Frozen Rose (Langa x reader)

Chapter 54

(Y/n)'s POV

I nibbled at the delicately decorated light snack in my hand, waiting silently for Reki to return from the bathroom. My eyes were glued to the balcony, where Langa and Ayaka were seemingly having a lover's conversation.

Though he made no big gestures, a light smile shone from his face. Ayaka talked with a happy grin tugging at her lips, her movements free and elegant. To any unknowing onlooker, they were best friends, perhaps even secret lovers. A crack formed in my heart.

"Hello sweetheart."

An arm snaked around my waist, pulling me flush against someone's side. A dangerous smile appeared on my face as I turned to see who had the nerve to lay a hand on me, thinking I was an easy target.

"You look frighteningly lonely tonight. What do you say we have some fun?" he teased.

His auburn hair shone in the light, his chocolate brown eyes mischievous and flirtatious. I tried moving away but he had an iron grip. I could feel his strong muscles from how he was pressed against me.

"I believe it's rude to grab a girl out of the blue and try to make her your plaything."
"*laughs* I'm starting to like you even more," he exclaimed.
"Let go. You don't want a scandal, do you?"
"Pfft, scandal? Who do you think I am?"
"...you're the son of a famous actress. Don't you think your mother-"
"Enough about that. I'm here to talk about you."

He suddenly slammed me against a large column. I couldn't escape his grasp. He was too strong. A smirk replaced his flirtatious smile as his hands continued to hold me in place.

"Oh my! (Y/n)? Are you planning on giving us a full display of your scandalous activities? And here of all places?" Ruka gasped.
"Well, she insisted, pleading me to. Seems like she fell for my looks and wanted me," said the boy still pinning me.
"I said no such thing. You laid your hands on me against my will."
"Stop playing games-"

Reki grabbed the guy's arm, his expression ferocious. He ripped his hands from my body and shielded me. I rubbed at my sore wrists, almost cursing as the tender flesh ached beneath even the slightest of touches.

"Don't touch her," Reki growled.
"Are you her partner? Where did you run off to? She basically came onto me-"
"Check the CCTV cameras. If you're so confident, you'll have no problem with that."
"Tch, alright. Whatever."

From the corner of my eye, I could see Ruka grit her teeth in annoyance. She had planned this. The boy walked away but not before I saw the anger in Langa's gaze, the way he was silently making his way over very quickly.

"Langa!"

I fell into his chest just before he managed to punch the guy who had bruised my wrists. Despite the tingling pain at moving them, I pretended to fix his collar so as not to draw attention to his angered aura.

"I told you to look presentable. You're Ayaka's date."

The look he shot me was one of irritation, which caught me off-guard. This was perhaps the first time he'd ever been annoyed with me and yet somehow, I couldn't help the warmth that spread through my chest.

His gaze lingered on my bruised wrists, fury burning behind his eyes. I hurriedly stepped away before he could do something unnecessary and turn Ayaka's wrath against us. The twin sisters combined was something I'd never want to face.

"Be a dear and bring some ice, yeah?" Sumiko said to a nearby waiter.

She ushered both Reki and I to the side as the other guests returned to their conversations, thinking nothing of the incident that had occurred. I said nothing as she gently applied the ice pack to my wrists. Her date handed Reki a drink, which he fed to me instead of drinking himself.

"I never liked that guy. Always causing trouble, just like his father. How does his mother tolerate it?" Sumiko sighed.
"Thank you for the ice."
"No worries. Ne, are you and that blue-haired boy dating or something? Wait, now that I think about it, I don't know your date's name."
"My name's Reki. I'm (Y/n)'s childhood friend," he replied.
"No wonder you act so close. It's a shame that Ayaka has taken an interest in your friend over there. He seems to really care for you. The only times I've seen a guy get angry like that is when papa is defending mama from a ruffian."

She stole a shy glance towards her partner.

"And of course when Chiharu comes storming in like a knight in shining armour."

Chiharu Johnson, the son of a famous American journalist and renowned Japanese violinist. His father had close ties with Sumiko's, which explained their familiarity with each other. I had no doubt the two also had an interest in each other though both were too shy to admit it.

"If you ever find yourself in trouble, feel free to call either me or Chiharu, ne?" she exclaimed after giving my hands a gentle squeeze.

Chiharu gave a nod. A genuine smile slipped onto my lips. She smiled an enchanting smile that seemed to make the world stop around her before it was gone with a flash. Her and Chiharu took their leave not soon after.

Reki took my hands within his own, glaring at the darkening bruises coating my wrists. He seemed to realise something before he was glancing all around my body but I simply shook my head. That guy hadn't necessarily hurt anywhere else. There was only a dull pain in my back where he had slammed me against the column.

"I hate this, (Y/n). Let's leave," Reki muttered.
"I really wish we could but just put up with it for a while longer. I promise it'll be over soon."
"I hope you're right..."
"Oh, (Y/n)! Just the person I was looking for! Come, we were just discussing some gossip," Ruka exclaimed.

Reki and I glanced at each other. His arm was immediately around my waist, seeing as how I had my hands pressed against my stomach to keep the ice in place. With a deep breath, I marched into the den of vipers waiting to poison me with their venomous fangs.