Chapter 81 - Sticking With You Like A Glue
"Zhen-Zhen…" he softly mumbled in her ear.
"Tristan… what's wrong?"
Zhen-Zhen asked him as soon as she sensed that something was troubling Tristan right now. She didn't know why but she could feel it.
Meanwhile, Tristan's grip on her body tightened more after he heard her query. He always pondered at the fact she could tell that something was off about him. As if he was very transparent in her eyes that she could read his emotions and feelings.
"I-I'm really sorry, Zhen. I truly am." Tristan said in his low voice.
They were still holding each other without a plan of breaking the hug.
Zhen-Zhen began stroking his back. "Why are you apologizing again?"
Tristan slammed his eyes shut, gritting his teeth before calming himself down to speak once again.
"I'm sorry for dragging you in this mess… in my messy life. Zhen-Zhen, I will give you one chance now. You can still back out and turn down my proposal. You can change your mind. You can take back your decision about marrying me and becoming my wife." Tristan couldn't explain but he felt a pang of pain deep down his heart after saying those words.
'Can I really do this? Letting her go and giving her freedom? Argh… I couldn't understand what I wanted anymore.' Tristan's mind was in shambles as of this moment.
"I'm telling you… I am not a good person like what you are thinking. Do you still want... to marry me, despite that? Do you still want to become my wife?" Tristan asked her. There was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
Badum! Badum!
His heart started to beat rapidly inside his chest. Every second passed while waiting for her response, his heartbeat became louder in his ears. He was nervous, restless and anxious.
'F*ck! What's going on in your head, Tristan? Why did you ask her that?' Tristan scolded himself inwardly, regretting why he suddenly told her that.
What if she would say 'No' and she was not willing anymore? Could he really take it?
After waiting and anticipating, finally Zhen-Zhen gave him an answer.
"Tristan…"
"Hmm?"
"No matter what other people will say about you, in my eyes… you are a good person. You have a kind heart." Zhen-Zhen softly said.
Tristan was taken aback after hearing that. Her sincere words warmed and soothed his troubled heart.
'Why do I feel like I am a wonderful person now, just because of those simple words coming from her? Should I cry or laugh?'
"Hmmm, so Tristan, don't worry too much." Zhen-Zhen let out a soft giggle before continuing.
"I will not change my mind. I still want to marry you, Tristan. I want to become your wife. The moment you took me from that mountain and brought me here, I already told myself that I would stick with you starting from that day."
Tristan's lips lifted upward as the warm glow of happiness flickered through his eyes upon hearing her response.
'Yes!' He screamed in his mind while rejoicing. He couldn't help but raise his fist in the air behind her back as a sign of his victory.
Then he heard Zhen-Zhen utter another word.
"Tristan, I will stick with you like a glue… just like what Miho did to Cha Dae Woong." Zhen-Zhen stated cheerfully, followed by her soft giggles.
Tristan frowned, releasing Zhen-Zhen from that hug so that he could see her face. She was smiling from ear to ear.
"Who's Miho? And Who's Cha Dae Woong? Did you meet and make new friends today?" Tristan asked her in confusion.
Zhen-Zhen bit her lower lip, suppressing her laughter.
"Who are they?" Tristan repeated his question, feeling curious.
Zhen-Zhen could no longer hold her laughter. Her giggles bubbled up. Tristan just looked at her amusingly, fascinated by her soft and angelic laughter.
"Tristan… they are the main characters of the drama I am watching. My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho."
Tristan: "..."
He was rendered speechless. He couldn't believe it. Here he was, being sentimental and emotional while Zhen-Zhen, on the other hand, had still time to think about the drama she was watching on TV.
Tristan couldn't help but pinch her two lovely cheeks.
"Zhen-Zhen, you've watched many dramas already. I think it is time to make you study harder. Refrain from watching TV in the next few days. I will start tutoring you for your upcoming examination."
Zhen-Zhen just bobbed her head in agreement while smiling at him. She was looking forward to that.
And just like that, the heavy burden in his heart a while ago was lifted after seeing Zhen-Zhen and talking to her. She was truly his happy pill. She lightened his mood without doing much. She did that by just being herself, just being his innocent and lovely Zhen-Zhen.
After a while, Tristan cupped her face using his two hands, staring straight into her sparkling blue eyes.
"Zhen-Zhen, thank you for cheering me up today. I was really in a foul mood before coming here. But now, I'm okay. Don't worry, Zhen-Zhen. I will do my best to protect you. I will not let other people insult you or say bad words against you. I will not let them hurt you." His words were filled with promises to her. He meant it.
"Listen to me carefully. You are a unique being. You are superior to others, not only because of your power and your beauty but because of your kind and humble heart. You're so honest, so pure and innocent. You are the most wonderful person I have ever met."
"But Zhen-Zhen, the real world is not as beautiful as you think. It has a dangerous and ugly side too. Sometimes you will encounter cruel people who are quick to judge and sometimes, they will even try to hurt you. You have to learn and fight for yourself. Don't let others look down on you or belittle you." Tristan said to her meaningfully.
Zhen-Zhen gave him a faint smile and responded, "I know, Tristan. I already experienced that when I was still a child. People tried to hurt me and my family just because they thought we were pure evil. They judged us easily without hearing my mother's plea. I know my worth… my Fa-Fa named me Zhen-Zhen because I am precious to him and to my Mo-Mo. They sacrificed their lives so that I could live. So I will do as you say, I will not let others look down on me. And… This time I will not let them hurt me nor the people close to me, especially you. I will also protect you, Tristan."
Tristan was at a loss for words. He had no idea that Zhen-Zhen had experienced that kind of cruelty in her world during her childhood.
'Did people try to kill her because she's a demon god's daughter? What happened to her in her previous world? Did those people kill her parents?'
Those were the questions running in his mind right now.
"I will not disappoint you, Tristan. I will do well. I will study and learn everything in this new world. I will be like others, living like a normal human being." Zhen-Zhen said with her reassuring smile.