Chapter 18 - Her Boyfriend
As they reached close to their destination, once again awkward silence spread inside the car, almost making it unbearable for Wan Yi Jun, who was intrigued by Ming Yue's story.
After hesitating for a while, finally, he decided to ask about her life. However, just as he opened his mouth, Ming Yue shut him with a random comment.
"I thought you are just a pretentious knight in silver armour who loves to help damsels in distress but turned out you aren't even pretending." She pointed out as a matter of fact in the light of the events that happened today.
"Pardon me," Wan Yi Jun, who failed to understand whether she was complimenting or insulting him.
"No offence, master. I thought you were a spoilt mama's boy, but in the end, you turned out to be a knight." She explained it once again with an impassive face. However, Wan Yi Jun, who mistook her straightforwardness, almost broke his cool.
"I can't believe that people are still using these terms as an insult." He didn't even hesitate to let out his disappointment. But little did he know that what Ming Yue thought was something exact opposite of what he guessed.
"Mamma boy or knights in shining armour are not insults, at least for someone like me." She stated while staring directly into his dark eyes. "And out of all people, I, an orphan with no family or friends, why would I insult you?"
Now that she pointed out
"My father was never there for me when I needed him the most. I grew up with my mother, so everyone used to make fun of me by calling me a mamma boy." He admitted without hiding anything. While growing up, his father's presence was almost non-existent in his life. During his time in imperial, was the only time he experienced the essence of living together as one big family.
"Young masters of renowned families also get bullied?" Ming Yue sounded a bit surprised. It was unbelievable for her to think that Wan Yi Jun, who grew up as a perfect child in everyone's eyes, hid the fact that he was a bullying victim.
"I told you, it's my grandfather's house. I own nothing there. I only lived in wisteria gardens, maybe less than ten years." Wan Yi Jun said while recalling the timespan he has spent in Imperial. Since his parents fell in love and got married while they lived abroad, most of his childhood and adolescent years were torn between the Novarian capital and the Imperial. However, even though he only spent very little time in Imperial, it was the place where most of his memorable moments were entangled.
"It's wicked to know that some people don't have a shelter over their head and some others just leave their house unattended." Ming Yue sniggered as she compared the terrible reality of both of their lives.
"We didn't leave it unattended, we had a butler. But unfortunately, a few months ago, he passed away. So currently, it's just me who is here to take care of the mansion." He concluded and looked out of the window as if he was checking out he drove her to the correct place or not. "This is the place, right?"
"Hmmm...Turn left and stop near that restaurant." Ming Yue pointed at the old restaurant at the end of the street. Just as he pulled over the car, she turned to face Wan Yi Jun and gently bowed,
"Thanks for the flowers, the dress and the ride." She gladly expressed her gratitude as she urged to get down from the car as the clock started to strike towards midnight.
"Well, I should be the one who is supposed to thank you." Wan Yi Jun smilingly said while turning off the engine as if he wanted to get down along with her.
When she saw through Wan Yi Jun's plan to accompany her to the house, Ming Yue almost jumped out of the car, fearing that things may not remain the same if he runs into Kousuke or Yojiro.
Since she pulled off a tear-jerking story and almost convinced Wan Yi Jun that she was an orphan without no name, it would be better if their interaction ends here at the moment,
"It's just trivial things, don't worry about it. Have a great year, master." She greeted the man who stepped out of the driving seat without getting a hint of her obvious disinterest.
With a radiant smile gleaming on his lips, Wan Yi Jun walked towards her and extended his palm for a handshake.
"Wan Yi Jun, that's my name."
For a moment, Ming Yue went speechless at the unexpected gesture of friendliness shown by Wan Yi Jun. It was nearly impossible for her to believe that the boy in her memories, and the man who stood before her, was the same person.
The Wan Yi Jun she knew was always been a cold and detached person who never initiated any kind of interaction with a stranger. But he has changed, his personality has changed as if she could no longer relate to the mean little boy to this cheerful and caring man.
"Hmm..at least you have changed for good." Ming Yue mumbled in her and hesitantly reached out for a handshake.
"Master Wan, have a happy new year."
"Master Wan?" Wan Yi Jun's thick eyebrows raised while humour rippled in his dark irises at her reply. Didn't he make it clear that there is no need for her to address him like that? But when he caught a glimpse of her innocent face partially covered by his shadow, he shook his head and rejected the idea of correcting her.
"You too, have a great year. I hope you get a job you like."
"Thank you."
"I will leave then." Wan Yi Jun retracted his palm and took a step backwards without breaking his gaze from her.
As he moved away from her, the golden light from the brightly lit street lamps immediately illuminated her gorgeous face, reminding him of the phases of a full moon, living up to her name- Ming Yue.
Once again sending sparks of dubiety to Wan Yi Jun's mind,
No matter how many times he overlooked it, he couldn't deny that Ming Yue resembled the girl from his past.
While he hesitated to leave her side, contemplating to ask her to keep in touch or not, the heavy silence between them got broken by an old woman, who approached the car in hurried steps.
"Xiao Yue, where have you been? Your bro-" Just as the old woman began to mention about her 'brothers', Ming Yue stormed towards her landlady and shoved the paper bag into her wrinkly hands.
"Oh, Grandma, here are the flowers you have asked." She picked up the Wisteria flowers from the paper bag and handed them over to the old woman, who was staring at Wan Yi Jun with a pair of perplexed eyes.
"Oh, you got Wisteria! But dear, who is this young man? Is he your boyfriend that you mentioned earlier?" The landlady curiously asked and glanced at the man whose face suddenly went a shade redder.
But wait a minute, did he hear her saying that 'Your boyfriend that you mentioned earlier,'
Wan Yi Jun unknowingly turned his gaze towards Ming Yue, who appeared abashed by the old lady's words.
His deeply hurt eyes glinted a little as if they were asking whether it was true or not.
Do you already have a boyfriend?