When I came home, I already heard a couple of voices. Strangely, there were six voices inside. But not one voice sounded male. Not that it mattered. "Oh... So she ate already with friends. That's good." Ignoring the voices, I went to the living room where I literally lived for the time being.
I saw the computer that has yet to be set up that I received not too long ago. Though it was old, it was still good enough to be used to keep documents. Just not the important ones.
Unfortunately, I still didn't have permission to set up a computer yet or to add things. I threw away the thoughts of going on the internet for a while and went on my bed to practice qi training for a while. There were different ways to do qi training as Lucian transferred knowledge stated. I could lay down to do qi training but it is not as effective. But I was too tired to sit up and just wanted to sleep.
I laid myself down and prepares to close my eyes when a pair of hands grabbed my collar of my flowery button down shirt and pulls me upward. A pressure of softness mounted on my legs and a good perfume scent right in front of me.
"Eh? Who is this?" My eyes really felt tired. I didn't want to open them yet. "Hello?"
"Hello my ass! Do you know what time it is?" a familiar voice shouted.
I open my eyes to see a teary Meracle almost to the point of crying. She reeks of alcohol and spicy food.
I turn to read the clock behind her and it reads, "9:00 pm"
A smile ran across my face as I came to a conclusion why she was mad. "Uh... sorry?"
"You should be! We ate deadly spicy food!" The girl holding me was shaking me roughly.
I was strangely still smiling even though she was shaking me roughly. "Still want me to make food even though you ate?"
"... You better have a good excuse as to why you are so late. Or else a bullet is going down your head!" She pulls a gun out of no where and puts it at point blank range to my forehead. She sounds exactly like my mother except my mother holds a giant bamboo stick to whack my rear.
"... Today I met with an acquaintance whose house was about to be stolen because she was left with her boyfriend's debt and was about to be forced into prostitution" I summarized my morning.
Her rage instantly disappeared. "Oh... wow... is there anything else?"
"Hmm... I nearly got shot by an angry old man wielding a shot gun if that was something important." I continued. "Thankfully he was nice and did not shoot me. He reminds me of you. Except more bold and daring with real bullets"
"Oh my god. Are you okay?" She lets go checks my body to see if I'd sustained any damages. She even unbuttons my top shirt revealing my muscle-less torso.
"It's fine Meracle. I'm okay since no one today has used their hands yet. I don't get beat up everyday you know" I open my eyes and smirked. "But I would really like if you could get off me. This position is weird isn't it?" I used this chance to wrap my arms around her and pulled her close.
Meracle was stiff and could not say anything.
"Am I going to get lucky tonight?" I came nearer to whisper. Seeing that she was still blushing and still not moving, I came slowly forward to the corner of her lips and gave it a peck. I pull back and gave a warm smile.
Now... That was a mistake.
She instantly regained her senses and smacks the living daylight out of me just like how Mirana did in the morning.
"You wish!*HUMPH!*" Meracle threw me back down on the bed hard and then got off with a harrumph.
"*Sigh*.... Sorry... I was just playing around" I apologized to her for the crude attempt.
"*Cough* If you two are done playing around, I would like an explanation Meracle." A voice came from the entrance of the living room.
I turn to see who it was and the person standing there looked like Meracle but a few years older. Next to her was someone almost the same age but gave a more mature feel.
I turn back to Meracle and could guess who it could be. "Meracle. You never told me you had two beautiful older relatives"
"*Cough* She's my aunt. The one who just spoke. Her name is Aria. The one next to her is my sister and her name is Ophelia" She awkwardly explains. I was shocked to see that the aunt looked so young!
I quickly buttoned up my shirt. "Hi! Nice to meet-" I was about to say until I saw a grim face next to the aunt.
The side of my mouth twitched when I saw her. It was almost as if I was doing something wrong if I were to ask for their name.
"So. Your the man whom my niece told me about." A cold smile exuded from the aunt's lips.
"Y-yes? Is there a problem?" I really wanted to run but... where can I run?
"See... My niece next to me was supposed to introduce her boyfriend to my brother and sister in law today... But.. the man they got was the wrong person." The aunt walked swinging her seductive sexy gait towards me. She puts her hand and lifts my face to get a closer look. "Instead, I heard a mysterious man came in to shamelessly used their shower. Though he was nice enough to go around and fix things for the family, he did not even tell them his real name. Now, I came here to check up on my other niece and here she tells me she picked up a mysterious man, and his appearance almost fits the description given by my brother."
