CRUEL

CRUEL|FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CRUEL

[SEASON TWO]

 "Hey, Bobby?"

The man shifted his gaze from his spot, looking towards the girl in the living room. She was engrossed in playing with Pocky and Jorden. Though he couldn't see her frown from where he stood, but it was clear that something was wrong. 

"Yeah Miss?" he responded, his curiosity piqued. His right-hand man stood next to him, equally attentive. A heavy silence hung in the air, palpable tension threading through it. Even the dogs sensed the change and played more cautiously.

With her tongue, she wet her dry lips. She absentmindedly patted Jorden's head. "How...How can you make a boy happy?" she asked,  her voice laced with nervousness. She avoided meeting their eyes, her gaze fixed on the ground. The men around her froze at the unexpected question. 

Their faces paled as their minds conjured up the image of their boss's innocent daughter having a boyfriend, seeking their advice about love.

Swallowing audibly, she could feel the temperature in the room dropping as the tension thickened. Bobby managed a cold smile, his hand casually resting on a sword at his side. (Where did he got this sword-?) "Don't worry Miss, I am sure a little talk with me gonna make him very happy." he replied slowly, his tone carrying a dangerous edge. Ready to kill something or someone. 

She raised a hand in protest, her nervous smile aimed at diffusing the atmosphere charged with his killer intent. "A-Ah I am sure that won't be necessary..." she stammered, her voice wavering. A collective sigh of exasperation seemed to fill the room. Of course, this was the kind of reaction she should have expected. What had she been hoping for? These men likely had standing orders from her father to eliminate any potential Lover.

Bobby's head received a smack from the guy standing next to him, who shot him an angry look. "Idiot! Stop saying such stuff!" he hissed through gritted teeth. The black-clad man rubbed the spot that had been hit. 

"But isn't it that we should do?" he questioned nervously. A third man, sporting sunglasses, groaned and pinched the one who had spoken on the arm. "Secretly! That means without her knowing!" he makes it clear. 

"Oh.." Bobby said realizing his mistake.

Both men turned their attention back to the girl, who had started absentmindedly drawing circles on the floor. Bobby crouched down, taking a seat beside her.  "Ehm, of course, we wouldn't do any things like that." He lied, they would obvious do such things and much worse things. 

He cleared his throat nervously, attempting to lift the girl's spirits. "How to make a boy happy? Well, that's easy... Food!" he declared earnestly. "Every man loves good food!

"Food?" she repeated, her thoughts drifting to Jay. She recalled her brother mentioning that Jay was an incredibly skilled cook. Considering he had to take care of himself and his younger brother, it made sense that he appreciated food. 

But was good food really enough to brighten his mood? She had always believed that the way to anyone's heart was through their stomach, but that idiot make her question everything.

"He's absolutely right, Miss! Every boy would be thrilled to enjoy some of your delicious cooking!" the man with the scar chimed in, echoing Bobby's sentiment. "You really think so?" she asked them, her uncertainty about their sincerity evident. They vigorously nodded their heads. "Absolutely, Miss! We swear on our Gangster live!" they assured her. She regarded them with a mix of suspicion and understanding. Perhaps preparing a meal could indeed help lift Jay's spirits.