Lover

I woke up being carried in someone's arms.

The blurry surroundings was the first thing I've noticed as I open my eyes. With a little movement of my eyes, I was able to glimpse the face of the man who is currently carrying me.

A sudden panic circulated in me when I realized I am in Akin's arms.

"Rain," I uttered a name for help but I can't find him near me.

Where is he? And where is Akin taking me?

His eyes flew to me and his running suddenly come to an abrupt halt. The sudden stop allowed more of my hair to wave. I inhaled hard and severe.

We stopped in the middle of an unfamiliar forest and I am... with a dangerous man.

"Who are you?" I asked him and his jaw clenched at that.

His chest is moving up and down, maybe because of his running but my questions cannot be stopped.

"Where are you taking me?"

I noticed how his hold on my legs loosen. My eyes flew to it and that's when I realized I am still wearing my dress. So this is still the continuation of that encounter. It was not just a bad dream...

His eyes were never on me the whole while so when he bowed to meet my eyes, I stopped breathing. And I noticed... they are not black anymore.

"I am Akin-"

"Stop pretending now!"

I am not fond of shouting in people's faces but with these fear and uncertainties on my mind, I was able to do it.

He firmly closed his eyes on my shouting before saying something that made a part of my chest contract. It is making me... guilty.

And I don't have an idea of I should.

"Have I really scared you?" his voice is gentle and I couldn't help but see the man I thought he is before.

Someone who kept years of distance from me because he knows I would feel awkward if he'll ever advance to me.

He was the one to wear the slippers he is holding earlier on my bare feet before placing me down on the ground.

I stepped back twice because in all honesty I am really scared by what he might do to me. And what he is.

I... do not know him.

"Did you kill my family?! Rain?!"

Are you going to kill me?

His eyes remained considerate of me despite my judgments of him.

"I didn't" he answered, his voice laced with dismay. He lightly shaked his head on himself and I caught darkness of his normal orbs.

As if he is viscious of something.

I craned my neck and turned around because if he really did not kill them, then it means they must be somewhere. But only the tall trees and consistent silence welcomed me!

"Then where...where are they?!"

"They are safe in the Relimenia, your brother secured them even before the enemies attack them"

I stopped in my tracks with his statement.

"That man is not my brother," I declared, fiercely convincing him and myself.

He shut his mouth at that and we remained silent for a moment. Absorbing our different situations and worries.

How can that be my brother?

And then the weird capabilities I kept disregarding sank into me.

My not normal hearing, my eyes that can see even from afar...I pinched myself to refrain from overthinking. I lifted my eyes on him and I immediately met his now tired but intent eyes which seemed to be waiting for me all this time.

"Can you still trust me?" he offered his hand to me.

Will I trust him?

"I...can't," I said truthfully.

He nodded, understanding my answer. He withdrew his rejected hand, placing it on his pocket. He is also still wearing his white longsleeves from yesterday.

He casually asked me a hopeful question again.

"Will you be comfortable if I'll be the one to take you there?"

I shaked my head on him to reject that idea. There? Where to...

"Alright then," he replied before allowing a safe distance between us. I immediately stared at the distance between us. Having a little clench somewhere.

"Ryelia will then escort you to your family," he said, and after that, a beautiful woman from the woods is already running towards us.

Just like him, her running is so fast that my hair moved when she suddenly appeared in front of me. Her eyes are immediately focused on me and I almost fall on my back when she proceeded to set her fangs out. But that didn't happen because a firm hand is immediately placed on my back.

Our eyes met and Akin immediately removed his hand on me.

"Wow, a love story," the girl suddenly chanted which broke the trance I am having.

My eyes roamed at her and I couldn't stop myself but be awed by her beauty. Her slender body, her skin... and her eyes. They are also red but I cannot find myself scared looking at it. Everything complements her well, even her all-black clothes.

"Do not be forward on her. She is still in the process of understanding things," Akin warned and the woman just rolled her eyes on him. Akin's eyes remained on her and I felt like they are having a conversation just by looking at each other's eyes.

I made an absent-minded effort to block his sight from the woman's eyes.

Akin then sighed looking at me.

His sudden stride closed our gap again and all I did is to stare at him as he proceed to tuck a few strands of my hair into my ear. He carefully inserted his hand into his pocket after grazing me.

Ryelia smacked his other hand. "Shoo!"

I looked back at her but she is already busy staring back at him. I looked sideways when I noticed their staring took longer than necessary.

"Yeah yeah whatever," she suddenly said and I am caught off guard when she effortlessly carried me in her arms to run fast, out of Akin's reach.

"Reprimanding lover," she hissed in the midst of running. And even with the blurring sight, I lifted my eyes to understand more of what she is saying. She caught me looking at her.

"He is my lover," she stated, and peeping at me is a taunting smile on her lips.

I closed my mouth tightly at that.

He is her lover?

Unmindfully, I withdrew my hold on her back.

I set it back, troubled by my sudden withdrawal.