by Marian Tee
All in all, she looked too pretty for his good so Park made sure to keep the scowl on his face. It was better that way.
Violet held on to her smile with an effort even though her first instinct was to bash him on the head for being so unpardonably rude. What the heck was his problem anyway? “My name’s Violet.”
Park just raised a brow.
She gritted her teeth, aware of how he continued to ignore her outstretched hand. “I was hoping we could get to know each other better.”
“And?”
She gave up being courteous. There was no point doing so with this guy. Grabbing his hand–and trying not to smirk at the shock on the guy’s face—she gave it a quick shake.
The moment their fingers touched was spine-tingling, literally.
Fuck, Park thought, his stomach curling as he stared at the girl with even more shock. He hadn’t expected her to just grab his hand like that, and he certainly did not expect his entire body to react this way, for such a simple touch. This was so fucked up. They had even more chemistry than he initially thought.
He saw her eyes suddenly dip low before swerving back up, almost guiltily. Park realized then that she knew he was hard, and knowing that she knew just made him harder. For one moment, he imagined hauling her into his room and picking her up so he could just nail her against the wall and save them from the misery of pretending they didn’t have this white-hot flare of attraction between them.
But the moment passed, and he managed to reclaim his sanity.
“Just tell me what you want,” he said brusquely, hoping his tone would prevent her from looking down again and find out that he had just gotten larger, longer, and a thousand times more aroused.
“Look, there’s no one else I know here,” she was saying.
Park said quickly, “But you don’t know me either.”
She seemed to ignore his words, saying determinedly, “Yet. I don’t know you yet.”
“Let me rephrase that. I don’t want you to get to know me.”
Violet couldn’t believe what she was hearing and was even more incredulous when he added emphatically, “I’m not friendly and I’m not in the mood for flirtations.”
Violet nearly hit the roof at that. “Excuse me? Did I say I wanted to flirt with you?”
Another raised eyebrow. “You don’t?”
Violet actually stomped her foot in frustration and anger. God, he was such an obnoxious jerk! “Look,” she said, glaring at him. “I just need you to give me directions to the administration building. Is that too much to ask? If you tell me, then we’re done. I won’t trouble you anymore. Who’d want to be with an ogre like you?”
And off she goes, Park thought. Surprise and irritation warred inside him as she continued hurling insults. It was a bit unbelievable, to be honest. Back at home, he literally had his own goon squad to keep the screaming girls away and here was this black-haired midget, actually asking him a favor—not as a way to get closer to him—but one in exchange of staying away from him.
It was…curiously refreshing and liberating.
However, her shrill voice was beginning to grate. And Park didn’t truly appreciate being called an Asian Yeti. He looked at the girl again, saw her mouth moving, and acted instinctively.
“—my luck to pick a blond gorilla—oomph!” The only warning Violet got was the glint in his eyes before he was kissing her, his lips seemingly soft and firm at the same time, his kiss commanding. But before she could think about what she should do, it was over, and he was pulling away.
“Good way to shut women up, I always thought,” was all he said.
She opened her mouth to shriek at him, but his glance sliding to her lips made her snap her mouth shut and grind her teeth instead.
He smirked. “Now listen well, because I’ll only tell you once.”
An hour later, Park had already showered and left his room, grabbing his denim jacket as he did since the winds in Osaka could be biting cold at this time of the year.
He normally didn’t leave the dorm this early, but there was no point going back to sleep. The girl had given him such an adrenaline rush that his mind couldn’t stop buzzing. And though he would never fucking admit anything to a living soul, the girl had also given him his first pressing urge to jack off—in thirteen long fucking months—and when he did so, he had come so much in his hands it was fucking embarrassing.
And he hadn’t even pictured her naked!
All Park had imagined was her whispering his name, her violet eyes shining with welcome as he tossed her little skirt up and sink his dick into her—
Park groaned, feeling himself harden again.
That woman was a witch. She had to be, or maybe she had one in her family lineage. Either way, he was going to avoid her like the plague. No one had ever affected him this way before, and it was a complication he could damn well do without.
Park had already walked three blocks when he came to a dead stop, spotting a familiar figure down the road.
“You!”
Violet jumped. When she saw the Nordic ogre heading towards her, she turned around and hastily wiped the tears away. When she looked back, she nearly jumped again because he was now just inches away from her. It was the first time she’d seen him not looking like he had just gotten out of bed, and she hated admitting it but he looked even more gorgeous. He had on a scarf, a thin violet sweater, and what she liked to call rock star jeans because of the studded design on the pockets. He looked extremely well put together, a guy who wasn’t afraid of being stylish, and unfortunately…
It turned her on.
Everything about him right now made the fashion-loving part of her swoon, but it also made her cringe because she didn’t want him to see her like this.
“Why are you sneaking around behind my back?” Violet blasted at him. Best defense was offense. She didn’t want the Yeti to know she had been crying. She would die if he did.
Park saw the tear-stained cheeks but wisely avoided comment. If she wanted to play it tough then he’d let her. “What are you doing here?”
