Fear.

We all got something to fear.

And I learned to fear everything.

Maybe it's because I used to.

I used to fear people, by assuming the worst about them.

Staying away, was a shield that I thought could protect me.

But it only got things worse, because I let it destruct me.

I used to fear the darkness.

Checking every night if there was a monster under my bed or secretly hiding through the dark void.

I used to beg my mother to sleep beside me, because I knew she was the only one who could protect me from anything.

Until I realized that she wasn't a superhero, and neither was I exposed to real danger.

One thing I was sure she couldn't protect me from was...

Myself.

I am my own monster, exposed to my own kind of danger.

By letting it take the best of me, I did fear everything, I did fear the whole world.

But that fear was yet to be shown..

Through someone else.

...

"I work for the Mafia." he stated.

I half spat on his tuxedo jacket, unaware of the mess I caused to it as he flinched in disgust, "Freaking Evelyn!!" he blurted, holding the edge of his jacket with a glare at me. "Don't you know how much this suit cost me?"

"I'm so, so, sorry!" I quickly grabbed a tissue and whipped the spit off, "You work for the what?!" I stared at him with eyes widened in shock, searching for answers.

Mafia?

He's a criminal?

Does that mean I'm under the same palace roof as hundred of other mafia criminals who might be secretly hiding guns and weapons with them?

You're so dead, Evelyn.

My heartbeat raced and my whole palms sweated with anxiety. I might have enjoyed reading Mafia tropes and wished to live their lives that were full of action and thrill.

But this time, it was different. I was so afraid of being there. I wanted to vanish right away before getting myself killed from him or anyone else.

This time, It was reality, and reality was never amusing for me.

Still staring at him, he wandered my eyes in confusion and then chuckled at me, "Got you."

My jaw dropped, not believing his childish manner. "Are you kidding me?" I hissed as I let out my breath, glaring at him. "This isn't funny!"

"You fell for it." he said and started laughing. "Makes it funny."

I rested my arms on my both knees for balance, trying to take a deep breath. I didn't respond to him. I just sighed and closed my eyes to calm down.

His smile disappeared as he leaned closer and looked at me, almost worried. "Did you really get terrified?"

"No, I didn't!" I knitted my brows and folded my arms at him, as if his stupid trick never affected me in any way. "You just caught me off guard! That's all." I rolled my eyes and looked away.

He made a grin that left me confused. "You're very pathetic." he said with a sensual tone that grabbed my attention and sent shivers down my spine.

"Stop doing that!" I irritatedly hit his shoulder. He stopped smiling and his eyes went frigidly cold.

I narrowed my eyes, confused even more. I noticed him looking at Rafael who was reaching to us with a joyous smile and a very attractive red headed man walking beside him.

He was about six feet, with an elegant black suit and a wavy fringe haircut. His bangs reached to his dark brown eyebrows while his eyes possessed the color of turquoise.

Even though it was almost midnight, he wore black sunglasses that rested on the edge of his forehead.

His features were very calming to gaze at. He seemed chill and groovy yet so perky and energetic.

"Enjoying your night?" Rafael asked with a welcoming smile as Marcus stood beside Mikhail, who didn't give much attention to us.

"We definitely are." I smiled, playfully performing a crusty. I received a salute from him.

A servant passed through us, but got interrupted by Mikhail who stopped him to grab a glass of champagne that he seemed too desperate for.

Once he grabbed the glass, Rafael snatched it from him before he was even able to take a sip, "Don't give that to him. He's still seventeen!" he warned the servant with a giggle as my eyes and my mouth were left widened with surprise.

He then grabbed a glass of fresh juice and gave it to Mikhail, "Apple juice will do." he said, and I felt Mikhail getting furious from his boss's father behavior.

"You're seventeen?!" I took a grip of Mikhail's arm as I whispered to him, hearing the red headed guy chuckling from my reaction.

"Not the right time to get so shocked about it." Mikhail murmured, not looking at me. His eyes held no emotion.

I thought he was in his twenties due to all the seriousness he devoured.

But seventeen?

And a business man?

He surely looked older than his own age.

"Marcus, have you been introduced to Mikhail's girlfriend?" Rafael questioned and the red headed glanced at me with surprise, not seeming to notice who I actually was.

"Oh yes.." Marcus energetically shook my hands with a grin. "Jasey! How have you been?"

