IT'S INEVITABLE

Everyone wants happiness, no one wants pain.

But, you can't have a rainbow without a little rain.

-Nico Edogawa-

**************

"Don't get close to me," Damon spoke rather harshly.

After saying that, he was in a rush to close the door since he didn't want to have further questions from the girl in front of him. Damon still has this mixed feeling toward Tarsa, even after a month has passed.

It was his duty to protect her, an obligation, yet that was it, he didn't want to get close to her, or knew more about her.

Aside from guarding her, he guarded himself up toward her.

He knew it was not right because as the protector you should know more about the Kairi that you protected. Be present for her, body and soul, yet Damon's soul was very heavy to accept Tarsa.

"Why can't I?" Tarsa stretched out her hand right at the same time when Damon closed the door, thus it was inevitable for her fingers to get caught in between the door and the door frames. "Aah!"

Hearing Tarsa's sharp scream and the sound of the boxes of chocolate falling to the floor, Damon turned his body quickly and saw Tarsa cradled her hand, in a split second he realized what he had done.

"Are you okay?" Damon immediately came to her and gently took her hand. "Let me see it," he said, worried on his face.

"I am fine," Tarsa muttered, she tried to push him away, because she felt irritated with his response earlier, but Damon held her hand firmly.

The protector frowned when he saw the skin on the back of her hand was red, if not treated immediately then it would become a bruise.

"Come here," Damon said, he pushed the door open and entered his room with Tarsa, who was still flustered with his sudden change.

Damon talked to her rather harshly earlier, but the way he treated her now was a hundred and eighty percent very different. He touched her lightly and spoke to her softly.

This was the first time Tarsa entered his room and watched how clean and tidy Damon's living place was, which put her into shame, even as a girl, her room was not this neat.

At first, the people in the Duvessa were adamant for her to stay there, but because Tarsa refused, as that place was totally strange for her, they relented and let her back to her own house.

Yet, the thing that caught her attention the most was how this room smelled. The scent of Musk, which was the same scent that Tarsa smelled from Damon, lingered in the air and for some reason, this scent became her favorite. It smelled nice and calming.

Damon let her sit on the single sofa, then went somewhere in his room and returned a minute later with a first aid box, he then knelt before her and took her hand gently.

"You don't need to do this, I am fine." It was her heart that was not fine. Her heart was beating so fast.

Tarsa had never encountered a moment like this. Wasn't this scene too romantic? She watched this kind of scene in the movie and could only imagine it, yet it happened to her now. Or, maybe she was just overthinking things when she saw concern in his dark eyes? He looked… sad.

"I am sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you," he said, as he dabbed cotton, which had alcohol on it, against Tarsa's back hand.

"It's okay, I know." And then silence, because Damon was too focused on treating her hand. "If we are going to see each other often, can you stop ignoring me?" Tarsa felt awkward every time Damon did that.

It almost felt like Damon actually didn't want to be with her, but because of his obligation, he was forced to do so, and for having someone who didn't want to be with you, yet did it regardless, the feeling was so awful.

"I didn't ignore you," Damon replied plainly, he blew the back of her hand after he put some ointment.

"Yes, you did." Tarsa retrieved her hand, she felt her heart would explode if he treated her any nicer than this. "You always did."

Damon raised his head, but he was still kneeling before her, the way that they were at eye level proved how tall this man was.

"I am sorry if you feel that way, but I never meant it." He stopped for a moment to gauge Tarsa's reaction and then added. "I just don't want us to get closer than this."

"Why?" Tarsa's voice was very soft, it almost sounded like a whisper. "Because I stole the heart of the previous Kairi?"

Tarsa stared deep into his eyes, looking for some change when she mentioned the previous Kairi, but all she could see was only coldness.

"No," Damon said, he stretched out his hand to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ears. "Because I don't want to get attached to you."

Damon didn't get to see Xierra for the last time since he was detained at the time she was cremated and was not able to say even a single 'goodbye' and how sorry he was for failing her.

The attachment was something painful when you knew it wouldn't last and there would be times it was severe.

"It's inevitable," Tarsa said, drowned in the sadness in his eyes. "Do you miss her?"

"Whether I miss her or not, it will not change anything," Damon replied and he meant his words. "It's time for you to go to bed." He stood up and stretched out his hand to help her. "Don't get your hand wet."

Tarsa took his hand, it felt warm and nice, and then stood up. Damon accompanied her until in front of her bedroom door.

"Good night Damon," Tarsa said.

"Good night Kairi," he replied.

"Can you just call my name? I am not comfortable with that title."

Damon did what she said. "Good night Tarsa."