He put me to sleep in his own room while he stayed in the living room last night. It felt a bit strange because his bed smelled like a man’s and wasn’t as soft as what I was used to in the mansion. Despite that, I managed to sleep soundly.
In fact, when I woke up, the sun was already blazing. Japen said I woke up at seven in the morning, so I stood there for a few seconds, stunned.
My classes also started at seven that morning, and if we were to travel I was sure that the second subject would be finished that day. That was fine, because I would definitely be wasting time if we ran after the afternoon class for an hour.
So I decided not to go to the school. My dad also called earlier and said that I wouldn’t be able to go back to the mansion right now. I’ll stay in Mang Selyo’s house and he trusts me with Japen. I frowned at his last comment.
I mean, Japen didn’t take advantage last night and he shouldn’t have. Or else this guy will get a taste of me!
“Don’t you want to eat?” he asked.
We were currently sitting across from each other at a long table. He had been eating steadily for a while now, but I remained staring at the food in front of me. Even though I wanted to eat, it felt like I was about to throw up. I didn’t like the smell of the food in front of me.
It seemed like Japen suddenly realized something. He abruptly set down his bowl and gave me a serious look. “Don’t be so picky. That’s all I have to offer you.”
I blinked. Before I knew it, my fist flew towards his face. I could still feel the sting in the back of my hand after punching him. He instinctively held his mouth and glared at me. I returned his glare.
“Seriously? You could only bring out these filthy foods?” I scoffed. “Poor future wife of yours.”
“Hey!” he pointed at me, but when I glared back at him again, he lowered his own finger. “If you don’t want to eat, then —” I cut him off.
“What?” I challenged Japen.
“Son of a smoked fish! I’ll buy you decent food!” he exclaimed in irritation.
He stood up and quickly grabbed the jacket hanging by the door. He put it on and rushed out of the house without another word. I sighed and looked at the food on the table.
To be honest, the small, slightly darkened fish on the table looked familiar to me. It seemed to be dried fish. I didn’t mind if that’s what Japen was going to serve, but I couldn’t stand the smell of it. It made me feel like I was going to throw up!
I wrinkled my nose and stood up. I didn’t want to see that dark fish, so I decided to step outside the house. I hadn’t explored the area yet since we arrived late last night. I wanted to see what kind of place Japen was living in.
I took an umbrella from beside the door and walked outside. The sun was high and its rays were starting to sting my skin, so I opened the umbrella. Little did I know, the umbrella I picked up was already broken. I couldn’t do anything but go back inside. Maybe I’ll go for a walk later. I even saw a swing in a children’s park. It made me smile. I’ll go there later in the afternoon to play.
I walked back towards where I came from. I passed by a few people, and each of them looked at me strangely. Some men even grinned widely while staring at me. One of their friends even whistled.
I quickened my pace. I heard that most of those kinds of people really lived in places like this. Places far from the highway where houses were close together.
Thankfully, Dad’s mansion was on private property, so I didn’t encounter those kinds of people. Well, I wasn’t fond of traveling outside our mansion anyway.
I hadn’t gotten close to the fence when I heard Japen’s loud shout.
“Azora! Azora!”
I frowned and stepped aside. The thing I hated most was people shouting my name like it was their last breath. Hello? I’m not deaf.
Annoyed, I opened the gate and stepped closer to the house, which was a few steps away. I was halfway there when Japen appeared at the door. He was panting and looked confused.
When he saw me, his eyes widened. Then he took big steps towards me. “Azora!” he shouted my name again.
I crossed my arms and gave him a sharp look. “Stop shouting, will you?” I scolded him.
He stopped in front of me and ran his hand through his own hair. “Don’t go out of the house without letting me know!” he said.
My forehead creased even more. “I said stop —”
“I’m not shouting,” he interrupted me.
I rolled my eyes. Annoying. “Well then, back off!” I said and brushed him aside.
I went inside his house ahead of him and once again caught the unpleasant smell of the dark fish. I covered my nose. “Can you throw that thing outside?” I pointed to the dried fish quietly sitting on the table.
Japen didn’t say anything, so I turned to look at him. His brows were furrowed and he seemed defiant. I rolled my eyes again. “Hey! Did you hear me?” I called out to him.
He only looked at me then, his brows still furrowed, which annoyed me even more. “Stop creasing your forehead!”
“Are you the only one allowed to get mad?”
I blinked twice at what he said. Then, I burst out laughing. I couldn’t believe he had the guts to say that to me!
I approached him and slapped his arm. He didn’t flinch. I slapped his other arm but he still didn’t react. My vision darkened. He was such a pain to deal with!
I was about to repeatedly hit his chest, but he quickly grabbed both of my wrists and raised them above my head. He grinned. “I’m not the old Japen you always mistreated, Azora.”
I fell silent at his words. I was a bit disappointed in myself for letting him lift both my hands in the air. Now I looked like a poor child being scolded by his dad. Well, Japen was taller than me, so I literally had to look up to him.
“You’re still the same old Japen,” I muttered, looking away.
I tried to pull my hands down, but he wouldn’t let go. In fact, his grip on my wrists tightened, and I winced slightly-not from pain, but from the realization that he was holding me… and strangely, my heart raced knowing that he was staring at me longer than usual.