I confusedly smiled and just nodded.

Jasey?

I bet that's his bestfriend who's the reason I am here in the first place.

Rafael tilted his head to Mikhail's direction as he knitted his brows, "Wasn't her name Evelyn?" he muttered to him with a confused tone.

"He's bluffing." Mikhail coldly said as he took a sip of his apple juice, still not looking at any of us. He was truly unfazed.

"Didn't I tell you to name her Jasey?" I heard Marcus disappointedly whispering to Mikhail.

I embarrassedly smiled to Rafael, trying to grab his attention.

Out of all the attractive names in the whole frickin world, he chose to call me Jasey? Bullshit.

"This isn't a Nickelodeon show. Get a life." Mikhail hissed to him, causing me to choke on the appetizer I was eating.

Rafael just unconcernedly stood beside Mikhail, expecting weird behavior from teenagers like us, but not giving damn shit about it.

"Relax, I was just joking!" Marcus raised both hands in defeat, still grinning at us. "Nice to meet you again, Evelyn."

...

We spent the next hour in the wide ballroom eating appetizers, drinking fresh juices and talking about random stuff, like how me and Mikhail met.

He kept babbling to Rafael about us meeting in a bakery shop and instantly falling in love.

Which was quite absurd if I thought about it.

I also got to meet Rafael's wife, Megan. She was such a wise and beautifully mannered woman. We seemed to get along so well.

Despite the fact that she kept strongly shipping me with Mikhail.

Me, Marcus and Mikhail kept watching Rafael and his wife falling in love with each other as they slow danced together. We were in awe of how cute of a couple they were. Megan waved her hand at me and Mikhail, gesturing us to slow dance as well, but I shook my head.

I just didn't know how to dance, so it would have been very embarrassing for me.

I then found Marcus gently grabbing my hand, "Mind me stealing your girl for a dance?" he muttered to Mikhail who just coldly shook his head as he took a pizza bite.

I raised my eyebrows at Mikhail and  rolled my eyes at how unbelievably annoying he was to leave dancing with such a fool.

I felt creepy men staring at me from the corner of the ballroom as me and Marcus danced. Their stare made me feel very uncomfortable.

"He maybe didn't mind us dancing," I nervously spoke to Marcus, glancing at those men with deep horror. "But I sure as hell do."

"Don't worry. I just want to get him jealous so he can fall in love with you." he smirked and I raised my eyebrows with a chuckle.

"Really? Because last time I checked I still had a boyfriend." I uttered.

Marcus's jaw dropped in shock, widely staring at me. "You're taken?"

"He didn't tell you?"

He blinked at me and then stared at Mikhail with irritation, "Son of a b—." he murmured, letting go of me as he rushed to him.

I glanced at them over my shoulder and laughed at their stupidity.

"Why would you bring someone you have no chance being with?" I heard Marcus hissing with rage to Mikhail.

I took a bite of the pizza and teasingly smirked at Mikhail.

Mikhail said nothing in return, he just glared at me with a 'I'll deal with you later' type of glare.

I shrugged to him with a giggle and quickly walked away before he would scold me.

I knew when he was angry. He always seemed to be. But I never knew the reason of his anger.

I just knew he was capable of controlling it.

...

Rambling through the palace's long corridor, I passed across a room that almost seemed as staggering as a gallery.

I made my way back to it, finding it empty, with no one but a rich blonde lady who kept wandering the hung paintings, while she smoked a cigarette and held a glass of wine between her fingers.

Quietly stepping in, I stood beside the lady. In front if me was a flawless artistic painting that caused my eyes to glow shine.

I gazed at it with much passion, letting my creative imagination figure out the meaning of it's composed colors.

But I was perturbed by that blonde woman as I felt her eyeing me boldly.

She seemed to be a judgemental person as her teeming eyes never got to rest from analyzing me.

"Evelyn David." She calmly pronounced with a strange accent as she smoked her cigarette, folding an arm.

My eyes widened. I looked at her, heart skipping a beat."You know me?"

"Oh, I know everything, dear." she scoffed, her arrogant smirk made me want to throw up.

"I suppose you only knew that by the invidious women that were gossiping downstairs." I muttered as I looked back at the painting, untroubled, but heart still beating fast.

