As Ari left to shower, he returned to balcony to watch the stars again. Now that his had taken his antidote, he didn't feel so sick. However, thoughts still roamed his head. He remembered what Jang Han Seok had said. Even his own demon said so. That Ari was supposed to die. Now he knows what it means. The night he saved her mother, he saved her too. A smile curved his lips. So she was that unknown girl he was asked to protect? Sweet.
His eyes moved to view the city. People moved here and there. Mother's scolded their children to go to bed. Couples walked around. While a few had some troubles. He sighed. Wondering why he was watching over this ungrateful humans like he created them. He didn't want to. So he closed his eyes while balancing his back on the bench.
After a while, Ari came to sit with him. She laid on his chest and he opened one eye with a raised brow.
"Are you sleepy?" he asked.
"No" she answered "I'm just wondering what you're thinking"
"I've been thinking about you" he simply said. "You've been clouding my head since"
"Really?" Ah...she's so special.
"Did you eat?" he asked.
"I ate a little" she said and then rose up. "You know, today, Kang Ju yeong kept following me everywhere I went. He even followed me to class. He was a real bodyguard"
"Hmm.... Is he better than me?"
"Yes" she said honestly. "He looks so cold and unapproachable while he guarded me. I got scared"
"Don't be. it's his job. I'll kill him if anything happens to you" he said nonchalantly, closing his eyes again.
"Yah!"
He opened his eyes and looked at her, and then smiled. "I'm not joking" he said the opposite of what she expected and then closed his eyes again. Her lips twitched. But damn, she was happy. Her eyes which had turned crescents fell on his arm,, and it strolled down to his palm. Her eyes grew wide.
"Ryan!" she called and his eyes flung open thinking something has happened. "What happened to your hand?" she asked, and immediately he hid it behind his back.
"Nothing"
"Nothing? It's bandaged. Y-you're injured" she pulled his arm to see.
"It's nothing serious. Just a scratch" he said.
"Let me see" she tried removing the bandage and he drew back his hand.
"I'm fine. It's not serious. Just a scratch..."
"Just a scratch and it's bandaged like this? I--I can even see blood on it. How did you hurt yourself?" she looked at him with eyes that seemed to have tears in them.
"Knife" he lied "I got cut with a knife. It would heal, okay? So don't worry"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure" he replied and pulled her to lie in his arms. He wondered how she'd react if he had said he dug his claws in his palm. She'll be terrified.
He patted her hair while they stayed quiet. Doing nothing but staring at the sky. No one said a word. She had questions she wanted to ask but she thought of leaving it for now.
"Aria" he called and she answered. "I... I have met your mother" she rose immediately. He was going to answer her unasked questions.
"You met my mother?"
"Mm. I met her twice. Do you know what she told me when we met again? She said that...if I ever meet you...I should protect you" he told her. Her eyes fluttered.
"M-mother said that?"
"Mm" he nodded "It was the first time someone had said that to me, so I wondered who was the girl I was supposed to protect"
"Were...you looking for me?"
He stared, hesitating "I was. I looked for you...waited for you. For a long time. I never thought we would be in a relationship like this. But I waited. I wondered where you were and why you weren't showing up yet. Maybe if I had met you earlier then....you won't be here with me" she fluttered her eyes. But still not getting the truth behind his words. He waited for her....his destined bride.
"I can still grow up" she said.
"I know...but maybe you'd choose that Hayden over your protector" he mumbled.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing. I was just wondering if you're more beautiful than your mother. You see, when we first met, I wondered who you looked like. Now I know it's your mother" he spoke without looking at her. Not knowing she was blushing by the side. Not by his words but remembering that day and the way he stared at her. It caused her cheeks to redden.
"So now that I have you with me.... I'll kill the whole world to keep you safe" he said nonchalantly.
"Eh?!"
"True. If your life gets threatened, just tell me. I'll kill that person immediately"
"We would all go extinct then" she said and he laughed.
"A world without you would be meaningless. So I rather have you with me in an empty world."
"It would be boring" she said.
"No, it won't. We can do anything we want. Even our children could move freely" he said. At the mention of children, her eyes went wide as saucepans.
"Children?!"
"Yes. Our children. Or you don't want one?" she blinked repeatedly, dumbstruck. "If you don't want one, we could stay childrenless. But I want a beautiful daughter like you" he kept on saying, while she had her mouth open. Is he serious right now?!" "Should we name her Ari?"
"Yah!" she hit his chest hard and all he did was laugh. Teasing her is really fun.
"Sorry" he didn't sound apologetic, and it caused her to purse her lips. "You're so cute when you do that" he teased again, laughing. Annoyed, she stood and walked inside and he quickly followed.
"C'mon, I'm sorry. I won't tease you again" he climbed the bed after her.. "Aria. Don't be mad"
"I'm sleepy" she said and the faced him. "Rub my hair"
With a smile he drew her into his arms and rubbed her hair, patting her to sleep. And again, in that position, they slept while a smile lingered on his face.