Ray

I tapped on my screen maybe, a 30^th time. No news from ha ri, then I again acted invited and belonged to these people. It’s my father who invited Mr. Shin’s family but there are no signs of Ha Ri on the table. Mrs. Shin makes calls to her from time to time with an unnoticeable approach but it's written all over her façade composure that she is going to kill her. I already sensed the motive of this dinner. I pity those who think I’m a predictable character among them. As the air becomes tight and suffocating for me. The door opened with a sound and she entered the hall, rushing towards the table while fixing her dress.

Even though Ha Ri rushed in, her outfit was unexpected. Instead of her usual slutty style, she was wearing this bright teal pink princess dress that made her stand out a lot in the fancy dining room. And her makeup and sparkly jewelry added even more glamour. It was kind of surprising and funny to see her all dressed up like that as she sat down across from me.

 “Such a good girl” I lip-sync only

“Fuck off” she answered the same way.

The dinner was served and the conversation went on but I waited for nothing but to hear about her, but the only source that could give me any news about her was eating steak very delicately, so I had to tap her foot with mine under the table.

She looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“How’s your study going Ha Ri?” I asked making it obvious that I wanted to know something else but she was extraordinarily clueless.

 I raised my eyebrows and pointed it out on her phone.

“Oh!” she cleared her throat “My studies...” she paused again then added, “It's resting!”

Silence filled the air and all eyes in the room were on her. But at least I feel relief that she is resting.

“I… I mean that I put a little hold on my studies for now otherwise, it's going great.” She whipped her sweat immediately and I'm proud of her for this stunt.

A fragile voice of a little laugh comes from my father. “it good to see both of these getting along well” he paused and rubbed his mouth “I think there is no better companion than your daughter for Ray”

As soon as he finished I saw the hand movements of Ha Ri getting slowed. It going to be surprising for her but I already knew where this conversation going.

“Obviously...uh …Ray is…a great Man” Mr. Shin contributed as well in the conversation with his broken English.

“We wholeheartedly just loved Ha Ri and I am not saying as her aunt but as a woman, I love her etiquette and her respect for elders.” It was her aunt and my stepmom who took part. I just watch them talking with each other and enjoying my champagne, the finest one from my father’s cellar. Ha, Ri looked cluelessly at her aunt admiring her etiquette which she didn’t have.

“We also totally adore Ray and we’d love to see them both together” Finally her mom spoke and she pinched her arm.

“Mom what are you saying?” she whispered but no attention she got from her mother.

“yes of course, and this engagement will be a wise decision and daring news for the people who envy us, right Mr. Shin?”

“ yes yes “

So as they decided and this time Ha Ri looked at my calm expressionless face wondering why don’t, relate to her confusion that’s because I already knew. I make it obvious by raising my shoulders.

“What engagement?” she said with a weak smile.

“We’ll talk at home ha Ri,” her mother said in Korean plainly, she got quiet.

I would love to sit more in this family drama or if I put it correctly then it's more like a family business marriage topic but suddenly my phone’s screen bleeped.

“She has awoken” a message banner from Arthur. I rub my mouth with a napkin and stand off from the table.

“Excuse me I have something urgent to do”

“Ray your urgencies can be on hold tonight, you will disrespect our guests” Mr. Wallace tried his best.

“Well,” I think of not saying it but, “they are not going to reject me anyways Father so, have a good night”

“You jerk!” it was Ha Ri, I heard saying that. But I turned around anyway because I had something more important to them all.

 My bike stopped in front of the hospital, I removed my helmet and grabbed the bouquet I bought on the way. As soon as I entered, Arthur approached me with his usual busy walk.

“The doctor said she took some stress and put her on IV and just as you told me I didn’t let the receptionist call her aunt”

“Brilliant my boy I can take it from here” I tapped his shoulder for his effort.

“Any news from Austin?” Arthur asked and I wondered how he was doing.  He reminds me of my only friend that I trust in this world of foes. As we walked slowly to the entrance, we lighted a cigarette.

