33. My Territory, My Place

Abruptly, the man turns to face her, like a flashy speed, he draws Naya nearer to stop by the flat stone. A tonne of fear grip her instantly, her eyes blink severally, not about the way he moves in speed but her heart quake as it was too sudden for her.

The man seems frustrated, he curve his head down on her, gripping by her waist, Naya bit her lower lip, a grievous aura showered her.

She fearfully tilts to see how dreadful and scary he could be and leaps down the lumps in her throat along, clipping her lips.

His eyes are familiar, she had met it once, her head whine to recall,

"You?!" She screeched pointing at him stunningly, then, staggered back, almost collapsing.

Whereas, the man held her tighter, her eyes blinking involuntarily while parting her lips to whisper,

"The ocean blue eyes man at the market!?"

She was aghast.

Seems the man is surprised too, his head nod slightly, "Uhn!" He releases her and sits on the flat stone.

Naya stiffened on her stand; Why does she have to quiver after getting closer to him? She avoid his gaze and clenches her fists as her hands shook nervously.

The man wasn't staring at her face nor was he gazing astray but his gaze prowls within the half part of her body.

Is he inspecting her? Naya furrowed her brows.

"You were that rude boy." He hushed and glare at Naya at once.

Naya rolls her eyes up, scolding. So he had a bad impression of her from their first encounter. This is bad.

Bad that she won't be able to get help, how can she get on his good side? She needs to go back home on time. She brainstorms while hiding her fidget, then, hush her voice manly. Her gaze went down on him with her eyes reviving into seriousness,

"Actually, I'm not rude, not the way you've thought... I was just scared,"

The man nods twice, he has this comforting aura that Naya completely compiles with him, she found her body calming.

"Scared? Why?" His brows make a complex frown.

Naya smirk, how can he ask why she was scared when he could see for himself? "tsk! tsk! Are you not from this neighborhood? His Lordship, of course, he used to pick..."

Realizing what she was about to say, she clipped her lips and scold. Her tongue is about to slip, what grievous mistake she was about to make? "Uhn!" She cleared her throat, composing more manly.

"That day, I came to get something for my sister but seeing the palace guards and the carriage, I have to rush to her for her safety,"

She lied, if she want to leave here safely either, she has to lie and since this was the exact story she told the old man, she has to trend on it.

Naya! You're getting more notorious! She heard Nick's voice in her head. Right away, she smiles inwardly.

"So sorry I was rude to you... but you can't judge someone at first sight... I hope you can help me out from here," She said simply, more innocent in her gaze and her head bowed to the man like a humble servant.

"Good! And your sister, is she safe?"

His sudden concern makes Naya go numb, instantly, her conscience itch that results in resentment, how can his caring pour this in her heart?

"Yes!" She whispered with a nod.

"So... You are scared of the king's guards... why?"

The man asked, what horrify Naya was his ocean blue eyes that converge on her, there is a way it affects her inwardly. Aside, his face was saying something she did not understand, or is he trying to know if she Is lying?

Suddenly, Naya steps back, it seems she can't hold herself any longer, the intimate closeness is killing her inwardly.

She nudges her head sideways and replies ranting with questions,

"Aren't you scared? Don't you see how that shop owner panic? I can't fall victim as well nor allow my sister to fall victim. I heard any female who was taken by them never return home... How won't I be scared?"

"You are a man you won't understand,"

Her tongue slipped.

She holds her breath and scolds the more. She feels so stupid, —ever since she has been disguising as a male, she has not spoken for a long time with a man before, she scolds for not playing it perfectly,—

She hardens her jaw with the fear of just exposing herself.

"What?!" The man scoffed.

Immediately, Naya waves her hands sarcastically across the man's face while her face shrinks as if tasting an unripe orange, "I meant you are a big man, you are huge... besides, sometimes people who met me for the first time do confuse me with a female. I was scared those guards might think the same of me? I had to run."

"But I'm glad you recognized me as a male at first sight. Not everyone has that eyes," She laughs sarcastically to quench her nerve.

How can you lie perfectly Naya! She heard Nick whispering in her head, her cheeks were about to puff out into a smile but the man interrupted her with a soft luring voice,

"Who doesn't know?"

Naya shuddered, "Uhn?!"

"Little boys and girls look alike when they are still kids," The man buttressed,

This way her swaying heart relaxed. "Oh! but..." Her teeth grin, displeasing,

She feels her ego has been trampled upon, how can he refer to her as a little kid huh? Her face fell, she can't let him know... But if this is the way the man thinks of her and won't harm her, then, she will agree she's a little kid.

Just for tonight.

Her head nods with witty smiles, "Kids of different gender truly look the same,"

She turns away from him, roaming around as her legs march, "But what's this place? You said you're not trapped and you don't look like being trapped either, how did you get here?"

Naya thought the man will not reply but he does, "This is my territory, my place... How will I get trapped?"

She smirks, her instinct feels the man was tracing her, due to that, she walks manly,

"You live inside this mountain? Don't you have a home? I saw it disappear once and then reappear today,"

She return to the man, "How did you do that?"