The sound of the main door of the villa creaking open echoed through the silence, and Jae, rolling up his sleeves as he stepped through but instantly froze in shock seeing something. Jia was lying face down on the floor, still as a corpse.
With heart pounding, he immediately ran to her and dropped to his knees, scooping her into his arms with a desperate grip.
He turned her over, but frowned when he saw her eyes were open as she was staring at him, unblinkingly. She merely looked bored, an odd contrast to his panic.
"W-what happened?!" His voice held nothing but bewildered concern.
"Ever since you brought me here, I haven't stepped out of this villa and this forest. You never take me anywhere." Her voice dripped with exhaustion, her expression a mix of pleading and utter boredom. "Do you really think I'd run away from you? I'm bored. When are we going back to Korea?"
Jae just stared at her, disbelief and annoyance warring in his gaze, until suddenly, she wrapped her arms around his waist in a tight hug. The warmth of her touch sent his pulse spiking, shock rippling through him at the unexpected contact.
"I'm bored," she complained, burying herself in his embrace. "Do something, please."
His gaze flickered down at her, conflicted, before he exhaled sharply through his nose and looked away. Reluctance weighed heavy on him… but so did the unspoken obligation tightening his chest.
▪▪▪▪▪▪
Putting both of his hands in his pant's pockets, Jae was walking down a beautiful street in the afternoon with authority next to Jia who was admiring the entire surroundings as the sun filtering through the trees overhead and casting dappled shadows on the sidewalk.
People walking by were dressed in modern clothing, their faces reflecting the hustle and bustle of a busy, vibrant city. She noticed the intricate details of the traditional buildings, with their colourful facades and delicate carvings. Children running in the street, the sound of their carefree laughter was a sharp contrast to the more serious faces of the adults passing by.
The street itself was filled with a mix of small shops, cafes, and restaurants, all with their own unique character and charm. The shopkeepers greet Jae and Jia with a smile and a nod, in a hope that they will visit their shop. She could hear snippets of conversations of people.
Couples were walking hand in hand, chatting and laughing as they went about their day. Seeing which Jia looked up at Jae innocently who was looking forward with no interest. She quickly wrapped both of her hands around his arm, making him look down at her smiley face, but he didn't react, taking his eyes off her and continuing to walk. However, deep down he was feeling something relaxed by her affection.
Jia started admiring her surroundings again while tightening her grip on his arm. As they made their way down the street, she noticed the beautifully manicured gardens and courtyards that line the street. The flowers in bloom added splashes of colour to the scene, while the trees were providing a shady respite from the summer sun.
Couples were sitting together on park benches, chatting and laughing as they were enjoying the tranquillity of the space. She could hear the sound of a nearby fountain, it was a gentle trickle adding a soothing element to the afternoon.
Suddenly her eyes fell on an Ice cream parlour. The charming shop was bustling with people enjoying their sweet treats. She immediately started vibrating Jae's arm, making him look down at her while her eyes were still on the Ice cream parlour.
"Ice cream!" She announced, taking her eyes off the Ice cream parlour and looking up at him.
Hearing her words he looked towards the shop then back at her, silently recognizing that this was now non-negotiable. Without argument, he turned toward it to bring ice cream for her…
Only for her to stop him again with an added condition. "Bring one for me and one for yourself too. I'll wait here." She gestured firmly toward a nearby bench as if this were some prearranged plan.
His brow furrowed instantly, his voice low and edged with skepticism, "...Why?"
She settled onto the bench, her tone matter-of-fact as she gazed up at him. "I'm tired of walking. This spot looks good to sit."
Little did he know, this was all part of a secret fantasy in her mind, a moment in which her stoic husband turned loving, doting, and bringing ice cream for her like any scene in a romantic drama. She didn't want to miss the chance of creating this special moment by going to the shop with him.
But he didn't see through her ploy. "Don't move from here at all, understand?" He instructed firmly, while she nodded repeatedly in understanding. As he turned his heel towards the shop, she stopped him again by speaking.
"I want all three, chocolate, butterscotch, and vanilla, all on one cone." Her grin wide as she made her request, eyes sparkling.
