Chapter 4 3

Chapter 3 -- Slippers

I remained silent, pondering what I could say to him. I need to carefully consider my words when speaking to him.

I frowned., Oh, my goodness. I can't think of anything. Is this really it? The end of my life?

"Why aren't you sleeping? It's late." Well, look at that. He didn't curse. There's no curse in what he said. This is a rare occasion, so what I say should be believable.

I faced him and lowered my gaze to the floor. I noticed my feet were somewhat dirty, I'm so filthy.

"Uhm... I-hmm, I can't sleep." I tilted my head to meet his astonishingly dangerous eyes. Sometimes, his eyes seemed to convey something unsaid and inexplicable.

His eyes narrowed as if weighing whether I was telling the truth or not. I resisted his gaze; I won't back down. I want him to see me as brave, even if I'm scared deep inside. I nervously smirked when he finally nodded in satisfaction.

Does he really believe me? Or is he just pretending to believe me? His pretense seems more believable.

His gaze dropped to my bare feet on the cold floor as his jaw clenched, He remained silent for a few seconds, as if contemplating something.

"Wait here," he ordered firmly, then glanced at me. I nodded in response before he walked away completely. I finally breathed a sigh of relief and instinctively held my chest as he left for good.

What should I do now?

I only nodded earlier because my neck felt stiff. I didn't say yes, did I? I can't remember; it happened a while ago. I have ultra super short-term memory.

I quietly slipped out of the kitchen and ended up in the dining room. I headed straight for the door leading to the living room, not actually leaving the dining room; I just leaned my ear against the door to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Am I eavesdropping again? No, of course not. I have ears. It's normal for people who aren't deaf to listen.

"What the fucking hell of a ton of shits, Rolando?! She's just in the hell of a kitchen!" I winced at the thunderous voice coming from the living room. I looked at the kitchen door. What the hell is he talking about?

Poor Rolando. Should I confess? Will he get fired? No, he can't; he's innocent, this is my fault, Why is it like this? I feel guilty so quickly, but other people seem to have almost no conscience? That's not fair.

"S-Sir, I already searched the entire house, but I really couldn't find her earlier," Rolando explained in a trembling voice.

"Y-yes, Sir," Fernando agreed, These two are something else. They're big guys, and there are two of them. I'm sure they could bring Caspian down if they worked together.

I heard a crash and a few broken items, Oh no, did they beat up Caspian? Poor thing. Should I intervene?

I peeked to see what was happening, but my eyes widened when I saw Rolando collapse on the sofa as Caspian hit him hard in the stomach. He kicked Rolando again, causing the sofa's backrest to collapse.

I saw Rolando spit out blood, Now it's Fernando's turn to bear his wrath. I'll admit Rolando and Fernando are bigger than him, but Caspian seems to know more about fighting when it comes to it.

The two of them don't stand a chance, I was about to go out to stop him when a rough hand grabbed my arm to restrain me.

"Don't, dear." I looked at Manang Rana, knowing she could see the confusion in my eyes.

"Why?" I politely asked as I turned to face her.

"Just let him be, it will pass," Manang Rana replied meaningfully. It seems she knows a lot about Caspian. How many years has she been serving Caspian?

"But what he's doing is wrong, Manang," I insisted. She shook her head twice and looked at me sternly. She's serious. There's no hint of joking in her expression.

"Just follow him, dear. That's one thing he dislikes the most-"

"But, Manang, I've been following him. That's why I'm here, right?" I interrupted her. I couldn't hold back. Why is it like this? When I talk to Caspian, I have to think about the words to use, but with other people, the words just come out naturally.

Is that how scared I am of him? That even in speaking, I have to think carefully because he might get angry if he doesn't like the words coming out of my mouth. Manang Rana smiled and shook her head again.

"Just obey his orders." I was stunned. I thought I was supposed to follow him wherever he goes?

Are the words "follow" and "obey" really different? I don't know. It probably depends on the context of the sentence.

I closed my eyes when I heard the groans and noise from the living room again.

"Go back to the kitchen, dear," Manang Rana instructed me, but I just kept staring at her and didn't move from where I stood

. "You know, dear? Everyone has a past, which is why they become who they are now," Manang Rana said meaningfully to me. I stared at her, trying to decipher her thoughts.

I thought about everything she said and connected the dots. But I still couldn't get it. I couldn't grasp her real point. I excused myself and went back to the kitchen. I sat on a stool at the kitchen island and waited for Caspian to finish what he was doing.

Why does he dislike people who don't follow his orders? He always wants to be the one in control. Then he should have just been a commander, shouldn't he?

Hmp. Control freak.

Minutes passed, and the kitchen door opened, revealing Caspian carrying slippers, his clothes slightly damp from sweat. Looks like he just finished working out, huh?

