Bounded by Secrets

"Strings and Shadows"

From behind, he heard a soft giggle. Turning around, he saw Mayumi leaning against the wall, her eyes glinting mischievously.

"Hey, Jack," she said, sauntering over to him.

Before he could respond, she reached up, removed his cap, and ran her fingers through his long, silky hair. Jack instantly froze, his eyes wide with a mix of surprise and irritation.

"Mayumi, stop!" he protested, pulling back slightly. His lips curled into a grimace. "You know I hate when people touch my hair!"

Mayumi smirked, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Your hair is just so soft, Jack. It's like silk. How can I resist?"

Jack crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes at her. "How would *you* feel if someone opened your clothes and started touching your body?"

Mayumi blinked at him, taken aback for a moment, before bursting into laughter. "Seriously, Jack? That's your comparison?" She playfully punched him on the stomach, her grin widening.

Jack rubbed his stomach with a mock pout. "I'm serious! Why do you do this to me, huh? If you wouldn't like it done to you, then why-"

"Oh, stop being so dramatic," Mayumi interrupted, rolling her eyes but clearly amused. "You're just too easy to tease."

Jack sighed, shaking his head as he grabbed his cap and jammed it back on. "One day, Mayumi, you'll regret messing with me."

Mayumi shrugged with a smirk. "Until that day comes, I'll keep playing with your *precious* hair."

Jack groaned, but the faint smile tugging at his lips gave away his amusement.

---

**Scene: The Rest House Drama**

Jack slouched in the plush chair of the grand rest house, clearly irritated. He had been *forced* here by Kevin, his father, under the pretense of "rest." Rimmy, tasked with ensuring Jack didn't escape, had practically dragged him into the place. The rest house itself was extravagant, decorated to perfection with an air of pretentious luxury that Jack found suffocating.

Kevin, ever the controlling figure, was setting yet another set of rules, this time related to dressing. "Jack, fix your collar. You look like a street kid," Kevin snapped.

Jack sighed heavily, muttering under his breath, "I already hate it here."

Meanwhile, in the adjoining room, Light, Jack's younger sister, stood rigidly in front of a mirror. Usually comfortable in her tomboyish attire, she was now forced into a frilly dress that clashed entirely with her personality. Ted was by her side, trying to calm her.

"Come on, Light. Just bear with it for a bit. It's not like you'll actually marry the guy," Ted whispered, though his tone betrayed doubt.

Light's frustration was palpable. "I don't *want* to wear this. I don't want to meet him. Why do I have to change myself just to impress some random guy?"

Kevin's booming voice cut through the air, silencing the room. "Light, enough of this nonsense! This is no place for excuses. You *will* do as I say, and you *will* stay within your limits when Antonio arrives. Do I make myself clear?"

Jack, leaning against the doorway, scowled at the exchange. He hated how his sister was being forced into this, but Kevin's dominance left him paralyzed. Arguing with Kevin was like stepping into a fire-pointless and self-destructive. Still, his fists clenched as he watched Light nod reluctantly, her shoulders sagging in defeat.

The sound of engines outside marked the arrival of the guests. Jack glanced out the window to see a fleet of luxurious cars pulling up, each more extravagant than the last. These vehicles were fit for the richest man Kevin's about to be son in law Antonio, the young, rising businessman who had caught Kevin's eye as a potential ally-and Light's potential fiancé.