I blinked, unsure how to respond. Ran's gaze was unwavering, and the sincerity in his tone left me feeling both flustered and intrigued. Convince me? What did he mean by that?
"Ran, this isn't… it's not that simple," I said, trying to sound firm despite the nervous flutter in my chest. "The sessions were one thing, but this—this is personal. I don't think I—"
"Nat," he interrupted, his voice calm but insistent. "I'm not asking for anything complicated. I just want you to stick around. No rules, no expectations—just… stay."
I frowned, still skeptical. "Stay as what? Your friend? A replacement for your bodyguard? What are you really asking for?"
Ran tilted his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Do I really need to put a label on it right now? All I know is that I like having you around. You make things feel… normal. And I haven't felt that in a long time."
I hesitated, my mind racing with conflicting thoughts. Was he being genuine, or was this just another whim of his? And if it was genuine… what did that mean for me?
"Ran, I don't belong in your world," I said quietly. "We're too different."
He laughed softly, shaking his head. "I think you underestimate how much I need a little difference in my life. My world? It's suffocating, Nat. You… you make it bearable."
The vulnerability in his words caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn't know what to say. His eyes searched mine, waiting for a response.
"Okay," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.
Ran's expression brightened, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Okay?"
I nodded, still unsure but unable to deny the strange pull I felt toward him. "But only on one condition."
He raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "And what's that?"
"No more dragging me into your bed during naps," I said, crossing my arms in mock sternness.
Ran burst out laughing, the sound warm and unrestrained. "Deal," he said, holding out his hand.
I stared at his outstretched hand for a moment before shaking it, feeling a mix of uncertainty and hope. Whatever this was—whatever it could become—it felt like the start of something neither of us had fully expected.
——————————
A few days later: When I agreed to the agreement that Ran offered I didn't think the guy will go this crazy, I mean who shows up at someone's work stays there until closing time so they can take you home?
This dude was insane, he will constantly show up at my jobs sight unannounced, show up at my house barging in like he owned the place, took Mae and Mali out for treats without my permission and blew my phone up 24/7.
Does he ever get tired?!
I sighed, glancing at my phone as yet another text from Ran popped up.
Ran: What are you doing?
Ran: Did you eat lunch?
Ran: Don't ignore me, Nat. I know you've seen my messages.
I groaned, putting my phone on silent and shoving it into my pocket. If I didn't respond, he'd probably just show up at the restaurant again like he had the past three days. My coworkers had started teasing me about my "rich boyfriend," and no matter how much I denied it, their knowing looks never wavered.
"Nat, table five needs their check," Yuri called out, smirking at me. "Or should I handle it? You seem a little… distracted."
"I'm fine," I grumbled, grabbing the bill and heading toward the table.
Just as I dropped off the check, the sound of the door chime drew my attention. There he was—Ran, strolling in like he owned the place, his usual confident smirk plastered on his face.
"You've got to be kidding me," I muttered under my breath.
"Nat!" he called out, waving obnoxiously as he made his way to the counter. A few of my coworkers giggled, and Yuri raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the show.
"What are you doing here again?" I asked, crossing my arms as he leaned casually against the counter.
"Picking you up, obviously," he said, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"I don't need a ride. I can get home just fine on my own," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Yeah, but where's the fun in that?" he countered, tilting his head. "Besides, I already made plans for us. We're having dinner at my place."
"I'm not having dinner with you." I hissed,
glancing around to make sure no customers were listening.
"Why?" He asked his brows furrowed, I let out a sigh of stress, "let's have this conversation outside, wait for me to clock out."
Ran raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by my reaction. "Fine," he said, stepping back with his hands in his pockets. "I'll be waiting outside. Don't take too long."
I turned away, feeling the stares of my coworkers burning into my back. Yuri gave me a smug smile as I passed her. "So, dinner at his place, huh?" she teased.
"Don't start," I muttered, grabbing my bag from my locker and clocking out. My heart was already pounding, and I didn't need her adding fuel to the fire.
When I stepped outside, Ran and P'Sang were standing by the car. Ran was laughing at what the Beta said, his hands gently brushing against the Beta's biceps. His usual habit, I don't know why but the scene made me irritated.
"Great your here, let's go." He said as he spotted me, "I'm not having dinner with you, I have a mom and sister I need to go and take care of." I shit back.
"You're mom said it was fine, so I don't see the problem." He replied.
"The problem is you doing what you please, you make plans with informing me, barge into my work place with no warning, and drag me around like I'm a dog." I spilled letting everything out, "I don't appreciate that, if you want to be my so called friend you should respect my boundaries."
Ran stood there his early confidence turning into sadness and somewhat guilt, "let's go P'Sang." He mumbled under his breath as he opened the car door and entered.
P'Sang shooting me a death glare hopped in the car and drove off.
As the car sped away, a strange weight settled in my chest. I crossed my arms, feeling both relieved and uneasy. Ran's reaction was unexpected—no retort, no witty comeback, just… silence. It wasn't like him to back down so easily.
Yuri appeared beside me, watching the car disappear down the road. "Yikes. That didn't look like it went well," she commented, her voice laced with curiosity.
I shrugged, trying to play it off. "It's nothing. He needed to hear it."
"Uh-huh," she said, unconvinced. "You sure you're okay? You look like someone just stole your puppy."
"I'm fine," I replied firmly, though the knot in my stomach said otherwise. "I'm heading home."
Yuri didn't push, and I made my way back alone. The walk home was quiet, but my thoughts weren't. I replayed the moment in my head, over and over. The look in Ran's eyes before he got in the car—it wasn't anger or annoyance. It was hurt.