He approached me. Then he dropped the large slippers on the floor near my bare feet, I lowered my gaze to the slippers. They're huge. They won't fit me.

"That's not-"

"Just wear my slippers, Khione. Then go to your room," he said, glaring at me. Why does he always seem angry with me? I've never seen him smile, maybe smirked? But it's an evil smirk, I want a genuine smile. I've heard him laugh, but it's always sarcastic. His attitude isn't natural.

His acts looked... Fake. That's based on my observation, Then who is the real him? I paused when his words finally registered in my mind. I have so many thoughts.

Are these his slippers? That's why they're so big. Is it a miracle that he lent me his personal things? I wonder if this is his soft side?

"Immediately," he added. I take it back. He really doesn't have a soft side.

I jumped off the stool as my bare feet landed on his slippers. My feet looked like dwarves' feet when I put them on.

Tomorrow, I'll search for my slippers outside. I stood properly in front of him and almost lost my balance when I tried to take a step.

Did you think he'd catch me? I thought so too, He didn't catch me. In fact, he stepped back to avoid me landing on him. Luckily, I regained my balance before I could kiss the cold floor. I gave him a dirty look, even dirtier than the one he gave me.

"What are you looking at?" I retorted boldly. I need to redeem myself from my embarrassment. I stepped back when he approached me. I gripped the stool behind me as he came close before stopping.

"Where have you been?" he whispered into my right ear. I felt my hair stand on end from my neck down to my arms. What will he do? I'm nervous; my heart is beating abnormally fast.

Am I caught?

I don't think so yet.

Why would he ask if he already knows? Because I know exactly what will happen if he finds out. He might beat me up too, I swallowed hard at the thought of him beating me up. I haven't fully recovered from the bruises on my back yet. Add more bruises?

Maybe he just knows I went out of the house, But... He doesn't know where I went.

"Just outside, getting some fresh air," I said boldly. Why? Because I'm not afraid. I raised both palms and pressed them against his chest, which was very close to mine. I tried to push his chest a little with my strength, but he didn't budge. I got annoyed so I pushed his chest with all my might.

He moved back... a bit.

I need to stay away from him a bit because I might catch his contagious evilness. He's like a communicable disease.

Contagious not just that. He's also suffocating me.

"Really?" sarcasm was evident in his voice.

"Really." I gave him a reassuring smile.

"You did not do something stupid?" he really doesn't trust me.

"I did not do something stupid." excluding the slipper thingy. Is throwing slippers considered stupid? He nodded, I thought I had convinced him, but my eyes widened when he forcefully grabbed my jaw.

He squeezed my jaw painfully, making my lips form a yucky pout. He brought his face close to mine, and with just a little movement, our noses would touch. Did you think a slight movement would make him kiss me? Come on, this isn't a book. Wake up.

That's how men are. They're deceivers, hmp. Males even underestimate us females, I couldn't help but stare into his eyes filled with aggression.

"You can fool some foolish people, Khione, but not me. I'm not foolish," he growled. His voice was intimidating. Sometimes, I just don't want to speak. In the end, he'll get angry anyway.

I touched the pulsating veins in his arm as he held my jaw. I tried to pull his hand away from me but failed. Why does he always seem to want to hurt me? Now I realize, he doesn't deserve the truth from me. I want him to find out his own way. Whether he's an investigator or a spy, it's up to him.

I turned my face to the side, but he controlled it back to face his. I bowed my head, unable to look at him. Dead again, it seems like saying those red lies was a mistake? I tried to create some space between us, but he just pulled me closer. Giving no space for distance. He rested his chin on top of my head as his other hand wrapped around my waist.

"I don't give a fucking shit with that, Khione, because as far as I remember while reading your background information. No one has the balls to even court you," his deep voice turned husky while I'm busy trying to calm my system.

Shit.

My jaw literally dropped, So now, he's the one who knows a lot, He's so vulgar. His grip on my back tightened I groaned when I felt his hands accidentally pressed on the part where he lashed me.

He paused and quickly pulled his hand away, but he immediately returned it, and this time, He gently caressed it. I was stunned, but he quickly backed away and gave me a disdainful look. Mood swing? After a few seconds of staring at me, he spoke.

"Go to your room, now," he ordered calmly but authoritatively, I just nodded and looked at my feet wearing his slippers. He's so confusing. I really can't understand him. No matter how I try to comprehend him.

I stared at my feet as I walked out of the kitchen. It's difficult; I might experience the same embarrassment as earlier.

"And Khione..." he trailed off, I stopped walking to hear what he was going to say, but I didn't turn to look at him and remained facing away.

"Lock the door of your room," he continued. I nodded quickly, Why do I need to lock my room door? I grinned to myself at the thought of another order from him that I wouldn't followed, I fell asleep without locking the door.