Chapter 36 - Safe

"Oh, it's because I'm too handsome to be called cute?" He brazenly asked, still not letting go of her face. But the girl hesitated again and didn't answer him right away.

"Hmm… you look like… you look like an… android." She answered and Kira was so shock that before he knew it, he let go of her face and hand.

"H-huh? What the hell… what did you say?" his voice was filled with disbelief as he began chasing the girl who already started leaving him.

Fortunately, the squirrel didn't run away like a cheetah this time so Kira managed to catch up. He grabbed Zeri from behind and wrapped his arms around her neck.

"You… I didn't know you are good in teasing."

"It's not a tease, I mean it."

". . ."

"You really look like…"

Kira abruptly made the girl look at him and pinched both of cheeks.

"Sigh… you know what? You really are just so… just so… never mind." Strangely, Kira couldn't even get pissed anymore, or more like he didn't find her rejection something damn annoying anymore. He found it frustrating but finding someone who was not being blinded by his look, and being with a girl who wasn't infatuated with him just by looking at his face was something unexpectedly very interesting.

"I think there's something wrong with your eyes." He added as he smirked before he softly flicked her forehead.

Kira didn't even realize that he had already dropped his facades and was now speaking to her without sugar coating anything and acting sweet and all until…

"We're here." Zeri finally said, looking towards the bungalow before them. As Kira heard her, he turned to look at the house when they heard someone's voice.

"Big sis?" the voice said and Zeri suddenly pulled Kira down.

They were both squatting on the ground, hidden behind the bushes as her palm flew like a wind towards Kira's face and covered his mouth.

Her action made Kira's eyes almost jumped out of its sockets. He wanted to get a little bit pissed with her but he was being overly conscious with the fact that Zeri's warm palm was on his lips and that she was so damn close to him.

"Shh… my little brother is here." She said, whispering at him as she raised her forefinger on her lips.

Kira's brows knotted when he heard her and he too raised his one hand, held her wrist and slowly pulled it down, away from his mouth.

"So what? Why are we hiding?" he asked, looking absolutely displeased.

"Uhm… I don't want him to worry." She replied. Zeri sounded sincere but her reply only made Kira's forehead creased harder.

"Worry? Why would he worry?"

"Because I'm with a boy."

"Huh? What the hell is wrong with being with a boy?"

Kira was trying his best not to snap while the girl simply blinked at him, innocently. "Because males are dangerous."

Kira: ". . ."

A short silence went by after those words left Zeri's mouth and Kira was starting to feel like having a headache again. Dangerous? Are you serious?! You're the one who's dangerous here! Did you forget how dangerously strong, fast and agile you are?! Did you seriously forget all the things you did to the great me?!

After pinching the skin between his brows, Kira sighed and then, he lightly pinched Zeri's cheek.

"You seriously think I'm dangerous?" he asked without letting go of her skin and Zeri fell quiet. She stared in his eyes, serious. She looked like she was searching for something in his face and Kira could see unknown questions in her eyes.

"You're… not dangerous." She finally answered, causing Kira to lift a brow at her. "To me, all men are dangerous, except my little brother and… you."

For some reason, Kira didn't know whether he should be happy or not. He was puzzled on what did she even mean by thinking that all men are dangerous. And what did she mean by putting him in the same category as her little brother again?! Was it really because she's not seeing him as a man?!

Thinking about all of his failed attacks, Kira realized that what just popped out of his head was possible, no, he thought that it was the only explanation why she was not being affected by his moves at all. And these thoughts made Kira's face turned a few shades darker.

Zeri Kim… you…

Kira felt worse. It seemed like this realization was just too hard for the great him to accept. This girl was the first person he ever pursued. Even though this was practically forced in the beginning, he knew that he took the steps himself and no one asked him to exert real efforts just to get her attention. He had never chased anyone before. He had never tried this hard before and yet, this girl was…

"Squirrel…" Kira was trying his hardest to stay collected. "I don't understand what the hell you're saying at all." He said in a soft yet ice cold voice. He didn't even understand why something like this was making him so damn mad. He didn't know why he was acting like a kid sulking over something he used to not to care at all.

However, in the middle of his sulking episode, he heard something unexpected.

"The truth is, I don't understand as well. I don't know why but… even though you're not that kind to me, I just feel safe with you."

Confusion took over Kira's mind. Huh? She actually said I'm not that kind to her? This girl… but… she said she feel safe with me?

Kira looked intently in her eyes and he could see nothing but sincerity. She was serious as always as if she was very sure with the words she just said.

"Safe?" Kira could only utter as he tried his best not to celebrate just yet .

"Mn. I think it's the same as feeling like, you won't harm me no matter what happen."