I took a long exhale.

“As much as I know is that it’s not an accident that put Mr. Diego in a coma,” I said and he agreed.

“We need to find out who’s doing it and why because a lot of things will change if they attack Mr. Wallace as well,” he said and I thought that I might go back to Moscow soon.

“As long as I’m alive, they can’t” I crushed the remaining cigarette under my feet. The smoke dissolved in with our cold breaths and I walked inside after saying goodbye.

As I reached the second floor, I watched some of my guards standing in front of her room so I signaled them to take their leave. I twist the nob of the door and enter the room. Cold air welcomed me into her room. I noticed a fragile silhouette standing by the open window, concern washed over me. Clearing my throat, I caught her attention.

She immediately turned around, “you!” she said with an exhausted tone.

“What are you doing here?”

I walked slowly towards her in silence.

“Checking on you, plus I inherit this hospital so I sometimes come here on a visit with my father" I explained, handing her the bouquet that I bought for her on the way. Her eyes lit up as she held the crimson amaryllis, Her tired look stood out next to the bright flowers, creating a beautiful contrast that caught my eye.

"Thank you, they're stunning," she murmured, delicately placing the bouquet on a nearby table. I observed her movements intently, captivated by her grace. Suddenly, her expression shifted to one of surprise. "Wait, did you just say you inherited this hospital?"

"Yes, my mom founded it, she was a doctor herself" I confirmed, the revelation hanging in the air between us.

“That’s cool!” she said stretching every word scratching her head then turned around and grabbed her IV stand.

“What are you doing?” I asked

“I need a walk,” she said recklessly and walked out of the room pulling her IV stand. I couldn’t deny what she demanded so I grabbed the stand by myself and walked behind her.         

We walked towards the elevator, there was a minute of silence between us then she looked at me from head to toe. Of course, she noticed that I was all dressed up in a Black suit for a hospital visit. The doors slid open and she headed straight for the vending machine as soon as we got there.

“Why isn't there one of these on the second floor?” she asked, and I noticed a little sedation in her voice. She reached for a strawberry milk. When it emerged from the machine with a noise, she couldn't help but let out a delighted giggle as her lips curved into a full smile.

“Which one do you want?” she curved her head up to ask me. She is too short, I wonder if she grew after 13. I smiled looking at her.

“Whatever you’d like,” I breathed. She made a disappointed face.

 “I thought about trying your flavor, but you have no life Ray,” she teased, pulling out another strawberry milk and handing it to me. I couldn’t help but smile, I love it when I get to hear my name on her lips. God knows I want to hear it repeatedly.

“Why are you smiling?” she inquired, taking a long sip from her bottle. The thoughts make me smile and she noticed it but how come she can’t understand what I want?

Unable to resist, I leaned in, trapping her between my hands, with an excited smile. She immediately backed off.  She was so petite that I had to bend over further to bring my face to the level of hers. She nervously buried herself back into the vending machine, our breaths falling into synchrony.

“What... What are you doing?” she asked, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. Playing with her emotions was quickly becoming my favorite pastime. I leaned closer, and I watched her holding her breath and getting stoned. I suddenly spot a few moles on her face. Up close she really had a hint of Asian features.

I bowed my face down and took a long sip from her bottle before releasing her. She exhaled deeply.

“What was that?” she demanded, annoyance etched across her face. I chuckled and gently pushed her to start walking, remembering that she needed rest. I pressed the elevator button, but she continued to glare at me.

“Have you ever gone for a mental checkup?” she said as she was still in shock.

“why? Do I seem crazy to you?”

“Definitely!”

“I can be that as well for you,” I said and she again fell speechless.

“if that’s your move, then it's not going to flatter me,” she said in between taking long sips. I watched her from the corner of my eyes and asked.

“what will it take to make you flatter then?” she looked at me and started thinking. The elevator reached the second floor and she was still silent trying to think, and I desperately wanted to listen.

