CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
"Are we dismissed now, father?" Suho asked as he rubbed the sides of his head. Did he actually get a headache just by talking to his father?
"Why leave this early? It is my first time meeting Paige, why not stay here until later?" Mr. Damon asked.
They all looked worriedly at me. "But Mr. Damon, is it safe for the boys to stay here? Especially him," I pointed Sehun once again. "This place is filled with people, sir." I explained.
"The floor is only exclusive for me and my sons. You can just stay here, there's a lot of things to do here. I'm sure you'll only be bored if you stay in the mansion. It's just for tonight." I had no choice but to nod. I can't say no to the man, it's hard to decline his offer.
The boys exchanged looks before sighing in defeat. "Just for tonight. We'll leave first thing in the morning." Luhan said.
Their father eagerly smiled. "Good. It's been a while since you stayed with me anyway." he walked over towards me. "And Paige, I thought I told you to call me daddy?" he bent over my shoulder.
I flinched before slowly turning to him. "B-but... I'm not really your daughter, sir." I uneasily answered. I seriously thought that he was just joking. He surely is an odd man, one of his sons call him old man and the other calls him pops.
"You will be," he chuckled as he took a glance at Sehun who immediately turned away from us.
"Please do stop teasing her," Xiumin groaned. "She'll call you Mr. Damon and that's that" he said.
"Well, she'll learn to call me that soon. After all, none of you called me daddy. Father is too formal, pops is informal and old man is just downright disrespectful." he said. I had to stifle my laughter because I thought laughing now would be rude.
Mr. Damon laughed suddenly. "Sorry about that Paige," he said. "I just thought you'd call me that since you'll be my daughter soon," he said.
My eyes widened and I nearly choked. "Excuse me?" I asked him. The others seemed to have the same reaction as well.
"Why is everyone so shocked?" Mr. Damon asked. "She is Sehun's mate. Whether she likes it or not, she's bound to spend the rest of her life with him. The same thing goes for Sehun." he explained.
"Nonsense," our heads turned when Sehun slammed his fist on the table. "I already told you that she didn't have a choice. We're different compared to you and mother. We didn't start off as friends, I didn't slowly fall for her, and I didn't ask for her hand. I don't even know what we are. Classmates? Friends? Acquaintances? Heck, I don't even know if we're anywhere near that." he seethed.
"Father, I don't even love her,"
I didn't know why but I felt hurt after hearing him say that. I froze on my seat, unable to move. Why am I reacting like this? What he said did have a point. It wasn't really Sehun that chose me to be his mate, it was his demon form. It just so happens that I'm the only person that's vulnerable enough to be claimed by him. I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"Sehun, that's enough." Baekhyun said. "You've said too much."
Sehun suddenly looked surprised with what he said. He ran his fingers through his hair due to frustration. He sighed as he took a deep breath.
I don't even know how I should react right now. Thinking about what Sehun said just now... it stings. I don't even know why I'm this hurt.
"Paige, are you alright?" Tao said. My eyes widened in surprise when I felt tears on my face.
"I'm sorry," I said as I began wiping them. "I don't even know why I'm reacting like this," I said as I stood up from my seat.
"Stay down Paige," Mr. Damon placed his hand on my shoulder and he gently pushed me down back to my seat. I didn't even feel scared at all, I guess he really has full control of himself.
"Are you alright?" Luhan worriedly asked as he handed his handkerchief to me.
I immediately took it and I wiped off my tears. Damn, why am I even crying?! "May you please leave us for a while?" Mr. Damon said.
The boys all stood up. "Don't let it get to you," Chanyeol whispered before he headed towards the door as well.
"You're staying here Sehun," Mr. Damon said sternly.
Sehun stepped away from the door and took the nearest seat. The boys all gave me a reassuring look before they left. Once the door shut, I suddenly felt myself choking on my own tears. This is crazy, Sehun and his father probably think that I'm insane right now.
For a moment I think Sehun looked really worried for me but I was too busy trying to stop myself from crying.
Mr. Damon took a seat right beside me and he faced Sehun who was currently sitting at the other end of the table. "Get over here," It's the first time I've seen Mr. Damon getting this serious.
Sehun stood up and took the seat that was in front of mine. "Young man, what do you have to say for yourself?" Mr. Damon began.
Sehun looked at him in confusion. "What?" he asked. It was like they had a staring contest for a short while until Sehun decided to give in. "Fine, I'm sorry"
I shook my head as I wiped off the last of my tears. "No need to apologize. I don't even know why I'm crying in the first place." I said as I forced out a laugh.
"I think I said hurtful words," Sehun began. "It was really insensitive of me to say those words, especially to you." he added.
"It's nothing," I shook my head. Who am I kidding? I actually cried and now I'm just going to shrug the whole thing off?
"You should be more honest Paige. It's just me and Sehun, don't hesitate to say what you want to say." Mr. Damon said.
Should I? But opening up to them would only mean trusting them even more. Trusting them even more would just show how dependent I would be on them.
"But sir... can't you read my mind? Or your sons? Why ask more questions?" my voice cracked.
Mr. Damon chuckled as he shook his head. "I don't know why but your thoughts are blocked from me. Also, whenever our family would gather like this, I'd tell them to block their thoughts before coming. It would be boring if we could all read each others' minds, what's the use of talking if we already know what to tell each other?" he said.
I slowly nodded. So that's why he still kept asking questions.
"Uncle blocked her thoughts. Ever since the time they had their encounter, uncle's been the only one that could read her thoughts." Sehun said.
