle face. His Adam's apple swayed slowly, and his gaze, which seemed unable to rest on anything, wandered restlessly.
The way he moved seemed strangely attractive to Tilia, and she couldn't close her mouth.
- Get dressed and go out. I need to give you something.
Just as Ilex was about to close the door again, it happened.
Hit.
A white, sweaty hand prevented the door from closing.
Ilex turned his head slightly to see what had interrupted his movement.
His eyes moved minimally, as if he was trying at all costs not to look at her naked body.
This reaction made Tilia narrow her eyes.
"No".
Tilia's red tongue darted out to lick her swollen lips. The feeling of raw flesh burned.
“I don’t like being the only one in this state.”
Still holding onto the door, Tilia slowly rose to her feet.
She saw Ilex's Adam's apple move again.
His downcast, pale gray eyes wavered slightly before she felt them settle on her feet.
His gaze slowly moved from her white legs to her ankles, calves and thighs.
Tilia watched his gaze closely as it moved up her body.
Finally, when his pale eyes reached her stomach and chest and their gazes met, Tilia instinctively understood.
"Gotcha."
She felt it.
Now he found himself in the same position as her.
He too became just another slave to his desires, no different from her.
“See? I told you so. He's just like you."
With a satisfied smile, Tilia stepped into the room.
She was going to see it. She was going to watch him turn into the same mess as she was, rolling around in the mud with her.