When I awoke, I lifted my head up groggily, taking in the scene. It was morning alright, though it appeared as if it was pretty far into the day already. I fell asleep late, tending to the person I was dreading the most. Sadly, I was too much a good soul to leave him behind. I just couldn’t let my employer’s grandson die on my watch. Then what would happen?

I groaned and swept my bangs out of my face. My glasses had fallen during the night and were placed near the bedside table neatly and folded. I took them, and looked around the room, regarding my surroundings.

The place was an exact copy of the bedroom I was staying in, except the large painting of the lady was replaced with a painting of a man. Glorious and dressed in what looked to be military attire, the man in the portrait was young, almost my age, and handsome. I wondered if the pictures were related somehow.

With ease, I lifted my tired body from the side of the bed and grabbed onto the chair, feeling my sleepy limbs wake up. I didn’t care to notice the steam erupting from the cracked bathroom door. Nor did I pay attention to the sounds of running water shutting off.

Sleepily, I rubbed my eyes.

I needed to find Lucas before the madam found out that I’d lost him.

The bathroom door opened with a small bang, surprising me somewhat. I fell back against the bed, watching as the young master in mind came strolling out, not caring much that I was there.

With a small breath, I composed my nerves. “U-um—”

“Good morning.” He said.

So polite. I must’ve still been asleep.

I cleared my throat. “Y-yes.”

“Did you sleep well?” He asked,

Yeah, I was definitely dreaming.

I prevented from pinching myself when I answered, “U-uh . . . ?”

He laughed pleasantly, drying his wet hair with a towel. “It looked like you did.”

“Uh . . .” Did I hear correctly? Was he watching me sleep? What the hell was this?

Carefully, I detached myself from the bed, feeling a little embarrassed. Here I was, and here he was, having a . . . chat? We’d only argued up until that point, so what happened?

I racked my brain, to remember what might’ve occurred last night. I treated his fever, correct? I fell asleep, right? What happened before that?

Wait—

“You!” I accused him suddenly, pointing a finger at him. “Y-you . . . evil . . .”

He tilted his head innocently, “Me?”

“Yes, you!” I yelled at him, backing myself up to the wall. The more distance I had from him, the better. “You actually said those things to me last night! You evil—!”

“I meant them.” He replied softly, throwing the towel over his bare shoulders. Other than skinny black jeans, he wasn’t wearing anything else.

I looked away quickly. “P-put a shirt on at least.”

He stared down at himself. “ . . . why?”

I sighed.

Was this it? Is this what he was referring to when he said he was going to get rid of me? Merely being nice to me wasn’t going to change anything. Did he not know how to deal with people normally?

Of course he didn’t. That’s why I was here.

“Is my declaration finally catching up to you now that you’re awake?” He said, placing the towel on the bed as he walked towards me. He bent to reach my level, eyes locking onto mine easily. “I really meant it.”

I tried not to feel intimidated. “D-don’t think I’m so easy to win over.” I told him determinedly.

Without so much as a warning, he placed a finger to the corner of my lips, gently dragging it to my chin. I couldn’t help but stay still, stiff as I could be.

He held my face, “You’ve got drool.”

I slapped his hand away. “That’s enough.”

“Oh, why?” He questioned. His striking eyes were enough to make my own quiver. Sure he was a pest, but his appearance always surprised me the most. He was very tall. “I’m just trying to be nice.”

“No.” I said with finality. “You’re not.”

This wasn’t what I wanted. What I wanted was to show him a piece of my mind. Though with him acting this way, I found it hard to do anything about it. His personality did a complete 180 overnight. He was a totally different person, aura and all. How was I supposed to prepare for this?

What he said last evening, about making me his. I brushed it off as a joke. Plus, there was no way he could ever manage it, because there on his face was still the imprint of fury I so recognized since our first meeting. He couldn’t hide that.

He released my chin from his gentle hold, staring down at me through wet hair. I tried reading his expression. It was truly difficult to do so.

I looked back, testing him to say anything more. Between us, the air became tense, like something was about to begin. I didn’t want to wait to see if anything would.

My ears began to burn. I was embarrassed over the fact that I’d let such a low individual corner me like this. Rich or not, I hated people who didn’t treat others with respect and care. This young master of mine was just that.

Then, I recalled how Madam had revealed Lucas was very . . . experienced. That tea session was most likely due to her concerns that he would do the same to me as well. She knew, and yet she didn’t tell me.

