Closer
“Sorry for spacing out.” He apologized and added. “It is not a tattoo.”
Nima gave him a funny look, but it made her look cute, considering her face was still flushed and lips more plump from his hard work.
God! She’s so adorable.
Deciding to focus and take his irrational emotions one step at a time, Joel proceeded to shed light on the mystery of his acclaimed tattoo.
Joel was born with a strange creature drawing on his back.
At first, it looks like the form of a fetus, which his parents assumed to be a birthmark of sorts, but as Joel grew older, the mysterious birthmark grew with him, slowly taking a sinister form that resembled a human yet far from it.
Joel would have had a lonely childhood if not for the love his family showered him with, and it hadn’t taken him too long to make a single friend who didn’t have judgemental parents.
When they have sports activities at school, his assumed tattoo becomes the topic of discussion, making the kids distracted.
This earned him a reproachful look from the guardians around. His parents had been summoned by the school principal to chide them on abusing the body of a young boy.
His parents explained that it wasn’t a tattoo, and once the news circulated, the kids started calling him names and attempting to pick a fight with him.
Joel wasn’t an easy boy to be bullied. It was annoying but not something he couldn’t handle, as he would mock the kids by finding out stuff about them and their families on his parents’ laptop.
His parents had raised him to not let other people’s opinion define him, and he was too loved at home to care about an outsider’s affection.
The good thing that comes from his annoying childhood was Adam, who had joined in when some kids tried to gang up on him to teach him a lesson. He had fought them alongside him and then became his best friend ever since.
Another benefit of his childhood was how the incident had made him realize his interest in hacking. The art of finding the impossible and making a fortune in his teens.
Another thing he discovered about his mysterious tattoo was how he felt connected to it when his emotions were intense. It felt as if his emotions got more intense from a sensation passed to his sensory organs from his back.
This, of course, had good and bad sides.
Joel’s sexual life was amazing, while his life as a human became delicate. A small annoyance could intensify into a deep hatred to the extent that he found himself plotting revenge on every tiny offence he receives from people just because he had the capability to make it happen.
The heightened emotion, of course, was from the energy fueling his brain from the mysterious tattoo on his back.
He began to learn control, and at the present, he believed himself to be a man in charge of his emotions. Nothing had ever rattled his emotions in decades to the point that he had forgotten the effects the tattoo at his back had on him.
Until Nima came. A kiss had made him so excited, and he had let the demon at his back heighten his desire.
……..
Nimalaya listened intensely to everything Joel said, realizing how complicated his life could have been if not for his friend Adam and his family’s affection.
She noticed that although he sounds like he had everything under control, his eyes held wariness to the mystery behind his tattoo that seemed alive and although he had dealt with the kids that tried to make him an outcast, they still hurt him with their words.
She imagined him having sleepless nights to wonder why he was so different from other kids, and what if Adam hadn’t come into his life?
Joel hadn’t noticed that his hand that was gently stroking Nimalaya’s hand earlier had frozen at some point in his narration. He momentarily held onto her hand tightly, almost causing her pain.
The man had indeed mastered the art of keeping his emotions in check, but the hurt was still there in his heart.
She imagined more stuff he probably omitted not to look too vulnerable, but his hold had expressed more than his mouth did.
Finding courage in herself, Nimalaya moved closer to him, and Joel looked confused at how sad he looked over his tale.
“It’s not a big deal, Angel. I just want to….” his words were cut short when Nimalaya gently wrapped her slender arms around him.
Joel felt his heart skip a bit, and his lashes quivered in confusion. Even he couldn’t understand why he felt so sad for himself at that moment.
After a few seconds, she pulled back and met his expressionless face. Nima smiled warmly at him.
“Your tattoo is beautiful. Mysterious and intriguing. Do you want to know what I think about your tattoo?” She asked.This material belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.
Joel hadn’t expected things to turn out this way. He was trying to give her therapy, but he was the one getting relief from his trauma instead.
“Angel, don’t let it bother you so much.” He said softly, avoiding her gaze for a few seconds before staring back at her perfectly gorgeous face.
“Should I take that as a yes.” Nima asserted.
“Yes, tell me what you think, Angel.” Joel said with a smile, his vulnerability dissipating.
His emotions are masked once again.
“I think you have what every kid wishes for. An imaginary friend is what kids called it, but yours wasn’t imagined. It was there with you, which means you were never alone in any moment of your life, Joel.
What if your emotions heightened because it felt them with you. Your sexual life is awesome because it intensifies your pleasure. I don’t think it makes you weird. Rather, it makes you unique.
Although I got chills at first glance, upon closer inspection, I felt intrigued and curious. I feel whatever it was wanted to be known, not hated.” Nima expressed, and a genuine smile bloomed on Joel’s lips.
It was so beautiful that the silver in his eyes twinkled to show it was a sincere smile.
Nima smiled back.
“Angel, you said you want a normal life. As you have given me such clarity to my torment, would you like me to help you also. This doesn’t include my aim to impress you as a man, but something I genuinely want to do for you.” He said, and Nima didn’t hesitate before nodding her head.
“Yes Joel, I want your help if you can help me.” She said, feeling that they’ve gotten closer.
He was no longer someone he would label as a stranger in her mind. He is her friend now.
“Are we like friends now?” She couldn’t help but ask with a happy smile on her face.
Perplexed, Joel exclaimed dramatically, “what!”
“After that kiss?” He asked, and they both chuckled.
“Okay, what are we now?” She asked.
“Your handsome suitor. I’m on a hunt to make you fall head over heels in love with me. Then I can make you my woman.” He declared.
“Sounds fair.” Nima said with a thoughtful expression.
“So what is the plan with your channel? When do I have a shot with you?” He asked.
“Actually there’s a Valentine’s special I want to release for my audience. I need more insight into the sex position they require of me. I haven’t discussed it with Emily.” Nima said.
Joel noticed how serious she looked when discussing her profession. She didn’t seem flustered talking about sex with him, so he decided to offer additional help.
“I’m not trying to come between you and your friend, but in case you need a man’s insight, I can help.” He said.
Nima’s eyes lit up. It is a good idea, as he would be the man performing it with her anyway.
“I think discussing it with you will make it come more naturally.” She said,
“Coupled with the connection between us. It would be an awesome experience, don’t you think?” Joel teased, and Nima blushed in embarrassment.