WON'S POV

"Who hurt you?" I asked.

" My own expectations." She replied above a whisper. I doubt if I heard it right.

She is blaming herself for what had happened. She seems broken, defeated. She seems she's holding a lot of pain that now she is not able to hold herself back. She is not in her sense right now. She is sharing her personal problem with a stranger.

'Who am I to her? No one. But still, she is-'. I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard her loud sobs. I got panicked because I have never comforted someone before. I don't know how to console her.

"Anna, hey, look at me." I hesitantly cupped her face and raised it a little. " Anna, calm down okay? I don't know what are you going through but I can assure you that... that these feelings can't break you. They must be painful and debilitating, but you can survive this. They will pass. Maybe not immediately, but sometime soon. They are going to fade away soon. It must be feeling unbearable right now, but believe me when I say, Anna, you are stronger than all these. This will pass. I promise it will all pass".

I told her the exact lines that Mr. Romon always tells me whenever I feel low and somehow managed to calm her sobs down. She nodded while tears were still shimmering in her ocean blue eyes.

" Come". I made her sit on the couch and handed her a glass of water that she gulped down in one go.

After few minutes when she got relaxed. I took her with me in my private elevator, we walked outside the office building togather.

I saw a car stopped in front of us. As the car window rolled down I saw that same guy who came to my apartment to search for Anna. I was about to ask Anna about him but before I could say anything she thanked me and headed towards the car with fast steps.

I was looking at her until I noticed that guy was glaring at me.'What's with this guy?'.

Wait... didn't that helmet guy came to pick her up today? Or the guy in front of me is the same? Was Anna crying over him?

Whatever is Anna's problem is but I'm sure it's not related to money. I have noticed her dressing, her necklace, she has two jobs and now this guy is here to pick her up in a luxury car. But I can't assume anything without knowing the truth so I shrugged all my thoughts.

My driver came into my car. I sat in and called Mr. Romon to meet me at our secret spot. Yes, I and Mr Romon have one. It's a small restaurant on the street side near my apartment where we enjoy our best time without any disturbance. Even Ezra doesn't know about it.

Sitting backside in the car I took off my coat along with my tie. I unbuttoned the top two buttons of my shirt, rolled up my sleeves, and wore a cap. This is what I do whenever I come here to look casual.

We stopped near the restaurant. Mr. Romon was already there waiting for my arrival. I walked towards him and sat in front of him.

Mr. Romon glared at me when I ordered junk food. " Young master it's not good for you to eat street food. You'll get sick as you are not used to it...".

Well, concern dropped from his tone.

" Nah...Steet food are the best. I'm tired of eating those healthy and tasteless foods". I said and made a disgusting face. He shook his head in disappointment.

A waiter arranged food on our table. It smelled so delicious that i rubbed my palms together. " Let's eat I can't wait anymore". With that I attacked on food.

Chewing mouthful of food I looked up at Mr. Romon. I never hide anything from him so I thought about telling him what happened today in the office.

I want to know what I'm actually feeling. I'm tangled between my own thoughts. And Mr. Romon is the one who knows me better than myself. He always helps me out in situations like this.

But he is like a father to me. How am I supposed to ask questions like this?.

'Idea!'.

" Mr. Romon". As I called be hummed in response so I continued. " Ummm... I have a friend". I started but he cut me in between.

" If I'm not wrong his name is Won. Isn't it?". He replied without even gazing at me.

' How Can He?'.

" Mr. Romon will you stop reading my mind at least for once please". I whined but only got his wiggling shoulder laugh in response.

•
•
•

I told him everything about Anna. And what I'm feeling. "......Mr. Romon I want to help her but I got nervous even before asking her problems. I don't know why but I feel like I'm someone else when I'm with her someone more like myself".

After listening to me all he said is "Do you perhaps like her young master?".

I choked on my food and started coughing. Mr. Romon immediately handed me a glass of water and ran his hand on my back. I gulped the water down and looked at him with wide-opened eyes.

" WHAT?". I shouted but soon realised that people around us were looking at me. I cleared my throat and learn a little closer to Mr. Romon. " What?". I asked in a very low voice this time.

He smiled and nodded at me. "Falling in love. It's always something that comes unexpectedly. Suddenly it hits you that you're in love, just like that. And that's what makes it so wonderful. Having absolutely no control is scary, but if you just let it happen, beautiful things can come your way ".

I shook my head. " No no no Mr. Romon. It's not like that. I don't love her I only want to help her. She's like a mystery to me that I'm curious to solve". He chuckled at me.

"It's so easy to love someone when things are perfect and everything is wonderful, young master. But to love someone when things are difficult, when they're not being perfect, when they're messing up, flaws are seen, mistakes are made, I think that's what allows you to see how much love really is there. Anyone can love someone who's doing and saying all the right things, being everything you want and need, when they've got it all together when they have it all figured out, but to love someone at their lowest, to love someone despite how broken they feel, when they're lost, when you're willing to stand by them no matter how challenging things may be, I think that kind of love is a lot more beautiful. I think that kind of love is a lot more meaningful. You listened to her young master. You didn't judge. You tried to understand her. You felt. You don't only want to help her when she is suffering from depression but especially when she is vulnerable. And I don't want you to give up on her". He said and I listened to him carefully. I'm lying if I'll say I didn't get goosebumps.

" So what can I do now?". I asked nervously. I know my cheeks can compete with tomato right now as Mr. Romon is smiling at me the whole time. No wonder he probably has to make fun of my fool self in his head.

Even though I'm 24 I have never been in a relationship and the thing that people do my age. My dad never allows me to. He always said that 'relationships are a distraction.

Mr. Romon cleared his throat loudly and I snapped out of my thoughts. "Spend time with her young master. Try to understand her. Calm her down and have an intellectual conversation with her. Open up make her comfortable with you. But between all these don't forget to give her personal space, give her time to understand your feelings because you yourself are not confident with yours. Don't rush. Love takes time". He explained.

ANNA'S POV

That Aiden guy dropped me back at the hotel. I changed into my uniform tied my hair into my signature high ponytail and got freshen up. I was feeling kind of good after a long time. It's like a big burden lifted from my shoulder after crying. I didn't mean to cry in front of Won but I wasn't able to hold back my tears. It will be so embarrassing to face him tomorrow.

I haven't seen or heard anything about Tan after that night. Aiden is the one who is picking and dropping me. That night was really very horrible for me.

I was very scared when I got stuck in the elevator. But that night when I cried myself in my room was more suffocating. It was like I was trapped in my own house.

My mind is not letting me forget that moment. The moment when all my trust got shattered along with my dreams. In my opinion, having a sharp memory is good for the brain but the ability to forget is a lot better for the heart.

One of my greatest mistakes was I believed that I could love the devil out of him. And now even after trying my best I still can't unlove him and that's what hurts the most.

Nothing about him is easy except for loving him.

Every time he pushed me away, my heart went back to him like a little kid. He pissed me off but my heart never stays mad at him for a long time. He keeps breaking me from inside but my heart is still forgiving him. He is making me hate him but my heart still loves him the same way.

" Why is my angel looking so quiet today?". Luca's voice brok the chain of my thoughts.

" I'm fine Luca. It's nothing. I'm just exhausted from working". I said I was fine but I never said it didn't hurt. I faked a smile at him because it's always easier than explaining why I'm sad.

Everything seems to be exhausting me, no matter how much sleep or how much coffee I drink, or how long I lay down, something inside me seems to have given up. My soul is tired.

• Now it's back to the way we started. Strangers.