CHAPTER 013.
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The fountain...

This is where it all started.

These suffocating feelings that has been consuming him ever since since. These forbidden affections that he was not supposed to have for his best friend.

But what can Dark do about it?

Ever since that day, his heart was stolen away. And Dark discovered that he couldn't do anything about it. He can only submerge himself deeper and deeper into this new found infatuation.

Never resisting—

His grey eyes gaze down at the green-tinted waters as its shade begins to murk from the uninvited memories. But since Star is apart of those, he calmly welcomes it while he then lets those reminiscences drift him away from the woeful reality.

And there he sees it—

In his vision, two youthful teenagers opened their palms and released the coppers from their clutch.

As if in synch, the coins dropped to the water.

Plop it went. Each—only causing a small ripple, and yet the two teenagers still hope that it would still have a rippling effect on their fate.

Young Dark turned to Star.

Over his friend's face, he discerned a little smile. His blue eyes seemed to be in a daze as he stared over their coins below

"What did you wish for?" Dark asks, curious.

At that time, his hair was still pure white as snow. Not black like he has now.

Originally, black was never his hair color but ever since he became an idol, he had to dye his hair black because his company said so. It is, they explained, to match his dark angel image.

Even so his previous white haired appearance was already akin to that of a detached angel.

While Dark might look like a light angel before with his white hair, he doesn't look the least gentle and kind. He appears condescending especially when he has no smile adorning his face.

It is for this reason that he doesn't really have a lot of friends.

While Dark looks beautiful, people still tends to avoid him. They can't help but be greatly intimidated by his perfect appearance.

That is why during the full course of his trainee period, Dark was only able to befriend one person.

And that one person was Star—a fellow trainee he had met back in his dorm.

Star cocks his head to him. That pretty smile still lingers in his face. "Of course to be a famous actor! And for you to achieve your goals in life. It would be stupid of me to forget to wish for my friend's sake too."

And he ends his statement with a light-hearted chuckle, not realizing the ripples he subtly caused on the angel's heart.

His words.

His laugh.

His gaze.

And his concern.

All those elements are integral for causing an impact on Dark's heart. His very first heart race, thumping so hard that his pale cheeks flustered upon the loud rhythm that he alone can hear. Love makes itself known for the first time to the naive young teen; and from there on, a love- struck Dark was born.

Dark likes Star.

Dark likes him so much that he is willing to do anything for him. But how could he not appreciate his efforts? In spite of the disagreement of his manager and his fellow members, he returned earlier for Star.

So that he can see him.

So that he can talk to him.

So that he can hang out with him.

I did that for you, but—Dark shuts his eyes for a second as a wave of wrath abruptly surges within, recalling just now how his efforts were casually dismissed off by Star. He curls his hands into fists; veins were nearly visible by the amount of pressure he puts in.

No.

Dark purses his lips.

Calm down.

Dark opens his gray eyes, forcing a sigh out of his struggling self. I have to calm down. Star doesn't know that he likes him, so he cannot exactly be mad at him for giving him this nonchalant treatment.

It's not his fault..

His palpitating heart finally begins to calm down as well as the turmoil within him.

By then, he finally looks up from the waters and takes in his surroundings. His dull gray eyes instantly perceiving the sight of someone standing across his figure—on the other side of the fountain.

A girl?

He stares at you, impassively. While he would normally avoid people, something about the girl makes Dark stay and observe her. It takes him quite a moment before he realizes why.

Processing in your appearance, it eventually dawns on him that you were actually the girl he came across earlier at Star's house.

His gray eyes widening before going dull. It skims over you again—slowly and carefully this time around. Yet after scrutinizing you, he can only gain the same results he got before.

You are not pretty nor sexy.

Plain—you are just plain.

There is no way in hell his friend would fall for the likes of you! In addition, you don't even have a home; so you are totally not from an affluent household.

So it's okay. She's safe, he assures himself.

And even if you're his girlfriend, it won't be long before you guys break up. Dark is not exactly a passive type of person. Just like how he is willing to indulge himself in this turbulent emotion, he is also willing to do a̵͙̣̣̦̪͚̻͐̓̃̋̎̈́͛́̆̕n̷͎̻̣͈̳̟͚͆̄͛͋̈́̿͑͜͠ͅy̶̠͔̲̝̱̖̻̤̦̺͒̀t̷̡͍͓̣̟̆̂̇̀͛̏͜͜͝͠h̴̨̙̲̫̺͈̓̌̽̓̿̀̏î̷͓̋͌̋̉̒͘̚ͅn̶͍̭̠̮̬̻͌͌̑͋͐̄̉͘͠ģ̸̧̜̫͇̳̱̦̀̋͜ for the sake of it.