I grew frustrated at the thought.

A part of me was aware I could handle it, but his persistence would only make it worse. The idea made me more anxious.

Lucas gave me one last look before leaving me standing there, at a loss for words. I could still remember the way he gazed at me so dangerously, as if I were a mere sheep and he a starving wolf.

No, I won’t fall for him. I told myself. That’s ridiculous.

I won’t fall.

I won't.

Chores! I almost forgot about the chores!

I’d told the garden staff about my current situation, and luckily they believed me when I mentioned that their young master was willing to help around the house. It was a little white lie. What harm could come of it?

Lucas obeyed, even when he was so furious at the mention last night. I wondered if maybe his declaration was more of a good thing than a bad thing at that point, considering he was more likely to listen to me now than before.

Hopefully, this would all just be a joke, a laughing matter that I could brush off in a few months time when I left this place for good. I simply needed to wait it out.

Yeah, then I could leave this house, these people, and Lucas behind.

When would that be?

I closed my eyes and tried to imagine when I’d be able to escape. Just four months to go and then it would all be over. I wouldn’t have to see him ever again, ever.

“I haven’t been here in . . . forever.” A deep voice said from behind.

My eyes landed on Lucas, standing there with a pool net in hand, watching the placid surface of the blue water with what looked to be wistfulness. 

I brushed my hair back, observing the location. We were standing in the outdoor pool area. A beautiful spot in the garden, enclosed with fresh, blooming flowers, a fairy-lighted gazebo and a rectangular pool half the size of a football field. It was cut off from the rest of the garden by a white gate that grew green, wiry ivy.

“Do you know how to swim?” I asked.

Lucas, in his all black attire, with not a hint of summer in his appearance, answered, “Of course I do. I was on the swim team.”

Ah, I thought, so he was that kind of guy in high school.

Before he could sense my annoyance, I shook my thoughts away, “Good. Because I can’t.”

“Are you serious?” He said severely, complete disbelief on his face.

I shrugged. “I’m sorry I can’t swim.”

He placed two fingers to his temples. Despite trying to be ‘nice’, he was terrible at hiding the fact that he actually found me a nuisance.

As for me, I tried not to care. I continued ridding the pool of fallen leaves and flower petals by plunging my own net in the water with more ferocity than I intended. I ended up quite a wet mess and I wasn't even close to being done.

I figured we could start with baby steps, since I guessed the young master probably never worked a day in his life. Still, I couldn’t base my presumptions solely on impressions alone. I hated him, but I didn’t want to be like him.

“How long are you going to make me do this?” He questioned. His voice contained the irritability I was waiting for. His patience was already wearing thin.

I brought the net back from the pool, though not without almost losing my sense of balance at the edge. That was close. “Don’t tell me you’re already complaining.”

“Me? Complaining?” He scoffed.

With all my willpower, I tried not to lose my patience.

“What? Am I annoying you?” He tested, leaning on the long net. His eyes contrasted against the sunny backdrop behind him, as if a storm was about to erupt before me. “C’mon Sammy, get mad.”

“Are you doing this on purpose?” I questioned, raising a brow.

He was so making me furious intentionally.

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s fun to see your reaction.” He admitted, returning to clearing the surface of the pool. The water was filled beautifully, covered in an array of multi-colored fallen petals. It almost hurt to throw them away. “Plus, you’re easy to anger. It’s funny.”

Funny?

I still wasn’t used to him calling me by my name. I’d rather have had a demon call me out from Hell than this boy. I ignored his attempts.

“Lucas.” I said, noticing how foreign it sounded on my tongue.

Surprisingly, his smile faltered when I’d said it. Names really did have a powerful effect on people. The young master slowly began to scowl. “What?”

“Just . . . get to work.” I ordered, lowering my voice.

If I blew up now, I’d be disappointed in myself. That was what he wanted anyway, and I was not going to give him that satisfaction. No way.

We continued in silence.

The heat outside was bearable, more bearable than it had been these past few days. Thankfully, it wasn’t hot enough to cause a serious heat stroke. While wearing all black, he was most definitely susceptible to such things. Besides his clean appearance, I doubted he cared much about his health and well-being.

Well, at least he had weaknesses.

An hour passed with us merely cleaning up quietly, and I ordering him to do certain tasks, and with he grumbling to himself about how hot it was outside.

