Can't I Touch Your Heart?

Chapter 20 The Fight We Fight

Rhea moved away from Ember and looked at his face. He smiled at her and she looked away. She looked around and then back at him, "Don't hug me again,"
His expression seemed to fall in slight dismay, "Did you...Not like it?"
"No," She said, "That's not it. It'd be troublesome if someone I know sees us,"

"...Why?" He chuckled, "You don't want to be seen with me?"
"No," She said, blatantly. She observed the pain in his eyes as he looked down with a smile and fiddled his fingers while pressing his hands between his thighs. He looked up at the sky as he pressed his lips inward, between his teeth, "I understand,"
"But it's not because I hate you," She quickly responded, "To put it simply, people here are just...Let's just say they'd doubt my character if I'm, you know, seen with a boy or if I hug one,"

"People can't hug other people here?" He asked.
"No, no, they can. A boy and a girl cannot hug each other. Elders don't like it,"
Ember chuckled, "What a strange country,"
"Indian culture, boy,"
"Yeah, I understand. I'll keep that in mind next time," He smiled, "Hey, hey, Rhea," He moved a bit away from her, "If your culture allowed, would you mind if I hug you?"

"Of course I won't..." She repeated those words in her head and realized what she just said. Her face turned red and she looked up at him to deny, but his face had a red glow over it as he covered his mouth with his pale hands and looked away. She looked down again, "Well, erm, uh..." She tried speaking but words won't leave her throat, "My sister, I mean, my cousin, would be, like you know, waiting for us?"

He laughed, "Are you asking that or telling it?"
"I don't know!" She could feel the blood rush in her chest, "SHUT UP, OKAY?"
He laughed and pressed his fingers over her lips, "Shut up is a bad word,"
She looked at him and he moved his hand away, "Oh shoot! I did it again!"
"Did what?"

"Touch you. I'm not allowed to do that," He said, "It'll be a while till I get used to it,"
She didn't even realize he touched her until he said it. His touch was comforting, it never made her wary enough to put her guard up. She tried to take a sip from her empty cup and then just kept it aside awkwardly.

"You got a fine mustache, my lady!" Ember laughed and pointed at her lips.
"I do?" Rhea touched her lips and felt the wet buttermilk drops on her cupid's bow.
"Let me get a tissue" Ember got up.
"No, see you can wipe it with your tongue like this" Rhea rolled her tongue over her lips while Ember just stared at her.

"How was that?" She smirked.
"Erotic" Ember said with a straight face.
"What is your problem?!" Rhea shouted.
"I can't roll my tongue over my lips. Can you please do it for me, Rhea?" Ember smiled.
"I hate you so much,"

He laughed and suddenly his phone began buzzing, "Oh, it's Jessica,"
"She has your number?" Rhea asked.
"Yeah, I gave it to her," Ember picked up, "Yeah? Oh! Of course, I'll take care of her,"
He hung up. Rhea looked at Ember in anticipation, "Well, what did she say?"

"She said she went back home because you and I never came,"
"WHAT?! What's the time?"
"Six," Ember looked into his phone screen.
"OH NO! WE ARE LATE!" Rhea shouted.
"It's okay, I'll drop you home,"

They both walked into the metro and sat on the empty seats of the metro. Rhea kept the huge bags full of fabric between her and Ember. There was no one else around. Rhea sat as stiff as a stick. Slowly, Ember got up and walked to her other side which was empty. He sat just beside her on her left with the clothes on her right. She moved a bit away from him and he hid his smile between his fingers. He cleared his throat and looked into her eyes, 

"Arorhea~" He sang in a shrill voice as he stretched his arms.
"Yes?" Rhea just looked ahead and spoke in a plain tone, "What?"
"Nothing," He smiled.
"You're so annoying sometimes. Are all Americans so annoying?"