Chapter 2 Unexpected story
Janice stepped clumsily into the main courtyard of her parents' house. For almost three months, Janice did not come to the house where she spent her childhood. For Janice, her apartment feels much more comfortable than a big house full of luxurious facilities. In her apartment, Janice can do whatever she wants. She doesn't have to feel awkward when she spends breakfast with her mother and her sister, who always ignore her presence.
"Miss? Are you coming home tonight?"
A maid came up to Janice with a confused look.
Janice gave a friendly smile, her hand stretched out to hand over the package she had packed neatly. Luckily Janice had a chance to see her mother's regular pastry shop when she was on her way.
"This is for you," Janice said.
The maid looked at Janice in confusion. Looks doubtful when receiving a gift from Janice.
"Just accept it," Janice spoke again with a smile, "and please serve this cake on a pretty plate." Janice also handed over another parcel. Chocolate-flavored cake that her mother liked very much.
"Miss Janice? Why are you here? Everyone is already waiting on the second floor." Then a senior maid who was quite familiar with Janice came and reprimanded her.
"Yeah, I'll be right there," Janice replied with a nervous smile.
Janice's footsteps trembled as she got closer to the living room. Janice seemed to want to go down the stairs and leave the house without meeting Julian.
But Janice had no other choice. She could not avoid her father's request.
"Janice?" Her father's response was the first voice Janice heard when she was in the doorway.
Janice sighed nervously. She felt breathless when everyone turned their gazes on her.
Her mother sat beside Callista, they were dressed in the same color. Looks beautiful in a simple dress that is perfect for a family dinner. Meanwhile, her father sat at the far end of the room, directly facing the entrance, so he could immediately know when Janice was coming. Meanwhile, to the left of his father was a man who was sitting quietly. He also stared at Janice for a moment, but there was nothing Janice could read from the flat gaze. And as if to show that he didn't care about Janice's presence, that man averted his gaze.
"Finally, she came. It seems she is very busy, so we have to wait a long time for the arrival of a Princess." Callista said. Her sister rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Sorry that I came late. The flower shop is busy because many customers want to buy flower bouquets." Janice started to get up the courage to get back on her feet.
Since there was no place left on the right, Janice was forced to take on the left. Right next to Julian.
"You're not late at all, Janice. We're all glad you finally came.." Her father smiled again.
"Dad, can I go back to my room?" Callista rose to her feet, looking sick of sitting in front of Janice.
"Sit down, Callista. Tonight Julian is coming to visit us. You must respect his arrival."
Janice lowered her head deeply. Trying hard to stay afloat even if she starts to feel uncomfortable.
"Since everyone has gathered, it seems I should immediately state the purpose of my coming here." Julian's voice was heard.
Janice's ears rustled when she heard his voice. For some reason Janice wanted to cry because she couldn't help but feel happy. After years of longing, Janice finally heard Julian's voice again.
"Of course, Julian. What do you want to say?"
Janice felt movement on the sofa next to her.
Without daring to raise her head to look at Julian, she felt her hand being grabbed suddenly. Julian gripped her hand tightly. Cold. His hand felt very cold, and his grip was getting stronger, making Janice look at him spontaneously.
Then .. that gaze pierced Janice's heart again. Makes her want to disappear and get as far away from this house as possible.
For every curse sentence that hurt her—Julian's gaze seemed to hurt Janice's feelings more. It was like watching him drown in his misery. It's as if Janice was the one who caused his suffering but was also the only one who could put an end to it. And unfortunately, Janice will never have the opportunity to put him out of his misery because of her stupidity in the past
"Let me marry Janice," said Julian firmly.
Janice flinched.
A short sentence said by Julian managed to make her lose the power to control herself. Her body was starting to overreact, her hands were sweating, and her legs were shaking with nervousness.
Julian… what did that guy just say? Is it true that Janice is dreaming? Is she in her own imaginary world?
"Are you crazy?!" Callista rose to her feet and glared at Julian angrily.
When she heard Callista's screams, Janice's consciousness returned. Callista's irritable reaction and her parents' shocked expression had managed to convince Janice that what she had just heard wasn't a figment that had formed in her mind. For a moment, Janice finally realized that she wasn't dreaming.
"Uncle, maybe this is very surprising. However, I will still ask your permission. So let me marry Janice." Julian repeated his sentence, giving a longer explanation, which surprised Janice even more.