A brief exhale escaped him. No argument. He simply turned toward the shop in silent compliance... while she watched his retreating tall figure with warmth curling in her chest until three figures suddenly stepped into view, cutting off her line of sight.
Jia's gaze snapped upward to assess them. Rough-edged clothing, hairstyles sharp with rebellion, everything about their stance screamed street gangster. And they were standing way too close for comfort.
The first boy leaned in, recognition flashing in his eyes. "Princess... is that you?"
The second one scoffed, elbowing him. "No need to ask, it's obviously her." A grin spread across his face.
Then the third one spoke, his voice low and dripping with audacity. "Aah... you know what? You're so damn sexy."
At third boys' words, Jia's stare turned icy, disbelief mixing with a slow-burning irritation she kept carefully contained beneath the surface.
"Let's take a picture, we're your fan." Without asking her permission, the first one plonked himself down beside her, leaving an inch of space between them. The second boy took up position behind the bench, standing directly behind her. The third guy sat on the bench's armrest beside her, angling his phone just right for a picture, making her startled. But she didn't say anything, thinking they were her fans, so no need to worry.
"Smile!" The third one barked suddenly, hand snaking around her shoulder to squeeze it tight, making Jia quickly alarmed.
"It would be better if you take the picture without touching me." Her voice held an edge of irritation, tempered with controlled anger as she fixed a firm stare on the third boy. While the other two boys immediately looked at the third boy.
"Asahi, don't mess up anything and quickly snap the photo." The first boy shot the third boy a warning look as he spoke with a low voice.
"Sorry if I made you uncomfortable." The third boy pulled his hand back with a half-hearted chuckle, though the apology lacked any real sincerity. His tone carried more amusement than regret.
"Alright, everyone, eyes on the camera!" he announced, raising his phone again.
Jia forced a stiff smile for the sake of getting this over with, her discomfort growing by the second. But just as the photo was about to be taken, his arm slid right back around her shoulders again, grip tightening possessively like it belonged there all along. Her head snapped toward him in silent fury... but he kept grinning at the camera, clicking the pictures.
Jia was about to stand on her feet away from them when suddenly she flinched as a blur of swift motion shattered the moment. Jae appeared in a flash, delivering a brutal punch that sent Asahi flying backward, crumpled against the ground, unconscious at the spot. His phone skittered across pavement just as something else fell past Jia's vision: the ice cream cone, hurled aside mid-air before it smeared against concrete in wasted sweetness which Jae bought for her.
Jia stood on her feet as everyone froze, shocked into silence by the unexpected lightning attack of Jae.
But Jae didn't stop. He lunged onto Asahi's already unconscious body, fists rising and falling in a relentless storm of violence without pause or mercy. His eyes held a chilling intensity, as if he was channeling months if not years worth of anger in this one moment.
While Jia couldn't move, seeing the horrifying scene in front of her eyes. She didn't know why, but seeing Jae beating the boy so badly, she felt genuinely afraid of him at that moment.
"Who the Hell are you? Leave him alone!" The second boy's voice rang out in anger, going closer to Jae. But as soon as the second boy touched Jae to stop him, it turned out to be a very bad move, as with a swift, brutal grace, Jae seized his hair and slammed his head against the ground, hard, making him injured before standing on his feet and turning around to go and beat the first boy.
However, as soon as Jae turned around, seeing his bloodshot eyes, furious expression and the veins of his neck popping out, the first boy trembled in extreme fear and was totally shocked, seeing Jae's face.
"Y-you're... V-Vice Com—" The boy's words tumbled out in a terrified stutter, his voice barely coherent. His knees nearly buckled under the weight of his own panic. "Forgive us! We didn't know—we didn't know she was related to you! W-we're just fans and nothing else!"
But Jae wasn't listening. His steps were slow, deliberate, each one bringing him closer to the trembling boy like an unstoppable force.
And then Jia, who was totally shocked and scared, snapped out of her daze.
After collecting courage, with a shaky breath, she threw herself between them and grabbed Jae's waist with all her strength, trying to stop him.
"You guys get away from here quickly!" Her voice was sharp with urgency as she signalled to the boys to go from there.