"I see," Mr. Damon nodded. "But we aren't done yet, Paige still needs to talk."
I looked at Sehun one more time before taking a deep breath to muster up my courage to talk. I guess being honest to them wouldn't hurt. Heck I should have been numb to all kinds of hurt by now.
"It stings," I said. "When he said those words... it just hurt badly and I don't know why," I said.
I said a look of relief on Mr. Damon's face while Sehun just looked guiltier. "I didn't mean it that way, Paige. I just thought... you'd feel the same. Just thinking about everything I've done to you... it's driving me insane. I'm drowning with guilt. The least I could do is to keep myself away from you."
"Is that how you've always felt?" I asked.
"I said it because I thought that's what you wanted to hear," Sehun frowned. "Ever since I found out about everything, I've always known that what you want the most is your freedom."
"But it's not like it matters now. I've already been claimed,"
"And I'm sorry for that," Sehun said. "I wasn't in control of myself."
We suddenly heard a loud slam on the desk. "You're the same," Mr. Damon said as he clenched his fists. "You're both stubborn, insensitive, and dishonest!" he said as he looked at Sehun.
"You've said words that you shouldn't have and I can tell that you didn't mean them anyway. Stop being stupid." he told Sehun.
"And you," I stiffened when he looked at me. "You're saying that it's okay but you're crying like a kid." he said as he shook his head.
"Listen to me, after all that happened... can you both tell me or anyone else that it's all nothing? Can you both look me in the eye right now and tell me straight that all of this is nothing?" he asked.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. After all, I've been through I have always been able to make any sorts of defense mechanisms to shield how I really feel. Right now, I just don't know what to do anymore.
"I'm just confused," I looked at Sehun when he spoke.
"And so am I," I sighed.
"And you're both frustrating me so badly," Mr. Damon said. "I give up, you're both still young anyway." he raised his hands in defeat. Truth be told, I have no inkling of what he's talking about.
"I'm just sorry that I overreacted to what you said," I told Sehun. "I didn't know that I'd be this hurt when I heard it from you."
"I went overboard with what I said," Sehun said. "But I didn't mean it at all."
"Can you both just leave my office and call the rest?" Mr. Damon interrupted. "Goodness, you're both so stupid to not realize."
"Realize what?" Sehun and I asked in unison.
"Just get some fresh air or something. You're stressing me out."
Sehun and I gave each other confused looks before standing up and heading outside. Everyone approached us the moment we got out. "You okay?" Kyungsoo asked.
"Yeah, but I think your father isn't." I chuckled. "He wants to talk to all of you for a while." I told them.
So they headed inside the office and Sehun and I went to the lobby. We both sat at the sofa, he took the other end to make sure we had enough distance. Meanwhile I took some cushions and I placed it in between us.
"Is this really necessary?" he asked. I looked at him and he looked really amused for some reason.
"Better to be sure," I said. "It's all weird isn't it?" I asked him.
"Which is?" he asked.
"Everything is," I said. "I've been avoiding you for a whole week, you're powers are becoming unstable yet they made no hesitation to leave the two of us alone out here," I told him. "A while ago I was crying because of what you said yet here we are again, acting as if nothing happened"
"Well that's just us becoming more comfortable with each other," he answered. I raised my eyebrows at him. "Or not?"
"What do you think? I can't say since it's been a while since we last talked," I began. "But it's really weird that I'm already this comfortable with you despite what happened. I just can't stay mad at you." I smiled at him. "It's like you're working on your magic whenever you say sorry."
He looked away suddenly. "Magic huh?" he chuckled. "But do you think you know what father meant earlier? What exactly are we?" he asked.
What exactly are we? All this time I've only seen him as a demon that claimed me but is there anything else more than that? "Let's not put too much thought into it," I said.
I didn't even notice that I drifted off to sleep as I was waiting outside for the others. When I woke up, it was already dawn. It was still a bit dark outside, we arrived here at night. I guess we really did stay here. I looked beside me and I saw that Sehun wasn't there. I got up and I slowly peeked inside the president's office.
I saw that they were all asleep. It must have been uncomfortable for them to sleep in chairs. Mr. Damon wasn't inside though.
I quietly closed the door and I went back to the lobby. I saw a figure right outside. I've realized that it was Sehun, is he watching the sunrise? I knocked on the glass and I seem to have caught his attention.
He turned to me and he had a smile on his face.
I suddenly froze upon seeing him. It felt as if everything around me disappeared and he was the only one I'm seeing. I felt my heart pounding against my chest and I don't really hate the feeling at all.
I was snapped back to reality when he knocked on the glass too. Was I just standing here and staring this whole time? He was right in front of me, the glass was the only thing separating us. He mouthed something but I wasn't able to understand it.
"What?" I asked.
He made a gesture for me to get closer. I leaned against the glass and he did the same. "Want to see the sunrise with me?" I heard.
There it was again, I felt my heart beating fast. I moved away from the glass and I looked at him once again. He still had a pleasant smile on his face. He pointed to the glass door at the other end of the room and he made a gesture for me to go out.
I smiled back and I nodded. I went outside as well and I stood near him, but we still kept our distances.
"It's beautiful," I said in awe.
"Yeah," Sehun faced me and smiled again. "Beautiful."
I turned my attention back to the sunrise in front of us. I'm scared. I'm really scared right now. Not because I'm alone with him.
I'm scared because I think I'm starting to like him... this side of him.