"Julian.. this is very surprising for us."
Janice understood her father's response, which seemed confused. Not only her father but Janice also felt the same way.
"Janice is old enough to make her own decisions. Will you let me talk to Janice about this plan? Let her decide what she will choose." Julian tightened his grip on Janice's fingers.
Hearing his voice was enough to hurt Janice, but as if he still wanted to torture Janice, Julian instead asked for time to talk to her.
"You want to talk to Julian, Janice?"
Her father noticed that Janice was confused. That's why her dad was trying to make sure what Janice wanted to do.
"Are you guys crazy?!" Callista shouted again angrily.
"You want to talk to me, Janice?" Julian asked, looking Janice straight in the eye.
Janice fell back into his gaze. The shady highlight feels so sincere. Dark. It was so dark. It feels like Julian's eyes could drown her in the darkness of his heart.
Janice still remembers that since childhood, she really liked the color of Julian's eyes. It was pitch black as if to describe how mysterious he was.
After all the years and years of not being able to look him in the eye, Janice was again confronted by the dark shadow that made everyone feel trapped inside.
And like Janice's other stupidity, now she did the same thing when her head nodded slowly due to being hypnotized by Julian's eyes.
***
"Marry me .." Julian said in a cold voice.
Now his eyes no longer focused on Janice. Julian preferred to look the other way, seeming reluctant to interact with Janice's eyes.
"I don't understand," Janice spoke quietly.
"What part do you not understand?"
Janice stared at the swimming pool, which looked very calm. Tonight there are no stars or moon. The sky looks very dark. As dark as Julian's eyes, which always shone with sadness.
And as if it was an intentional arrangement by Julian, now they were talking at the end of the pool.
"Why should I?"
Julian chuckled softly. He lowered his head, stood parallel to Janice and faced the swimming pool, which reflected their reflections.
Even standing next to each other, Janice could feel the wide distance between them. As if to emphasize that no matter how close Janice stood beside Julian, she would never be able to reach him.
"Because you killed him?" Julian gave a sinister smile.
Immediately Janice felt that her legs were weak.
Janice should have realized why Julian had come to her house. Janice shouldn't have let her hopes fly too high. Should…. Janice should never have come back to this house.
"Cry?" asked Julian.
Janice smiled and wiped her tears that flowed uncontrollably. A snippet of an incident from the past seemed to have taken over her mind again, making she feel tormented by guilt.
"You cried after killing him? Is that fair, Janice?"
Janice wiped her tears again.
It seems like all the punishment she got was still not enough to heal the wound in Julian's heart. After receiving abuse, after being ostracized and left alone, Janice still has to face another punishment. A punishment that will not be easy for her. A punishment that would further destroy her. And this time, Janice will never find a way back out of it.
"Marry me. That's the only way I can keep you in my eyes so that you can never escape the circle of hate that I created." Julian spoke seriously.
In the anger she felt, Janice could still hear the quiver in Julian's voice.
"Don't torture yourself."
Janice dared to lift her head. Now she was looking at Julian from the side, paying attention to every detail of his expression.
"I've been tormented by what you've done, Janice. So now you have to pay for the sins you have committed."
Janice's eyes closed again.
This time, must she again endure a punishment? After so many years of seclusion, should Janice go back to living the painful days?
"You'll be in more pain if you marry me. Should we do this?" Janice asked, turning her head.
"You should suffer, not me," Julian answered with a sharp look that aimed straight at Janice.
"But you will suffer too, Julian!" Janice expressed her frustration.
"That's none of your business!" Julian pulled Janice's hand quickly, and without Janice knowing, she was already standing at the end of the pool with Julian's arm tightly gripped.
Janice took a deep breath. Trying to imagine fun things in the reflection of the pool water that looks pitch black.
Julian knows that Janice has a trauma with the pool. He knew how badly traumatized Janice was.
"Marry me and face your punishment. You can't live freely after killing him." Julian whispered softly into Janice's ear.
With her eyes still closed, Janice pleaded in her heart. Janice didn't want to make a fuss. She didn't want to scream in fear and have everyone come to give him concerned looks.
"Marry me, or I will let go of my hand, " Julian spoke again.
Janice shook her head quickly. Then unconsciously, an answer came out of Janice's lips. An answer that should be very inappropriate to express in this situation.
"No, don't let go of my hand. Please, don't let go of my hand!"