𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐗

𝟏𝟎 | 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐒𝐄

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    After Haru had so brazenly barged into her room practically half naked, (Y/N) immediately took her crutches under her arms and shoved past him, hobbling down the stairs with him following her, pouting that he didn't understand why she was avoiding him.

It made her want to slap him.

Luckily, Takeshi and Miranda, along with most of her other stepbrothers, arrived to take the awkwardness of the situation away. Unfortunately, they were all instantly swept into the dining hall where they were to eat dinner, the chefs having toiled all day to make a delicious spread of traditional Japanese cuisine, including beautifully crafted sushi; delicately sliced sashimi arrayed in ginger, radish, and wasabi; freshly baked gyoza; and warm miso soup.

While it most certainly looked delicious, everyone breaking out their chopsticks or forks or spoons, (Y/N) sat rigid in her chair.

Shit.

Shit.

Shit.

Haru had quickly moved to sit right next to her after throwing on a shirt, now his hand trailing up and down her thigh in an irritating manner no matter how many times she tried to swat him away. What was worse, he seemed to be enjoying her constant reaction and rejection to him due to the coy smile that played along his lips.

It made her anger prickle.

Finally, when enough time had passed and she had eaten enough food to the point that she wouldn't be hungry later, she excused herself from the table hurriedly before Haru could do the same without raising suspicions, acting like she was walking up the steps to her room but actually sneaking out of the back through the sliding patio door.

She instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

Ugh.

What that hell is wrong with these guys?

Ashton threatens me, Mikael straight up hates me, Cassius warns me that they're psychos, Jay is a freakin' delinquent, and now Haru is traumatizing and harassing me!

What the fuck, mom?

Takeshi and Kai seem awesome, but how the hell did the others convince you?

Running her hands through her hair to cup her neck, she then glanced around the backyard of the Ramone mansion, finding that it was vast and immense, having perfectly trimmed shrubbery and even a fountain with water that glittered in the moonlight from what she could see. Shaking her head whilst letting out a small chuckle of disbelief, no longer surprised from the vast amounts of wealth that practically dripped from everything that the Ramone's owned, she hobbled over to a nearby bench and sat down.

In all honesty, it was relaxing.

The cool breeze, the silent night; just her and her thoughts, away from her new family.

A family where most despised her.

Breathing in deeply, (Y/N) shook such thoughts out of her mind and instead leaned back against the bench with her arms crossed over her chest to get comfortable, hoping to be able to have some alone time without anyone bothering her.

But then that silence was broken.

Sitting up rigidly at the sound of a violin playing, the melody harmonious and tantalizing, she sat there stiffly for only a few more moments before her muscles were forced relax, the music sweeping her away in a soft and beautiful lullaby that made her eyes start to droop. She was impressed, to say the least, that the music had such an effect on her.

But she had been stressed recently.

And she was out there in hopes of relaxing.

Snapping herself out of the sleep that her body ached to have, she stood up shakily with her crutches ever underneath her arms and walked closer to the source of the noise, rounding the side of a few bushes to stop in astonishment when seeing Jay standing there with a hand-carved violin tucked under his chin. His eyes were closed and his fingers nimbly plucked the strings while his other hand expertly moved the bow up and down in perfect synchronization.

(Y/n) blinked.

Hah?

This is... Jay? Playing... the violin?

She thought back to when he had stepped in on behalf of Eun-ji to help fight off the gang that she had beaten up before, wondering how he and the person in front of her now were the same.

Huh...

These brothers are too confusing.

Letting out a small exhale of breath through her nose, (Y/N) was about to exit the space and leave Jay to playing until her crutches caught on a branch and snapped it underneath, cursing sunder her breath. In an instant, the sweet sounds of the violin stopped, and she turned around to meet Jay's surprised gaze.

"S-Sorry," she waved one hand out in front of her awkwardly whilst backing up. "I was out here after dinner... and then I heard you playing... anyway... sorry, again... bye."

"Hey, it's alright, little sis," he smirked, his shocked expression melting into one of ease.

She cringed at that.

He's definitely doing that on purpose.

Clearing her throat, she replied, "Right... I guess I'll let you get back to practicing. I... I really liked the song that you were playing. It was pretty."

Jay's smirk broadened.

Before he could say anything more, (Y/N) had already hightailed it out of there as fast as she could with her unsteady gait. Even though she had given him a compliment—knowing that he deserved it considering how beautifully he was playing the violin—it didn't mean that she felt comfortable having a full on conversation with him. If anything, her comfort level with any of the brothers was far from that, especially after what Haru pulled earlier.

I need to finish my homework...

Mumbling under her breath unintelligibly, she missed the curious glance that Ashton threw her way when she limped past the kitchen where he was working on some paperwork, missed the wave Takeshi and Miranda gave her when passing the couch, and didn't seem to notice Cassius when he stopped to look after her when she had brushed past him without saying anything.

I need to do some homework...

I need to get my mind off of everything right now, and what better way to do that than work?

With a bitter smile, she stepped into her room.

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