The first boy didn't hesitate, scrambling to help his friends limp away as fast as they could.
"Jia, don't get in my way." Jae's growl was barely human, more like something feral trapped behind clenched teeth.
But she only held on tighter, arms trembling with effort. "Please! let them go!" Desperation laced her words like a prayer. But he grabbed her hands on his back and made himself release from her grip, effortlessly. She was trying her best to hold him until the boys left but her strength was nothing compared to his power.
He immediately started moving towards the boys who were carrying their unconscious friend on their shoulders. Some people were also looking at them at that place but no one was doing anything.
Just as he was about to reach near them to beat them back, then not finding any other option, Jia ran towards him and gave him a hard slap to stop him, making him halt at his track and infuriated.
Her hands were shaking violently when she grabbed his wrist, urging him back toward the villa. "P-please… just… go back. A-and please...don't do or say anything..."
While he just watched her in incredulous fury
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●
There were two teams, one consisting of girls in which Sarah, Bella and more 8 strong female players and the other of boys in which Jackson, Daniel, Leo, Max and more 6 male players. There were an equal number of ten players in both the teams as they prepared to start the tug of war game. Both the teams stood facing each other on either side of the rope, which had been placed firmly in the centre of the square. The teams were separated by a small distance, with a clear pathway between them for the pullers to use.
The teams were waiting for the signal to begin, their faces betraying their excitement and determination. The girls' team, standing across from the boys' team, looked focused and determined. They exchange a few words of encouragement, patting each other on the back and offering words of support. The boys too were fired up, with each member flexing their muscles and sizing up the competition.
The spectators, including Daisy and Samuel who had gathered to watch the game were buzzing with excitement. They shout out words of encouragement and challenge to the players, adding to the energetic atmosphere.
The crowd was split into two factions, with those who support the girls' team on one side including Daisy and those who cheer for the boys on the other including Samuel. The noise from the crowd was deafening, and the tension palpable.
"Let the girls get the upper hand, just for a few moments first." Jackson uttered, his smirk sharp as he locked eyes with Bella, the frontliner of the opposing team.
Bella met his gaze unflinching, her own resolve etched into every tense line of her stance.
Behind him, Daniel, Max and Leo echoed their agreement with matching grins. "Sure." Their focus snapped back to the rope, fingers tightening in unison as they steadied breaths… bracing for what came next without an ounce of doubt on their faces.
Then the referee, holding a flag, stepped forward and raised it high in the air, signalling the start of the game.
The pullers on both sides dug their heels into the ground and braced themselves, their muscles straining in anticipation. With a loud cry, the girls' team pulled the rope suddenly, and it began to budge. The boys' team scrambled to get a hold on the rope and quickly matched the girls' pull.
The spectators on both sides of the rope were shouting and cheering, their voices blending into one loud roar.
The rope moved back and forth as Jackson and Daniel's team were deliberately letting the girl's team gain the upper hand.
The girls' team began to chant "We will win!", their voices strong and confident, in an attempt to rally their strength. The boys' team heard the chant and responded with one of their own, "Bird fly!", their voices loud and full of determination yet mocking.
Now Daniel and Jackson wanted to show their power but in limits, so that their extreme power doesn't cause any injustice to the girl's team.
The rope suddenly jerked one way, the boys' team having gained the upper hand. But the girls' team immediately rallied, and with a massive tug, they managed to pull the rope back and gain some distance.
The crowd let out a collective gasp, their cheers getting louder and more frenzied. Meanwhile Samuel and Daisy were enjoying the thrill standing next to each other.
The pullers on both sides of the rope were struggling now, their faces contorted in effort and determination. The boys' team was beginning to falter, their strength visibly giving out.
"Looks like we've underestimated them." Daniel uttered.
"You're right." Jackson agreed.
Taking the game seriously now, the boys' team started having the upper hand, giving the girls' team a hard time to defeat them.
"Maybe we should join too." Samuel's eyes gleamed with excitement as he looked at Daisy, gesturing toward the teams.
Daisy blinked at him. "Wait—you mean us? You want us to join?"
