"Annyeong (Hi)." Haru greets, smiling at me. "Don't be so shocked, I'm still the same Haru from before. Your helper."
"Haru?" I stare at him. "You're the Consigliere? Did you ordered Federico to commit all that atrocity? He killed so many people yesterday."
"Believe me, I did not. All I told him was to bring you to me. I was trying to save you from the Dante's, I didn't even know he'll be pulling such a heist to steal gold and weapons from them." Haru walks closer to the bed and sit right beside me.
I don't know why I feel like I can trust his words. Maybe he really wanted to help me leave the Dante estate. My body stiffened when he cupped my face in his two hands and checks every part of my face with his eyes. As if he's looking for something.
I want to ask what he's doing, but my brain reminds me that I did not brush my teeth. I will feel mortified if Haru smells the stinky morning breath from my mouth.
I stay silent and stare at Haru, treating me like a doll before him. "Your face looks a little bit swollen. I just want to make sure Federico did not abused you on the way, did he?"
Oh, he did. But I'm not talking about that right now. I shake my head, 'no'.
"Why didn't you eat the food?"
Ah, jaebal, (please) stop asking me questions. I can't open my mouth even if I want to.
I snatch myself away from Haru and quickly run away to the bathroom. "I'm sorry, I have to pee." I say, at a safe distance before entering through the door.
I find a pack of new toothbrush and a paste, and I use one of the toothbrush to thoroughly clean my teeth and freshen up my breath.
Walking out of the bathroom, I find Haru still waiting for me. When he sees me, he stands up and starts walking closer as if there's an invisible force attracting him to me, like honey to a bee.
With his eyes fixed on my face, I feel my heartbeat toppling.
"Right, I forgot to ask about your injury. How did you get shot? And who is responsible?"
"It was a stray bullet. Federico's men exchanged fire with the security. So it just happened."
"You've been through a lot. I'm sorry, I should have try to make negotiations with Lorenzo to let me take you. Federico used me."
"You didn't know. There's no point in blaming yourself if you're not the one who ordered him to kill people and steal."
"I'm partially responsible for the lives he took. Federico will have to face the consequences of his actions."
I press my lips together and nod at Haru in support of his decision. Federico should pay.
"Ever since the day you left, I couldn't stop thinking about you, Hana. I've been so eager to have you brought here so I can see you again." He says.
"Why did you thought about me?" I whisper, feeling my cheeks reddening after the words escape my lips. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about my breath now that Haru is coming close to me.
He doesn't stop walking until he has come too close enough that my ears are able to listen to his wild heartbeat. Before I can blink again, I feel his hands softly touching my chin and he rubs his thumb over my lower lip, sending my heart to the edge of collapse.
He looks straight into my eyes and I can't help but notice the ball in his throat as he swallows thickly. "This is why I thought about you," he leans over and buries his face in my neck, leaving wet kisses that causes me to gasp out and shudder as a result of the weird sensation.
Gosh, I've never dated before, I don't know how I'm supposed to tell Haru that I can't let him. . .
"I like you." Haru's confession suddenly comes after he back away, staring at me with his round eyes filled with curiosity. "Do you like what you just felt for me?"
Oh my gosh. I thought Haru was a shy guy, I didn't see such boldness coming from him. I blush so hard. But this is bad. I can't allow a man to touch me when we're not even going to be a couple. I didn't allowed Jin to make use of me as a mistress, I certainly won't allow Haru either.
Even though I can tell that Haru really likes me, and can't keep his feelings to himself, I don't want to do this with him. But I will try not to hurt his feelings. At least, he's unlike someone I know. Someone who's so full of mystery and pretense that makes me curious about him: Jin.
"I'm sorry, I don't want to lie to you. I'm nervous and scared."
Haru's eyes lightened up with more curiosity, "you've never been with a guy before?"
"No." I shake my head.
"It means you're still a. . ." he stops himself from completing the words, shaking his head and smiling. "Anyway. Wow, I'm sorry, I don't know what to say. I understand why you must feel nervous."
I'm too embarrassed and I can't look at him in the eye. I don't know what to say either.
"It's okay," Haru gives me a pat on my back. "I'll have to come back later after I pull my thoughts together. I shouldn't have shake you up the way I did."
"It's fine."
"See you later."
~~~
Haru did not come back throughout the rest of the day. I did nothing but slept and woke up to eat different meals at different times of the day until darkness begins to spread in the sky.
Throughout my life, I had never had a whole day to myself where I won't have to do anything but eat and sleep in comfort. Until today. Although the thoughts of Kai didn't leave my mind, and no matter how deeply I think, I don't think he's told me anything about a secret code or something.
I'm hopeless even though I really want to know about my parents. Who they are, and every detail of what happened to them. I want to know if Kai really erased my memory and deceived me, or if that Sergio is just trying to brainwash me and set me up against my brother.