Ruby
Aveline was dragging me to the hospital. The doctor treated my wound, and now I was driving while this girl was literally scolding me.
Me? I'm the damn mafia—and she's scolding me?
Wow. Can't believe it.
"Hey, Aveline, wanna go somewhere?"
"You were freaking injured and you wanna go?! Are you dumb or something?"
She was scolding me, and I was enjoying it.
"Hmmm… what about the studio?"
Aveline looked curious.
"Why the studio?"
"Because I wanna dance with you… and also, I heard you're entering another competition. This time the competitors are tough, right?"
"Yeah. And I don't have time to practice either, 'cause Mom won't allow me. Today is the 14th of July, and my competition is on the 20th."
She seemed sad. I don't know why, but it was bothering me a lot.
"Auntie won't let you participate?"
"Yes." She was staring out the window.
"What about Mireline? She'll support you. In fact, she's always been with you."
"She has meetings. She'll be working with Dad. She's going abroad with him. Which means I'll be alone with Mom at home, and she won't let me participate."
"Actually… I can help you, if you really wanna do it."
"What? Really?!"
She was excited, and I was happy.
"I promised myself that I'll protect her—her happiness, herself."
"Yeah." I nodded.
"But… what about Mom? Who's gonna convince her?"
"That's my problem. Just focus on your practice. Focus on winning. Leave the rest to me. Let's take you to the studio."
She was excited—and that's exactly what I wanted to see.
We went to the studio. It was mine, the one I usually used for my art. It's way too big for just me. I had a speaker, mirrors… I don't even know why, Luna was the one who did the modifications.
"Wow."
She was shocked. The space was huge and perfect for dancing. She looked at me.
"You can use it whenever you want," I said.
"Show me your dance. I wanna see if you're still good or if you just mess up steps on purpose to get my attention."
Shit. She remembered the party. That encounter with Ema.
Whatever.
I started dancing. There were three categories: solo, one with a partner, and the Viennese waltz.
Unfortunately, I didn't have a dance partner.
But the person in front of me?
Handsome, good at dancing, attractive, famous…
Aveline, slap yourself.
"Okay, Aveline. Are you ready? Let's dance."
"Wait—do you know I have three categories? Viennese waltz and another one, but no partner…"
"I'm here. Are you blind?"
"But can you waltz?"
"Hmmm. I can. Test me."
She's confident.
Ruby Sun, why is she just… too perfect?
With all her abilities… like a novel's main lead.
Whatever. Let's see if she can dance with me.
We danced.
Waltzing was actually easy with her. She was dancing so well—even though I didn't tell her the steps.
It was like she knew what I was going to do next, like she could read my mind.
It had been half an hour. She was still active, still dancing.
I stood up and looked at her. She was overworking herself.
I gently held her.
"Aveline… that's enough for today."
My voice was calm. I don't know why—gentle, even.
"Let's go."
She just nodded. Before we left, I gave her the keys to the studio.
"Why, Ruby? Why me?"
"Well, you're my friend. You're familiar with this place. You can use it whenever you want."
"But Ruby, I don't want to—"
"I'm not asking you. I'm giving you. That's all."
I cut her off and walked out first.
She was clearly confused. Of course.
I promised myself to protect her. Her happiness.
And this studio is the best place for her to practice.
Her mom won't scold her—not if I have anything to do with it.
I drove her back to her villa.
Before leaving, she said:
"Just take care of your damn hand, Ruby. You're not a robot—you're human."
That's all.
She left.
I went back to my own villa.
I don't even like this house.
And the first thing I heard when I walked in was:
"Ruby Daniel Sun! Come here."
Damn.
I sighed and sat on the couch, legs crossed, expressionless.
"You should get married soon. You're getting old. Who's gonna marry you with that attitude, that style? You're a girl. Act like one."
Okay, I am a girl. And I was acting like one.
"That's my life. And I'm going to choose, Mother, what I want to do or not.
You never cared about me. And now—you shouldn't care."
I went back to my room. I didn't want to listen to her BS.
She's only going to lecture me about being a girl—which basically means dying every day.
I'm clearly not interested in these useless talks.
In her mind, only boys can rule the world—and girls must be slaves because they were born girls.
If I'm disrespecting her, let her hate me.
I don't care.
But I'm disrespecting her for the right reasons.
I was talking to Adam about my mafia stuff—about an enemy.
Kim Da-hyun.
Last time, the ambush… yeah, when I got shot twice, it was because of him.
If he kills me, he gets the highest point in the mafia world—because I'm at the top now.
If he wins, he takes my spot.
But I won't let that happen.
I'll protect myself.
I'm done with this world.
And I need to protect Aveline.
I dunno why I'm thinking about her all the time, it's not like I'm in love with her i can't be in love. It's like she— she's the only one who can calm me down.
My anger, possesiveness and she also have nerve to scold me wow just wow she's not even afraid of me.
That's why I like her wait "I like her", can't be possible I'm just to tired that's why I'm just overthinking.
I should rest but she's just to beautiful while dancing.
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