Samuel nodded as yes while a slow smirk curled Daisy's lips. "Think twice... because if you side with the boys? You'll lose for sure." Her tone dripped with unshaken certainty.
"Let's see." A confident smile was on Samuel's face before he strode towards the boys' team.
Seeing Samuel joining them, Daniel, Max, Leo and Jackson felt more excited. But Jackson's grin faded in a blink when his eyes fell on Daisy moving toward the girls' team. His excitement drained away in an instant, replaced by sheer panic.
"What?! If Daisy's joining them—we're screwed." His voice was tense, eyes flicking between her and the rope like he was already calculating defeat.
Daniel swallowed hard, nodding in agreement. "Now there's nothing we can do, we have to immediately pull the rope towards us before she even gets a grip on that rope." Every word dripped with urgency, his own apprehension mirroring Jackson's.
But before they could brace themselves, Daisy already reached, standing on the first line in front of Bella and Sarah and held the rope only with her one hand, making the boys widen their eyes in horror.
She glanced up towards the boys and smirked before with a sudden snap, she pulled the rope across the line, announcing the winner with her action. And due to her pulling, In a blink of an eye, the entire boys' team was dragged along, stumbling and struggling to regain their footing but with a loud thud, they all fell, landing in a heap at the feet of Daisy, who stood victorious and jubilant, making the crowd including girls' players widen their mouth and eyes in stunned shock.
But immediately the crowd erupted into cheers and applause for the girls' team for winning the game.
All the boys players stood on their feet and after removing the dust from their clothes, looked towards the girls' team. Sarah and Bella were still surprised at Daisy's strength but they enjoyed the thrill and excited moment. The crowd was still cheering, some congratulating the victorious girls' team, while others consoled the boys' team, patting them on the back and encouraging them who quietly accepted their defeat.
With the game over, crowds began to mill around and disperse, some were still congratulating the winning team and some making their way to the food stalls to try the various delicacies of the festival.
Bella, Sarah and Daisy made their way towards Max, Leo, Samuel, Jackson and Daniel after the rest of the players and the crowd moved away from around them.
"So, how was it?" Bella's tone dripped with smugness as she asked looking up at Jackson who just rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Whatever it was, I had a lot of fun." Max interrupted delightedly.
"You're right!" Daniel agreed.
On the other side a little boy around the age of 6 - 7 tugged at Sarah's dress, drawing her gaze. "I want it!" he repeated with childish eagerness, pointing at her Joker wig and foam nose.
"What did you say? You want it?" Bending down to his level, she asked smilingly to confirm it while the kid nodded eagerly. Seeing his eyes on her joker accessory, she narrowed her eyes.
"You won't get it, it's mine." Straightening up, she refused to give him that for teasing him. But the kid started pulling her dress aggressively while his demands escalated into a whining chant. "I WANT IT! I WANT IT!"
Sarah blinked down at his behaviour in disbelief.
"Na, na, na, you won't get it." She continued to make the kid struggle for her Joker accessory.
But the boy's expression melted into an exaggerated pout, his lower lip trembling. "Please—give me!"
"Not at all." The fake strict expression was visible on her face as she spoke. However, the kid was pulling her dress in such an aggressive manner that she was almost stumbling towards him.
"Now will you be satisfied by making him cry? Give him what he is asking for." Samuel interrupted, standing in front of them, making the kid and her look at him.
"I will not give it." Examining Samuel's face, she refused immediately.
"Please give it." The kid requested again, making her look back down at him.
She narrowed her eyes playfully, before speaking, "If you want it, then catch me first." A soft giggle escaped, then she was gone, bolting away with light footsteps after releasing her dress from the kid's grip.
Samuel was just looking at her fleeing figure in disbelief at her childish behaviour when suddenly the kid hugged his leg, making him immediately look down.
"Please get that for me." The kid requested, resting his chin on his leg, big innocent eyes gazing up at him earnestly. Seeing which Samuel's heart melted and he turned his gaze back at Sarah's direction who was still running without a backward glance.
On the other line Max, Daniel, Daisy, Jackson and Bella were chatting and laughing. But rivalry was still visible between Bella and Jackson as they both started to argue again without any strict reason in the middle of their chatting, making others place their palm on their forehead in resignation.
