Chapter 16

edit,   As I was just about to remove MK's mask and finally see his real face, he suddenly grabbed my hand. It took me by surprise and I looked up to see him staring back at me, his eyes as dark and deep as ever.

  Confused, I shifted uneasily as he asked me, "What do you want?" It wasn't exactly the warm welcome that I had hoped for.

  Feeling nervous, I struggled to find the right words to explain myself. It wasn't that I wanted to disrespect him or invade his privacy - I just had a genuine curiosity about who he really was. After a moment of hesitation, I stammered out an apology, "I...I'm sorry."

  To my surprise, MK's reaction was not what I expected. Rather than scolding me or warning me not to cross that line again, he simply took my hand and held me tightly. His voice was tired and a bit raspy as he spoke, "Nat, I have been feeling a bit rundown lately. Do you think you could stay with me and help me sleep?"