By the time I got home, the guilt had taken root. Mae greeted me at the door with a warm smile. "Nat, you're back early. Did something happen?"
"Nothing important," I said, brushing past her. "Where's Mali?"
"She's drawing in the living room. Why?" Mae's voice carried a hint of worry, but I waved it off.
"No reason. I just need a moment."
I closed my bedroom door and leaned against it, exhaling slowly. Why did it feel like I had crossed some invisible line? Ran had been overbearing, sure, but did he really deserve that level of anger from me? He was trying—in his own strange, over-the-top way. And maybe… maybe I had been too harsh.
I shook my head, trying to clear the guilt. Ran would get over it. He always did. Right?
But a small voice in the back of my mind whispered: What if this time, he doesn't?
————————————
Ran's POV:
As P'Sang drove, the silence in the car felt heavier than usual. I stared out the window, watching the city blur past, my thoughts spinning in circles. Nat's words kept playing over and over in my head. Drag me around like I'm a dog. Respect my boundaries.
I clenched my jaw, trying to swallow the bitter feeling in my chest. "You know, you don't have to stay quiet just because I'm sulking," I said, breaking the tension.
P'Sang glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his expression unreadable. "Not sulking, just processing," he replied dryly. "But since you brought it up, yeah, that was rough."
I sighed, leaning back in my seat. "I didn't mean to upset him. I just… I wanted to make him feel cared for, you know? He works so hard. He never lets himself breathe."
"There's a difference between caring for someone and suffocating them," P'Sang said bluntly, his tone firm but not unkind. "You don't give him room to make his own decisions, Ran. People don't like feeling controlled, even if your intentions are good."
I didn't respond immediately. He was right, but hearing it didn't make it sting any less.
"I just thought…" My voice faltered, and I looked away. "I thought he'd understand that I'm trying. That I want him around, not just for the sessions, but… more."
P'Sang let out a quiet sigh as he turned onto the estate road. "Ran, you're an overthinker. Instead of showing him how you feel, you're smothering him. You need to step back, give him space, and let him come to you. Otherwise, you're just going to push him away."
We pulled into the driveway, and I stayed in the car for a moment after P'Sang got out. His words were still echoing in my head.
Space. How could I give him space when the thought of being away from him for even a day felt unbearable?
As I finally stepped out of the car, I made my way to my room, collapsing onto the bed without bothering to turn on the lights.
What if I already ruined everything? What if he doesn't want to come back?
For the first time in a long time, I didn't have an answer. And that terrified me.
—————————
3 days later:
As I sat in my art studio scribbling something in my sketchbook I kept constantly checking my phone hoping for a text or a call from Nat, but three days had passed and there was no call or text from him.
I took P'Sang's advice and gave him space but 3 days was too long, did he really hate me now?
"Enough with checking your phone!" P'Sang who was standing a few feet away from me walked over and grabbed my phone, "give it back, he might text or call soon." I said.
"It's been three days, it's obvious he wants nothing to do with you." She stated.
"You were fine without him in your life before, and you will still be fine now."
I stared at P'Sang, his words hitting me harder than I wanted to admit. "That's easy for you to say," I muttered, standing up and pacing the room. "You don't get it."
He crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. "Oh, I get it. You're obsessed with him, and now that he's not around, you don't know what to do with yourself."
I stopped pacing and glared at him. "It's not like that."
"Isn't it?" P'Sang shot back. "You've been moping for three days, barely eating, barely sleeping, and obsessively checking your phone. You're not doing him or yourself any favors like this."
I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling under the surface. "You told me to give him space, and I'm doing that. But what if he thinks I don't care? What if he thinks I've just… moved on?"
P'Sang sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Ran, you can't control how he feels. Giving him space means trusting that if he wants to come back, he will. And if he doesn't…"
I cut him off. "He will. He has to."
The silence that followed was deafening. P'Sang looked at me, his expression softening slightly. "I know you care about him, Ran. But you need to care about yourself, too. Go for a walk, paint something, do anything other than obsess over your phone."
I took a deep breath, "P'SANG!" I cried as I fell into his arms P'Sang caught me as I collapsed into his arms, my emotions overwhelming me. "Ran," he said softly, his voice steady but laced with concern, "you can't keep doing this to yourself."
"I don't know what to do," I mumbled into his chest, my voice cracking. "I just… I don't want him to hate me. What if I ruined everything?"
P'Sang sighed, his strong arms steady as he held me. "You know I care for you right?" He gently wiped my tears, I slightly nodded. "So do this for me, because if you get sick I'll be the one in trouble. If you get back on a healthy diet, I'll go talk to Nat for you."
I pulled back slightly, staring up at P'Sang with a glimmer of hope. "You'd do that for me?" I asked, my voice trembling.
He gave me a small, reassuring smile. "Of course. You're like family to me, Ran. I can't stand to see you like this. But you have to meet me halfway. Get some rest, eat properly, and stop obsessing over things you can't control. Deal?"
I hesitated, chewing on my bottom lip. The thought of not being in control made my chest tighten, but the idea of P'Sang talking to Nat on my behalf eased some of the anxiety. Finally, I nodded. "Okay. Deal."
"Good." P'Sang placed his hands on my shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze. "Now, go take a shower and eat something. I don't want to see you wasting away over this."
I let out a small, watery laugh. "You sound like my mom."
"Well, someone has to look out for you," he said, a teasing edge in his voice. "Now go."
TBC