Let Me Go

"I know you love me, Kai, and don't want or need all of that," Lianne explained and was relieved to feel that his stiff body was relaxing a bit.

He really had been utterly upset at what she told him, huh.

But he had to know that even if he didn't see it as a big deal, the Sheng's would.

"Our feelings may be strong now, but will that stand the test of time? If I can't stand proudly next to you, I'll be dissatisfied. Cracks will appear. I don't want that. If you can't give me the courage to stand next to you, I won't have the courage to stay with you."

"By not including me in your plans, I'll feel that you don't trust me," Lianne continued to explain, "I know you are capable to fight the Shengs, but if you can't bring me in your journey to do so, then let me go now, Kai."

She looked at him, finding that saying those words made her sadder than she ever thought possible. It had only been a few days since his confession and she hadn't really been with him much, so why did she feel so strongly about him?

If this is how it was within a week, and after spending a night together, how would it be like as time goes on?

She was suddenly deathly afraid.

She felt she was falling too hard, too fast.

"Let me go before I fall more for you," Lianne said in a whisper now, gripping his shirt as tears threatened to fall.

Kai's heart clenched at her words but at the same time, his brain was rejoicing.

Fall more?

Fall more?!

Does this mean, she had already fallen for him?!

Kai looked down at her, to see her head bowed down and he wanted to ask for confirmation but was now in conflict.

She had bared her heart to him and now was not the time to ask about her feelings.

He had to reassure her.

But it wasn't easy.

He didn't want to make empty promises because he knew himself well.

He simply didn't know how to share and talk things out with another person.

He gulped.

But he had to learn, didn't he?

Kai closed his eyes as he took a deep breath and said, "Give me time, Lianne."

Lianne didn't answer, but just waited for him to speak.

"I'll .. try," Kai said softly, "So don't give up on me."

"Okay," Lianne said, equally softly, "But you'll have to accept me asking you and you can't delay this for too long."

Kai nodded, then realised that she wouldn't be able to see him do that so he said out loud, "Okay."

"For now, I'll arrange some security details for you," Kai said, "Just to play safe."

Lianne laughed at that.

Kai frowned and leaned back a bit to look at her, "Why is that so funny?"

"Kai, really?" Lianne looked up at him, "In the last three months when you were looking for me, didn't you think it strange that none of the men you sent out to find me never could?"

"I just thought they were incompetent …" Kai began then stopped.

He had brushed aside their failures and did not consider any other possibility. But that was based on the fact that he had taken Lianne to be a normal person.

But with her saying that, and then him remembering her connection to Kyle … was there something more?

She had Kyle protecting her?

Would he really put such resources on her? Why would he need to do so? Was she in so much danger?

She said that other than Zero, Kyle had a special place in her heart but that didn't mean she had a special place in Kyle's heart. She was only his sister-in-law, right?

Kai felt like he was missing something but he couldn't quite connect the dots.

It just didn't seem to make sense.

But what was obvious, was the fact that Lianne wasn't as 'unprotected' as it seemed.

"You have bodyguards?" Kai asked tentatively.

"Yes," Lianne replied.

Kai stared at her.

It wasn't just the fact that she had bodyguards, but the fact that he never realised she had bodyguards.

He never sensed their presence.

"They're always around?" Kai asked.

"Well, let's just say that whenever I'm out of the apartment, I'm never alone," Lianne replied.

Lianne could see the utter confusion in his eyes as he tried to understand what she had told him, and that was to be expected.

She, a seemingly ordinary person, had such security detail that is normally for the rich and powerful?

Lianne wanted him to think about it a bit and patted him on the chest, "We'll talk about this some other time, okay? You'll be late for work if you don't go now."

Kai looked at his watch and flung his head back in annoyance.

Never before had he been so reluctant to go to work. Not only because he had to leave his Angel, but he was going with so many questions in his mind.

Who was she, really?

He looked at her and thought … it didn't matter.

Lianne, was Lianne.

His Angel.

He gave her a kiss and asked, "Can I come again tonight?"

Lianne raised an eyebrow, "You sure about that?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because if you do, be prepared to talk," Lianne said, "If you're not ready yet, then it's best that you don't."

The last thing that Lianne wanted was to get so caught up in their feelings for each other that they don't talk. It would be so easy to just think 'things will be fine' when they felt so attracted to each other.

But not talking it out will only create bigger problems in the future.

Heck, she didn't even manage to ask him about those kisses that had been stolen from him. That had been the one thing on her mind the night before, but it all went out the window once Kai came over.

She had no doubt that the same thing could happen again.

That they'd just enjoy each other's company and not talk. She'd rather talk while enjoying each other's company, but that would not happen unless they made a conscious effort to do so.

If he wasn't ready to share, then it won't happen.

If she let it be, it may never happen - or take a long time to happen.

So this was the only way to force him to take it seriously and not just put it aside for the time being.

The Sheng's, after all, wouldn't wait.

Lianne waited patiently for Kai's answer.