It was passed 10:00 pm, and they all decided to leave. Arianna bid her friends goodbye, before leaving and meeting the trio outside.
"What took you so long?" Zariel asked
"Sorry. I was just saying goodbye to my friends." she told her. Ryan just got into the car immediately without even looking at her or saying a word to her.
"It's alright. Let's go now" Leonel told them because he understood Ryan's silent instruction of leaving immediately - when he entered the car. They all got into the cars and Arianna exhaled when she got in. The chauffeur started the car and then drove away.
"Tonight was awesome, wasn't it?" she asked the man who who just stared lazily out of the window, with a hand on his chin.
And he answered with just one lazy, cold "Mm"
"I had so much fun. What about you?" she asked again. Her eyes and smiles were dazzling as she looked at him.
"I had none" he simply said, voice hoarse.
"Why? It was exciting...."
"I told you, I do not like parties" he voice was stern, sounding as if he doesn't want to hear her voice.
"Oh...sorry" she pursed her lips and faced forward. Then her mind drifted to the beautiful necklace he gave her. She smiled and touched it. "I really like this necklace you got me. Thank you, Ryan" she smiled at the man that was even looking at her. And he remained quiet. Something is wrong. Even his silence is frightening. She couldn't even predict what was going on, because his face was devoid of any emotions. She couldn't tell if he was happy or sad, or angry or disgusted. All she knew was that he had a complete solemn look.
"Is... is something wrong?" she asked him.
'Yes, everything's wrong! You hugged a man in front of me, and danced with another in my presence!!! He even held your waist for goodness sake, and you let him!! Who does that, huh?! He even called you Annie. Who the hell calls you that?! Why? Why did you do what you did earlier?!!!' he yelled on the pitch of his voice to the point that his eyes turned golden, and his fangs elongated. And she was kept flinching backwards with shuddering heart, greatly horrified at the beast she just saw.
Well, all these were just him thinking. His imaginations. Nothing of that sort happened.
"No. Nothing's wrong" he answered.
"O-okay" she said, facing forward again. No one said a thing until they arrived home. And everyone retired to their rooms immediately. Arianna went to her room to change, and after that, she strode into Ryan's room.
On getting to his room, she found him standing at the balcony. Wearing his dark blue robe and pyjama pants. The cold night air coursing through his bare hard chest. The next moment, he turned and walked back in, closing the door. The moment he turned again, their eyes met. But she felt a chill run down her spine. He averted his gaze immediately and walked to the bed, laying on it without a word.
Aria just stood there watching him. Something is definitely wrong. She walked to the bed and knelt beside him.
"Ryan?" she called in her sweetest voice "Ryan, are you sure nothing's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong" he said and turned his back against her.
She nudged him "Are you sure?"
"Yes"
She nudged him again, "Really?" Irked, Ryan turned to her. His cold eyes meeting hers and she blinked. Exhaling, he climbed off the bed, walking to the bathroom with her following briskly behind. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked again and he slammed the door in her face. She blinked with furrowed brows. What's with him?
Stubbornly, she knocked on the door, "Ryan? Ryan, what is it?"
*Knock knock knock knock knock knock knock*
"You can tell me if something's bothering you. Ryan, I'm going to lis..." The door opened, cutting her off. She gulped at the look she met. Couldn't tell if it was a glare or a stare. He walked out.
"Ryan, you're not okay" she said while following behind. She came to stand in front of him and kept asking. He turned his back on her, walking the other way.
"What's the problem?"
"You're the problem!" he finally yelled out while turning to her, making her stop in her tracks.
"Me?" she asked him, her voice seem to lower.
"Yes, you!" he took slow, measured, murderous steps towards her, and she dragged her feet backwards.
"W-w-what did..I do?" she asked him.
"I never knew the main reason why you wanted to attend the party was to meet him" he said, his eyes burning with anger.
"Him? Who?" she gulped down as chills ran down her spine the moment she asked that question.
"You know who I'm talking about, Aria"
"I...I don't know"
"You do know who. Don't even pretend like you don't" he warned her.
"N-no. I.. I don't know" she shook her head. He walked closer, and then the wall obstructed her movements to get away from him. He trapped her between his arms and leaned down, and she looked in his eyes. She didn't know why but his gaze was soft, and she kept on gazing deeper. But abruptly, his gaze darkened and she shuddered.
"Who was that man you hugged, Aria?" he demanded, his voice lethal.
"A... a f-friend" she answered. Her chest going up and down.
"A friend?" he snickered.
"Y-yes"
"What kind of friend is he? That you hugged him in front of me?"
"I.. I have known him since...I was a child..."
"Oh.. and so you were missing him. And you hugged him...in my presence. How could you?" he asked sternly as his gaze and tone gotore deadly.
"He's like a brother to me. You know Jia? That's her elder brother"
"I see... How about the one you danced with? Is he a friend too? Or more like a brother as well?" he asked, she couldn't speak "Is he suddenly a friend overnight? And you danced with him, and let him hold you close, and look d
eeper into your eyes.. is he a friend...too?