Chapter 4

Erin remained in what position Ajax lay her on bed. She can hear what they're talking about earlier but she chose to remain silent. Riding with Ajax is another factor why she keeps her mouth shut. Most of it was because of what happened before they came here to the mansion.

Flashing of events starts to flood her mind once again, how much she despises that man for giving her such hope and dropping her along the way. The feeling of rejection, shame and being judged. Erin tried to build walls to distance herself from him, but she was so fragile and vulnerable she chose to break her own words. 

She starts to think about Ajax. That guy is weirdo, if he's suing Erin for breaking into his house then she's willing to apologize. Her father's man is chasing her and she needed a place to hide, she saw this mansion and welcomed herself in. That was the time Erin remembered how much she's panting. Her legs were numb and worn out. But as time passed, the more she tried to catch his breath, the more energy he lost.

Then Ajax appeared out of nowhere, pinning her on the wall with her neck. Erin thought that was her end, she also wanted to recall what happened and why she lost her consciousness staring at those sinful eyes and drawn in his deep gazes.

Erin heard the door click and it creaked open, revealing a tall man, not Ajax.

She lifted himself in a sitting position while waiting for the man to finally face her. She's been dying to ask who he is and why his friend or brother is trying to get her.

"You're awake. How are you feeling?" he heard the guy ask, slowly walking on her side.

Is it just Erin or that question doesn't suit his face?

"Oh, crap! I'm not meant for such dramas." The guy complain and ruffled his own hair before looking at her. "Hey, say something."

"Sht." Erin said, earning a giggle from the man.

"So, how did you get here?" the guy asked and it confused Erin.

Ajax had been asking her the same question the first time they met.

"Is it really impossible to get in here?" Erin asked and she saw how it drew an amusing expression from him.

"Well, for creatures like us, it is not but for a human like you, yes."

It made her more confused.

"And why are you talking like you're not a human at all?" like Ajax, Erin also finds this guy a weirdo.

"Because I'm not. We're not."

"What do you mean by not? Are you some sort of prince or king living in a more advanced society than us?" Erin wants to be sarcastic, but since this guy is answering her, she'll be gentle in teasing him. At Least she will try.

"Not me but Ajax."

"Yeah, Ajax the weirdo guy. Seriously, why did your friend haunt me down in an alley to freaking kidnap me? If he's mad about me breaking inside his mansion then I'm sorry!" Erin said.

"No, he's not mad. He's curious." the guy said.

"What's your name by the way? It's weird since I've been calling you names in my head." Erin offers, cause yes, she's been calling this guy by whatever name he could think of.

But Erin tilts her head when the guy laughs like she said the funniest joke in the world.

"You're hilariou," The guy still has the guts to slap his hands on his thighs while laughing. When the guy recovered from his laughter, he finally said his name. "I'm Damian."

Erin’s mouth went 'o', for a weird person like him, he had such a good and cute name.

"Is Ajax your brother?" 

Damian's face growled in disgust.

"That was the most offending question I heard in my years of living." Damian said, overreacting. "Nope. There is no chance I'm gonna have a brother like him. He's my friend."

"Oh, is that so?" Erin nodded her head. 

"So, Erin-"

"Wait, how old are you?" he cutted Damian.

Since they knew each other by names, it would be more appropriate to call each other based on age. Erin isn't a fan of using honorifics.

"I'm ten decades older than you." Damian answered without hesitation.

"Can I hit you?" Erin asks with her sweetest smile, but her fist is itching to hit Damian's head. 

"What? I'm not joking! I'm telling the truth!"

Erin calmed herself down. Is this how teenagers communicate nowadays? When she's still a teenager, all she does is admire her origami at home. She worked hard to learn them so she's proud when she finally did dozens of them.

"Okay, I'm 20 years old. I can judge you're still a minor, 3 years younger than me, so call me something respectable." Erin said in a lecturing tone. It made Damian's face confused.

"Thank you for the compliment, but I didn't look like this when I was 17 years old. I'm smaller than you back then."

"Are you offending me, Damian?"

Erin isn't small but she's not tall either, her height is just right. Not too small nor tall. That's what she's been telling herself but Erin knows she's shorter compared to others.

"No, I mean.. Ugh you won't understand me anyway. But sure, I'll call you whatever." Damian said and it drew a smile on Erin’s face.

"Okay I'm starting to like you now." she said in a friendly way.

"Oops, no. You can't like me, I don't wanna end my life. I still have dreams to fulfill, but you can like Ajax all you want. He's free."

"Are you saying something Damian?"

Speaking of Ajax.

There he was, staring blankly at them. When will his expression change? He's leaning on the door Damian left open, talking with his usual tone.

"No, I'm just talking to Erin, right?" Damian said and smiled at her, nodding her head in response.

Ajax furrowed his eyebrows.

"Name?" Ajax asked.

"Yup. I'm older than him so he should respect me." Erin said proudly, dhe heard Damian giggling on her side but he ignored it. "How about you Ajax--"

"Nope." Ajax cut her off, Erin groaned.

He's so stubborn!

"Well, you look older than me so it's okay." Erin said, it sent another laugh to Damian.

That only means Ajax looks older than his actual age. It's to offend him, but only Damian gets her joke.

Erin concluded Ajax is the same age as Damian. It can't be that Damian is befriended by an old man. No offense meant just a hunch.

"What?" Ajax asked.

"That was an insult Ajax! You're slow!"

But Ajax’s expression didn't change, he's still looking at his friend blankly.

"You're no fun." Erin said.

Erin feels more comfortable for the first time with Ajax, maybe because Damian is there to lighten up the atmosphere. But that doesn't change the fact Ajax tried to kidnap him.

"Damian let's go."

"Wait, are you leaving me alone? Can I go back to my apartment now--"

"No. Stay." Ajax said sternly.

"What am I? A dog?" she complained. "Look, I'm sorry for breaking inside your mansion. I just need a place to hide that time and this is my only hope." she explained.

"I know." Ajax said, his few words irritated Erin more.

"Then can I go back now? I'll forget that you tried to kidnap me earlier, besides I owe you my life for getting me away from them." she traded, he smiled with all his best.

"No."

"What do you need—jerk!" Erin yelled when Ajax turned his back and walked to them. "I'm still talking!"

A hand slightly tapped her on her shoulder. Damian got up from his seat.

"Sorry. He's like that. Well, stay here for now, Ajax didn't mind. I'm going." Damian left.

They left Erin all alone in an unknown room, clueless and confused about everything. And she's annoyed.