"Kala, how long are you going to keep ignoring me?"
His voice rang out from behind the door.
Kala lay sprawled on the floor, using the ceiling as her only view. She heard what Raken said, but with full awareness, she chose to ignore it.
What happened yesterday still annoyed her. Thinking about what Raken did—it made no sense. Kala felt abandoned.
That day, she got bored of just sitting around waiting for him. Her stomach had been growling, waiting for breakfast. The book that had been resting on her lap was now clutched tightly in her hand.
Kala stood up, deciding to look for Raken, who had said he'd only be gone for a moment. With the book still in her hand, she walked through the villa toward the front yard.
Before she could even reach her destination, she froze near a window.
She heard voices.
Raken… and a woman.
A woman?
Since when was there another woman here besides her? Raken said this place was the safest, that there was no one else but the two of them. Then what was that?
From where she stood, Kala saw a beautiful woman talking with Raken. A pretty face, a flawless figure—even Kala, as a woman, found herself mesmerized.
So what about her bodyguard?
No. Don't let Raken be tempted.
Without realizing it, Kala tightened her grip on the book. Her fingers turned pale, trying to channel the discomfort through the pressure.
Fragments of Raken's voice drifted to her ears.
"For some reason, I'm happy to see you now."
"Really, Master?"
"Your beauty amazes me."
Something strange stirred in her chest.
Anger, annoyance, disbelief… and curiosity—twisting together into something she couldn't name. It coiled tightly in her heart, something her mind couldn't define.
Her free hand reached for the curtain, clutching it as an escape. Hoping the suffocating feeling would fade.
But instead, it only made it worse.
Before everything could fall apart, Kala forced herself to sit back down, placing the book on her lap.
The lines of words in front of her eyes failed to hold her attention. Her mind was full, repeatedly pushing away terrifying thoughts that refused to leave.
What if Raken chose that woman instead of staying with her?
How could Kala possibly win, when her rival looked like a goddess?
Everything she thought would last forever… was nothing more than a fairy tale.
How could Raken meet that woman secretly in a house he said existed only for Kala?
Just when she had begun to feel like she was finally flying high—she was thrown back down again.
Kala refused to accept that there was someone else Raken cared for besides her.
With everything she had, she held herself back from running out there and slapping that woman.
The page she had opened nearly tore under the force of her grip.
Then, footsteps.
Slowly, the pressure in her hands loosened.
"Milk."
No response. Not even a glance.
Kala didn't want to explode just yet.
A few moments passed before Raken called out again.
"Kala, breakfast is ready."
The patience she had been holding onto finally shattered.
She slammed the book shut and threw it onto the table.
"I hate you."
Not wanting the tears gathering in her eyes to fall in front of him, Kala turned and ran back to her room.
Leaving Raken behind—still trying to understand what had just happened.
Even after several days, Kala never gave him an answer.
She let Raken struggle, while she continued locking herself away, refusing to step outside even an inch.
"Kala, tell me what's wrong. Don't torture yourself like this."
Again, she ignored him.
She stared at the ceiling, occasionally scratching her leg.
"Don't make me break this teak door down, Kalaya."
Hearing her full name spoken so perfectly by Raken made her chest tremble uncontrollably.
He only used "Kalaya" when he was truly at the edge of his patience.
Kala knew that.
And now she was starting to feel restless, unsure of what to do next.
"Kalaya."
"Don't come in, or I'll jump from here, Ken."
For a moment, the air seemed to freeze—like someone had pressed pause on life itself.
Silence crept in after her words.
There was no response from outside.
Kala thought Raken had finally given up and left.
But then—
"Jump. I'll make sure your body is already in my arms before the ground can touch you. Nothing can hurt you, Kala… except me."
The tone in Raken's voice—
She had never heard it before.
Cold. Sharp. Piercing.
Kala froze.
A chill ran through her entire body. Something was wrong. She could feel it.
A click.
The door slowly opened, revealing Raken standing there—tall, unmoving, his gaze fixed directly on her.
"Not jumping?"
Kala stared at him as he walked closer.
Her breath caught when the back of his hand touched her cheek. The soft stroke felt cold, spreading a strange sensation through her entire body.
She closed her eyes.
"Tell me, Kala. What did I do wrong?"
Her eyes met his—those dark, endless ones.
If she could see how those same eyes had looked at that goddess-like woman yesterday… would it be the same as how he looked at her now?
"Tell me so I can fix it."
Kala looked away, focusing on the bedsheet hanging loosely.
"Kala, if I'm at fault, then I should bear the consequences. Don't punish yourself for someone else's mistakes. Skipping meals, locking yourself away… who exactly are you punishing?"
She felt his hand gently hold hers.
"Make me feel guilty for what I did. Say it clearly—what have I done? That way, I can apologize to you properly, Kala."
Kala knew tears were already forming in her eyes.
Raken really was incredible.
He always knew how to guide her out of her own emotions.
The tangled mess inside her slowly unraveled. He gave shape to feelings she couldn't understand.
When she was lost in her own thoughts and heart—wanting to ask but not knowing where to begin, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say—everything just piled up, twisted, suffocating.
Like a stone lodged deep inside.
And then Raken came… shattered it… and cleared the path.
"Are you going to throw me away, Ken?"
The tears fell.
Raken's thumb quickly wiped the trail down her cheek.
"Does that even need an answer?"
"It does."
"I'm curious—what do you even use that brain of yours for? Turns out it's only for useless things."
Raken lifted her and placed her gently onto the bed.
"Do you like that woman and want to leave me?"
"What are you even talking about, Kala?"
"Yesterday—I saw you talking to a woman. She's beautiful from head to toe. There's no way you don't like her. You said she was beautiful. You said you were happy to see her."
Kala saw confusion on Raken's face—until the crease in his forehead smoothed, as if he had finally understood.
"You saw her?"
"I'm not blind."
"So she can be seen just like that now…" Raken muttered, still audible.
"Am I not worthy of seeing her or something?"
"You shouldn't have been able to see her. She's not something you're supposed to see, Kala."
Hearing that, anger surged through Kala.
What the hell was wrong with this old man?
Was he trying to hide their relationship from her?
Kala stomped her foot, standing up with a hurt expression.
"I don't like her, Ken! I'm sure one day you'll leave me and live with her instead. I'll… I'll be alone."
"That's ridiculous. She's not even my type. How could I leave you just to be with her?"
"She's beautiful."
"So are you."
"She has a great body."
"I admit, that's true."
"She's elegant."
"You are too—when you're asleep."
"Ken!"
"Kala, listen. I'm by your side because I want to be. This is my choice. Nothing can change that—not even myself."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not here for you anymore… I'm here because of you."
Silence filled the space before he continued.
"Kala, it's not your life that depends on me… it's mine that depends on you. Remember that."
Before Kala could respond, a low growl escaped Raken.
Her attention snapped to him.
He looked like he was holding back pain.
"Kala… hide."