chapter 15
"Omma, I am going out for some work. Okay?" Jian told her mother, who was in the kitchen.
Her Omma came out of the kitchen, holding the knife she had been using.
"But today is Holiday! Your school must be closed," she complained.
"I know, Omma... I am not going to school. My school have arranged a get-together somewhere for the teachers, so I am going there," Jian lied.
She hated herself for lying to her Omma, but she had no other choice. Jian did not want to tell anyone about Jinman.
The night before was the worst night Jian had ever seen. The dead man's face still stuck in her mind. If she was scared of Jinman before, she was ten thousand times more scared now.
But, she had a plan for today. She was going to tell Jinman to stay out of her business. She was going to tell him to stop treating her like she was just a thing.
However, she didn't know that Jinman would never agree to that.
"Where are you going?" her Omma asked. "I will tell your uncle about it."
"I... I don't know yet. But, I will text you the place, as soon as I find out".
'So that if he kills me, you can find my body,' Jian thought."
"Okay. But don't be late like yesterday."
"Yes, Omma," she said sadly.
"Is there anything wrong,Jiji?" Her Omma asked, feeling that she was uneasy.
She looked into her aunt's eyes and saw the pain there.
'Everything is wrong, Omma. How should I tell you that a crazy criminal is after me? And that I am meeting him today, because he wants to. I can't tell you any of this,' Jian thought.
"Nothing is wrong, Omma. Don't worry," Jian said with a fake smile.
She looked at her watch and knew she had to leave now. It was nine past eleven,
Jinman had told her to come at exactly ten o'clock. She took a deep breath to get ready.
"I am going now. Bye," Jian said and hugged her Omma. In Jian's mind, this might be the last hug... maybe.
Jian walked out of her house. She quickly shut the door so her Omma would not see Jinman if he was nearby. She turned around and saw his sleek, black luxury car parked right outside her house gate, making her frown. It was a long, dark shape—a high-end sedan with tinted windows that hid the inside completely. The paint gleamed like polished stone, making it look both expensive and dangerous. It was clearly the kind of powerful machine a rich mafia boss would drive.
'Why didn't you just come and park your car inside my house...!' Jian cursed in her head.
She walked towards the car and hoped he would not get out. But, when did luck ever listen to her? As soon as she reached the gate, Jinman also got out of his black luxury sedan. He gave her a big smile, and she cursed quietly to herself.
Jian just looked down and came close to the car.
Jinman had been waiting for at least fifteen minutes, right outside her house gate. For a moment, he thought she wasn't going to come. But, somehow, he knew she wouldn't dare stay away. And just as he decided to go inside her house himself, he saw her come out. He quickly came out of his car and walked toward her.
The first thing he noticed was her appearance.
She was wearing a very simple royal blue outfit, and seeing how plain she looked, he couldn't stop smiling.
Jian had purposely worn the simplest clothes she owned. Jinman had told her to wear something nice, but she didn't want to give him the satisfaction of winning... or any wrong idea that she had dressed up for him. her appearance.
She was wearing a very simple, royal blue coloured churidar, and noticing her simplicity. He couldn't stop himself from smiling. Jian intentionally wore the simplest dress she had. Jinman had asked her to wear a nice dress, but she didn't want to give him the satisfaction of dominance...or any wrong ideas that she was dressed up for him.
Jinman then closed the door and started approaching the driver's side. It was now when Jian noticed him. He was wearing a pitch-black suit and his hair was done formally, unlike his usual ruffled one. It was as if he was going to attend a business meeting. He looked more....manly. She lowered her head in embarrassment.
'Gather up strength, Jian. You need to tell him today to get the fuck off.
He opened the door for her, and Jian got in the car. She prayed for nobody to see them. When Jinman started to fasten her seat belt, Jian interrupted him.
'Enough with this game!' She thought.
"I...I can do it." She said lowly while trying to be bold.
Jinman raised his brow in surprise.
"I know... But I want to do this for you." He said with a smile and continued to fasten the belt for her. He bent forward to buckle it, intentionally coming close to her, to which Jian turned her face to avoid the close proximity.
"I love it when you blush, Love." Jinman murmured.
'It's not called blush, you murderer, it's called irritation.' Jian thought bitterly.
Jinman then closed the door and started approaching the driver's side. It was now when Jian noticed him. He was wearing a pitch-black suit and his hair was done formally, unlike his usual ruffled one. It was as if he was going to attend a business meeting. He looked more....manly. She lowered her head in embarrassment.
