“You listen to me Angel Santos,” she said furiously, “These stories. These parts of yourself that you share with me wouldn’t ever help you in the end.”
His scoff got stuck in his throat as she hauled him closer, those honey eyes flashing in disdain, “There is no friendship here. No scope for anything. Not when you share those secrets about yourself and not when I listen. You and I belong in different places. And you trying to be this vulnerable doesn’t do you any favors.”
Angel pulled away from her, a dangerous edge to his eyes as he glared at her. She calmed at that expression, “There.” She said, her gaze shuttering before she pursued her lips and snapped her head away, “That’swho you are.”
He didn’t turn around. Couldn’t when she walked past him and brushed her shoulder against his,
“Tell me your secrets when you want to Angel De Santos,” she said softly and his breathing harshened, “Not when you think you’re supposed to.”
And with that, Ray walked through the entrance of their banquet venue.
* *
She couldn’t tell if he was clever or truly that foolish. Ray never had the knack for reading people. Couldn’t never really tell what their body language meant or what their expressions said. But with Angel, she could read him like an open book. When he told her things she hadn’t known, an odd sense of rage had risen in her. She could see the way he forced himself to speak, the way he balled his fists or the minutest twitch and crinkling of his eyes. Maybe he did it subconsciously, but it didn’t ease the weight on Ray’s shoulders.
Instead, it only ignited a fire she hadn’t yet learned how to control.
It was evening now, and the orangish rays were peeping through her curtained windows as she dressed for the banquet. Ray breathed out harshly when she tugged her wrap-around top down her neck. Her eyes caught sight of her figure in the mirror.
She had chosen a long skirt with a slit on its side. She’d topped it off with a deep neck white stop that wrapped on her shoulders.
It was a beautiful piece, perfect for a warm night at the beach venue today. Formally informal. But her eyes stopped at the sight of those red marks around her throat.
It'd been a close call last night; she realized with a fearful pang and raised her hand to her throat delicately. She knew if her fingers grazed past it, the skin would burn. But because it was still so obviously visible, she would have to cover it up.
She’d rather be damned rather than show her potential enemies that someone had managed to almost kill her.
There was a shameful part of her that was still terrified. Was still getting over the events.Shouldn’t she be used to this by now?Ray sighed, ignoring her thoughts as she bent to scoop the concealer off her counter. She was still in the middle of covering it up when three knocks sounded on her door.
Ray paused, rising to her full height as her gaze narrowed in the direction of the closed door.
Knock. Knock.
Her eyes widened, “Shit.” Ray murmured as the concealer dropped from her hands with a muted thump and she rushed to pull open the door. She was praying it wasn’t him when she ripped the door open. But her prayers were futile, because right there before her stood a six feet tall boy who was looking down at her with a sheepish grin but worried eyes.
“Cameron,” she hissed and hauled him inside, “Are you fucking insane?” she cried as she closed the door and turned to face him.
Cameron was looking at her through his wide faded green eyes, his blonde straight hair falling over his forehead as he rushed ahead,
“I heard about last night.”He started furiously, signing aggressively with his hands as he grabbed her wrists and pulled her closer to inspect her,“Are you alright?”
His movements were too fast for her to track. Ray shook her head, taking a step back and signaling with her hands to stop him, “Wait too fast.” She signed but he wasn’t listening.
“Han Seo-Jun!” she whispered finally, and his eyes widened as he read her lips and saw his Korean name. He huffed once and took a step back, letting go of her hands with a glare in her direction. She raised her arms in the air, her eyes blazing,
“What the hell are you doing here? You’re going to ruin our plan.” She hissed and signed back with her hands. She saw him flinch back and run a ruffled hand through his hair again. It was of no use though; those smooth strands fell on his forehead handsomely again.
“Do you know who it was?”he asked instead, his hands moving slower than before, and her eyes widened. His expression fell at the sight of her face,“I was just worried.”
“I understand,” she signed softly, “But you’re a stranger to me here Cam. You can’t be seen coming in and out of my room. It’s going to ruin all this.”
“Sorry.” He mouthed and tugged at his ear lobe before averting his gaze. Ray shook her head and tried to think of a way out of this mess when she noticed his outfit. It had been so long since she’d seen him. He was wearing a royal blue blazer and black trousers underneath. When he turned to face her again, she saw nothing underneath the blazer and huffed out a laugh,
“Are you wearing that today?” she signed with her hands, and he frowned, looking down at his outfit. She snorted when he rose his head indignantly and raised a brow as if saying,
“Problem?”
“No,” she said, grinning despite herself, “Not at all.”
