I stumble back and swallow hard as I look at him with horror and confusion. Did he know? Does he know I was bluffing and that the whole thing was fake!? My eyes search his, looking for the answer but his eyes hold nothing but honesty.
I lift a shaky hand up to the bowl and swallow hard again before giving him a strained smile. I look down at the worms as he says "I started to think I made a mistake." I look back up to him with desperation before asking "You're not bothered by me eating eyes, fingers, dirt, and worms?"
He scoffs and smiles down at me before saying "Of course not. You said you were from a different world and I believe you. Just because you eat things others wouldn't... it doesn't mean it's wrong. Just different." I laugh in disbelief before saying "So open-minded and... accepting."
He places his hands behind his back and smiles down at me before saying "Of course. If I like something, nothing will change that." I start laughing again but this time it's out of distress. I look down at the bowl of large worms with a really bad feeling creeping into my heart.
Jinhai frowns and says "Do you want more eyeballs or fingers? I can arrange Xin to grab.." I quickly cut him off and yell out "No! No, I'm... full. I just feel bad that you went out of your way for me and... I'm so full I can't eat them."
Li Jun finally makes it back holding his stomach and groaning in pain. Jinhai's frown fades away as he nods in understanding and says "Then don't worry, whenever you get hungry, I'll go out and find you food."
I quickly smile up at him and say "That's unnecessary... really. I have... Mango! I have Mango here who goes out and collects what I need. Isn't that right?" I give Mango a strained smile as I flash him my crazy eyes.
Mango's tail twitches as he awkwardly smiles and nods his head. He then clears his throat and says "That's... that's my sole purpose! If I can't serve her... I would die! A very painful and violent death and if I die.... she would soon follow from the heartbreak."
Jinhai deeply frowns at Mango before slowly turning to look at me. I give him a twitchy smile as I say "He lives to serve me and he's definitely grown on me. I would indeed be devastated if he were to die." Jinhai blinks in thought before slowly nodding his head once and accepting it.
I visibly relax before pointing to the fallen tree and saying "Please have a seat and continue relaxing!" As Jinhai turns to sit, I toss the bowl of worms into the air behind me. Li Jun watches the bowl of worms fly off into the darkness but he doesn't say a word.
I turn and give him a pointed look but he quickly whispers "I won't say a worm... word! I won't say a word." I narrow my eyes at him before turning back to Jinhai and smiling. I hand him a cup of tea and try to walk off but he reaches out and grabs my arm.
He pulls me to the fallen tree and says "Sit by me. It gets cold at night." I feel my eye twitch as I sit down next to him with confusion. How did this entire situation get flipped!? How am I now catering to him and what he wants!??
Li Jun lays down and rubs his stomach in silence as I sit and question everything that just happened. I blink and stare into the fire with a blank look on my face. He was serious... he didn't care. He even offered to go get me eyes and... I shiver as I think about it.
He glances over and says "I told you it got cold at night." He then pulls me right up against him as he says "You can share my warmth." My entire body turns as stiff as a board as he continues to sip his tea.
My mind races as I think back to the very first time I met him until now. I continue to silently stare into the fire when I realize just how stupid I had been. I don't know anything about this man or what he's fully capable of. What he's done and what he plans to do. Nothing.
I slowly lift a hand up to my lips before lightly touching them. 'Willow... you really screwed up this time. This guy isn't normal! Nothing about him is normal!!' When I feel his eyes on me, my back straightens and I remove my hand.
How can I get away from this man? What if I can't? I've tried it before and he was still able to find me. Think think think... Wait. Maybe I can just play along? My mind races with ideas and I finally feel myself relaxing.
I'll act like I'm interested and tell him what he wants to hear. Was it cowardly? Yeah... BUT! I only need to do it until I find a way to return home.
I bite my lip as my plans slowly rearrange themselves. He's obviously too strong and dangerous to face head-on. I can't seem to gross him out or chase him off so the only thing I can do now is to act as if I like him in order to survive.
I can do that... right? I slowly look over to the man beside me to see him silently sipping the tea. I will admit to one thing... No matter how crazy and twisted this guy is... he's really too good looking. His side profile is even a heartthrob.
Playing along with him shouldn't be too hard, right? Especially when he's so good looking. He slowly turns to find me looking at him and arches a dark eyebrow. I look into his dark, cold eyes. Noticing how they resemble the dark night sky above us and sigh.
He gives me a small smirk and says "What? Am I that attractive?" I brace myself, knowing I'm about to play a dangerous game but also knowing I don't have much of a choice. I decide to play this hand and hope for the best.
I keep a straight face as I look into his eyes and slightly nod my head as I whisper "Yes, you are." Jinhai's smirk freezes along with his entire body. His eyes search mine, looking to see if I was lying or not but I wasn't. The guy was truly attractive. Crazy or not.