'Gather up strength, Jian. You need to tell him today to get out of your life.' Her consciousness ordered her.
'I know. But I am just too afraid of him. What if...he kills me?' She replied to the imaginary herself.
'So, just because you are afraid of him, you will abide him. You are such a disgrace to womanhood!!' Her consciousness cursed her.
'Hey. Don't say that! Fine! If you think this low about me, then I will prove you. I will tell him today, to get lost in his own world. But, only when I get a better opportunity. Okay?' She told herself in her mini monologue.
"I hope you told your aunt that you are going with me!" Jinman asked, starting the car. He wanted to talk to her, and this was the best he could come up with.
Jian came out of her train of thoughts and turned her head slightly, in his direction.
She nodded.
"Can you tell me, where we are.... going?" She asked in a low voice.
"Well! That's a surprise!" Jinman said with a big smile.
"I...actually, I want to inform my family about where I am going. They will....stress unnecessarily." She said, trying to change his mind.
"Why would they be stressed? It's not like I am going to kidnap you or kill you!" Jinman chuckled at his own joke.
"Who knows!" Jian thought.
"They are my parents...it's natural for them to worry about their children." She tried convincing him again.
"I don't understand!" Jinman said, narrowing his eyes.
This completely irritated her. Doesn't he know about Omma? Or was he playing with her?
"Imagine your children going out. Won't you like to know their destination?" She asked, in a challenging voice. Surely she was amazed by this new confidence.
This, definitely made him think. Of course, he would want to know where his future children go...to ensure their safety.
"If that's the case, then tell them, I am taking you to the countryside." He said reluctantly.
Indeed, he didn't tell the exact place.
"Thank you," Jian said.
She grabbed her phone and dialed her house phone number. She could hear the ring, but no one was picking it up.
She tried again, but no response.
'She must have gone to Arisu's house.' Jian thought about her aunt.
She then dialled Arisu's phone.
All the time, Jinman was getting restless, as for him, this was a waste of time.
He wanted to spend time with her, but she was busy with her phone.
"Wassup?" Jian heard Arisu speaking from the other line.
"Hey, Ari. Tell Omma that I am going to the countryside." She informed. Jinman held the steering wheel with such force, that his knuckles became red. He hated it when she talked to Arisu...call it possessiveness or something else.
"Where?" Arisu asked again.
"Countryside. I don't know exactly and don't ask me either." Jian said.
"Okay...but why?" Arisu asked. Jian suddenly got a perfect plan. If she continues to talk with Arisu by phone, she won't have to tolerate Jinman. She praised herself. But, she didn't know, that Jinman wasn't this stupid.
"I don't know...I mean, I will tell...." She was about to complete the sentence when Jinman snatched the phone from her hand.
"That's enough information," He said and cut the call.
Jian glared at him, but as soon as he looked towards her, she lowered her gaze. Obviously, she wasn't interested in challenging him.
"I thought you were informing your Omma?" Jinman asked angrily.
"I was... but, she was at Arisu's house...so, I called him." Jian defended herself, trying to hide her anger.
"Okay," He said.
Her phone started ringing and Jinman took a look at it.
'Ari' The caller Id notified.
Jinman clenched his jaw in anger and cancelled the call. He switched off her phone and placed it inside his pocket.
Arisu had heard a man's voice and he became curious. Of course, he didn't have the slightest idea that it could be Jinman. And, somehow, it saved Jian.
"What relationship do you have with this boy?" Jinman asked.
"Wh, what?" Jian asked stunned.
For her, it was a ridiculous question. So, she did nothing but nod. After a while, when she noticed him, getting relaxed, she gathered the strength to ask him.
"Can...can I get my phone back?" She asked softly. Her voice calmed him, and like a miracle, he forgot everything that happened a while ago.
"Not now. I will give it back to you when I feel like you are behaving properly." He said.
Jian narrowed her brows.
'What does he think of me? A dog on a leash ?' She thought. But, she kept quiet. After some time, Jinman realized his mistake.
"I know, I am asking too much from you and always order you to do everything. I am....sorry about it, Love. But, I can't help it," Jinman confessed.
Jian raised her brows in shock but recovered quickly. It wasn't the first time that he was apologizing to her. But this time, he felt her pain. He expected her to say something, but she kept quiet.
Noticing her silence, Jinman sighed, and thought to change the grim atmosphere...after all, he was on a date with his woman.
"So, how was your day?" He asked.