In between, Daniel frowned, scanning the area. "By the way... where's Leo?"
Max and Daisy joined in, their eyes darting around until—aha.
There he was, stylishly leaning against the counter of a Dano Festival food stall like he belonged in some kind of drama scene. One arm propped lazily on the wooden surface, a smirk playing on his lips as he was chatting with the beautiful young female owner.
...…
"Do you eat salad?" Leo asked the girl in a flirtatious way.
"Ofcourse." The girl replied smilingly and politely, standing across the counter.
"That's good." He paused thinking for a moment. "Wanna hear a joke?"
She looked at him as yes. While he chuckled, preparing to tell the joke.
"Why did the tomato turn red?"
"Why?"
He tilted his head closer, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "Because it saw the salad dressing."
Hearing the joke, the girl was battling in her mind whether she should laugh or not, but eventually she laughed slightly. While he smiled mischievously.
"One more, one more." He uttered, adjusting himself on the counter. "Why don't scientists trust atoms?"
"Why?"
"Because they make up everything!"
Hearing him, the girl chuckled.
"Why did the bicycle fall over?" He continued to tell jokes.
"Why?"
"Because It was two-tired!"
He didn't pause to tell another joke as he blurted out, "Why don't seagulls fly over the bay?"
"Why?"
"Because then they'd be bagels!"
The girl chuckled again at his silly jokes, but more amused at his copy-paste skill as she already heard these jokes on the internet.
"Okay, last one, last one! Why did the scarecrow win an award?"
"Why?"
"Because he was outstanding in his field!" Telling his last joke, he started laughing weirdly. Whereas she started laughing more at his laughter than at his jokes.
Then after stopping her laugh, she stated, "You're quite honest by heart." Her voice held an air of sincerity, a soft smile grazing her lips.
He felt his cheeks warm with a hint of a blush, fingers reflexively combing through his hair. "Really?" His eyes sought her confirmation, she just nodded, and he found himself grinning.
A beat of silence... then he blurted out, "So... will you go on a date with me?" and braced for her answer, eyes searching her for any sign of her reaction.
The girl blinked, her smile freezing for a moment as surprise flickered across her face. Seeing which, Leo immediately changed the topic—"Hey, I was just joking, tell me more about you, do you eat bitter gourd?"
She stared at him, baffled by the sudden 180.
...…
Max shook his head, eyeing Leo's antics with familiar bemusement. "Definitely flirting."
Daniel and Daisy couldn't help but chuckle at Leo's personality. "Now, where've Samuel and Sarah gotten off to?" Daisy wondered aloud.
Hearing her, they all looked around, and eventually they spotted them where Sarah perched on her bicycle, trying to make a quick escape. Behind her, Samuel and the kid were running after her bicycle to catch her, a comical sight in the otherwise festive atmosphere.
...…
"Sarah, what is this behaviour, give that to him. Now." Samuel's voice rang out but she wasn't listening to him and ignoring him deliberately.
"Joker sister, give that to me, how much will you tease?" The little kid's voice was high pitched but urgent.
"I told you that you'll get it only when you catch me." Sarah replied with an open smile. "Yahoo!!" She was riding her bicycle with the flow of afternoon wind, visibly enjoying the moment.
While running behind her the little kid started laughing heartily, accepting the situation as he found it fun. While in resignation Samuel quickly picked up the little kid and increased his running speed to catch her immediately.
...…
"Seems like everyone's having a good time," Daniel remarked with an amused smile, his gaze toward Sarah and Samuel's playful chase.
Daisy and Max exchanged warm chuckles before their attention shifted to Jackson and Bella, where Bella was pulling Jackson's hair angrily, while Jackson struggled against her grip, face scrunched in irritation. They both were still arguing for something.
Daniel, Daisy, and Max simply glanced at each other in acceptance—no words needed.
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●
"What the hell are you doing, Jae?" Jia's voice held a note of rising panic as she eyed the rope firmly securing her to the tree right outside of the villa.
"Keep your mouth shut." His response was curt, anger seeping through like smoke.
