POV (Point of View)

Chapter 44: A Bitter Taste

"Your eyeglasses seem a bit different. Did you buy a new pair?" Sarina felt the air getting awkward. Can she tell this man that she left her eyeglasses with her little brother? Absolutely not.

"Uh...no. This was a pair from long ago. I uh...lost my eyeglasses." She lied, which the tall purple haired only replied with a grin. Though how much she hides it, he already has an idea.

But as if the air isn't awkward enough, the man had to brought up something she would rather forget.

"Last night...it was misfortunate that Rindou had to come on such a bad timing, right? Forgive him being so greedy and impulsive sometimes." She froze on the step that she is about to take on the staircase. Now what is she going to reply?

"I uh...I guess so." But Ran isn't done tormenting the sleep-deprived Sarina.

"Did you perhaps lost your eyeglasses when my rude little brother dragged you away?" 

"Y-Yes. You're totally right." The woman started sweating bullets. She faked a grin, making the man hum a response. Yep. What he's thinking is totally right. 

It was then that he thought to ask something else to change up the air. The same way he did last night. 

"You know, I actually forgot to ask you but..."

"...weren't you scared when you realized that I am also from Bonten?" A pair of green eyes looked up at the tall male walking behind her. The two of them are off to seek her father's permission and opinion about going on a short vacation.  But Ran being the curious man that he always is when it comes to this writer-artist decided to pass the time by asking her a question he is curious about. 

Sarina thought hard for a second before giving an answer which once again amused the Bonten executive.

"No. I was actually more curious..."

"...how a member of the so-called evil organization of Japan could be so nice and friendly." She solicited a grin and low laugh from her audience.

"I am serious, Ran-kun. I paid no mind. The same case applied when I found out that Rin-sama is a member—an executive, as you said even." His pair of purple saw the way she hesitated for a bit when she mentioned Rindou. But it wasn't because she was lying. But because of something he thinks that something happened last night. Perhaps, he is getting good in seeing through this woman, most especially how unique her mind works.

What she said though raised both his eyebrows. Both in disbelief and astonishment.

"Do you not care that people like my brother and I hurt people? Exploit their money? Steal their freedom? Literally kill people for selfish reasons?" With a sarcastic grin, the man asked which didn't...change the woman's reaction. He won't deny that at this moment, he was trying to see how she will react and if she is like a stereotypical person with righteous beliefs and principles who will tell him what they should and shouldn't do.

"Criminals or not, people are not all pure clean and pure evil. Everyone has stories they don't tell and show others. There are some who refuses to cloak their evil deeds, those who prefer to be feared, like you guys in Bonten." She turns to his direction seriously.