[Enna's POV]
"Ray..."
Enna was lying on her bed.
She was thinking about this guy she met a few hours ago.
'I don't trust people easily... It's funny how I broke down in front of Ray.'
Enna usually stayed aloof from other people. She liked to interact with others but she was a bit shy for her age.
So her opening up to a stranger, whom she met for the first time, seemed to make her anxious.
'He said his phone broke, so he couldn't exchange numbers. I still wrote my number down on a piece of paper and gave it to him but will he contact me again?'
Enna was currently troubled with a very serious problem.
"Did I appear too clingy? Our first meeting was very odd after all."
She remembered what she said when she slipped.
'Am I going to die? Just when I found someone I liked...'
Her ears became hot and uncomfortable.
She quickly drank the glass of water she had kept on her study table.
"It's not that I like him. I'm not such a shallow woman to fall for a guy at first sight."
She closed her eyes and remembered Ray again. His physique, his hand, the way he held his cigarette.
"Is he single?"
Beep beep.
Her phone was ringing.
She swiftly grabbed it and accepted the call.
Her voice came out with great expectations.
"Hello?!"
"Hey Enna! How are you?"
It was Ichika.
Enna felt a truckload of disappointment.
Nonetheless, the disappointment didn't last for more than a second and her genuine concern for Ichika took over.
"Ichika! Are you okay? Does your leg still hurt?"
"No, like I said before. It's just a sprain. It doesn't hurt that much. Hehe."
"...", Enna knew that Ichika was acting tough for her sake.
"Enough about me. Nothing happened to you, right?"
Enna recalled everything that had happened on the rooftop.
"No, Ichika, I'm fine..."
"I'm glad. If those bullies come again, I'll make sure they get suspended. They'll have to face my wrath if they try to mess with us."
"..."
Enna thought to herself.
'I'm getting her involved in my problems. I need to stop this before things become worse.'
"Ah, tell me Enna, did you watch the film I recommended?"
"Romantic encounter with a foreigner?"
"Yes! Did you still not watch it? Trust me, it's great! The male lead, Tristan, is extremely handsome! Ah! I feel like I can swim in his golden hair and just fantasize about him all day..."
"Yes Ichika..."
Enna had seen the film. It was bland and predictable. The male lead was egoistic and every time he talked, Enna felt awkward watching it.
"Everytime he said 'I like you', my heart skipped a beat! Ah, I want to meet him just once!", Ichika kept blabbering.
"He wasn't that smooth with his words."
'Not as smooth as Ray atleast', Enna thought.
"Whaaat? You must be joking Enna! He is totally your type! Surely, you haven't seen a guy better than Tristan, right?"
Enna thought of Ray's face. It was like porcelain. A fine work of art without any blemish.
Was that the reason she felt this longing for Ray?
Not any romantic feelings, just pure attraction for his looks?
If Ray was secretly a bad person belonging to the gangs, it spelled ill for Enna's future.
However, after interacting with Ray for so long, she truly found it difficult to question her judgement.
If Ray really wanted to take advantage of her, he could have already done so multiple times.
Somewhere in her heart, she wanted to trust someone as much as she trusted Ichika.
Maybe that was the reason for her bias?
"Ichika, actually there is something I must tell you."
"Aah, coming mom! Sorry, Enna, I'll talk to you on Monday! Tomorrow school is closed because of those blasts that happened at Arayama street. "
Enna recalled those blasts. Deadly explosions that wrecked most of the stores on that street.
Ichika spoke again, "Enna nothing happened to you, right? You sometimes take that street to go home."
"No, no, don't worry Ichika. I am absolutely fine."
'It'd be better if I talk to her in person about Ray, I don't want her to worry needlessly', Enna contemplated.
"That's good to hear. Police were all over the place looking for those terrorists. I heard on the news that it was part of a gang war and the attack was done to hurt the businesses and income sources of the rival gang."
"Is that so?"
Enna already knew about the police because Ray had suggested that they should play hide and seek out of the blue.
He had skilfully charted a path and outmanoeuvred the special force sent to investigate the site.
First, he had quickly led her down the stairs, and then by hiding behind the rubble and dust, like a true ninja, he had carefully evaded all eyes and escaped the blast area with her.
When she had asked him why they needed to be so careful and hide from everyone, he had said that he really hates being caught while playing hide and seek.
Enna had actually managed to peek past Ray's huge back, which always kept blocking her vision, once and at that time, she had seen special forces with lights and guns searching every nook and cranny of Arayama street.
"Ahhh, yes mom, yes, I'm coming!"
Ichika's sudden scream pulled Enna out of her thoughts.
"Enna, I'll talk to you later then! Byee!"
"Yes, bye bye."
Enna smiled. Her heart felt warm. Did she really consider suicide when she had someone that cared about her this much?
She sighed deeply and lied down again.
Then she raised her right hand above her face.
'Ray's hand was much bigger than mine.'
She knew Ray was just protecting her.
'But hide and seek? I'm not a child! Does he think I look like a child?'
She was frustrated at the thought of being considered a kid by Ray.
"Ray, why are you so cool...?"
Enna continued to sulk while mumbling Ray's name.
Suddenly, Enna remembered something while looking at her hand.
'He was holding my hand all the time till we escaped Arayama street. He didn't let go even once...'
Her ears became hot ovens again.