Chapter 19: Does He Likes Me?

I laughed out loud at what he said.

I knew he was just playing a prank on me, and it wasn't working. Zo rarely jokes, and once he does, he looks serious. Or is it that he basically can't just put on a relaxed face?

"Minka, I'm not kidding," Zo said definitely to me.

I stifled a laugh by biting my lip. "I know," I replied.

"Then why are you laughing?"

I held my stomach cramping. "I know you're lying, Zo. You're just playing a prank on me, and it's a shame you got caught. You'd better learn to joke properly before—"

"I'm not lying," he interrupted. I stopped the grin on my face as his eyes quickly locked me in a glare. I paused and watched his words. "There's something wrong with your parents, I'm sure of it. I'll try to find it out for you as soon as possible."

Is something wrong? What's wrong? There's nothing wrong with my parents. They are my real parents. How could that be wrong?

"I know this may be confusing to you, but I'm going to find out who your real parents are, then—"

"They are my real parents, Zo. My Dad is my parent, and so is my late mother, who died giving birth to me. What are you talking about?" I burst out feeling disapproved of his accusations.

"No. You're wrong. They-"

"They're my parents! There's nothing else," I said. "It is my fault. I shouldn't have thought about Loko's bluff. I just wanted to talk to you about it, but you just—"

His hand grabbed my shoulder. "Stop," he said. "I don't like to be denied."

I exhaled my ragged breath. Those beautiful eyes flashed. His threatening gaze came again, and it wasn't pleasant to look at.

The ringing of Zo's cell phone broke the tension between us. He removed his hand from my shoulder and reached into his trouser pocket. Zo spoke to someone there with a curt reply. The man occasionally nodded his head or scratched his chin. After a while, he turned it off.

"I have to go." He scanned my face through his fingers. "Someone will come in here, but don't worry, he won't harm you."

Zo rushed away, leaving me with a million questions running through my mind.

Not long after, someone came into my room. I looked at him a bit and expected Zo to come back, but he didn't. The figure that entered my room was a teenager almost the same height as Zo. The child who at that time had brought food to me. After that, I heard the sound of the door being locked from outside.

"This is for you," he said as he placed the red paper bag on the table.

I got up from where I was sitting and walked over to him. "Who are you?" I asked.

I noticed his hair was dyed blonde with dark blue gradations in the area of ​​his bangs. It's very unique. Maybe one day I'll try to dye my hair like his.

The boy was thin with a grin on his face. His eyes looked at me curiously. It was as if he was digging as much information out of the curves of my face as possible.

"No wonder Keenan likes her."

"What?" I caught the name 'Keenan' and 'Like her.' Like who? Like me?

Don't joke, Minka.

"My name is Hiro," he answered, ignoring my question about his muttering.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Keenan's best friend. We are allies," he said. He muttered 'Ah' softly the next second, then patted his forehead. "Keenan is Zo. Zo is a person who often comes to—"

"I know," I cut in. "But why do you call that person your ally? He must be much older than you."

He laughed mockingly at me. "He's my partner in crime. Even though we're very far apart in age."

"How old are you?"

"Fifteen."

"How old is Keenan?"

"Forty."

I almost choked on my own spit when I heard Keenan's age.

Forty years. For God's sake. Why is his face looks younger? I don't think he's that old.

"Uh, thirty-nine. His birthday is next month, though."

Still the same.

I can even call Keenan an uncle.

My body shuddered in horror. So the person I slept with last night was as old as my uncle. I cleared my throat and dispelled my surprise by looking back at the boy in front of me. Looks like he looks okay. Judging by his face, I mean, he probably wouldn't hurt me.

Hiro casually came to my bed and lay down there. It was as if the place was his own. The boy then took a piece of my toast and threw it in the air. His mouth opened, and the bread made its way in smoothly. The boy chuckled at himself.

"I have to go," he said suddenly. He put on his hat removed and jumped out of bed.

"Wait," I interrupted quickly. He stopped and looked at me with an innocent look on his face. "Where's your partner in crime?"

Instantly he laughed happily when I asked him about Zo. I looked at him in surprise. What is so funny?

"Your boyfriend is meeting with Loko."

Boyfriend?

My face heats up at that one word.

"He's not my boyfriend!"

Hiro chuckled again. "Impossible," he said. "Keenan has never been this bright before. I wonder what demon possessed him that he's been smiling so much lately. The demon turned out to be beautiful too."

I'm on my hips. "Don't talk nonsense!"

"The demon is fierce too."

"I'm not a demon!"

"Did I say that you are the demon?"

"Ishh!"

Hiro's laughter was heard again. He seemed very satisfied to have teased me. "But really, one, you are indeed beautiful. No lie, no-nonsense. Two, Keenan has been a little softer lately. He often looks for reasons to come to your room. Three, Keenan often tells me about you. What else would you do if it wasn't for being attracted to you?" Hiro knocked on the bedroom door twice. "It's reasonable. I would like a pretty girl like you if I were him too."

"You-"

Before I could protest, the boy fled when the door opened from the outside.