He wipes off his hostile expression, bringing out a smile that he's always used to delivering to his fans while you, on the other hand, remain on your place, staring dumbly at him with body stiff.

You did not smile back; you're kind of scared.

Who wouldn't when you have witnessed just how many expressions flickered in his face earlier. From sorrow to yearning to anger to indifference to discriminating.. and then he'll suddenly smile at you?

You don't know what is up with Dark, but you know that you can't trust him even when he's a famous idol. And you're not even supposed to interact with him. Not when you're still stuck with this fuck luck.

You can't afford to involve another guy.

So you swallow your saliva and force yourself to budge. Taking a step back before completely turning around to walk off somewhere; but to your ignorance—that only perks his interest more. Because who in the hell would ignore an idol and walk away from them?

Dark was taken aback by your nonchalance. Seeing you get futher from him, he propels himself to run after you and stop you. Sucessfully, he was able to catch up. Dark grabs your wrist.

"(Y/N), isn't it?"

Shit.

You stop your movements, hesitantly turning to him. As much as you want to disregard him, you can't, not when he has his hand on you. "Yes," you shakily reply, "How do you know my name?"

He smiles that superficial smile again.

"You told me earlier. Don't you remember?"

Your mind blanks. "Oh, did I?" you murmur, and you do remember giving the idol your name carelessly. Even so, you are nothing significant.

"You couldn't have actually remembered my name," you accidentally speak your thoughts out loud, causing Dark to smirk by your absentminded bluntness.

He place a hand on your cheek. "Well, who in the world would forget the name of such a beautiful lady?" Flirtily, Dark leans his lips closer to your red-lipped ears, letting his warm breath fans it as he seductively whispers such coquettish words.

This man, seriously—

Hearing those words, something snaps within you.

A disgust expression settle in; you forgot that you were supposed to be scared as you granted Dark a disbelief look.

"People still use these cheesy pickup lines?!"

"Come on, I'm sure you can do better than that. Can't you?"

You give him a gaze that seems to plead.

He blinks his eyes.

Eventually, he retreats his face, somehow amused.

"No," he thoughtfully says, pausing for a second before proceeding, "how about you? Maybe you can teach me since you seem to be the expert one in these types of things."

Your face flush.

You quickly wave your hands off as you deny his words. "No— no! I'm not an expert in pick up lines, and I honestly terribly suck at it!"

Dark laughs.

"And you dared to insult me?"

"Well it doesn't have an originality," you comment, "and it's kinda cringey." You could not help but shiver as you recall his face being so close to you while he lightly says those words.

He thinks this is Wattpad or something? That you would just fall if he tries to recreate a cliche scene? Too bad for him, but you'll die from the cringiness first.

"Also—don't you ever dare try to get your face closer to mine again. You're quite lucky that I hadn't slapped you yet but next time... I don't think you might be so lucky anymore," you ominously warn, recalling just how many times you previously slapped Luck for invading your personal space.

And Luck did deserve those slaps.

You smile, self-satisfied at the thought.

Maybe even a punch for ditching you again.

Dark raises a brow at you before letting go a laugh. This girl—she's really ⅈꪀ𝕥ꫀ𝕣ꫀડ𝕥ⅈꪀᧁ, huh...

But just when he was about to dwell on it longer, his thoughts halt.

Wide-eyed, he turns to you who was occupied smiling to yourself. Oh god... you are surely, really interesting, and it's bad.

This is bad.

With that realization, he frowns.

Snapping out of your thoughts, you note Dark staring at you with an unrecognizable expression. Fear struck you while your heart trembles—and at that moment, you recall your original intention.

You were supposed to leave, not engage with him.

Stupid! Stupid me!

Brushing his hand off your arm, you take a step back.

"I—I have to leave."

His frown automatically switches back to his smile, and you can certainly say that it's kinda unnerving just how fast he can change his expressions.

"Oh come on, (Y/N)... Do you really have to? Just when we were having a nice conversation..." He shakes his head. "This is disappointing."

"We haven't even talked that much yet. Can you not stay? Please." Dark deeply emphasizes the magic word, even using his puppy eyes; but you are too adamant to leave so that pleading stuff doesn't work on you.

"I can't."

You refuse again.

You try to depart, but he seizes your wrist for the second time. His gray eyes now hold a sinister gaze, causing for you to jump at his sudden change of personality. You try to take it back, but his grip was too tight. It doesn't seem like he's planning to let you go.

You start to freak out.

"Let go of me!" you yell at him.

He didn't though.

He closes his dull gray eyes as if he is trying to compose himself from the simmering rage that was threatening to take over him. "Only for a little while, (Y/N). Only for a little while, please accompany me."

He opens his eyes again, directly staring at you. "..But if you really want to refuse, then provide me a reasonable answer first so I can let you go."

He squeezes his grip.