“by the way…My name is Ray Brian Kingston Wallace,” I told her, watching as her eyes widened in surprise.

“dude I think you left out one of your grandfathers,” she quipped, bursting into laughter.

“why are you telling me that?” she asked.

“Just wanted to hear it from your mouth” I replied casually and smirked as she shook her head in disappointment.

“Okay, so can I ask you more questions about yourself?” she inquired eagerly.

“Anything, Precious!” I replied, only to be met with an immediate reaction.

“Don’t call me that!” she snapped, pointing a finger at me. I grinned in response but I have no intention of stopping in calling you that. She enters the room leading me and finally settles down on her bed.

"okay first question, Why are you dressed so formally for a hospital visit?" she asked, I adjusted her IV stand.

"Because I came straight from a dinner where my engagement with Ha Ri got fixed," I replied calmly, pulling up a chair beside her bed. Her eyes widened in surprise and her mouth formed an “O” shape. "That Bitch! She didn't tell me anything," she cursed, and I found myself oddly enjoying her reaction.

"She didn't know either. Her parents pulled the whole thing, and so as mine" I explained, watching her expression closely as she shifted from anger to concern for Ha Ri.

"Do you want this engagement? Ha Ri will never get engaged to you" Her tone was serious once again as I observed her every move.

"Yes, I will do this engagement," I assured her, adding with a smirk, "but only if you say so."

She paused for a moment before chuckling. "why would you need my permission, and if you don't want to, then why bother?"

I took a moment to consider her question, carefully selecting my words knowing she wasn't aware of the family background I’m from. "I'm doing what they want now, so I can do what I want later," I explained, meeting her gaze. "you need the Power to shape your own reality when your reality is just a board of chess."

A silence fell between us, and we locked eyes. It was then that I noticed the faint shades of hazel and green in her eyes, the perfect shape of her nose, and her lips...

"Stop staring at my lips...." She interrupted my thoughts and I looked up at her appreciating her with my eyes. She comfortably took a deep breath gathered all her hair and twisted left to right and tied it almost in a bun, I closely watched some hair strands falling from her neck, and my adrenaline rose.

“Okay, next question where are you from?”

"Are you not afraid of me??" I whispered and all her movement stopped.

“Why would I need to be scared?” she said recklessly again.

“Because you have let your guards down in front of someone whom you didn’t even know except his name “ I stood up and moved closer to her face and again she slowly backed off her head looking at me with confusion in her eyes.

I looked at her and memorized every mole on her face.

 “You know, I still have a few months before turning eighteen, so if you do anything to me... you'll go to jail," she whispered, her gaze unwavering as she held my eyes. The boldness in her ignited a fire within me.

“nothing can save you from me, only I, precious” I whispered in her ear and Slowly, I traveled my fingertips towards her neck, suddenly she stopped my hand by gripping it tightly.

“just because I’m talking to you, doesn’t mean I’ve let my guard down,” she said, putting her nails into my skin as much as deep as she could and I smiled, desperate for her. I pulled the band from her hair and let her hair fall.  

I wore her hairband on my wrist and Her expression shifted, revealing a mixture of being speechless at my flirtation and disdain. My phone buzzed with a message from Austin Diego. I tucked it in calmly.

“I was born here but I was raised in Moscow and I must take my leave now” I informed her answering the question she asked and she didn’t respond to it very clearly.

"Guards will be at the door until morning, and Ha Ri will arrange for your discharge. You'll be heading home soon," I informed her, to which she thanked me, nervously scratching her nails. As I extended my hand. "See you later, precious," I said.

She hesitated before but then she shook hands with a disappointed sigh from her.

"See you, Mr Wallace" she replied sarcastically, shaking my hand.

I settled for a gentle kiss on her hand. "I'll get your consent later," I teased, raising an eyebrow as she smiled wistfully.

"Get out of here, you asshole!" she exclaimed, her words laced with affection.

February 19th, I left her that night, unaware it would be the last time we met. If only I had known the future, I would have never left her hand that night.