“Just about to cross the street.”
Park laughed. “When the administration’s that way?” He pointed to the other direction.
“I wanted to enjoy the scenery.”
“Face it. You’re lost.”
She glared at him. “I’m not. I’m just—”
“Shut up,” he said pleasantly. “Just be glad I’m in a nice enough mood to walk you there.”
She looked at him with deep suspicion. “Why are you going to do that?” Violet patted her pockets threateningly. “I have a weapon here, you know.”
Park snorted. “Lip gloss?”
“No. Pepper spray.”
He rolled his eyes. “Ooh, I’m scared!”
“Yes, you should be. Here, try it!” And before he knew it, she was lifting a pepper spray can and getting ready to spray.
Park took a step back even as he knocked her hand away. “Are you crazy?” he yelled. She had him fucking square in the eye with her pepper spray! One accidental press and there would have been hell to pay.
Violet smirked as she bent down to pick up the pepper spray off of the ground. Returning it to her pocket, she said smugly, “See? I told you it’s an effective weapon.” She grinned at the look on his face.
Park scowled. “If you do that again, I’ll dump you in the farthest district of Japan and leave you there.”
She sobered at that, knowing he could very well do it. “Spoilsport,” she said sullenly.
“Spoiled brat,” Park shot back.
“Korean blond gorilla,” she spat then paused when a thought occurred to her. “Why do you sound Korean when you’re obviously not one?”
“Adopted,” Park answered honestly, easily.
Violet started. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m lucky with my family.”
She snorted. “I bet they’re not lucky with you.”
Park made a 180-degree turn. “Tha
t’s it. Good luck with—”
“I’m sorry!” she cried out, panicking. “Can’t you take a joke?”
“No,” he said. “So don’t bother with them when you’re with me.”
Behind him, he heard her say under her breath, “Freaking Yeti.”
“Heard that already,” Park taunted and began walking. “Are you coming or what?”
There was one or two moments of silence before Park heard her footfall. She came to walk beside him. It almost felt like they were dating. Park nearly shuddered at the thought. No. This was not a date. Not at all. He was just being nice.
He gave her a hard look. “I’m just being nice here, okay?”
She made her eyes go wide with him. “This is you being nice?”
He was not going to laugh. That might make her think they were close–and they were not and never would be. With a deliberately insulting tone, he said, “I just want to make it clear in case you’re thinking of going after me.”
Unfortunately, what was normally effective in making girls run away furious, embarrassed, or crying just made the banshee next to him roll her eyes.
He looked away before the banshee could catch his lips twitching.
As they resumed walking, Violet was unable to help but steal a look at the guy next to her. “What’s your name again?”
I’m not insulted, she told herself. It wasn’t her fault he had a bad memory. “Violet.” She dragged the name out.
Silence.
“You?” she asked finally, hating that he had made her ask. Nordic-Korean-gorilla-asshole. Seriously! She would never lack for words to describe just how much of a jerk this guy was!
Keeping the smile off his face, knowing he had pissed her off, he grunted, “Park.”
They walked in silence again. Now that Violet knew she wasn’t going to be lost anytime soon, she allowed herself to relax and enjoy the scenery. At ten in the morning, the streets were not that crowded, giving Violet the chance to take in much of her surroundings. All the wonderful shops she had seen in Japanese magazines were really here!
Whimsical cafes where waiters and waitresses served as butlers and maids, the absolutely adorable photo-printing booths she was itching to try out, the themed stores where she could buy the most amazingly cute souvenirs for her family back home–Violet would have jumped for joy if she had been alone.
She really was in Japan, she thought to herself giddily. This had been #1 in her travel wish list for ages and now she was finally here.
It was just too bad that had to happen for Violet to come here.
She frowned, not liking where her thoughts were heading. Why she came to be here didn’t matter. What mattered was that she was here–and would be here for two years.
Two years!
Violet grinned to herself.
The guy next to her came to an abrupt stop, and Violet had to walk back. He pointed to the gray building to their left, behind the huge wrought iron gates and with a flowered driveway leading to it. “That’s it.”
Violet was suddenly nervous but she did her best not to show it. “Oh. Well…thanks,” she said awkwardly. She flashed him an uneasy smile. “I promise I won’t bother you after this.”
“Riiiight.”
Violet was indignant. “I won’t!”
“Good luck,” Park said instead and turned away.
Thirty minutes later, Violet had her registration papers and class schedule. When she stepped out of the building, she saw Park sitting on the steps.
“What are you still doing here?” she exclaimed.
As he uncurled himself and got to his feet in one fluidly graceful motion, Violet reluctantly admitted to herself that her less-than-polite dorm mate made a breathtaking sight. He really, really should have looked gay with the way he dressed, but if anything his choice in clothes only made him look like he had just stepped out of a fashion shoot. He definitely fit right in with the rest of Japan’s fashion scene.
Park dusted off the seat of his pants. “I knew you’d get lost on your way back.”