She tried to protest, confusion lacing her words. "Why... Why are you tying me up?"
He finished cinching a final knot before speaking, his words clipped. "Because of your actions. First you tried to save those boys… and then disrespected me."
"Y-you can't do this to me!" She uttered anxiously, eyes fixed on him as she strained against the ropes.
He stood just out of reach, cold, unyielding. "I just did." His gaze was dark, absolute. "You stay here until nightfall." He announced furiously then he turned on his heel, leaving her there without another word.
The second his back faced her, fear took over completely. "NO! Release me from here, please! You can't leave me like this! how will I stay here till night? There are insects everywhere!!!" Her struggles grew frantic, every twist of her body useless against the tight knots binding her to that godforsaken tree.
"This is your punishment." He stated flatly, without a backward glance and continued to walk towards villa to enter there, leaving her there tied up alone.
She was staring towards the direction from where he had just vanished with a crying face, accepting the situation and the consequences of slapping him before looking at her surroundings.
...…
Jae stood by the window, hands buried in his pockets, watching the scene below with an unreadable expression. Jia's desperate attempts to blow away the insect on her shoulder were almost... amusing.
Then as he was watching her, unknowingly his lips twitched into something close to a smile.
Suddenly, his phone rang sharply, snapping him out of it. A glance at the caller ID had him answering instantly, pressing it against his ear without ever looking away from her struggling form below.
"Boss," came the voice on the other end, steady but urgent. "We've got that secret police pinned down... and luckily whatever intel he scraped together? It hasn't reached anyone else yet."
"Okay, now kill him." Jae's command was cold, decisive.
"Understood, boss." Accepting his command, the line went dead.
He tossed the phone onto the sofa without another thought, his focus never straying from Jia.
Time passed and he was still standing there without going anywhere else, gaze locked on her as if she might vanish even if he blinked.
Then, her scream tore through the silence like shattered glass. "JAE!!!" His name ricocheted off every tree and stone in earshot. His frown deepened, she'd been quiet for so long, what had changed? Was it fear? Pain? Or something else entirely…
"Jae! Can you hear me?! O great master, is my voice finally reaching you?!" Her tone was dripping with exaggerated reverence, sarcasm sharp enough to cut glass. "Husband dearest! Are those royal ears of yours even working? Jae! JAE!! JAEEEEE!!!!! ...I'm STARVING. UNTIE ME."
Upstairs, he pinched the bridge of his nose, half annoyed, half exasperated... but already striding toward the exit door of the room before her last shout even faded.
...…
Just as she was in another mid-scream, her voice cut off abruptly, he was coming. And not empty-handed. The sight of the plate and water bottle in his grip made relief flood her expression instantly.
"Hurry up and untie me already!" she demanded, eyes locked on the food like it was salvation itself.
But Jae didn't move to loosen a single knot, just held the plate in front of her, but out of reach with infuriating calm. "You are not going to be released from here today." He said flatly, while placing the water bottle on the ground.
"What did you say? Then how will I eat thi—?" Her question died in her throat as he calmly lowered the spoonful of food toward her lips.
A stunned silence followed.
Her eyes flickered between the offered bite and his unreadable face, searching for even a hint of affection in those cold features... but his face was expressionless. And yet, here he was, feeding her with methodical precision like this was just another task to complete.
The absurdity of it all hit her at once, tied to a tree, being hand-fed by the very man who'd imprisoned her... while his expression remained as detached as if he were filing paperwork.
This was ridiculous. And she couldn't help but find this moment extremely delightful.
She immediately accepted the offered bite from him and without saying anything, he started feeding her with his hands. One after another, every bite he offered, she accepted without protest. The quiet between them was thick, heavy yet strangely comfortable. His expression never shifted, yet his touch lingered... almost as if he was enjoying this moment. She certainly was, unable to stop the small smiles that kept slipping out between bites.
After finishing the meal, then came the water, his grip firm but careful as he tilted her chin back to drink, her honey gaze locked on him like he was the last drop of water in a desert. By now? She'd gladly stay bound forever if it meant this version of Jae never left.
