Once he got home, he tried keying in the password, but the door never opened. He tried and tried but it was impossible. It seems the door was locked from inside.
"Damnit!" he cursed, exhaling deeply. What should he do now? He can't teleport at this moment. An idea struck him and he grinned under his mask. Walking to the window, he slide it open and jumped into the living room. Sliding it close, he laughed, almost in a whisper.
"How's that!" he said. His arms were widely open and he was still exclaiming, but then the lights turned on and he froze.
"Who are you?"
Bringing his hands down, he turned around slowly with wide eyes, only to find Zariel in front of him. He heaved a sigh of relief, because he thought it was Ari.
"Who are you?!" Zariel roared this time. With a sigh, he removed his mask and she gasped.
"Young master?" her eyes were widely open, scanning him up and down.
"Shh...." Ryan said with his index on his lips "Don't make any noise"
"H-how are you dressed like this?" she stuttered, and he gestured for her to be quite again.
"And you... w-were sneaking in through the window?"
Ryan walked towards her "If you say anything about what you just saw now, I'll haunt your dreams" he threatened, but she slapped him on his head.
"You were just sneaking in like a thief, and instead of an explanation, you're threatening me?"
"I didn't sneak. I was trying to get into my house, because I was locked outside."
"How would I know you went out? You didn't even tell anyone!"
"Because I don't need to" Ryan replied "I'm tired and sleepy, so goodnight" he walked away.
"Yah!!" Zariel screamed in a whisper, but he was already walking up the stairs without making a sound. He opened the door of his room gently and tiptoed in. Ari was still asleep and he heaved a sigh. At least she wouldn't see him like this. He walked to take a shower, because he was bloodstained. After changing, he laid beside her, drew her into his arms, and then slept off.
*...*....*....*....*
"Good morning" Aria greeted with a warm smile as she walked into the living room.
"Oh, good morning dear. How are you this morning?" Zariel asked.
"Fine, thank you" she replied.
Leonel too came down the stairs and she greeted him. He patted her back "Have you been well?"
"Yes" she smiled like a girl with her father.
"Let's have breakfast" Zariel spoke.
"Ms. Jung, can I eat with you guys? Ryan is still asleep" she asked. But they wondered since when she started calling him by his name.
"Of course, sure" she ushered them to the dining room which both her and Leonel share. And they ate together, like a family. With Ari being their daughter.
"Oh, I was wanting to ask... When is your birthday, dear?" Zariel asked.
"Ah.. it's next week, thursday" she replied.
"Really?" Leonel exclaimed.
"Aigu! It's not so far away" Zariel added.
"Young master's birthday is actually in three weeks." Leonel said and her lips parted slightly. She can't believe they were actually of the same month. It sounds nice.
"I'll try to surprise you" Zariel said and Ari smiled brightly.
*...*...*
The sun rays hit Ryan's face and his eyes flung open. "Good morning, sleepyhead" Arianna chuckled. She purposefully flung the curtains open so he would wake up.
Ryan rose up "What time is it?" he asked, sleepily.
"It's past ten" she answered.
"So what?" Ryan groaned "I'm still sleepy" he laid back on the bed, and drapped the duvet over his body.
"Hey, wake up!" She walked towards him, dragging the duvet off his body. His clutch on it was tight and that made him fall to the floor with a thud. "Ouch"
"Oops" she bit her lips. Ryan groaned while standing up, he cursed underneath. "Sorry" she apologized "But you have to wake up now. You've been sleeping for so long. What were you doing throughout the night?"
Which just that question, his eyes cleared immediately. "Nothing" he said. He couldn't let her suspect anything about him. "I'll take a bath now" he rushed to the bathroom, to avoid any more questions from her. That's if she would ask.
Arianna left the room and went downstairs. Zariel too came there, all dressed like she was going out. She turned on the r tv. and they watched the news.
Minutes later, both Ryan and Leonel came down. "Good morning, young master" Zariel greeted with a knowing smile "How was your night?"
He looked at her "Great!" he said through clenched teeth. His eyes repeatedly sending warnings. "I'm hungry" he said.
"Your breakfast is served" she told him.
"Aria, let's go and eat" he smiled at her, eager to eat with her. His always eager.
"Ah... I already ate" she said.
Ryan took slow steps towards her, his one hand leaving his pocket "You... ate without me? Aria?" he asked, pointing at himself. Leonel and Zariel looked at themselves, a small smile creeping to their faces.
"Well, you were still sleeping.... and I got hungry... so I ate" she said. Ryan was already an inch away from her, he leaned downwards "Your excuse... is flimsy" he leaned back and walked away with a frown.
'Why? I didn't ask you not to wake up early' Arianna spoke inwardly, and the duo chuckled at her thoughts. Ryan shot them a glare and they lowered their eyes, pressing their lips into a thin line. He actually made it look like he didn't hear her thoughts. He turned again to leave when.....
'Around 9:00pm, last night, Taesan corp faced a huge assassination. Over thirty people were shot at the spot.....'
Ryan had longed stopped in his tracks, he turned to the tv. Everyone's eyes were glued on it.
'....only a few survived the attacks and managed to escape. Some who got shot survived, while others died at the spot. CEO Cheon Yu Jin also lay critical in the hospital. There's one prime suspect....' Ryan's picture was shown on the screen and his eyes grew wide. How did they get his picture? '....and the police are the search for him. His now a notorious criminal in the eyes....'
Zariel turned off the TV. "Oh my god!" she exclaimed.
"Y-young master, did you see that? Our shares!!" Leonel exclaimed too. "Who could be responsible for this?"
Arianna stood up and rushed up the stairs. She needed to call Jia and know if she's okay. Zariel looked at Ryan, scrutinizing his face. His eyes met hers and she narrowed them.
"What?!" he asked.
"Is that you?" she questioned, and Leonel looked at them with confused eyes.
"Why would that be me?" he turned his face away "I can never be a suspect"
"But it's you I see"
Ryan's eyes turned cold, shooting daggers at her. "Y-young master, did you do that?" Leonel asked with a stutter.
He sighed "I only killed the thugs that started it, and then became the culprit" he said in a low tone.
"Aiyo!" They exclaimed.
"If Aria hears about this, I'll make sure you'll never be able to talk again" he threatened with a smile. And then walked away, menacingly.