"Funny of you to think I'm that type of person, based on the way I look." she uttered.

I let out a chuckle at how hardly confident she was trying to be.

"Assume as much as you like." I said, starting to really feel disgruntled, so I chose not to deal with her shit.

"I also know your father." She tilted her head.

My heart felt heavy. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, feeling her smirk, looking at me with devil eyes.

"How do you know him?"

"Business." she mentioned.

"What kind of business?"

"Nothing." she carelessly smiled, looking back at the painting as she took a sip of wine. "Just some business."

It would be very odd of my dad to deal with these kind of rich women in business, but I'll just let her get away with it.

For a moment she was silent. For another one she kept bragging again.

"But what would your father think dating a guy like him?"

I shut my eyes off as I exhaled a breath. "What do you mean?" I glared at her, not capable of taking much.

She light up another cigarette,

"Mikhail."

Okay, she knows my dad. She thinks I'm dating Mikhail. She first meet me in a party that I secretly snuck out for.

How more screwed up could this situation get?

Glaring back at me, I titled my head with confusion, giving her a chance to explain.

"Considering of how of a dangerous man he is." she said, inhaling the cigarette as my stomach fluttered in dread. "I assume you still haven't told your dad about him."

"Mikhail is far from dangerous."

"Well," She sniggered, "I guess he brainwashed you with his charm, didn't he?" she mocked, and I rolled my eyes, getting impatient.

"Do you even know his past, Evelyn?"

She bragged.

"Do you even know why he brought you here?"

She kept bragging.

"The hell are you trying to point out?" I blurted, getting sick to my stomach as she smirked, tossed her cigarette and stamped on it.

"I'm just warning you." she came closer to my ear and I felt her stale scent, "If I were you, I'd rather stay away from him." she wandered me for a moment, smiled and then she left.

I took a deep breath and rested on the wall that was golden painted. I kept overthinking every thing she said.

My father. And the business.

Mikhail. And how dangerous he is.

Why would she tell me such things?

Is she trying to warn me or freak me out?

Or maybe she was drunk.

Yes, yes she was.

Why would I believe a drunk woman that couldn't stop inhaling nicotine?

For god's sake.

"You look tense."

I gave a slight gasp as I sprang up, I noticed Mikhail and instantly giggled! "Won't you ever stop popping up that way?"

Mikhail timidly looked down as he let out a chuckle. His golden hair softly ruffled downwards, his cheekbones were naturally bronzed. His smile was rewarded and it triggered my dopamine.

"Not promising you anything." he said. I chuckled and slowly reached to him, whipping off the dust on his jacket.

"What's that? You got into a fight with Marcus?" I questioned sarcastically.

"No." He rolled his eyes. "That was to not get into a fight with Marcus."

"You let him punch your jacket suit?!"

"All thanks to you. Plus you already spat on it, don't act like you care." he teased. I let out a giggle and then my smile instantly vanished."What happened that made you tense that way before I got in here?"

"Nothing." I shrugged to him, avoiding eye contact.

He raised a brow as he tilted this head, wanting me to answer honestly. "Seriously?"

"Seriously. It was just a drunk woman babbling shit to ruin my mood."

"That's why I told you to stick beside me." He glanced me up and down. "Didn't I?"

"You would have scolded me," I pointed at him and offered a teasing smirk. "remember?"

He smiled a bit as he shoved both hands in his pockets and sat on the silver ottoman chair. I sat on the next one beside him.

He took a look at the painting that was hung in front of us. It was two angels kissing through the blue sky. An angel was resting on the cloud, while the other one flew up for a kiss.

I glanced at him and then back at the painting that grabbed his attention.

"You're not the artistic type of person, are you?" I questioned.

"No. Not really."

"Nor the romantic." I leaned to his side, muttering teasingly.

He glanced at me with a chuckle,
"What makes you think so?"

"Seeing how you run away from blind dates, ...women to be exact." I said as he listened with a timid smile on his face that I never thought I would notice. "It doesn't seem that you're a person who falls in love."

"You're right." He admitted, "I don't bare the responsibility of relationships, or women."

"Is that the only reason?" I curiously asked.

He let out a deep breath as he sorrowfully looked at the painting, "What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you look at this?"

I again deep gazed it, "I don't really know. Two angels falling in love?" I glanced at him, catching his jaw clenching.

