FRIENDLY?

Too perfect to be just an ordinary one. Even her performance in the kitchen has became suspicious to their eyes. Her perfect hands are versatile. To an ordinary audience she look so amusing. But to someone of a different level, she's not simple at all.

"How's your leg?" Ryun asked with concern. "I noticed you were limping on one foot."

"This will pass," she assured him.

Ryun and Ichiro had seated themselves. Quietly they watched her finish the last dish and served it to them immediately.

"Next time when you find suspicious people around," Ryun firmly told her. "Don't act like a heroine in a story."

"I am sorry," she quickly replied. "But I got only one option since they have surrounded me. If I call for help and wait I might be the one in a bad shape..."

"That," Ryun took a sip from his soup. "You said you only know a bit of basics."

"Yes," she replied calmly.

"Then how did those guys got serious injuries?" Ryun asked.

"Young master," she sensed his suspicion. "You have installed security cameras in your home. I am afraid even if I tell you how I did it you won't believe me. So why not check the video and see for yourself?"

"She's got a point," Ichiro told him.

"Then I shall look into it later," Ryun told her. He then wiped the side of his mouth and finished eating.

Rose knows starting that night these men will be keeping a close eye on her. She had aroused suspicion in them. That wasn't something she had told Kai during the interview. She only said she can cook well and that she's an herbalist. Her fighting skills wasn't brought out. She somehow slipped and opened a little door exposing herself a bit.

Heaving a sigh she immeditely cleaned the table. The men had already left except for Ao who remained standing by the door.

"That's rare," Ao said aloud his thoughts. "For a girl to know such things as combat skills. Are you really just a chef?"

Rose maintained her composure. Hearing it from Ao she feared Ryun and Ichiro is also asking the same thing.

"Is it wrong to know a few basics to defend oneself?" Rose argued.

"No," Ao shook his head. "But you better not be lying young master Ryun hates liars and deceivers."

"I'll keep that in mind," she assured him.

In her little room, Rose rested herself. Her left leg is swollen. Painfully she sat up and applied cold compress. She had applied healing salve onto it to relieve the pain. Lucky that she had made healing salve ahead. She has medicinal concoctions too.

Groaning. She slowly moved herself on the bed adjusting to a comfortable rest.

Early the next day.

"How is your leg?" Ryun is surprised to see her preparing his meal. He and Ichiro had watched the video last night and had come up with a decision.

"Good morning young master," Rose greeted him with a cheerful heart. "My leg is getting better."

"That's good," Ryun is relieved. He stood by the counter and watched her make breakfast. Her hands were chopping onions in a quick manner. He noticed all ingredients were prepared and set aside for cooking.

She's making French Omelet with broccoli rice and sauteed potatoes on the side. She had also prepared freshly brewed lemon mint tea for him.

Watching her from behind, his curiosity grows deep. He wanted to know her.

"Young master," she told him. "Why don't you go and sit? I'll serve your meal now."

His eyes deeply stared at her before turning around. His heart feel nostalgic whenever he hears her voice.

"Rose," Ryun asked her when she had served the meal. "Do you know Seri Gomez?"

Rose paused for a moment. She bit her lip thinking what she has to say.

"No," she replied. "Why does the young master asked?"

"Your voice sound the same as her," Ryun answered quickly. He sliced the omelet and took a portion into his mouth to chew.

"Do I sound like her?" she asked curiously.

"Very alike," he replied and swallowed his food.

"So that's why," she thought.

"Why don't you go see a doctor to check your leg?" Ryun suggested.

"No need," she replied. "I already applied healing salve and drank pain relievers. This will heal in no time."

"Oh?" Ryun glanced at her.

"Young master it is almost time for you to leave otherwise you will be late for school," she told him pointing at the clock.

Surprised. He quickly finished his meal and hurried to brush his teeth before leaving.

Ao is patiently waiting at the driveway for him.

'I sure stirred things up,' she sighed. 'I need Sai around. I feared things will be troublesome in the future.'

"Ao," Ryun talked to him privately. Ichiro had already gone ahead.

"Yes young master?" Ao asked.

"Have you noticed anything from Rose?" Ryun inquired. "Anything suspicious."

Ao paused for a bit thinking. She had been with them for just a day. Today is the second.

"Only last night was the most suspicious," Ao replied. "Back when young master Kai evaluated her, there is nothing we could find. Except that she's really talented and skillful."

"I see," Ryun nodded.

"Do you want me to keep an eye on her?" Ao suggested.

Ryun felt at ease. Having Ao to closely watch her will surely make a little turn. The guy is good in digging things up too. She might not be aware of Ao to be investigating her too. Ryun is confident of it.

"What took you so long?" Ichiro frowned at him.

"Sorry," Ryun apologetically replied.

"I just chatted with Antoine Gomez," Ichiro told him. "He has become all too friendly now."

"Oh?" Ryun is surprised. "That's new."

"Yeah," Ichiro agrees. "Well, he only came to ask if we had seen his cousin Seri."

"Seri?" Ryun is surprised. "Why would he ask you that?"

"Seri has run away," Ichiro answered with a sigh. "That's what he told me. And to know you had made a friend of her then he hopes you might know of her whereabouts. The guy is really worried. It has been five years since she left."

"Five years?" Ryun is in shock.

"Yes," Ichiro nodded. "They didn't thought of it as a concern since she said she had gone back to her biological family for a vacation. The latter she said she is already working so there is no need to worry. But this year she had completely cut her communications with them. Her biological brother had appeared on the Gomez' front door and they had nothing to tell him about whether she's fine or if she is still alive."

Ryun though for a moment. He analyzes the situation. In his head he counted the years and deeply thinks. A statement of a friend flashed before his eyes.

"She's an orphan. Manager took her in five years ago and had taken care of her like his own child."