-seventeen-

Killa's Boss drove her to the university, and she was wearing a blue T-shirt and pants, the same as yesterday. Killa sat quietly and tried not to expose so much nerve around him. She tended to catch something about herself when she was around him. She used to sit while someone drove here and take her everywhere. She used to sit in the backseat and in front as well, and didn't mind about it. But there was something that tickled her skin and spine. She had met someone huge and masculine like her Boss before, but there wasn't any intimidation like this. She held her seatbelt like he was driving so fast, but actually, it wasn't. She was used to these experiences, but why was it different. Why did she feel so vulnerable around this man?

As she tried to calm her mind and her blood to rush slower, she noticed the brand of the car. It was old, vintagely old. It was a classic and rare that nobody had, especially on this modest island. It's a dark blue custom-made, like his hair, like the T-shirt she wore. The seat was cool-tone leather brown. Everything in this care was made was so rare to see. Her Boss must be so damn wealthy to own this car, or possibly he used to be wealthy.

She glanced at him again. 'How old is he?' she thought, analyzing him with her eyes. 'He's so calm and collected. But I haven't noticed any wrinkles on his face. I've just realized he always wears long sleeves. Stop!" she called herself, trying to stop old habits. 'But I know nothing about him at all—even his name,' She wondered, and she felt so intrigued.

"What are you doing after school?" He asked after a long, silent drive.

"I'll go back to my apartment." She said to him during a car stop.

"Alone?"

"Yes,"

"Should I go with you?" Boss asked.

"No, no, it's fine. I can go on my own, Boss. You have to work anyway." Killa refused the offer.

He looked at her, "Then who will help you get the stuff?"

"Get stuff?" Killa made a curious sound.

"Yes, to my place." Boss said,

She was blown away. "I'll stay there; it's okay..." Then he said nothing, but his emotions were likely upset.

Finally, they reached the university.

"Thank you," Killa said to Boss. She was getting out of the car, but he caught her first.

"I'll take you to the apartment. Text me when you're done." Boss said, and then he drove away before Killa responded.

'He's being a boss...well, he's a boss after all,' Killa thought and got inside the building.

Killa ran for her life to the classroom while a few others did the same. Finally, she was in front of the room, waiting for others to get in first while she rested, trying to let her long breath free. 'I need to exercise and stop drinking,' she said, then walked to her seat where Maki was sitting.

"You're still hungover?" Maki greeted her.

"What do you think?"

"70% hungover, 30% half-sleep," Maki teased her again,

"Maybe," she said with a bit of a smile.

"I've never seen this shirt before." Maki surveyed Killa's oversized t-shirt. Killa froze and tried to act calmly,

Sniff-sniff

And then she sniffed Killa's t-shirt.

"What are you doing?" Killa asked,

Sniff-sniff

Maki continued doing her thing.

"Stop smelling me." Killa leaned away,

"It's not your smell…" Killa said nothing. "Killa…" Maki said, glared at her,

"What?" Killa acted nonchalantly.

"Killa, tell me." Maki moved her face closer.

"Tell you what?" Killa said emotionlessly.

"It's not yours, isn't it? Who is it?!" Maki asked. "You're not gonna tell me!?" Maki shouted. And then other people turned to look at them.

"Let's start, students!!" And suddenly, the professor saved Killa's life.

Maki had followed Killa around after the first class, nagging her about the t-shirt that she was wearing. Killa didn't want to tell her about the invasion; she would be the hell of worried if she knew someone was crashing her room. Maki would drag Killa to her new place, which was her girlfriend's, not just a friend who was a girl but really her girlfriend. Liah, Maki's Senior Supporter, and they were getting along and falling in love, and finally, they decided to live together.

Killa didn't want to be a burden to anyone, especially for someone who really cared about them. She decides to get back to her apartment on her own. She chose a different path from the usual one so she didn't have to pass the Cafe. While she was straying, she realized someone was following her. 

Killa decided to walk into the crowd and quickly sneaked into the small alley, waiting for that person to come around.

Thud!!!

Suddenly, Killa pulled that person and pushed him back against the wall. Her eyes opened wide when she saw his face.

"Hi..." He greeted her awkwardly.

