Chapter 15

"Holy flickering lights.." My jaw dropped at the realization of who this guy is, the same time my heart thumped in response. "Mister.. Rhyn.." I gasped as I covered my mouth.

This is.. insane..

Now I am sure. He smirked before giving me a short nod. "At your service."

I didn't know it was possible, but I did a double jaw-drop. "How..."

"You sure are hard to find, Jace's baby." He took a step forward. "I almost doubt myself if it's really you. I was told about your looks but they're so damn wrong about everything."

My cheeks are heating up and I had to stuff my mouth with something to calm down a bit. "Why? Did they describe me as a small, chunky with glasses girl? 'Coz if that was it, they weren't wrong, mister, they are 100% correct."

They really are, as that was Mielle's description... and I just altered it.

His gaze is unnerving that I had to focus on something else, so I drank water and put it back down almost immediately. "No. They are wrong. You're nothing like what they and you said."

I laughed bitterly. "It's only the dress, mister Rhyn, and make up."

"You're only wearing a waterproof lipstick, Jace's baby. And that dress won't be beautiful if the wearer isn't one."

Did he just implied that I'm beautiful?

I bit my lip to stop myself from squealing. My fangirling side is coming back. "What are you saying? If I end up believing you, I'll make you responsible for me. You want that?"

He shrugged. "Okay."

I wet my lower lip. "You're joking."

"I'm not, what I said is the truth."

This is going nowhere.

I grabbed his tie and pulled it so we could be level with each other. "If you can, go. Look at me real good to see what you really are saying. Don't flatter me, if you're feeling sorry because I'm alone. I don't need it. I know what I look like and I sure know it doesn't look what you say I do."

The lights in the quad flickered and for that moment, I saw his wide eyes that made me loosen my grip on his tie. He stood right back up.

"W-Wait! That's my water!" But nope, after taking my water cup, he drank the rest of it.

"I'll get you a new one." He crushed the cup.

"Then why didn't you get yourself one? The heck! Out of everything, you chose mine."

"I had to. I got really thirsty."

"And so? Is that my fault?"

"Yes."

"Excuse me?"

"If you weren't so darn attractive, my throat wouldn't get dry."

"What did you say?" My eyes went wide. "Y-You.. weren't you listening? Also, your pick-up line has no effect on me." I turned to the side and bit my lip again. Be still, my heart, be still.

His finger suddenly got under my chin and he held it up, making me look at him. "I don't know why you don't believe me.." He pulled my chin down, making me let go my lower lip with a soft plop. "God damn it."

He let me go and let out a heavy sigh, putting his hands on his side. "Mister Rhyn?" What's his problem?

His hands are opening and closing. "I'll be right back with your water." I couldn't say anything anymore as he started to walk away really fast.

"O... kay? That was.. weird." I leaned on the wall as my knees almost gave up as to what just happened finally dawned on me. "Oh Mielle, I think we're in trouble."





@~@





"So why were you looking for me?" Rhyn came back with two bottles of water and a whole new plate filled with munchables.

He rested his elbows on top of the wall. "Curiosity." He seemed calmer and more composed now.

"Explain." I bit on the brownie.

"Jace told me that you'd be here."

"Ayiee, the mighty Rhyn is curious to see me," I teased but I didn't expect him to agree.

"Hn. You could say that."

My smile left my lips. "H-Ha? Why?"

From looking at the front, he turned his head to me. "I heard stories from him and Pallermo about you. Because of that, I wanted to see with my own two eyes the very person they had been talking about, especially Pallermo."

"Mister Peter? What's wrong with him?"

"A lot."

"And what would be my connection with a lot of wrongs with him?" My eyebrow raised with my question.

"He can't stop talking about you."

I got dumbfounded. That wasn't supposed to happen.

"I thought he doesn't talk when you two are in the same room?"

"He does, but really far away from me." His Adam's Apple moved up and down. "Whenever Jace comes to visit me in my office and he's a tag along, he'll sit on the very corner as he chats with Jace. So of course, he had to talk louder."

"Oh." Oh! That's when I finally realized how long it had been since we started talking. My eyes started to scan the crowd. Where are they? Where are they -- oh, thank God, they're still dancing.

"You know, you really surprise me."

"Ha?" My attention went back to Rhyn. He is watching me intently.

"You know what Jace looks like." He stated that made my heart stopped from beating. "How?"

"U-Uh.. well y-you see --"

"Don't even try to deny it. Let's cut the crap. I know that you know what Jace looks like. Now, how did you know who he is when he really didn't mention anything about his looks to you? How come you know who he is when you haven't met in person at all?"

I felt small... and scared. Now I know why Peter is terrified of him. He's perceptive and goes straight to the point. And very intimidating.

"J-Just a hunch..? H-Hehe.." His face is serious, not buying what I said.

I bit my lip and sighed in resignation. How did I get in this situation? I'm not prepared for this.

"The truth is, mister Rhyn, I really am not Mielle. I'm not from this world of yours. You all are just characters in a novel that I got transported into after I died. And the reason why I know who is who is because I read this novel. And that is why I know what Jace looks like without meeting him personally."

Here it comes. He will say that I'm crazy or that there is something wrong in my head... or maybe I'm making up stories to get myself out in this situation?

Rhyn's intense gaze is getting uncomfortable, plus the fact that he went quiet as he observe me.

Just say I'm losing my mind so we can end this conversation.

My eyes wandered back to the couple who are now heading to the food table.

You don't want to say anything? Suit yourself. Works better for me.

I was drinking water when he spoke.

"That's it?"

I choke, making the water drip on my chin. "W-What?" My eyes are horrified as I stare at him. He took the bottle from my hand and put it on the top of the wall.

"That's it?" He repeated.

"W-What do you mean 'That's it?' and wait.. wait, what? You're not going to say that I'm crazy? Or just making up stories? Or.. or.. mentally unstable?"

"Not yet."

"Huh?"

"I'll have to stay and listen at to what extent you're going to go by with that reasoning of yours before I'll say that you're crazy."

"So... you don't really believe me, but merely, going along with it?"

"Let's just say..." Suddenly, his thumb went to wipe the water drip that I missed to wipe on the side of my lips. "That I believe you... for now."

I just drank water, yet my throat felt dry again. "F-For now?" My voice sounded hoarse.

"For now."

"Why?"

"Can't tell you just yet."

"Tell me what?" My head leaned to the side. "And why can't you?"

He patted my head. "Because you're not ready yet."

I glared at him. "Since you're going along with my 'reasoning,' just so you know, I'm actually 24 years old, okay? So don't treat me like a child."

Rhyn took back his hand and looked at me, amused. "Is that so? Well, I guess that explains it."

"Explain what?"

"Why I had a hard time looking for you earlier."

"What?"

"They said you're a high-school student, short, chubby, and wears glasses."

"And like what I said earlier, they were correct."

"And like what I said earlier as well, that was incorrect, because the way I found you was not by looking at that kind of description."

I frowned at him. "What then?"

"I looked for a lady that seemed trapped inside a little girl's body, and everything about you, even the way you carry yourself, proved me right."

"But--"

He shook his head. "You can't disagree. After all, I did finally find you, didn't I? Plus, you even said so yourself, you are actually a 24 year-old woman. No wonder I seemed quite attractive to you."

"What?"

He gave me a lopsided smile. "You don't portray as a minor.. but more like someone around my age."

Chapter end