After an hour more of shopping with Daisuke as your handsome bodyguard, you have decided to treat him to coffee.
"So what are you doing here in the City of Atlantis?" Daisuke asked while sipping coffee.
"Do I look that out of place?" You smiled shyly.
"You are too beautiful for this place," he smiled an honest all-knowing smile.
"We are attending the ball," explained Aki who was caught in Daisuke's charms.
"I hope you won't."
"Won't what?" you asked.
"Won't have to participate in the auction."
"Why?" you asked, trying to look puzzled.
"Because I like you, and I wouldn't want to see you get hurt," he smiled and took another sip, all the while looking into your eyes.
You understood what he means. Aki will be kidnapped the night before the auction, the ruling mafia group will use her as leverage against Rin so that they can finally secure Rin under their employ.
"Do what you must. You don't have to worry about us. We barely know each other after all," you smiled, trying to calm the fast beating of your heart as you looked into those azure-colored orbs that make you feel like you are under a microscope.
"I know. We both have our friends. I have to stay with mine. But I hope you don't get hurt for whatever reason. I would like to see you again after the ball is over mademoiselle," Daisuke looked sincere as he stood up and kissed the back of your hand.
Then he left.
Every inch a gentleman.
•••••••••••••••
"You should listen to your date.
He knows things," you were taken aback by that voice. You can't mistake him for anyone else.
'Paris.' How long has he been standing at the corner of the cafe?
You had no idea he was even around.
He concealed his life energy. You almost forgot he could easily do that.
"Hi, Paris! It's been a while," you greeted him cheerfully.
"You were wondering how long I have been staring at you, observing the both of you like the pathetic lunatic that I am," he chuckled.
"I noticed you and your date while I was entering the cafe, you were both quite a match to look at, and for some reason, no matter what I do, I can't seem to convince myself to look away from you," he continued, laughing silently at himself for the fool that he has been.
"I was completely surprised to see you with him," Paris looked suddenly dead serious, far from the playful trickster he usually portrays himself as.
"You mean Daisuke? You know him?"
you asked innocently, though you know exactly that.
"He is my boss. Not a very good one to try to steal my woman," he answered.
"Paris, stop joking around," you exclaimed at the trickster who at this very moment is tricking your heart into believing his every word.
"Don't you know, my dear, I never joke when it comes to you. I would love to join you for coffee sometime, too. Do you think maybe in the future, we can?" He looked hurt while asking the question. The perfect combination of crazy, handsome, and hurt.
"Of course we can. We are friends, aren't we?" you asked him, hoping he knows the answer to that too. Because honestly, you don't understand the way you feel for him. No, not with this man, you don't.
He didn't answer the question.
Instead, he turned his back on you and started to walk away from the cafe.
You ran after him, afraid you will lose sight of him. You ran as fast as your feet can carry you.
You ran even when the rain started to fall, soaking your newly bought dress and the beautiful pair of new sandals Aki bought for you.
You ran in the rain without an umbrella because you apparently did not have the inclination to think about an umbrella while running in the rain. Your entire mind is occupied by him alone.
Your tears started to fall, your tears mixing uncomfortably with the rain. And you sobbed, pathetically as you called out his name.
And finally, there he is, just a few meters away from you. Getting himself soaked in the rain too.
His fiery hair became more prominent when drenched with the rain, it turned into something more like blood. Evil, sinister, disastrous, the way he looks just ruined your mind. It made you think of him alone, the beautiful, captivating, impossible Paris Le'blanc.
"Why did you leave without saying a word?" You had to shout for him to stop and hear you.
Some pedestrians became curious and looked at the both of you. They were thinking that you were having a couple's argument.
"What difference does it make? Would you rather I said goodbye?" He stopped walking and asked.
You can't see his face as his back was still turned away from you.
"Yes. I wanted to know you are safe. I wanted to know how you are. I was so worried about you. I was so scared because you suddenly left!" Your voice was hoarse from crying, silently hoping he can understand exactly what you were trying to say.
"Why does my absence even bother you? Shouldn't you be happy I was gone?" he asked.
"I don't know," you silently said, admitting a fact that made you bothered all this time. You don't know, what was it you feel for him. Wanting him close to you, needing to see him, and yet being so afraid of him that mere closeness of him makes your heart beat faster.
"Paris, please don't leave me. I don't know. I don't understand myself. Please, you must not leave."
Your heart feels so heavy. Like a million knives were piercing through your heart.
You don't understand why you feel this way.
The pain was sharp.
Such indescribable pain that you don't comprehend.
You tried to run after him but his steps were too fast.
Your knees fell on the cemented floor and you felt tears and rain in your cheeks as you silently wept for reasons you can't understand.
•••••••••••••••••••
Paris Le'blanc's POV:
She smiled at him.
She always gives away her smiles to the most annoying of people.
She smiled that way at Rin, too. And now she smiled that way at Daisuke, a man she just met.
I couldn't take another step towards them.
I was frozen to see her smile once again.
The problem in this picture is she's once again with another man.
Do I approach or do I just leave?
She never noticed anyway.
Never noticed when I am there.
Silly woman. Always insisting I am her friend.
Doesn't she know how painful it is to hear her call me her friend?
A friend is somebody I will never be. Especially not to her.
My precious little toy has spoiled my lunch. I have no appetite now.
I silently walked away from the cafe. I threw away my umbrella and let myself get drenched in the rain. Yes, I was a lunatic, the crazy artist people made me out to be. The warrior of death that easily throws away his life, so why does the rain caused me this indescribable pain as it landed on my skin.
No, the raindrops comfort me as cold drops of water pour on my skin, cooling me from the heat that was minutes ago pricking my eyes. Yes, the rain is good to me.
Then I heard her calling me.
She was searching for me.
She wants me to stay.
She asks me why I left her.
And I understood, it is not the rain that caused me pain. It was her. The beautiful chubby girl that a few minutes ago was on a date with another man. This weak, innocent girl I can easily kill if I so wanted.
Is she this dumb to not understand why I had to leave?
I asked her why my absence bothers her. She said she didn't know.
This situation is impossible.
A dumb woman and a stupid man.
We both can't admit how we feel. Because really, I can't even understand how I really feel.
So I walked away from her. Ignoring her plea and sobs that echoed through my heart.
She tried to run after me but her weak physical strength cannot keep up with mine. For a minute, I turned to face her, her hazel brown hair drenched in the rain as well, and her wet dress hugged her body like a prayer.
I felt my heart break into a million pieces when I heard her cry out my name as her knees buckled and she fell on the cemented floor.
I had to force myself to look away, no I should never look back. Not until I have it all figured out. The emotions she made me feel, I need to understand exactly what this means.
I gathered all the strength I have left to take another step away from her.
I cannot look back.
If I see her face again...
I know I can never leave her side.