I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HIM.

Chapter 8

After I left for the airport, my heart felt unbearably heavy. I couldn’t stop the tears from forming. I looked to my left—and there he was. Ju Long, walking in through the entrance.

I didn’t smile. I didn’t wave. I didn’t even look at him properly. I didn’t have the heart to talk to him. Maybe I’m just too sensitive. Still, something inside me hoped he wouldn’t approach.

But he did.

I tried to change my seat, pretending to be distracted by my phone, but he stood beside me anyway.

“Bharathi, I want to talk to you,” he said softly.

“I think we don’t have anything to talk about, sir,” I replied coldly.

“Sir?” His eyebrow arched in disbelief.

“Yes, sir. You’re my boss, and I should show you the proper respect. Shouldn’t I?”

“Bharathi, enough. Let’s stop this here,” he said firmly.

“I think we already have nothing left to stop,” I muttered, refusing to meet his eyes.

“I know I hurt you. I’m sorry for that,” he said, his voice cracking just a little. “But please, don’t leave me. I’m coming with you. I promise, from now on, I’ll never hurt you again. I can’t live without you. Take me with you, babe... please,” he pouted.

(Well... even I can’t understand him. Just hours ago, he yelled at me like a villain. Now he’s pouting like a baby.)

“Where’s Min Ai?” I asked sharply.

“I’m the one who came searching for you,” he said.

“But she’s the one who told you I was at the airport, right?”

“Ha... yeah,” he chuckled softly. “See? My friend always puts me first. Ju Long, you loser… stay away from her.” I turned around to see Min Ai standing there, arms crossed, smiling faintly.

“What? She’s my girlfriend,” Ju Long protested.

“At first, she was my friend. So shut the fuck up,” Min Ai snapped.

They began to bicker like children again. I sighed heavily and interrupted.

“Guys, I have a flight in ten minutes. See you.” I turned to Min Ai, looking her straight in the eyes.

“And Min Ai... I am deeply disappointed in you.”

Her smile vanished. Her eyes dropped to the floor, and I could see something shift in her. She opened her mouth, and for once, no sarcasm came out.

“I know... and I deserve that,” she said quietly. “But believe me, Bharu… it’s more complicated than you think.”

“Complicated?” I asked. “Then why didn’t you talk to me instead of pushing me away like I meant nothing?”

She hesitated, then whispered, “I was afraid. I didn’t want you to get involved in something dangerous. Please… just trust me this once.”

I looked at her for a long second. Part of me wanted to hug her, to believe her words. But the cold shoulder she gave me all this time still stung.

So I gave her a cold nod and turned away.

“Am I invisible to you now too?” Ju Long asked with a sad expression.

“Yes,” I replied. “Because you treated me like shit an hour ago. Did you forget that already?”

“I’m really sorry, Bharu. I know I messed up. Please… forgive me.”

I didn’t respond.

“Can I come with you, Bharu?” he asked.

I hesitated. My heart still craved for him.

“Well, it’s a great idea, Ju Long,” Min Ai chimed in quickly.

I looked at her, disappointed again.

“Come on, Bharu. Give him one more chance,” she urged gently.

I sighed, turning away. “Okay… I’ll wait at the counter. As for the flight ticket, I’ll take care of it,” Ju Long said.

After I walked off, I heard her whisper to him, “Keep your eyes on her. Don’t let her go alone. Be careful. I’ll handle everything here. And don’t let her talk to him.”

“Should we tell her?” Min Ai asked in a hushed voice.

“No. If he finds out she knows the truth, he’ll kill her. It’s better she doesn’t know,” Ju Long replied.

“Ju Long, are you coming or not?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming, babe.”

After boarding the flight, I kept feeling like someone was following me. It was a strange, uneasy sense of being watched.

“Ju Long, wake up!” I nudged him. “Come on, wake up!”

He groaned and opened his eyes sleepily. “What is it, babe?”

“I feel like someone is staring at me,” I said, nervous.

“It’s nothing, bae. Just your imagination,” he mumbled. “By the way, where’s your locket?”

“Ah… I hid it under my T-shirt.”

“Come on, bae… It looks cute on you. Don’t hide it,” he smirked. “You’re only allowed to hide me in your T-shirt.”

“Woah. I’m dating a pervert,” I muttered, rolling my eyes, but butterflies fluttered in my stomach.

“Okay, babe. How are you going to introduce me to your mom?” he asked.

“Well, I already talked about you with my mom. She’s kinda okay with it. But my dad… he’s the real problem. You’ll have to deal with him.”

After a long journey, we reached home. But Ju Long froze, so I stepped on his foot, signaling him to greet my parents.

My dad gave him a death stare.

I introduced Ju Long properly, and they asked us to freshen up. Ju Long tried to follow me.

“Wait a minute!” my dad said. “Where are you going, Mr. Ju Long? You’re staying with me. And forget about acting close to Bharathi before marriage.”

Ju Long looked like a lost puppy. I stifled a laugh.

After we freshened up, we went for dinner. My mom had cooked biryani and several non-veg dishes. Ju Long praised her cooking like she was his own mom. The two of them bonded quickly.

Meanwhile, I remained my dad’s girl.

Later that night, Ju Long sneaked into my room while I was listening to music.

“What the heck are you doing here?” I asked, shocked.

“Babe, why is your dad so cruel to me? I’m scared of him now!” he said, burying his face in my chest.

“Didn’t I warn you already? You’ll have to impress him if you want to survive,” I replied, giggling.

“Okay, babe. Let me recharge by hugging you,” he mumbled, acting like a child again.

(Seriously… I can’t understand this guy. One minute he’s yelling, the next minute he’s clinging to me like a koala.)

We took a short nap like that for 15 minutes.

Then a knock at the door startled us.

“Shit! I’m going to die today. Bharu, save me,” Ju Long pouted.

I told him to hide under the bed. I went to open the door.

It was my mom.

“Come in, Ma. What happened?” I asked.

“I’m looking for my son-in-law. Do you know where Ju Long is?”

I signaled that he was under the bed. She leaned down, and suddenly, both of them screamed in shock.

“Stop it! If you keep screaming, Dad will come and catch you!” I warned.

“See, Mom! She’s blackmailing me!” Ju Long complained.

“Oh, don’t worry, Ju Long. She’s always like this. I’ll protect you. Tell me if you don’t like her—I’ll find you a better girl,” Mom teased.

“Mom! You’re supposed to be my mother, not his! Stop it before I kill him!” I snapped playfully as she left.

“And you!” I turned to him. “You dared to complain about me?”

In the middle of our chaos, I slipped and fell on top of him. My loose nightwear shifted, and he caught a glimpse of my chest. Immediately, he twisted our position and pinned me beneath him.

“Baby… looks like you’re longing for something,” he whispered, his voice low and full of heat.

I couldn’t deny it. His deep voice sent shivers down my spine. When he talks like that... butterflies explode in my stomach.

He leaned down, slowly approaching my lips—

(And I knew… I could never understand this man. But I was already too far gone to stop loving him.)