After a while, I began to feel as if nothing was getting done about his attitude. Though I figured this would be a long process.

Yes, it would. But I doubted we’d be friends even if he changed a little. We were just too unalike, from completely opposite worlds. It would never work.

Lucas wiped his brow and stopped when it’d obviously been quite a while since we started. He poked me with the net, to which I shot him a glare. “Hey, I’m just trying to be nice.”

“Is being ‘nice’ something you’re so incapable of?” I asked. “Because I haven’t felt it one bit.”

We looked at each other, regarding the tense air once more.

He exhaled, “This isn’t going to be easy.”

“Tell me about it.” I replied, throwing the net to the ground in frustration.

The young master watched as I did so, not saying a word. I crossed my arms and turned away. Relax, I thought.

He walked towards me, “Why do you get so angry?”

“I’m looking at the reason right now.” I responded, eyeing him.

“You’re at a constant battle between cold and hot, you know? It confuses me.” He said. “And I doubt it’s just me that makes you this way.”

Unfortunately, it was only him that incited such boiling feelings. I couldn’t think of anyone else so mean and unmanageable than him.

I shook my head, feeling my anger slightly subside as I thought it over, “No. It’s just you.”

“Really?” He didn’t look as if he believed me, though he continued with what he was going to say. “Does that count as a compliment?”

“Excuse me?”

He grinned, “So it just means that you’ve never met anyone like me.”

I prevented from revealing that I’d met him before. If he remembered, how would he react? He’d most likely hate the idea.

“You’re right.” I told him, “Sometimes I wish I never met you.”

His smile didn’t waver. He must’ve felt the same way. “Harsh.”

“That’s how I feel.” I revealed, watching as he took a step closer to me. He was much taller, I felt like a mouse in his presence.

Lucas stared down at me, and I gazed up at him.

“That’s how you feel?” He whispered.

“Yes.”

He laughed, running his fingers through dark fringe, “I have to change that.” He declared, tossing the pool net up to rest on his shoulder, “Okay, I’ll try—”

Whatever he was going to say, he didn’t finish.

In the process of adjusting the net, he unknowingly and unintentionally drew me to the pool edge, making me lose my balance, much like I had a while ago when we were only starting. The deck was slippery to begin with.

I desperately grabbed at nothing, and eventually fell into the cool, blue pool. 

Did he just . . . throw me in . . . ? I thought, realizing how fully submerged I was in icy water. W-what the hell?! My limbs felt like Jello as I tried to float. Thankfully, it wasn’t so deep in this end. 

I broke the surface, gasping for air. Luckily, my glasses slipped off before I could hit the water. Reaching out to them on the pool deck, I placed them back onto my face. 

Below, I could feel the floor beneath my shoes. I was able to stand on my own.

“Lucas—!” I yelled, intent on punching the boy, though I stopped immediately.

Unexpectedly, strong arms took hold of my waist, pressing me against the pool wall so that I could float with ease.

I’d barely fallen in, and he was already there to help me, “Idiot!” He scolded. His piercing eyes looked at me through wet hair. “Grab onto me if you’re falling!”

I didn’t know what to do or say. This expression of worry wasn’t something I’d seen in him yet. “Lucas—”

“You said you can’t swim! What would’ve happened if I wasn’t here? How could you not reach out for something—” He continued to scold me, while I only gazed on at the scene playing out in front of my eyes.

He was yelling at me . . .?

This wasn't what I had in mind for today. Usually I was the one to do that.

My hands didn’t know what to do but to grasp at his soaked shirt, waiting until he was done speaking, though he did not.

What’s going on? I thought.

“I—uh—” I began, cutting him off.

He fell silent.

I was left with my mouth open, unable to say anything, mostly because our proximity was far too close for comfort, and also because I felt completely vulnerable.

A minuted passed before I broke our eye contact. And before I could push him away, he surprised me again, by bringing his head low against the crevice of my neck.

“Get out.” He muttered lowly, “Carefully.”

With that, he departed, leaving me there to grasp at only water. He finally realized the pool wasn’t so deep to begin with. Maybe he must’ve forgotten.

I dropped my arms to my side.

For a moment there, I’d witnessed someone completely different. Though he had the same face. So how was that possible?

No. He wasn’t the same person I’d began to hate. He helped me. The Lucas I had in mind wouldn’t dare do that for anyone.

“Shit.” I said, below my breath.

This was . . .

This was kindness.