Yunseo's POV
'Fear,' what a terrifying word, one might say.
The feeling itself feels like you're drowning in a cold, blackish sea that's roaring vehemently with lividness, the waves twisting and gnarling like a hungry dog, like a pure evil demon in form. And then, you slowly lose your breath, the waves crashing into you and pulling you into the dark depths where you will be the innocent prey of bloodthirsty sea monsters...
* * *
"Are you sure that you're alright? You're not hurt?"
Kai's words woke me up from my morbid mindscape. I blinked my eyes and took a very deep breath.
"For the hundredth time, I'm alright. You should be worried about the assassin. I kneed him in the groin. Man...I sure am a badass," I said with an enhanced flare while my smile turned into a smug grin.
"Hey, you should wipe out that smug because Master Rowoon will be here soon. He took an early flight last night. Looks like he'll move you to a new place. A place that's more secure," the head bodyguard, Kai said, his eyes scanning my body with the intensity of a laser beam.
"Oh great. So Mr. Psycho will be here...again."
"Hey! You shouldn't call him that. I would cut your tongue if I could. But since you seem to be someone who our master highly reveres, I can't even lay a finger on you."
"Oh wow...how lucky I am." I ignored his glare and jumped onto the bed, pulling the silk sheets over my head as I decided to ignore the three bodyguards standing in my new room. Umm..correction: I'm in an underground safe house. Or maybe it's a hidden room in the basement. I don't know.
As soon as those assassins tried to attack me, in which case, I blocked the attacks and even kneed one in the groin (what? I learnt Taekwondo when I was in middle school and halfway through high school as well. That might be TMI, Sorry for that).
Then the bodyguards escorted me here as soon as the situation was under control.
And I had no privacy because three bodyguards were guarding the room. Their hawk eyes tracked my every move so I couldn't entertain myself with anything. I wasn't some princess who needed to be saved. I can take care of myself.
Seconds turned into minutes, and minutes turned into hours. I lay on the bed, staring at the boring ceiling while humming the tunes of my favorite songs. I tried to make small talk with the bodyguards, but they were too grumpy. At some point, I somehow fell asleep without realizing it. My life has taken so many turns, so it was too overwhelming. Exhaustion ruled over me, causing me to fall into a deep slumber.
---
Gentle fingers caressed my cheek, pulling me out of sleep like a whisper.
So delicate, like the kiss of a flower in bloom.
I was fully awake when the supposedly innocent fingers pinched my bottom lip. I woke up with a gasp. My vision focused on a familiar face. It was a sharp and handsome face.
His hair had grown longer. It was now swept back into a neat ponytail that drew attention to the sharp lines of his face. He wore an exquisite tuxedo, the fabric hugging his frame with quiet opulence. Emerald and ruby rings glinted on his fingers, and his ears were adorned with elegant silver ear cuffs. He looked majestic, but it was all a facade. I could see the real him through all that glamour. He looked tired, and there was concern in his eyes. Now that's new. I wonder why...And the dark circles under his eyes proved that something was bothering him.
He was still pinching my bottom lip, and I resisted the urge to bite his finger. Maybe I should lick it
Oh dear...what was I thinking.
"Um...what are you doing? " I took the reins and broke the silence.
"Hi, little rabbit. I'm glad you're okay," he said, patting my head like a puppy.
"Don't touch me," I said with a sneer.
"I love it when you get mad," he said with a smirk.
"I need to get you out of here. It's not safe." I never realized how attractive his voice was...until now. His voice, deep and smooth, reminded me of honey melting into coffee—rich and warm. I used to hate it. Now it made my chest flutter in ways I didn't appreciate. I shoved the feeling down and looked away. Gosh, what was wrong with me? I hated this man. I still hate him...right? It's because of him that I fell into this mess. I should've never gone to that concert :(
I still detest him, and I should be more careful when I'm around him. He's like a hunter obsessed with his prey...a demon in disguise who has an unquenchable thirst for blood. A creature of villainy and sin.
Maybe I'm being too extreme, but that's who he is. Don't let that pretty face fool you.
"Hey, we need to leave. I need to take you someplace safe," he said while patting my head.
"No. I won't go anywhere with you. I want you to take me home. I'm done associating you. I don't want to be a part of any of this," I said while slapping his hand away from my head. What's this new fascination with my hair anyway?
"That's not how it works, darling. You see, they know about you and they're targeting you. You won't be safe," he was acting as if it wasn't that obvious. Did he think that I was blind? Of course, I was being targeted.
"Um...now whose fault is it? Yeah, it's you! It's cas of YOU that I have to go through this shit. You messed up my life, okay. Why couldn't you just leave me alone?"
"Well, you're so irresistible. Temptation wrapped in silk."
"You..."
"Yes?"
"Enough."
"You're a pretty little thing aren't you?"
"I told you to stop."
"Oh but you're blushing. You look so sexy when you blush."
"Please stop."
"The things I could do to you..."
"I said stop!" I yelled, already feeling my face heat up with embarrassment and anger.
Without thinking, I reached out and slapped my palm over his mouth. "Just.Stop.Talking."
For a moment, there was blissful silence.
Then I felt it.
Warm.Wet. A slow drag of his tongue across the centre of my palm like he was tasting dessert.
My entire soul evacuated my body.
"What the-!?"
I yanked my hand back like I'd been electrocuted, cradling it to my chest as I stared at him in horror. And Rowoon-the menace-had the audacity to smile.
"Tastes like vanilla," he said smugly. "I knew you'd be sweet."
I was going to die right here on this bed. Cause of death: unhinged mafia twat.
"Why did you lick me? Are you a dog?"
"Woof."
"What..." I wasn't just shocked. I was flabbergasted. He has gone crazy.
"You're crazy."
"For you baby."
My face started to heat up, and I couldn't find the words to make a good comeback.
"As much as I love to tease you and stare at your rose-tinged cheeks, we need to leave." He reached for my hand without a warning. And the next thing I knew, I was being tugged off the bed effortlessly...Like I weighed nothing.
"We need to go now." We were standing too close to each other. Need. More. Space.
"No, I'm going back to my apartment."
"Fine. I'm sorry, but you made me do this. I have no other choice," he said while staring at my face intensely.
"What are you gonna do huh? No means no, Rowoon."
He smiled.
And that's when I knew I was screwed.
"Too bad," he said—and before I could so much as blink, his arms wrapped around my waist, and I was off the ground.
"Hey—HEY!"
I flailed like a man possessed as he slung me over his shoulder like a sack of rice. My dignity hit the floor before I did.
"PUT ME DOWN!" I shouted, pounding my fists against his back. "I swear to god, Rowoon, this is illegal! You can't just—! Are you listening to me!?"
Apparently not. Because instead of answering, he slapped my ass.
I froze.
He. Slapped. My. Ass.
"You little—!"
"Behave, and maybe I'll go easy on you baby."
My entire face went up in flames. Not just my cheeks—my soul.
"You're a lunatic!" I hissed. "Put me down this second or I'll—!"
"—kick and scream and call me names?" he replied sweetly, squeezing my thigh before slapping my buttcheek again. "You're so cute when you're mad."
I screamed. He laughed. And then he kept walking like I weighed nothing, whistling like he was carrying groceries and not a furious, mortified college student clinging to the last shreds of his pride.
I hate him. With every fibre of my being. With every cell. With every breath. He made my blood boil and my brain glitch at the same time. How was that even possible?