haphephobia. ∿ d. agriche.

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CHALLENGE

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THE continuous teasing during their childhood led them to an extremely confusing love hate relationship with one another. Never was a day nowadays when they don't fight with each other with annoyance and hatred.

The Agriche led her through the endless trees of the black forest. They were heading to a lake that had been a sanctuary for their childhood.

He always did this. He loved annoying her by bringing her back to spot where she fell and drowned only to be saved by him. The place where to which became their safe haven. Years passed and Dion had made sure to keep everything in tact. It seemed he enjoyed the thought of taking her to and fro.

Entering the hidden lake, she found that it still looked as magical as it did years before. "Still looks the same, doesn't it?" The male asked, studying her expression with interest.

"Mm..." She sat on a rock and placed her hand in the cool water. Eyes lifting up, she was flustered to find Dion stripping his clothes. "What the f*ck, Dion?!"

He just laughed and dove into the the lake. "Care to join me, my lady?" The question was in an extremely teasing tone. A tone she loath with a passion.

"No thank you." She said bluntly. Optics looking away from his extremely built figure. A tint of a blush shone on her face as she shoved thoughts away. Shut up, Areum. You can't think that. Yes, she referred to herself as Areum now. There was no point of calling herself by her old name in fear that she might misinterpret people's words because of it. Anyway there was not much to do with it. If she did possibly slip out words that may interpret something that was not supposed to be said about her past, she had the right excuse of reading too much novels or having the same dreams at night led to the said statements.

Suddenly, a hand grasped her and pulled her breaking her out of her trance. "EH—?!"

A laugh erupted from the male who had pulled her into the lake with him as she stood up, dress dripping with water. Strong arms wrapped around her, and started carrying her like a groom carrying his bride.

Her eyes met the side of his cheek. He's so good looking. Curse him for being that way. His future wife was going to be lucky. Suddenly a memory came to her that in the novel he had no care for women plus the fact that he was apparently ugly to most.

How could this gorgeous human being be ugly in the novel yet beautiful here? Was there a reason he was ugly back then? There's only one thing ugly about him and that's his personality. No doubt that's what was ugly about him. And she supposed the fact that he never got sleep. Talk about him being sleep deprived.

"Are you going to keep gawking at my looks or are you gonna get off?" His voice asked noticing her staring at him with admiration.

Realizing she's been caught she jumped out of his arms. "I was not gawking." "Call it all you want, darling. I believe you were gawking to the point you didn't notice we've already made it to dry land." An annoying smirk emerged on his lips. "So you did like what you saw."

Her face burned up as she looked away. "Shut up! No I didn't."

A chuckle was heard, but she didn't focus on that. What was wrong with her! To be involved with the favorite child was a mistake, why did she watch for too long?

Actions getting the best of her, she stood up only to startle the male who had apparently been analyzing her back, awaiting a response for his gaze.

"Where are you going?" "Anywhere, but with you." The reply cut deep. Did his teasing really get to her that much? He didn't understand what he did wrong, he only teased her a little. Like he always did.

The female left, and he was pondering on about what he could've possibly done that he didn't mean to do..

Realizing that she did not know these woods as well as she did before, he rushed in putting on his coat.

Areum had managed to get slightly past all the trees when she realized how much everything had changed. Gone was the morning sun in the woods ahead of her, but she wanted away from the Agriche. What should she do?

A growl was heard to her right as a creature lunged to attack. A swift and precise movement emerged to halt the creature, ending its life almost completely.

A horrid gasp emerged from Areum as she moved back from the gore sight as well as the male who picked up his sword. Dion. How he had managed to catch up with such speed was a mystery to her, but she was grateful either way. If anything she should be dead meat by now for the creature's supper.

"Thanks." "No problem." Dion answered, taking her hand. "I believe they're done with their meeting, shall we?" An invitation to be taken back to her father. One she would rather say no to, but in between living with a man who didn't care and most likely dying to become food in a forest, she'd rather live. Taking his hand with much hesitation, Dion led her out of her near death.

By the estate's front, her father awaited alongside the duke. The two seemingly didn't care if she ran off to do whatever. But upon noticing Dion on the other hand her father managed a smile of satisfaction. "I see you've found your way to your future fiancé, Areum." A frown worked its way onto her.

Fiancé? Not even Dion would go that far. "I suppose he just wanted to see me, Father." An annoyed tone laced her voice, but careless she did. Does it look like she wanted a marriage with an Agriche? No, not when she wanted to survive this world of hell. In fact the only sane option of marriage would be Cassis Pedelian also known as the female lead's older brother in the novel.

"Indeed, I found her so I thought of giving the two of us some time." Dion's voice was now in a monotone voice she heard him use in the presence of his father. "And I see no fit in marrying her, so why bother continuing such a statement, my lord?"

Duke Armani regarded him with a look that meant he did not like what was said while Duke Agriche stood amused. It seemed he was enjoying his son's tactics with marriage proposals.

"Very well. Areum, let's go." The duke said, turning and trotting away without caring if his daughter was already following or not.

Giving Dion one last look, she walked after her father. She could've sworn she heard Duke Agriche mutter something about her to his son for Dion gave a low chuckle, but either way she didn't care. At least she managed to survive this day of probable death.