Chapter 42: Forgive me if I’m rude

Chapter 42 - Forgive me if I'm rude Jin-Yeok looked at me with his smile fading into a grin. "Is that so?" He asked and started walking in. Okay, I've noticed that complete honesty does two things to Jin-Yeok. It makes him want to test me and possibly scare me, and he makes him want to know what I'm thinking. Though he scares me, he really does, it doesn't mean I can't make a plan to use his own plans against him. Now, I've been honest and told him something that he probably did or did not see coming. I told him I liked what he got me, something he would like to hear and I told him it looked like his eyes. So, he would begin to wonder if I liked the outfit because it had the same shade as his eyes that I previously confessed to being very beautiful, or if it was because it was 'his' gift. I had no idea what he was thinking, but I would be glad if he followed my train of thought and did exactly as I predicted. "Is that true?" He asked, standing in front of me and the maids bowed their heads before walking out, leaving just the both of us inside the room. Gosh, those traitors. Couldn't they have stayed a little longer? If it was just me and this maniac, there was no telling what would happen. It's not like he would limit his actions just because there were eyes watching but still... Having people around made me feel a little more safer. Now, I have to deal with him... Alone. "Yes," I answered and he raised his hand to pinch my chin. "That's odd. Why do you like it?" He asked and I gulped, my eyes staring into his steady emerald ones. "Is it because it has the same shade as my eyes?" Yes, this was it? He was finally following my train of thought. "Your eyes are... Beautiful." I said, once more declaring the epitome of my infatuation. "And I like them but do you like your eyes, master?" "Why do you ask?" "Forgive me if I'm rude, but I will only answer your question if you answer mine," I said, and his grip on my chin tightened, causing me to flinch. Ouch, ouch, ouch, this maniac. Didn't he know that hurt? Was he seriously offended that I asked me to answer me first? I mean, who answers a question with a question? I can't answer him before he answers me; if not, he might change his mind. "At first, I thought you bought this color because you were aware of my favorite color," I said, trying to lead him on. "But I'm not sure if I'm misunderstanding your intentions so I would like to know... Do you like the color of your eyes, master?" Jin-Yeok stared at my eyes and then closed his, his lips curling up lightly and he said, "Yes, I do." He answered. "Is that true? Or are you just trying to get me to speak up and then you'll change your mind?" I asked, quite bold of me and he opened his eyes. "So, you're trying to be cleaver." He said. "Do you know the consequences of acting arrogant in front of your master?" I darted my eyes away for a second as if searching for something and then brought it back to him. "If I may ask, will you punish me?" I asked but he didn't look like he had the intention to do such. "No, in fact, I like it when you act arrogant. It's better than trying to act pitifully. It makes me think you have a hidden agenda, and you're trying to gain my sympathy," he said. Well, I do have a hidden agenda, but that's not for you to know. "I do indeed like the color of my eyes," he said. "Because my favorite pet has this same color of eyes, and someone I value likes them as well." I nodded. I already knew all that, but it would be strange for me to make assumptions in front of him, so I decided to be bold and ask over and over. His lover was the first to tell him his eyes were pretty and that he liked them. That was way back when they were kids. At that time, he had been a rather cold and quiet child. She was the one who brought light into his heart and made him realize that he could get away with anything with a smile on his lips. That's a story for another day. As for his favorite pet... I would use that to my advantage. "So, why do you like it?" Jin-Yeok asked and I could sense his interest in me was beginning to rise. Yes, this was what I wanted. "I felt happy that Master had gotten me a gift that had the same color as his eyes because I felt it was because Master liked me," I said, and his eyebrows tilted a bit. "I know it's brazen of me to suddenly come to that conclusion and that's why I asked all that. If it's true that master liked the color of his eyes, then it's true that master likes me. There was no other way to look at it." "Hm, interesting," he said, his eyes sparkling in interest. "And what would you have done if I said I didn't like the color of my eyes?" "Then I would've understood right away that Master does not like me. By giving me a present with the color he does not like, it would be obvious that you were declaring that just like the color green which you do not like, I am also an eyesore that you do not like." "And what would you have done then?" My lips curled up and I looked at him with a knowing smile. "Then I'd just have to make you like the color green," I said. "And when you do, there's a guarantee that you will also come to like me. How is my response, master? Does it make you mad?"