"Two lovers who death did them apart, finally meeting in heaven as angels..after desperately waiting for each other." he looked at me, almost miserably. He then ran his fingers through his hair. "That is what comes to my mind."

"That's deep and depressing." I let out a surprised chuckle. "At least they got a happy ending?"

"That's what you think," He mentioned, "but even after their reunion, it doesn't have to be a happy one."

"So you're telling me those kissing angels weren't actually happy?"

"That's the mystery of it."

I sarcastically nodded. Not believing what he said. They both looked happy, the painting held such a delightful feeling of falling in love. He didn't have to make it so dark.

"Whatever," I rolled my eyes, "I bet you never fell in love to even know anything about it."

The room was silent, we both gazed at the paintings from our seats. I felt Mikhail sinking into his deep thoughts with much anxiousness.

He seemed frazzled kept, while I kept staring, waiting for him to get everything off his chest.

He exhaled a breath.

"I once met a girl." he suddenly spoke, stuttering to even continue.

I looked at him, letting him know I was listening. And caring for what he got to tell me. "Go on."

"I met a girl.." he languidly said, "and she completely changed my life."

I smiled, wanting to know more.

"She was full of happiness, It was joyful being around her. She made my heart melt." he smiled, as if he was imagining her presence right in front of him. "For the first time in my life, I thought I had fallen in love."

I said nothing. I just warmly listened.

"Do you believe in love at first sight?" he asked, looking at me.

"Maybe."

"I thought I believed in, for a second." His eyes were suddenly watery. I felt his lips trembling a bit, making me feel worried. I tensed and  wandered his eyes with unease."I've always thought that I was an emotionless person, until I met her." his voice weakened and then I found him desperately chuckled.

"What happened?" I asked, concerned a bit.

He looked down in despair, fighting the urge not to say anything.

He went silent for a moment. I let him take his time as I found him clearing his throat. Proceeding to continue.

"I lost her." he choked out, jaw clenched again. I felt his hands also trembling. I wanted to hold it. Make him feel okay. But I stuttered. "For a moment, I couldn't believe my eyes. Until I had to face her sober body."

I slightly gasped, my face turned into a pout as I felt the corner of his eyes sighting me.

"Mikhail.." I whispered, forcing back tears that welled up my eyes as my heart ached for him.

"God, it felt so heart breaking seeing her that way. I didn't get the chance to know her that well. I didn't even attend her funeral. I was just a kid." he whimpered, eyes full of rage and regret. "It's like the universe wanted to show me how of an unlucky son of a bitch I was!"

"I'm so sorry." I gently rested my hand on his back, he looked away and  quickly whipped off the tear that ran down his cheek.

"Doesn't matter." he snuffled, eyes burning in mourn as he miserably looked down. "Love isn't made for me anyway."

"Everyone was born to love, Mikhail. And I'm sure you'll one day find your true love."

"She was my true love." he hopelessly whined, causing my throat to burn like a stabbing knife. "She was my everything."

"What makes you think she was?" I managed to choke out. "You said you barely knew her."

"That's what I'm saying," He cleared his throat, "even though I didn't know much about her, I was completely astonished with her."

I sighed, having a lot of questions running through my mind. "Why didn't you attend her funeral?"

"I chose not to because I wanted to easily forget about her, yet she's somehow still on my mind every damn second." he said. "Something about her was beyond explanation.. till this day."

"How so?" I asked.

Mikhail kept staring at me in silence, his face held so many expressions of both confusion and sadness. It was as if he doubted something.

He blankly looked down,"Forget about it." he hopelessly looked down. He shrugged off my question and changed the subject. "Listen, you said you played violin. Yeah?"

Seeing how he constantly changed the subject just from the fear of him having to face the pain made me severely bitter.

"Well, yes," I crossed my legs. "I also like to paint–"

"I assume you're talented enough to perform a duet then." He boldly stated.

"That's not true." I shook my head, "Have you seen me perform before?"

"No." he got up and fixed his tux, grabbing my hand. I confusedly took it. "But I'm about to." he continued.

"Where are you taking me?"

"To perform a duet with you."

--

[Ephemeral] (adj.) : lasting for a very short time.

...

Man. Mikhail is such a complex character, isn't he?

What do you think happened to his past love?

Don't forget to vote and comment!

xoxo.