Xeria’s P.O.V

"These photos are great." Ivan says, swiping the pictures on his phone. I just give a little peek at his phone and roll my eyes.

I'm still staying over at Quentin's place, and I met Ivan here in the park when I was on an evening walk with Potato, who was also taking a walk.

"What are you doing here?" I ask him, leaning my head against the bench and stuffing my hand in my sweatshirt pockets.

I think I look like Toothless.

"I'm here to meet someone." He replies.

"Who?" Of course, I'm interested.

"There are so many articles about you and Khaos; look." He says, trying to be evasive.

Sure, I know because I have seen these senseless articles. What do you mean he doesn't want to get married, so he gave me a plain ring?

No one is going to talk about how I was looking like someone who was taken on a bungee jump without my permission.

"Don't change the topic." I say, snatching his phone from his hand, and then I look at Potato, who was in a brawl with a poodle.

Seriously Potato?

"Come back here right now, Potato." I shout, and he comes running back after giving a final angry bark to the Poodle.

"Don't go around fighting; it's not a good thing." I chide, clipping on his leash.

"Don't try to sneak out." I tell Ivan, who was slowly getting up from the bench and was thinking of bolting.

"Ok, let's go to a cafe." He finally gives in.

"But a pet-friendly one." I remind him, and he nods his head in response.

On our way out, some sprinklers were on in the park.

"No, not now." I whine, but before I can stop Potato, he is already running towards them, forgetting that I'm still holding on to the leash.

I was also jerked away with Potato.

"Potato, stop!" I shout, but it was already too late.

The water was dripping on us, and Potato, who is enjoying his shower, is happily barking while I'm also close to being saturated in water.

Why are these sprinklers so big?

"I think we should head back home first." Ivan suggests, examining me.

Pulling down the zipper of my sweatshirt, I just sigh.

"This time you're going to the groomer" I tell Potato, who stops his endeavor of dismantling the sprinkler.

The ground was all muddy now, too.

"Come, I will help you." Ivan extends his hand out for me, which I gladly accept.

"Come now." And Potato grunts, walking with us.

But before we can go any further, the two of us trip down at the same time and fall to the ground.

Ivan and I look at each other and burst out laughing.

"This reminds me of the time when I went over to your house for the first time, and we got into a fight playing with the bubble gun, and then we both slipped on the leather." Still holding onto each other's hands, we laugh, attracting the attention of the passersbys.

"Let's get up now; we're all muddied up, like Potato here." Holding onto each other, we get up.

Walking out of the park, all saturated and muddied up, I see Khaos leaning against his car on the sideway and, for a change, not in one of his suits; he is wearing a simple white shirt and dress pants, the top three buttons of his shirt undone, and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

His jaw was painfully clenched when I looked at him.

"Is he here for you?" Ivan asks me, nudging me on the shoulder.

"Not sure." I reply, pursing my lips.

Will it be a good idea to ignore him?

While I was still in my thoughts, Potato had already crossed over to Khaos, who was patting his head.

Sighing, I follow Potato too.

"What are you doing here?" I ask Khaos, who looks at Ivan and then back at me.

"Quentin informed me of your whereabouts, so I thought of paying you a little visit." He replies.

Wait, is he in a bad mood?

"Where is your ring?" He asks me, and I look back at my hand. I took it off last night and forgot to put it on again, but why is he asking?

"Xeria, I will get going now; see you later." Ivan says awkwardly.

I nod my head, and he walks away.

"Get in now, or else you will catch a cold." Khaos orders, opening the car's door.

"Your car will get all dirty," I tell him, pointing at my muddy self.

"I will buy a new one, or do you want to go with that guy?" He says, clenching his jaw.

Why is he behaving like this?

"No, I was planning on walking back alone, and Ivan is heading back in another direction." I tell him, feeling itchy now.

"Stop being so stubborn always." he sighs , motioning for me to go in.

"No, I'm ok; Quentin's house is within walking distance only." I retort, all set to walk away.

"Why don't you ever listen to me?" He groans, picking me up and then stuffing me in the passenger seat and then settling Potato in the back seat.

"Potato, we're getting kidnapped!" I exclaim, and Potato whines in response.

"Yes, sure." Khaos scoffs, buckling his seatbelt.

"No, I will do it myself." I say when he looks at me, and then I put on my seatbelt.

Ding!  

"Quentin will not be coming back home today." I blurt out, to see that we've already reached.

Should I invite him in?

It's not like this is my home, and I don't have time to do any hospitality either.

"I think you should come in too." I smile at him, and he frowns.

"Ok, let's go inside." He says, opening the door. We walk inside the empty house.

This is Quentin's personal house, or, you can say, mansion.

"I will go and get cleaned up, but first, can you help me with Potato?"

If he is planning on being with me, then he should also know how to take care of my lovely potato.

"No, you take a shower first, and I can take care of your potato; just tell me where the bathroom is." he says, walking towards Potato.

Why is he being so nice today?

Whatever.  

After showing him the way, I took a shower myself; it was like a mud bath.

After changing into a comfortable set of clothes, I walked downstairs to see Khaos blow drying Potato's fur.

Potato was being exceptionally cooperative; otherwise, he wouldn't let anyone else touch him except me and my parents.

I take out my phone to capture the moment (only Potato), but I see Ivan's name flashing on the screen.

"Hi, Ivan." I answer the call, and Khaos looks at me, keeping down the blow dryer.

"Did you reach back safely?" His voice came through the phone.

"Yes, and you still owe me a coffee, so don't leave, ok? I will talk to you later."

"You know that everyone knows about right." Khaos states as I disconnect the call.

Is this about the ring thing again?

"You're asking me, but why are you not wearing one?" I retort.

"Did you give me one?" He scoffs, walking towards me.

Oh, I have to give him one. I will ask Mom to choose one.

"I'm not used to it, and I don't see the point of wearing it." I shrug, and Khaos keep walking towards me.

"Understand the point." He asserts, leaning in once again, and I bend backward on the couch once again.

Oh, my poor back.

He cages me, keeping his hands on both the sides.

"People will get the wrong idea." He says, and I can feel his breath on my face.

Why is he so close?

"I don't care about people." I tell him, not giving in, and then I push him away from me.

"What has gotten into you?" I demand.  

He holds my elbow and pulls me closer to him.

"You're mine; do you understand that?" He exclaims, gritting his teeth.

"I will punch you right in the face." I snap, glaring back at him.

"Don't test my patience." he says, tightening his hold on my elbow but not to the point that it would hurt.

"You're testing my patience; you barge into my life, then you push me into marrying you; you have never cared about what I wished; you want to make things public, so you do that also; what about me?" I shout back now in anger.

"Yes, because I can have whatever I want. I was trying to be nice to you, but I don't think you want that." He shouts, freeing me from his hold.

"What will you do, huh?" I growl, clenching my fists.

"I will leave you for good; just wait and see." Taking a step back, I spat.

"Don't you dare say or even think about that for your own good?"

"Or else what?" I interrupt him.

"You will see, Beryl, you brought this upon yourself." He shouts, picking up his keys and then storming out.