5/5


    "I''m d that you''re doing fine, at least," said Saya, changing the topic. "Anyway, I''m here to tell you something important."


    The glint in Saya''s eyes made Ren feel uneasy. He knew what that gaze meant. She was definitely up to something. Knowing that she came all the way and waited for hours added to his assumption.


    "What is it?" Ren asked with a bored tone and peeked at his watch. "Make it fast since it''s gettingte."


    ". . ." A short silence descended upon them.


    But Saya''s face soon softened, making Ren feel more troubled all of a sudden.


    "I can''t believe I''m saying this out loud," Saya said with a blush. "But . . . I love you, Ren," she continued in a soft tone.


    ". . ." Ren''s expression didn''t even budge.


    "Is that all? Then I''m sorry, I don''t feel the same way." Ren was about to stand from his seat when Saya''s voice rang again.


    "Is it because you like that girl, Evie, now?" she asked, forcing a smile.


    "That''s right," Ren replied straight to the point.


    ". . ." Saya clenched her fist, her nails digging into her palm.


    So what if he liked her? They weren''t even dating each other.


    Saya smiled, but it didn''t reach her ears. "I want you to rethink your answer again after I show you this."


    Ren looked at the phone in her hands and then lifted his gaze to look suspiciously into her eyes. "What''s this?"


    Saya didn''t answer and instead flicked her phone in Ren''s direction, silently asking him to take a look.


    Ren took the phone from her and let out a deep breath. He was in no mood to y games with her right now.


    However, all his reservations and coolness flew out of the window the moment he saw the video on her phone''s screen.


    The screen showed the time with the Twin Moon Axe n when Evie took off her mask. It only happened once, so how was Saya able to take a video of it? Evie''s face was clear, and there was without doubt that it would spell trouble for her if it circted on the.


    Everyone was already trying to unmask her. It was fine for the group''s men to have their faces exposed, but it was different for a beautiful woman like Evie, who neither had the backing nor a family here . . .


    Ren knew better than anyone how much Evie greatly valued her privacy -- he was the one who ruined her life in his previous life by uncovering her mask.


    Would it be the same this time too?


    Whatever Saya''s reason was, Ren had to put a stop to it.


    "Even if you delete it, I''ve already saved multiple copies of it," Saya said, rejoicing at the fact that the video had provided the desired effect she wanted from Ren.


    "What do you want?" Ren asked, trying his best to keep his calm despite feeling that his body was covered in a cold sweat.


    Saya sweetly smiled and snatched her phone from his hand. "I think you already know what I want."


    Ren squinted his eyes. "I''ve known you for a long time, Saya, but I never expected that you''d ckmail someone to get what you want. I''m very disappointed in you."


    When Sayaughed in response, Ren knew that the girl he thought he knew from the past was very much a stranger to him now.


    "Ren, don''t me me. While you''re waging war in that game of yours, I''m here to wage war with love. All things are fair in love."


    "It''s not love you''re feeling, and you can never get it from me."


    "That''s not what I read in novels. As long as we''re together, you''ll slowly but surely get your feelings back for me."


    "That won''t ever happen," Ren said almost immediately.


    Saya only chuckled. "I don''t believe that four years of feelings would just go away like that."


    ''It''s not just four years.'' Ren wanted to say that but decided against it. "It already did."


    Saya sighed as she shook her head. "I don''t believe you. It''s still there -- you''ll see."


    Ren outfaced for a moment before answering, "Why are you so obsessed with me now, Saya? Enough to even ruin an innocent girl''s life."


    Ren hesitated as he tried to find the words that could sway Saya from what she was trying to do. "You''re beautiful, Saya. There are a lot of guys out there that could make you feel happy."


    Saya stared at him nkly. She couldn''t understand why he would say such things to her. Wasn''t he just trying to get to her conscience?


    Too bad she left it beforeing here.


    "But what I want is you, Ren."


    Ren''s eyes were emotionless as he seriously replied, "You can never be happy with me. That, I''m very sure of."


    Saya fell silent for a while, but a few secondster, she smiled and nodded at him. She stood up from her seat.


    "It''s not like I''m a bad or evil person, Ren. Don''t get me wrong. I just want you to give us a chance again."


    ". . ."


    "Tell you what . . ." Saya went to Ren and tiptoed, wanting to reach his eyes, but she could only reach his chin before she whispered, "Be my boyfriend for a month, and if your feelings still don''t change, then . . . I''ll let you go."


    Ren looked Saya in the eyes and asked, "How will I know that you''re telling the truth?"


    Saya took a step back and beamed. "Well, you just have to trust me."


    ". . ."


    "I''ll give you a night to think about it. Or you can always reject my offer and let Evie sumb to her fate." Saya shrugged.


    "It''s your decision, really."


    "And if you ever need me for anything, please call me. You know where to find me."


    With those words, Saya left the room.


    Ren watched her go.


    When she was out of his sight, he turned his back and returned to his room wearing a grim face. He could still hear the sound of her footsteps fading away and his parents sending her to the door before everything turned silent.


    ----


    A/N (Doesn''t consume coins)


    I hope i didn''t ruin anyone''s Christmas  with chap ??¤￡????


    Don''t worry, like I kept saying to my editor, who was begging for spoilers, everything will work out in the end ??¤—


    No publish tom as we will celebrate Christmas the whole day


    CHEERS! ????