“I wouldn’t!” Unlike her older sister, Violet had no problems with lying if it meant saving face.
Park’s eyes bored through hers. “Yes, you will.”
God, he was such a jerk. No guy back home would have argued with her like he did. All of them would have let her get her way, and that was what she was used to, not this. Violet released a loud hmph, but didn’t say anything else. Just for today, she’d call for a ceasefire.
They started walking back.
After a while, her conscience started nagging at her. She hated owing favors. “I guess I have to say this,” Violet said finally.
“Not if you’re acting like it’s going to kill you,” Park drawled.
“Just shut up and let me do this!” she snarled.
Park turned to her, smirking. “Go ahead then.”
Please God, please–just let me smack him in the face before I die? Inhaling deeply, Violet choked out again, “Thank you!”
Park laughed. “Just remember that you owe me.” He stopped laughing when he saw her suddenly smiling at him, so angelically he was suspicious of it. “Stop looking at me like that. What is it?”
Violet’s smile turned into a full-fledged grin. She had just realized something absolutely incredible. Oh, that laugh said it all. This guy–this Korean Yeti, this Nordic ogre-slash-gorilla–this guy was a softie inside. He could try denying it until his dying breath, but Violet had spent too much time flirting with boys back home not to understand a thing or two about them.
Sure, he was the nastiest and rudest guy she had also ever come across, but still.
For several flights of stairs, Park had carried her suitcases for her–and she knew for a fact a baby elephant weighed less than those two.
She had disturbed his sleep twice, but he still ended up walking her to school.
And he had waited for her, even though they both knew he totally didn’t have to.
Violet gazed at him ponderingly.
“Stop staring at me,” Park growled.
She ignored that, still smiling.
Her two years in Japan had just gotten more interesting, and she liked it.
Chapter Three
Bang, bang, bang!
Who the hell—
Park jerked the door open. Then he had to look down because his uninvited guest was none other than the small spitfire that had lately been plaguing his mind, invading his dreams, and making him take cold showers more often.
Violet beamed up at him. “Good morning!” She pretended not to notice that a) he was wearing just his boxers again, nothing else, and b) his dick was saying good morning back at her in the most obvious way…again.
Park was gnashing his teeth at her.
Oh well, what was new? Yesterday, that look sort of hurt—even though she’d never admit it—but this time she just took it in stride, especially knowing what she knew about him.
Her eyes narrowed when she noticed the dark circles under his eyes. “You look awful,” she murmured.
Her words just made Park gnash his teeth more.
“See, Violet,” he began sarcastically, “Normal people knock like this.” He rapped his knuckles moderately on the door. “But crazy people knock like this.” He rapped his fists on the door, recreating the banging sound that had gotten him out of sleep. For three consecutive times now. Not that the banshee seemed to care.
Violet’s smile didn’t even dim. “Good thing I’m not crazy then,” she chirped just before bending and wriggling under his arm to get inside his room. What the fuck?
Park whirled around to see Violet looking over his things with great interest. “Violet!”
“Park!” She mimicked, but she was smiling again.
She stood in the middle of his room, a beautiful black-haired witch his dick was telling her to take against the wall. It felt so right having her with him in the room. She looked like she belonged in his room, and it unnerved him.
Park
immediately pointed to the door. “Out.”
But the hard, unwelcoming tone of his voice was lost on her.
She gave him another smile. “Nope.”
Park couldn’t believe she was ignoring his command just like that.
Before he could snap at her, she was already speaking again. “Your place is so neat,” she remarked as her fingers drifted on the spines of the books stacking his shelf in alphabetical order.
“Yours is a mess,” Park retaliated.
“It is,” Violet admitted cheerfully. She batted her eyelashes. “Wanna help me clean it up?”
He looked at her like she was crazy. “No.”
She said confidently, “You will.”
Gritting his teeth at her tone, Park pointed to the door again. “Out!” He gave her his most frightening scowl, the one that made girls in his class initially believe he was one of the foreign members of the Yakuza, which was basically Japan’s equivalent of the Mafia.
Violet almost cringed at Park’s scowl but caught herself in time. No, she was not going to change her mind about this. Last night–her first night away from home and alone in Japan, Violet had come to an important conclusion.
Park was going to be her friend, whether he liked it or not.
“Out!”
Violet just gave him another shake of her head.
Park closed the distance between them. “Last time we met,” he started.
Violet gave him an encouraging nod. Thank God he was finally willing to talk sensibly.
“Maybe, I gave you an idea—”
“That?” she asked helpfully.
“We’re friends—”
She brightened. “Oh, yes!”
Park looked directly at her and said, “Well, you’re wrong. We’re not friends.”
That made Violet’s smile waver but she hung on to it with all her might. “We have a bond—”
“Which just ended Now.”
Her smile wavered even more. “There’s nothing wrong about being friends—”
“If the other person wants to be friends back, and I don’t.”
Argh! That did it! Losing her temper, she reached out to pull his hair. Hard.
