Hard To Pull Away

Luca was out of words watching Darah standing under the dim street light ahead of a storm. Her face was almost overshadowed by the darkness, only a single drop of what looked like a tear rolling down her cheek. He got out of the car slowly since she hadn't noticed his arrival. 

Darah couldn't process what she had said when she carelessly lashed out at Ryu just minutes ago. The fact that she used the word "love" made her even more embarrassed and disgusted with herself. The very fact that she felt like her attraction for him could be compared to love repulsed her. Why did I even say that? Love? Was that what love felt like? I shouldn't have said something so stupid. Now I look even more like an idiot.

"Darah. Get in, it's way too cold." 

Luca's voice made her jump suddenly, looking at his direction with horror in her wide brown eyes which had just quit a slight sobbing session. Luca knew Ryu was here. At least that was what his boss had told him. To get her home because he couldn't pick her up for some stupid reason. She nodded faintly and followed him. The first few minutes were filled with an eerie silence.

"Do you want to see your parents?" Luca asked genuinely, seeing how she looked like a frightened toddler who was being picked up from school after a fight. 

"W-What? Why, no! Why would I want to see them?" She scoffed, looking away in irritation. But honestly deep inside she wished someone would truly calm her down. 

"You hate your parents?" Luca asked but noticing her silence, he felt like he'd crossed his boundaries.

"I'm sorry for asking that. I shouldn't be anyways." 

"No… It's fine. It's not like you're a stranger to me." Darah smiled faintly and it somehow eased the pressure in his mind. He smiled back and looked back at the road. 

"Your smile reminds me of my little sister. It's just very much like her's…" Luca's smile widened as he said that, turning to look at Darah who's eyes were looking at him in silent shock. 

"What, you didn't expect me to have a family!? Man, I miss seeing them." He chuckled, looking back.

"N-No! No no I just didn't expect you to talk about them… happily." She shook her head, not understanding a word of what she just said. 

"Ah… Maybe we should talk more about our families if that's what you like."

"No, that would be a bad idea." She giggled, looking out of the window. From the reflection she could see Luca's positive smile still not fading.

"I don't really hate my parents. I just don't love them the way you love yours." She looked back to see Luca nodding in an understanding way.

"Does that sound bad to you?" 

"No, not at all. I can understand… You must have your reasons." 

Luca's words made her smile warmly. At least someone understands. But as the car advanced into the giant mansion, her heart sank into the pit of her stomach. When she got out, a pile of large fingers ruffled over her hair making a mess out of it. Darah looked back to see Luca giggling at her flustered face. 

"Now smile." He mumbled sweetly, pinching her baby cheek. 

"Luca!" Darah whined, fixing her hair but slowly broke into a childish smile.

"No problem!" He waved as she went to the entrance. A certain someone watched the whole scenario with empty eyes and stepped away from the window. He walked away from the distasteful sight and aimed for the stairs unbothered. Suddenly Mrs Ruo came running behind her with a bowl of rice and another bowl of egg rolls with little side dishes on it's side.

"Young master! How long are you going to keep fasting! This is unfair!" 

"What is? I didn't ask to be fed. I'll eat when I feel like it." Ryu muttered in irritation as the old lady trailed behind him desperately. If his father got to know he'd been keeping this up then he'd surely fire her! 

A faint sound of footsteps could be heard in the hall but Ryu ignored it and continued walking up the stairs to his room. Mrs Ruo still hadn't given up on him.

"Young master!" 

"Enough!" He yelled, his cold eyes glaring into her soul. The old lady felt electrified on spot but seeing her reaction made him rethink what he just did. After all, she truly cared for him. But then a new figure appeared before his eyes at the bottom farthest end of the hall making his hand grip tightly over the wooden railing. Darah froze seeing his intense gaze towards her before he stormed off into his room. 

"Good lord I'd rather not live than hear that again!" Mrs Ruo sighed as she kept a hand to her chest and hurried downstairs. Seeing Darah she hopefully huddled close to her indifferent self. 

"My child. I'm getting awfully worried about young master! Can you please get him to eat just once! He isn't listening to me so please!" 

Darah placed a palm to her face and took a deep breath. Looking at Ruo she definitely felt saddened by her worry but there was no way she wanted to step in.

"Mrs Ruo. Your young master isn't a child anymore. I'm sure he can eat by himself." Darah tried to sound as indifferent as she could but she couldn't deny that she wanted to check on him just once. Even then the attempt would be futile. Her wish was to get away from him, not get closer. 

"But child-"

"I'm sorry." Darah whispered, holding her hand softly with sad eyes. Then she went ahead upstairs, seeing his room shut against her. She ignored the lingering disappointment and headed into her room only to be caught off guard by some new articles scattered over her bed. She slowly neared the extravagant looking boxes and opened them slowly only to be met with pure shock. Diamonds. Just a bunch of diamond jewellery all over her bed!? She didn't understand if she should be feeling angry or sad at the sight. What was he even trying to do!? Is he trying to buy me with his money!? Does he think I can be bought!? The more she thought about it the more it became clear to her mind that Ryu Sheng was looking more like an idiot than ever. She angrily took the boxes and approached his room, fuming in anger. The door opened steadily, making her meet eyes with the cold black orbs which looked unapologetic in any sense. 

"What are these? I suppose these were mistakenly sent to my room?" Darah said as she placed it over his table, trying her best not to sound angry. Ryu instead took the boxes and opened her hand, keeping it over one by one. 

"I'm not mistaken. It's for you." He said casually, as if that would make her calm down. Darah spitefully kept it back over his table and glared into his eyes. 

"Is this… one of your useless attempts at trying to make me stay!? I'm sorry but these? For me? Seriously?" Darah gestured to herself and said it as if she were disgusted in herself and it snapped Ryu in a very wrong way. One moment she's confident and the next she hated herself.

"What's with the self depreciation? Yes, for you. What about it!?" He glared, holding her wrist. 

"I'm sorry Ryu but the way it looks to me right now is as if you see me as some toy to be bought!" She shook her hand out of his grip and spat angrily, making his eyes widen in disappointment. Toy? The word didn't sit right with him at all. 

"What are you on about!?"

"Of course you wouldn't understand! You just see me as some easy thing that you can get a hold on just for the sake of your free time!" 

She was shivering by the time she said it, her lips trembling as she was unable to hold in her tears. Ryu was left speechless at her other wordly conclusion.

"Toy? A thing? I don't see any of those when I look at you. What made you think of that?" Ryu looked clearly disappointed but when he looked at her he could only see fear in her eyes. She looked as if she couldn't believe what he just said. Why was he making her assumptions wrong right when she needed to get away from him?

"Why would I take you for a Toy? You're very much real. The realest person I've ever seen..." He whispered genuinely as he placed both his hands over her shoulders.

He pulled her closer to his chest, somehow making her relax instantly. That in itself was a bad sign for Darah. That she found it so hard to break away from him.