Holding the empty plate and the water bottle, he was about to turn but stopped by her voice.
"Ugh, there are so many insects here!" she complained with an exaggerated grimace. "What kind of a human are you? You didn't have any pity on me when you tied me up like this?"
He met her gaze with cool detachment, the very image of unaffectedness. "Not at all." And with that, he turned on his heel and walked away.
She didn't expect him to just... walk away this time. "Jae!!!" she cried out desperately, yet he continued on unhindered, as if her voice was little more than the wind. "Jae, wait!" When he didn't stop, his name became a chant, sharp and desperate in the air—"Jae! Jae! Jae! Jae! Jae! Jae! Jae! Jae! Jae! Jae! Jae! Jae! JAEE!!!"—each cry louder than the last. But not even a glance back. Not even a hint of hesitation in his stride.
"O Husband! Husband! HUSBAND!! OI, JAEEE—!!!"
"WHAT??" Finally getting frustrated, he halted in his tracks, spinning around with an irritating snarl. While she remained looking at him at his sudden loud voice.
"Will you speak now?" He growled.
"I have to pee." She said innocently, crossing her legs to control the natural call, making him look at her in disbelief. He looked away for a second in incredulousness then back at her pleading face in defeat.
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●
Jia's eyes sluggishly half opened and she could only see a faint vision of the things in the room because the lights of the room were off. She was still half asleep, adjusting herself on the bed, she turned to her left side, but not feeling Jae beside her, her remaining sleep quickly vanished. She raised her head to check clearly but he really wasn't there.
Sitting on the bed immediately in alarmed confusion, she turned on the lamp on the nightstand right next to the bed before roaming her eyes to the whole room, but he was nowhere to be seen. She checked the time and it was 2:00 am.
Getting down from the bed, she made her way towards the washroom to search him but failed. Not finding him in the entire room, she went out of the room to look for him.
As she hurried through the dimly lit hallway, her bare feet silent against the cold marble floor, panic fluttered in her chest, until she finally spotted him and a sigh of relief escaped her.
There he was, stretched out on the wide balcony couch, bathed in silver moonlight. His arms were folded behind his head, his face tilted slightly toward the stars, glowing in moonlight. A gentle night breeze toyed with his hair and whispered through the open air around them like a secret. From the forest nocturnal insects like crickets and their soft, rhythmic trilling noise was echoing to the whole place, creating a soothing and natural melody that filled the night air.
For a moment, she just stood there in silence... watching him breathe under that vast sky ... .so still he almost didn't seem real.
She took some calculated steps towards him and stood right in front of him. And she saw he was awake.
"What are you doing here?" Her soft voice cut through the silence, breaking the spell of silent awe as she asked, looking down at him in confusion.
"I am looking at the moon." His tone was strangely distant, almost wistful, staring at the moon with an unreadable expression but his eyes were looking lost.
Hearing him, she looked towards the moon then back at him in curiosity. Is he a moon lover? He didn't even glance at her and she stood there silently for a while, taking in the sight, how the silvery beams traced the line of his nose, his jaw, his cheekbones, how the shadows pooled beneath his eyelashes, in the dip of his collar, all so stark and beautiful against the black of the night. There was affection and adoration in her eyes the way she was silently looking at him who was only looking at the moon lost in some deep thoughts.
Glancing up at the moon once more, she suddenly slipped onto the couch beside him as the couch was wide enough for them both, her body molding to his, curling around him. Her slender arm encircled his waist, keeping his tall frame close, head tucked beneath his chin, her breath brushed over the exposed skin of his neck. And she started looking at the moon just like him.
On the other hand, he didn't react but one of his hands moved instinctively to cradle her back without a second thought, arm curving around her petite figure protectively so that she doesn't fall.
But where there was no reaction on his face, his heart was beating intensely due to her being close to him, the sound of which was reaching her ears as well. His such actions clearly showed that he no longer felt bothered by her on many things and had even started tolerating her tantrums.
After several minutes of silence, her soft, whisper voice broke the stillness. "Can I ask you something?"
"Hmm?" He hummed in response, allowing her to ask.
