"Well, regardless, the water on Afaria is crystal clear, and the air is cleaner than it is here," Zai added.
"I've only heard bad things about your world… so I had no idea," I said. It sounds lovely.
"Don't get me wrong—it's still a horrible place. If the whole planet blew up, I wouldn't shed a tear."Does he really mean that? Zai started smiling at the thought. "What about you? What's Infaniya like?"
"There are plants everywhere. Some of the houses are built on top of trees. There's no one begging on the streets, unlike on Earth... no vehicles like this either. The air is clear, and there aren't any paved roads."
"Sounds boring," Zai commented. "If there's no one suffering around you, how would you know you're truly happy?"His opinion shocked me. That must be his Afarion side showing.
"There is a hierarchy system. Being born powerful gives your family status. The powerful families mostly mingle with each other to maintain order… so the lower class almost never rises up. My family was one of those low ranks. And even though my mom became strong, she was suppressed—out of fear."
"Why?" he asked, pulling my hand to his mouth and kissing it, though his eyes stayed on the road ahead.
"She... chose to use Glass. Like the King of Afaria. I guess that scared some people."Zai grinned and finally looked at me.
"Wow, that's actually interesting. It's hard to dislike your mom now. Even though she's still a b****."I thought this revelation would have the opposite effect—he clearly hates the Glass King...
"You don't find it creepy or weird?" I asked. This was one of the reasons I had trouble making friends growing up.
"Not at all. Your mom sounds like a brave person," he replied, taking an exit off the highway.
So I tried to rephrase my question. "Don't you… Hate the Glass King?"
Zai's expression dulled. He sighed and said,"He doesn't matter to me at all. So how could I hate him?"
His adoptive father—the King—killed his real father right in front of him. Stole his freedom. Turned his mother into a plaything. Locked him away. And that's just what I know from the little he's told me. He's probably done much worse. Yet he says he doesn't hate him?
I sat thinking about what he could mean, and before I realized it, we were home. Zai parked the car in the garage on the side of the house.
"Let's go for a walk before going inside," Zai suggested.Were these seven days alone with me not enough?
"Okay." Zai got out first, then opened my door for me. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." He replied as he took my marked hand and led me to the backyard, down a wooded path. We walked for a while until he suddenly stopped.
"Here is good," he said, then flopped down on the ground, pulling me with him. I fell right on top of him.
Our eyes met—and once again, I was flung into a world of naughty thoughts.
"Snowe…"
"Yes?!" I shouted. Why am I so loud?
"Can I see you dance now?"
I gasped and pulled away. I had assumed he brought me out here for a different reason! But he looked at me with the pure innocence I'd gotten used to from him.
"Sure… choose a song and I'll show you what I've got," I replied after calming down.
Zai pulled out his phone and stared at the screen intensely before choosing a pop song I didn't recognize. Of course—I've been out of touch with society for a century. After the first play, I asked him to replay it. I listened a second time and said, "I'm ready."
I stood up, released the energy inside me, and let my power show. When Zai restarted the song, I followed through with the choreography I'd imagined. I'm out of practice, but I didn't stumble or lose the rhythm.
He kept his eyes on me the entire three minutes.When the song ended, he stayed quiet.
"What do you think?" I asked.
He blushed and looked away. "I think… I'm happy I married you."My heart skipped a beat. But… does that mean I did well or not?
"I want to see more," he added, picking another song.I listened, visualized, and danced again.
"Your power seems to be triggered whenever you dance or sing," Zai noted after the fifth song ended.
I sat down. "Well… water responds to the user's feelings and sound. I think it reacts because my power is an extension of that."
Zai nodded. "We should go inside now… enough procrastinating."He rose to his feet and extended his hand to me. "I believe you could have gotten famous. It's not too late."
I took his hand and walked beside him. "Thank you… I appreciate that."
"I'm going to help you," he added.
My mouth dropped. "You mean it?"
He nodded. "Money is power, and I honestly have plenty of it. There's nothing I'd rather spend it on."
"How?" I asked—something I'd been afraid to say before.
"It's best you don't know," he replied simply, and then we entered the house.
The place was in disarray. I guess this is what happens when RJ's here for two weeks alone. Empty water bottles and packaging littered the floor, along with discarded shirts, coats, and shoes. RJ sat at the bar counter, drinking, without a care in the world.
"Hello, brother," Zai said cheerfully as he tugged me along to the seat beside him.
"Hi," RJ replied apathetically.
"Hey," I added. RJ didn't respond—but I guess it makes sense. He doesn't need to say hi twice.
"What is it?" Raijian asked.
"We just got back. Didn't you miss us?" Zai asked, grinning.
"…Yeah… I missed you."RJ admitted it with slight reluctance. Oh yeah—Zai said RJ can't lie. So he had no choice but to admit it.
"Both of us?" Zai teased.
Rai glared at him, then pouted and said, "Yeah… welcome back."That's a relief. I was worried the reunion would be more dramatic than that.
"I'll start cleaning up," I offered, figuring I should give them time alone. Before I could move, Zai held my hand tighter, and his lips crashed against mine—urgent, demanding. His free hand slid behind my head, fingers tangling deeply in my hair. The world shrank until it felt like it was only us, breath mingling, hearts pounding.
Our mouths parted just for a breath, and I whispered, barely audible, "Zai?"
But he silenced me with another crushing kiss—long, hungry, relentless.
When he finally released my hair, my hand flew to my mouth, stifling a gasp. "Zai?!" I stammered, voice trembling from shock.
He smiled, dark and teasing, that same slow, knowing smile that always set my skin on fire. "What is it? Why do you keep saying my name?" He teased.
I couldn't find the words. My body felt too raw, my mind spinning from the intensity. Without another word, I slipped away—heart still racing—to grab the cleaning supplies.
How can he be so reckless? I thought.
RJ might not be throwing a fit, but if he has feelings for me… Zai should be more considerate. I don't understand why he doesn't see that.
"You really love rubbing it in…" RJ mumbled under his breath.
"If you have a problem, speak up about it. If you're not clear, I won't understand," Zai replied.I didn't know what they were talking about exactly, but the mood suddenly grew heavy. Are they fighting for real this time?
They finished their conversation in hushed tones while I cleaned up. By the end, both were smiling again—thank goodness.
I had just finished tidying the living room and was about to move to the kitchen when Zai picked me up and cradled me in his arms.
"Wait—I'm not done!" I protested.
Zai kissed me. "Finish tomorrow."
All the fight left my body. "Okay…" I said, hugging his neck as he carried me upstairs.
It was my first time in his room, but I didn't get to take it in until the next morning because he was on me as soon as the door shut behind us.
His door was painted black, but the carpet was pure white, like the walls, though they were plastered with so many posters, it was hard to see the paint beneath. A tall black bookshelf stood in the corner. One shelf was full of collectibles, while the rest held thick books and comics. He had a sleek computer setup with three large monitors on an L-shaped black desk. His desk chair was tall, leather, and soft-looking. Just by looking around, I felt like I was learning more about him.
"You're up early," Zai noted, rising beside me.
I looked away shyly, but then he hugged me and pulled me back down to cuddle against him.
"Do you want to go back to sleep?" I asked.
He smiled mischievously. "No."
I tried to keep my voice down during what happened next, since I think RJ's room is next door—but Zai didn't seem to care at all. He found amusement in making me lose my composure, leaving hickeys all over my body.
I wonder how long kiss marks stay visible...But I hope they fade before anyone sees me.