Y/N's PoV

As we pulled the car into the parking area, Tae got out of the car, rushing towards passenger's side to open the door for me.

Such a gentleman!

"Thanks." I said as I hopped out of the car, holding his hand.

"My pleasure." He winked cheekily making me roll my eyes.

"Are you hungry?" He asked.

"A little, yes." I replied as we walked through the large doors of the shopping mall.

"Good, because I'm starving." He whinned cutely like a baby making me giggle.

"What do you want to eat?" I asked smiling, as we made our way into the food court.

"You—" He said smugly making me shot a glare at him "B-But besides that, I want to eat Hamburger. What do you want to eat?"

"Same goes for me."

We took a seat far from the crowd, near the large glass window, so that we can enjoy the outside view as well.

"I am gonna go order for us. You'll be fine alone, yeah?" He asked standing up, looking in my eyes, his eyes filled with concern as if I'm a 5 year old  little kid he's leaving behind.

"Of course tae. I am not kid." I retorted, rolling my eyes but internally got touched by his concern.

"Oh yeah? You're a kid. Well at least to me, you are." He said grinning "I'll be right back." And I nodded before he walked away. I was scrolling my phone until a familiar unpleasant voice interuppted me.

"Well well, look who's here?!"

My eyes snapped to the direction from which the voice came and immediately met Ryu's dark green orbs.

"Ryu?!" I yelped in shock.

"Didn't expect to see you too." He said chuckling evily, as he pulled out one of the chair and sat.

"I didn't invite you to join us." I snarled, my face already fuming due to his improper mannerism.

"But darling, you don't need to. We're family." He winked making me roll my eyes in disgust.

"We are not family." I snapped, my blood boiling through my veins. All I wanted to do right now, was to punch him on the face. His mere presence around me makes me feel sick.

"Now now, my little sister knows how to talk back, doesn't she?" He blurted, grinning devilishly to himself.

"Ryu, Leave." I warned, trying my best to calm my composure.

"I am not here to leave, you know." He said coldly, his face as cold as his voice, his cruel lifeless eyes piercing right through my soul.

My breath got hitched in the back of my throat as this is the Ryu I'm scared of the most. And no matter how much time passes, that fear, that trauma wouldn't really leave me, my side.

And it hit me just now.

"Ryu please—" I said shakily, reminiscing all the bad deeds he had done to me, the scars of the trauma surfaced as if I was thrown to that hell once again.

"Listen , did you really think I'd just let it slide after you and your good-for-nothing boyfriend sent me to prison? Do you realize how much dad is pissed off?"

"I—I"

"I ain't done talking. Speak when you're told to, okay?" He raised his voice, grabbing my one hand and pressing it tightly.

"O—Okay." I said in low voice as tears made its way from my eyes. My breathing pattern was uneven and it felt like oxygen was knocked out of my lungs.

"How are you gonna pay for all the trouble I got into, huh? May be it's time to have some heart to heart  conversation with your boyfriend." He smiled evily, my eyes darted from floor towards him, widening in utter shock before I shook my head.

"Ryu, please. Don't involve tae into this. It's not his fault."

"Ohh but it is. It is his fault, my love. He ruined my reputation, our— my dad's reputation. How do you think I'm gonna make him repay? Any suggestions?" At this point I was crying, my tears were dripping nonstop but he being the cruel heartless devil he is, could care less.

"You have got problem with me, then deal with me. Alone. Tae has no part in all of this. Don't you dare hurt him." I yelled, slamming my hands on the table, earning few glances from people sitting around us.

"Oh you dare shout at me—" He raised his hand in anger to slap me,

"I think I already made myself clear last time, don't you dare lay your filthy finger on y/n. I don't like to say things twice." Tae spoke in firm tone, while grabbing his arm before it hit me, yanking it away harshly that it hit the table, making Ryu hiss in pain.

"So here comes the prince charming. 'knight in shining armour' of Ms. Lee Y/n. I was wondering when would I finally have the honor of meeting you." Ryu taunted, pulling his signature devilish grin makimg Tae scoff in disgust.

"Enough of that bull, Ryu. Leave while you can still walk. Don't test my patience." Tae warned, looking into his eyes, threathing him to back off.

"I am not scared of you, Kim taehyung. The fight is long overdue, anyway. Let's get over with it." Ryu challenged, folding up his shirt sleeves.

"Too bad, Ryu. Lucky for you, I am not in the mood today. I am on date with my girlfriend. But tell me, how would you look yourself in the mirror after getting beaten up by me, once again?" Tae chuckled, as he sat right next to me, pulling me closer, his arm around my waist. This warm body instantly calming my senses.

And I breathed out the air that was choked in my lungs. I took 2-3 deep breaths to calm myself, tae grabbed my hands and rubbed them softly.

"It's okay baby, I'm right here." He assured giving me a promising smile.

"You're too confident, taehyung. In fact, over-confident, I must admit. You never know it might be you beaten up to death, instead of me. " Ryu chuckled as his eyes fell upon me.

I gasped the moment he spoke that word, utterly horrified, my eyes tearing up once again, my whole body and soul shaking violently as I closed my eyes, trying my best not to show how I'm just a few seconds away from breaking down. Completely.

"We never really know, Ryu. It's best for you to leave. Khyati wouldn't be h