'Ero,' Killa called his name in her head. "Does father give you the order to watch me?" she asked,

"No, no, Master—I," Ero struggled,

"I am not your Master, Ero," she quickly interrupted,

He looked at her softly, "You are to me..."

She said nothing, "Then why are you following me?"

"I just want to see you," he said,

Killa was so confused, 'What? Did he tell me the truth?' Killa thought.

"I just want to know how you have been..." he said,

She softened her glare. "I'm fine now. You can go."

"Why do you walk this way? Normally, you walk the way." Ero said,

"How long have you been following me?" Killa raised her left eyebrow.

"Not long..." Ero lowered his voice,

"Then...did you...never mind. You see me…now you can go." Killa decided not to talk about what had happened to her last night and walked away.

"Master, What are you going to ask me?" Ero was curious and followed her. She kept walking away. "Is something happening?"

"Someone broke into my apartment last night," Killa said. He was shocked. "Seem like you don't know about this," she said after seeing his honest reaction.

"Are you going to the apartment alone?" Ero asked,

"Yes," Then she walked away from him again.

"It's not safe. I can go with you." Ero followed her like a stubborn puppy.

"No one can harm me...and it's none of your business." Killa kept walking and said to him without looking.

"...if something happens like last time?" Ero was worried.

"Ero, you shouldn't you be here. Should you be with my father right now?" She asked,

"I'll check who did this to you." He ignored her sarcasm.

"Don't. I don't want to be involved in any kind of situation." Killa stopped and glared at him.

"At least can I walk you there?" Ero was so insistence

"No," She walked away again. But Ero ignored her denial and followed her behind. "I said no," he ignored how she did to him. "Don't you hear me?" She turned back and hit his body intentionally.

"Are you my master? If yes, I do as you wish." Ero asked while holding her shoulders.

'You, sneaky little bas—' she thought, "You—are a pain in the ass." Killa scolded him, and then Ero smirked.

Then she turned around and suddenly noticed the big body in a white shirt, wrapping his big chest with dark blue blouses. She looked at both of them.

'Boss?' Killa thought. Killa watched him with curiosity mixed with surprise. "Fuck! You can go now." Killa cursed automatically, and her face looked quite scared. Ero could see her reaction and watched her step ahead of him. But Boss walked toward her first while glaring at the red-haired guy with a cap on it. Ero was also staring back at Killa's Boss.

Boss: 'I told you to text me.'

"I'm so sorry, Boss. I don't want to bother you." She spoke slowly while looking at him so he could read her lips.

Boss: 'Who is this?' He gazed at Ero and did the sign.

"No one," Killa said,

'Really?..' Boss didn't believe the word. But he didn't want to make a fuss. "Then, should we go to your room." He said in her ear, and then Killa nodded.

Ero was shocked and grabbed her arm. Boss looked at him with a scary facial expression and immediately grabbed his wrist.

"Ero, let me go" Killa said,

"Who is this person? Why is he?" Ero asked,

"He's my boss." Killa hurried to say,

"Boss?" Ero repeated,

Killa looked up and raised her hand, touching Boss' cheek to turn to see her. "Boss, can you please let him go?"

And then Boss let go of his hand as he clenched his jaw.

'Master?' Ero looked at her surprisingly.

"Now you let go of me," Killa told Ero.

"Next time, you wait for me." Boss told Killa, and she nodded. "And text me every time I text you." She nodded again. 

Ero witnessed the curious and sweet situation in front of him. But Killa's action was the most curious one for Ero. Her reaction and behavior towards the big guy with blue hair were totally different from her typical personality. She was willing and happy to follow his order.

Killa's Apartment

"Did you call the police?" Boss asked after witnessing the mess in her room.

She shook her head, "...no,"

"You should,"

'Police is the last person I would go to…' Killa thought. Her last name was always on the laws' lists wherever she was. The police are just pawns, the people who control the laws, and yes, it's not the population who are using their lives walking, working on the ground, and obeying the rules out of fear. "They can't help," she said,

"Did you tell the owner?" Boss asked,

"Yes," she said and looked around her room. All she was searching for was her equipment and assignments. These were the most valuable things for her at that moment. If she lost them, she might lose her scholarship. "She was gonna report the police, but I said it's fine," He was in silent and observation mode. "Nothing is missing...so it's fine,"

"Pack everything you need." He finally said.