Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Knock… Knock… Knock…

Aland knocked on Jonea's door.

"Hey, I'm going in!

Jonea just came out of the bathroom. She was only wearing a bathrobe, and her head was wrapped in a white towel. Jonea had also washed her wig and was about to dry it using a hair dryer when there was a knock on the door from outside.

“Ah, damn it! Fuck! Fuck!!" Jonea panicked and ran around, trying to hide her wig.

"I'm in!" Aland said without waiting for approval from Jonea. The bedroom door opens.

The girl was getting panicked. She hasn't had time to hide her wig yet. Jonea tucked the wig behind her back and stood in front of Aland's bed with her chin up.

"What is it?" Jonea's voice was hoarse from being so nervous.

"Have you cleaned yourself?" asked Aland in a cold tone.

Jonea saw the young man carrying many grocery bags in his hand. Everything is branded. Aland put the bags on the bed, then said to Jonea,

“I apologize for throwing your clothes away. The clothes were torn and had lots of blood, so… it was already impossible to clean.”

Jonea almost protested, but Aland immediately cut her off.

"I bought new clothes for you. But I need to find out what kind of dress style you like. So, I bought some. You can choose them or take all of them. That's fine with me. This is my form of apology. I hope you can accept it."

Jonea sighed and raised her head with a look of disbelief. "You don't have to do all that."

Even though inside Jonea's heart, she wanted to jump for joy. She was embarrassed to stand before Aland like that, but she was happy.

Aland stood stiffly while holding back the crunch in his jaw. "So you're saying you're going home naked?"

"No!" Jonea said quickly, blinking her eyes. "Of course not. I mean, you can lend me a clean gym suit or whatever. I will return it later. You don't have to waste money just to change my clothes. My clothes are cheap and don't deserve this kind of change."

Aland was amazed. The girl in front of him thought that far. Whereas Aland often throws away expensive clothes, especially after fighting other wolves.

“Just use it, and don't argue too much! If Elmar finds out, then….”

“Elmar… Elmar… Elmar!” Jonea exclaimed with annoyance. "You always say that guy's name. I have nothing to do with him."

Aland was shocked to hear Jonea's statement.

“But, you… you….”

"No!" replied Jonea. The girl almost ran and ran away. “If you think Elmar is my boyfriend, he is not. Impossible to happen. I realized I was just a poor waitress who happened to be out of luck. I don't even know who Elmar is. I only know that he is a regular customer at the cafe, so I have to serve him as best I can. I'm so grateful because he stood up for me that night. But, because of him also, my life almost died. Did you forget?”

Aland gasped. Of course, Aland remembered how he kept waiting near the cafe until Jonea came home from work. He also followed Jonea to the bus stop. When Aland thought the girl would call a taxi and Aland would leave, he instead saw the man from table number three approaching Jonea at the bus stop.

“So you're saying you wish Elmar would let you get abused like that by the guy from table three? You really are a lowly girl.”

Anger welled up inside Aland's chest.

"I could have solved my problems if you hadn't interfered that night."

"Up to you!" shouted Aland angrily. "If you don't want to wear the clothes I bought, just throw them in the trash. You can go home with just a towel on your body. I don't want to lend my clothes!”

Aland walked away grumblingly. Jonea, who was also annoyed, tried to chase Aland while holding the wig. When Aland was about to close the door, a glimpse of the corner of his eye saw the half-wet wig being held by Jonea.

"Wait!" Jonea said while holding the door so it wouldn't close immediately. Jonea's gaze met Aland's gaze between the gaps in the door that were almost closing.

"What else? I don't need your thanks," Aland said.

Jonea grinned. “Sorry, Young Master Wealthy. I didn't mean to thank you or apologize. Your help that night was compensation because you and your friends have interfered with my work. I'm lucky that Johny didn't cut my salary or even fire me!”

"Then what do you want now?" Aland's gaze sharpened. He watched Jonea from the head covered in the towel down to her full lips, down again to her chin to her chest, which was wrapped in her bathrobe.

Jonea blinked her eyes. She was almost bewitched by Aland's piercing but protective gaze.

“Hair dryer!” Jonea said, swallowing hard when she remembered how Aland's body looked. She shook her head. “Could you lend me a hairdryer just once? I will reply later.”

Aland pushed the door open. He glanced at Jonea's hands hidden behind her back. But Aland could still see the long dangling end of the wig.

"What are you going to pay me with?"

"What do you want to be paid with?" Jonea replied defiantly.

Aland smiled faintly and almost laughed. But, he restrained himself. "You're a pretty smart girl. Usually, people would say, I'd do anything to repay you."

“That only exists in dramas. I'm not that stupid. Just to pay for a hair dryer, would I do anything for that person? It's pure stupidity."

Aland opened the door wide, and he stood before Jonea. The young man stepped forward, and Jonea took a step back.

Aland took another two steps forward, and Jonea took two steps back.

The girl was alert. Meanwhile, Aland continued to intimidate her and cornered Jonea until her back hit the table in Aland's room.

Jonea didn't realize that behind her was a large mirror. From the large mirror, Aland saw clearly the wig that Jonea was holding.

"What do you want?" whispered Jonea nervously.

Aland leaned towards Jonea so that the girl was squeezed even more. Jonea closed her eyes, then arched her back. Right at that moment, Aland's lips were near Jonea's cheek. Jonea could even feel Aland's breath which smelled of coffee.

"I want you…."

Jonea gaped.

“Get out of the way!” continued Aland with a snapping tone.

Aland held Jonea's shoulder and pushed the girl out of his way. Aland took a hair dryer from the desk drawer with Jonea's back.

Jonea wanted to sink herself into the ground. She was so embarrassed. Jonea glanced sideways and began to hold her breath.

“Okay,” said Aland, holding up the hair dryer. “You just pay by accepting my gift. Choose one of those clothes, or all don't matter.”

Jonea breathed a sigh of relief and received the hair dryer from Aland's hand. However, when Jonea was about to pull the hair dryer, Aland held Jonea's hand.

“W-what now?”

Aland's free left hand grabbed Jonea's right hand, hidden behind her back. The girl refused and fought back. She held her hands tightly behind her back. But Aland continued to pull it off.

"What exactly are you hiding from me?" whispered Aland in front of Jonea's face.

"Please…" Jonea groaned. "Let go of my hand... This hurts."

“Not before you show me what you're hiding from me!”