The General Who Hates Me 111 I've Got You

*Thump… Thump… Thump…*

She exhaled to release the tension she was feeling.

"Are you alright? Your hands seem cold? Are you tired or cold?" Jeru asked with a worried tone.

Keira gave him a warm smile behind her sparkling half mask.

"Do you want to sit and rest for a while?" Jeru asked continuously.

"I'm good, Jeru. I'm not tired at all… Maybe a bit cold only but not that much. I'm just nervous I guess?" answered Keira as her eyes vaguely followed Zach and Lana who she could tell were almost near her spot.

'Good job!' she exclaimed inwardly pertaining to her friend's successful mission.

As Lana and Zach were getting nearer, Keira couldn't help but feel butterflies rumbling inside her stomach.

'What the heck is wrong with you, Keira! Stay calm! Don't exaggerate!' she scolded her inner self. 

This was the moment she had been waiting for and how come her body was not cooperating, acting all jittery.

She heard Lana speak, asking for a dance with Jeru so she immediately let go of Jeru as she said, "Thanks, Jeru. Go and grace Lana a dance..."

Keira was even taken aback when strong arms instantly pulled her as soon as Jeru let her go.

Then she gasped when she felt Zach's breath beside her ear.

"I've got you, gorgeous," Zach whispered in his husky voice that made Kiera blink several times because she did not expect it.

'Gorgeous?' she felt like her heart was going to explode at that moment. This was the first compliment she heard from Zach. She often heard those words, but hearing those simple words from Zach himself, she wanted to jump out of joy and excitement.

If only she was at another place, she would have already started screaming and jumping around.

Once again she felt that impact and this time it was heavier, one that she could experience only with Zach.

"Your hands are cold," she heard Zach whisper. She was out of herself because Zach was too close to her as they danced; her body was shaking too.

'Waaah!' Keira shouted inwardly because she could feel her knees weakening. If not for Zach's support and firm hold on her waist, she doubted that she could have danced well.

"You're back. Welcome back…" Those were the only words Keira murmured as she bit her lip and stared at Zach's chest. She wanted to pull her hair for being timid for the first time in her life.

'This is so not like me!' she mused inwardly, a bit confused with herself as to why was she acting the opposite of what she had planned.

"Hmm… strange. You're Keira Chan, right? How come you act so differently. So unlike Keira Chan who had written me those letters?" Zach said that made Keira raise her head and meet his intense gaze.

"You've seen my letters?" asked Keira with her eyes wide.

Zach chuckled but nodded as he let out his sweetest smile.

"Yeah, I've read most of them… And there's still so many to read, but I plan to binge read them all within this week." Zach said excitedly that left Keira open-mouthed.

Zach was smiling sweetly at her. To make sure that she was not dreaming, Keira moved her hands as she touched Zach's cheeks with her palms; they felt so warm.

But Zach moved her arms as he guided them down onto his neck. They ended up swaying at a masquerade ball with Keira's arms wrapped around him, as he securely held her waist.

She was speechless. In the end, her dad had indeed sent all her letters to Zach. 

That was what she wanted, right? For her letters to reach Zach, but why she felt so bashful all of a sudden? And her eyes widened even more when she recalled all the things she had written in her letters.

She wrote in haste without any reservation. She was more confident because writing a letter was quite different than saying those words in person.

'Oh crap… I'm so shy!' she mused so she lowered her head a bit and tried to avoid Zach's teasing gaze.

"I'm a bit disappointed because you said in those letters that the first thing you would do once you see me is to hug and kiss me… Am I right? How come you are too quiet and avoiding my eyes..." Zach muttered in his lowest tone, but Keira still heard it.

So she blushed even harder and surprisingly, she felt the back of Zach's palm, caressing her cheek, as he muttered in a hoarse voice, "You look so lovely blushing like this, Keira… Did you really miss me? Do you still like me?"

The music suddenly changed and the MC announced a group dance, which required continuous change of partners, so they formed a circle for the crisscrossing and partner swapping.

"I'll take you out soon. I hope you won't keep quiet like now then. I feel like I met another Keira Chan…" Zach murmured before he let go of Keira to swap partners.

When Keira was back into Zach's arms the latter immediately pulled her away from the dancefloor as he held her hands.

"Where are we going?" asked Keira a bit confused.

"I've got something to show you outside," answered Zach as he held her hand tightly.

Keira noticed that some eyes were on them.

"But they will look for me…" she said still hesitant.

"I've already asked for permission from your father, so he knows. Don't worry..." Zach said smiling at her. 

'If he keeps smiling like this, my heart, no my whole body will melt soon!' Keira mused as she still bit her lip.

'Who cares where he would bring me as long as it's him… I will gladly and obediently follow,' she thought, as a beautiful smile curved onto her lips while she stared at the hand holding her tightly.

The only thing that mattered was that she confirmed, what was happening right at that moment was not a mere dream.

Zach was there, holding her hand, and it was very warm. With him, she always felt secure and safe...

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Chapter end