"So, (Y/N)... please do tell me. Why do you not want to accompany me?"

You look away, pressing your lips as you don't bother to answer at first. He won't understand. He certainly won't. He wasn't aware that you're cursed right now, and you're just doing him a favor by ignoring him.

By ignoring him, he won't have to fall for you, and Dark can genuinely fall for someone he wants.

You yelp when you are suddenly harshly grabbed by the chin, and you are then forced to look at those scary gray irises.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" he snaps, gritting his teeth in rage.

"You're really testing my patience, aren't you?! I already asked you kindly, yet you still rejected me." His voice's getting louder and menacing; the anger finally getting a hold of him.
"Why does everyone not appreciate my efforts?! Why do you guys always ignore me—"

His grip on your chin and your wrist, further tightening. Him screaming at you doesn't make it better. You almost have the urge to piss right now by how fucking terrified you are at that moment.

"That hurts!" you cry out after you have enough with his crazy outburst.

Dark blinks his eyes and realizes his mistake.

He lets go of you instantly.

He has been so overpowered by rage for a moment. As you had rejected his invitation, he was immediately reminded of Star rejecting him too. He couldn't help it; fury blinded him by then, and he lashed out his temper at you unconsciously.

"Sorry about that," he weakly apologizes.

You rub your aching wrist, warily glancing at him.

He is dangerous—you ultimately conclude.

You really have to distance yourself from him before he puts his hand on you again, and there's no freaking way would you even want to witness one of his violent burst again.

You nod and step back. "It's okay. It's okay," you lie, not wanting to engage with him any longer, "—But I really have to leave now."

His eyes darken, but that immediately vanishes.

"Do you really have to, (Y/N)?! 'Cause if it is okay with you, I can treat you some coffee. As a compensation for my rude gesture awhile ago—" Dark pleads as he makes another attempt again.

... he's really stubborn, isn't he?

You gape at him.

You shake her head. "No, it's okay."

Dark frowns. "No, it isn't."

With those words, he grabs you and drags you to his car. You flinch at every step as you helplessly attempt to free yourself from his clutch.

But damn—

Dark's just so fucking strong that you couldn't help but fail yet again.

"I'm not really a bad guy, (Y/N). I just had a bad day."

He heaves out a dramatic sigh.  "—and you rejecting me only worsens my mood. So please stop being stubborn. I might do something that I may regret."

"But this is kidnapping!" you exclaim, horrified.

Daek closes his eyes for awhile, still dragging you to the nearby parked car. "(Y/N). Don't." His voice is quite low and reeks of hidden threats.

Okay now..

You're completely terrified of him.

Where the fuck is Luck when you need him?! This guy over here is totally fucking mad! His mood swings are already difficult to keep up with—and now, he is even attempting to kidnap you!

And for what reasons?

That; you're goddamn scared to know.

At his threat, you stop crying for help.

You consciously shush yourself in fear that this psychopath might really do something to you if you foolishly continued to test his patience further.

Dark heaves out a sigh when you finally stop giving him a difficult time.

But just right when you guys are just about to enter his black car though, you suddenly make a fuss again, "Wait I'm soaking wet! I don't want to mess your car!"

And at your words, the man did stop his movements; yet only for a little while. Turning to you, he did not see any of the things you claimed—only the opposite of it, which is your clothes being fine and dry as hell.

Dark cannot help but bite back a smirk.

"You're lying, (Y/N)."

You look down and frown.

Your (E/C) eyes widening for a second as you weren't really lying when you said that. It must be Luck. He must've used his magic on you earlier, that's why you could not help but feel refreshed the whole time you were talking with Dark.
"It was wet awhile ago..."

Your voice can only trail off.

You are then forced to enter his car.

Trembling, you don't even bother to send a look as he proceeds to enter his car as well. He then grins at you, starting the engine.

If it was earlier, Dark might have gotten angry again by your disregard; but right now, it's different. With you being by his side now, he doesn't really care whether you're looking at him or not.

Dark has a pleasant smile on his face.

"See? It wasn't that hard to accept, right? I'm not asking much of you."

He pats you in the arm. "Well, anyways, thank you for finally choosing to accompany me. I'm sorry that you have to witness that, but I will do my best to make up for that. I'll make sure you'll have a good time later."

You purse your lips to suppress a snort.

Yeah, right.

You wonder what he meant by that, but you somehow have a gut feeling that by good time, it is only meant for him. Well, you can only hope that he does not have plans to kill you later.

As for Dark, he gives you one quick look before turning his gaze to the road again. He actually wonders to himself why he is even doing this. He doesn't really have to, so why did he even make a fit out of it.

But maybe...

It's because of the jealousy he felt. And the anxiety that you might have caught Star's interest. You may be just an average girl, but there's something about you.

Something about you that feels unsafe.