Chapter 2 - Can I Trust You?

The quiet drive came to an end when they reached the outer place of Seoul. It was at some kind of valley on a hilltop. Houses were quietly distanced with fences surrounding, making the bond of the neighborhood seem as thin as paper sheets. This didn't seem like a place anyone could afford, but in fact, wasn't more attractive than a golden prison.

When they arrived, he knocked on the glass window of the car, as she didn't come out. Jieun flinched finding him standing right outside. Absorbed in observing the view she didn't even notice him stepping out of the car.

As her savor opened the door, she immediately stood up but was pulled back by the seatbelt. He looked at her with a brow lifted in disbelief as if he just witnessed a monkey slip on a banana peel.

*Is this due to amnesia? *

"...Or was her brain usually this bad?" Deep in thoughts, he didn't even realize that he spoke out his mind. It was in a whisper though but Jieun heard every single word. His half-sentence was enough for her to get the context of the whole picture.

He is mocking you!

As he just was about to lean across to help her untying the belt, Jieun pushed him with both hands making him falter a few steps back. With a questionable look, he sends her blaming eyes, which she returned with a look near a glare.

Didn't you need his help? He mentally asked himself.

Jieun attempted to stand up again, but it didn't take more than a second for the belt to harden its grip and wipe her back against the seat.

He scoffed, seeing the scene of her portraying both dumb and dumber on her own. She clearly didn't know how to come free yet she didn't let him help her.

She looked at him with a reddening face, of both embarrassment, and anger. As if she wasn't frustrated enough he even pulled the corner of his lip in a wicked grin. It only made a brief appearance on his handsome face but was enough to make her blood boil.

"Stop being stubborn." He leaned across her and clicked the belt free from its lock. Jieun grabbed the belt that was slowly being pulled away and locked it back, causing him to make a slightly pissed face.

I untied your seatbelt, you locked it back...

"I think you're trying to say you don't need my help?" He read a silent 'yes' in her eyes. He was actually used to her loud silence to the point, that her voice would be more surprising.

"Technically I just showed you how it works, so you acting up is completely unmannered and unnecessary unless-"

The last part came out in a spiteful manner,

"you have a better way of getting out."

Despite knowing he was acting petty he couldn't hold back. She's been hurting his pride on endless repeat by rejecting him so upright. So straightforward without considering his feelings.

Jieun sighed deep, she bats her inner cheeks while grabbing the wide black belt with both hands. She was trying to think of a way to breaks free. The black material was slowly pulled by gravity, it's tight grip across her chest connected at the left side of her hips was slowly loosening up. Her eyes lit up.

The chain is broken!

She figured out if it wasn't pulled forcefully but with ease, the belt wouldn't make an abrupt halt.

Her savor stood with a raising brow looking at her suddenly pulling both legs up, stood on the seat, and carefully tangled herself free from the belt. She got off the car as some acrobatic escape artist. He hid his astonishment behind a straight face, although the bulging cheek caused by his poking tongue kind of spoke for itself. Apparently, he wasn't as impressed as much as she was of herself.

What did I just bring home? He headed towards the gate of his house with a hand in his pocket but then stopped.

"You-" he turned back at her, she stopped upon hearing his voice, carefully lifting her head from the ground to meet his frown.

"Don't get out of a car like this again, it gives people thoughts."

Thoughts? Her brows knitted. What thoughts?

"People might send you to a mental hospital or something." He added. Her expression was unchanged and blank, she had no idea of what mental or hospital meant.

When she just looked at him with a blank expression he started doubting himself. Am I the weird one?

He turned back at the gate, mentally convincing himself that he is the one normal.

"I'm home." He said into the metal box hanging on the wall and immediately the gates opened wide. Jieun flinched seeing the metal gate doors move aside without anyone pulling them. It was kind of fascinating but creepy too.

"Not coming?" He said looking at her for a second then turned back and entered through the gate. Jieun had a bad feeling.

What is all this?  With no sounds of her small steps, he knew she wasn't following. He looked back with an impatient sigh. Seeing his slight annoyed expression, made her involuntarily enter the gate. She walked just behind him, very closely and cautiously.

After she had taken a few steps a sudden creak interrupted the peace and send a chill down her spine. Jieun looked back with a horrified expression seeing the gate slowly closing, she immediately ran back to the gate but it was too late. It was closed. Her savor turned back to see her frantically kicking his gate like a drunkard.

What's wrong with her?!?

"Ya!" He ran to her, afraid that people would come out from their houses due to the noise. He tried to stop her but nevertheless, Jieun kept kicking the gate nonstop.

"Ya! Ya!! YAA!!!" He shouted angrily, grabbing her wrist and spun her around, but she wasn't listening, he could tell that as she didn't let him get any eye contact.

I'm locked! I'm locked! That's why he looked at you like a stupid moron. Walking into the gate of the afterworld without knowing! What in the world was I thinking to blindly follow a man who chained me in a black speeding thing!? She was freaked out on the brick of insane.

Jieun yanked his arms in despair, indeed she was scared of him but that was when she thought he was a bloodthirsty killer, not a reaper taking her to the underworld. If she's already dead it literally means she had nothing to lose. She's not going without a fight.

"What's wrong with you?!?!" He shouted, trying to get a hold of her but she kept shaking her head not wanting to listen. He thought she was going crazy but not even that made him let go of her hand.

I need to get out of here. How did he open those gates? Jieun ran through her mind and remembered the magic words he said for the gates to open*. 'I'm home'*

"I'm home!! Open the gates!" She screamed while looking at the sky.

"Pardon?" A female voice came from the speakers on the outer side of the gate.

God?!? Jieun's eyes grew big as hope filled her heart.

"I'm home!" She repeated with a light of hope, thinking her earnestness touched the heavens. "Please open the gate!"

"Uhm... I just did?" The female voice answered awkwardly.

"No God, you just closed it! I'm home please open the gates!"

"Miss I can see you through the camera you're already inside."

"You're looking at me??" Jieun looked around in on the black sky.

"...Young master?" The woman sounded somehow conflicted and terrified at the same time. The lady she observed on the little display didn't look any ordinary. At least her act didn't seem ordinary.

"Don't mind her and don't even think of open the gate." He firmly instructed while grabbing Jieun's wrist tighter. He pulled her to face him but she kept looking at the sky.

"God, don't let him lock me up!" Her voice cried.

"What are you talking about?!? No one is locking you up!!" Jieun froze. She was afraid her hearing was playing tricks on her.

"You're...not?" She looked at him with suspicious eyes.

Goodness' sake I saved you!

His intense glare, the angry eyes that didn't show evil intents but frustration, as if he was mad at her but at the same time not.

Can I trust him?... Jieun asked herself.

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