Her words came quietly, laced with curiosity. "Where do you go sometimes here... leaving me alone in this villa?" A pause, then the deeper questions tumbled out, ones she'd clearly held back for too long. "You lived in Japan as a child, your surname is Japanese... But why are you currently living in Korea? You never told me clearly about your nationality whether you are Japanese or Korean?" Her fingers tightened slightly against his side. "...But you do look a little different."
She waited for him to reply but there was just silence, he wasn't responding to her. She raised her head to look up at his face and saw his eyes were still fixed on the distant glow of the moon. Seeing him not interested in responding to her, she put her head back on his chest, accepting his silence.
The night stretched on, the moon's glow painting them both in silver as silence wrapped around them, thick with emotions neither dared to voice.
Jia's eyelids grew heavier, her slow blinks fighting a losing battle against sleep until finally... she surrendered. Her grip slackened, fingers loosening against his side as dreams pulled her under.
But his hold only tightened, protective. With one swift motion, he grabbed his leather jacket from the edge of the couch and draped it over her shoulders before pulling her flush against him again… closer now than before, like he feared the night itself might steal her away if he didn't keep her anchored to him.
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The sun was just beginning to rise to dominate the darkness in the dense forest as the crisp morning air filled the area around the spacious villa. Birds were just beginning to stir and sing, perched in trees that surrounded the villa. The cool and calming wind was gently caressing the figures of Jae and Jia who were asleep together on the couch on the spacious balcony.
As the sunlight finally filtered through the trees and cast dappled shadows on the ground, Jae slowly began to stir. He opened his eyes slowly, adjusting his vision with the light of the morning, appreciating the tranquillity and peace of his surroundings. He turned his eyes to Jia who was still sleeping, there was a glow on her face which was filling his eyes.
He tucked a hair strand behind her ear, clearing the beautiful sight. Looking at her, a mere smile plastered on his face, his eyes were gleaming with emotions. After staring at her for some time, he shifted his gaze to the morning sky. Suddenly he felt an unsteady movement from her.
He immediately looked at her, her face displaying signs of distress, her breathing became laboured and she started mumbling something in her sleep. As he looked closely at her face, Jae quickly realised that she was having a bad dream.
He quickly tightened his grip on her. Gently placing his hand on her back of head, he started stroking her hair in an attempt to soothe her. Her face was hiding against his chest.
She started to move even more restlessly, her body jerking and twitching involuntarily. She was constantly mumbling something incomprehensibly in her sleep which he couldn't understand. And her grip on him was tightening.
"Jia! Jia!" He finally decided to call her to wake her up from her nightmare.
Her nails were digging into his skin over the fabric, a clear sign of her panic and terror. Worry for her engulfed him but he remained calm and reassuring, continuing to stroke her hair, caging her in his protective embrace to comfort her.
"Jia! Jia! wake up!"
Jia's body convulsed suddenly, and she let out a gasp, her eyes flying open. She started crying abruptly, panting and disoriented, her gaze darting around frantically as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. While he hurriedly sat on the couch, still wrapping his arm around her body, making her upper body lift up with him. He tried to control her the moment he saw her suddenly crying badly.
"They–they killed them… they killed them in front of my eyes…with–with the gun…what should I do now?" Her voice was scared as she uttered frantically, moving wildly in his grip to escape him.
Hearing her words he started rubbing her back soothingly, and murmured comforting words to calm her down. "It's okay," he said softly into her hair, "It was just a bad dream. You're safe now. I'm here."
As soon as his voice fell on her ears, it didn't take too much time for her to realise that she was finally out of her nightmare, her body trembled against his as she slowly began to stop her crying and relaxing, but her sobs were still audible.
Loosening her body in his grip, she held his shirt at his back, the remnants of the nightmare still fresh in her mind. While his chin was over her head as he was still patting her back to soothe her.
For a few moments, they sat there in silence. He continued to hold her, while she gradually reoriented herself to the safe reality they were in.
At that time, the only thing going on in his mind was what kind of nightmare she saw that scared her so much and forced her to utter that someone had killed someone? And the way she let those words out were indicating that it was not just her nightmare but a trauma nightmare. And maybe he knows about it.
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