"Oh... Ah ha! Sorry about that. I really smelled bad when I went dumpster diving. I did repaid the family by fixing some of their broken things no?" I shamelessly said. Well, more like embarrassingly said. I did not hide a thing. What was there to hide?
"Mmm. But more over, now that my brother and sister in law knows that they got the wrong man, they are extremely angry. They thought you were Meracle's elder sister's boyfriend that was supposed to be introduced to them. When they found out that the real boyfriend was coming late, they were stupefied and crying. The real boyfriend did not even get a chance to introduce himself and was already sent away running with a shot gun thinking that he was some suspicious person by accident." She pinches my cheek.
"Heh... Then I must've been better than him if they sent him away that quick." I cautiously played out the cocky card. It was to test if she was like her brother who likes audacity.
Her face twisted into a fit and seemed really angry. She pulls back her hand and launches a powerful slap.
Seeing the slow movement of her hand, my eyes grew icy cold which was unusual for me. I pulled her slender arm with little force and her entire body flopped and twisted. She fell right on top of me with her back on my chest.
"I don't like violence. But we can get rough if you know what I mean" I whisper in her ears.
"Disgusting pig!" She screams and tries to turn and hit me. But she misses because I leaned back.
"Oi! I was just kidding! No need to get violent." I frowned as I dodge all of her hits. Was her entire family this violent? Can't wait to see the grand dad.
Seeing that all she did was futile, she got up and fixes herself. "*Humph!* Fine! I'll give you that you are nimble. But what are you going to do now? You just shattered a man's heart and his one chance to give a good impression of himself!"
"Hmmm.... I think this is half my fault. But based on common sense, if your so called niece wanted to introduce him, she would've brought him herself. But why did she not introduce him by bringing him along with her? If I had a girl, I would've brought her to my parent's house through the front door." I smiled. "Next time, bring the man with the girl. Who knows if the person could be a robber or a street thug right?"
The aunt flinched because she knew I was right. Which sane person would just a random man to come to be introduced as a boyfriend without the girlfriend?
"*Tch!* Don't get cocky! Just because you made one point, doesn't mean that you've made it up with Meracle's sister or her boyfriend." the aunt scowls.
"So. What do you suggest? An apology? Oh sure. THAT would make it up. Or maybe if I helped him give a good impression on Meracle's father and mother. But then again, I have no idea what type of person this 'boyfriend' is. He could be a wolf in sheep skin." I clearly state. If I learn one thing, that is to take an act all the way to the end. but above all else, put possibilities within the words conviction and sarcasm. Best way to deal with people like her.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
"Oh? Then what kind of person are you? How can you prove that you are better than Ophelia's boyfriend?" She sent a direct challenge at me.
I smiled coldly at her words. "Why do I have to prove it? The person who needs to prove things isn't me, but Ophelia and her boyfriend. Get the man to gather some balls to go forward when needed dammit! If he was a real man that cared about meeting Ophelia's parents, he would've tried to get there on time instead of being late!"
"What!? Why you!!!!!" Ophelia's face was deep red and charged at me with a slap. The aunt couldn't even stop her. I did not bother to dodge the hand anyhow. I took that slap with my face and screamed like a girl inside my heart. That girl hits hard!
"Girl, that was a love tap. Why don't you try harder next time. Maybe both you and I will feel something if you do." I coldly smirked.
This made her even angrier. Now she really was about to beat me down. She rolled up her sleeves and came at me.
Now... since I've been dealing with a boat load of manure the entire day, and still got more things to plan out, I did use a little force. I know that I'm a man and I should go easy on a girl. But there are times when I need to get rough.
The moment her fist was near me, I grabbed it and held it in place with a slight squeeze. "Calm down. I still haven't finished talking yet!" I snarled. This got Ophelia to calm down very quick even to the point of scaring her. "First of all I got a proposition to solve everything. Are you willing to hear it?"
Seeing the scared faces, it seemed like I got their attentions very well.
"*Sigh*... In seven days, all three of us will settle things. You will bring your boyfriend, Meracle will bring me, and your aunt can bring her face there too if she wants. We will have a 'family meeting' and get things settled with the identities. As for impressions, that is something the boyfriend can do himself" I said flatly. "I too will tell you people about myself. But until then! Each of us will prepare for that meeting. Agreed?"
"NO! This only benefits you!" Ophelia screams.
"Ophelia!" Meracle shouted.
"You stay out of it! You not only stuck up for that Jason man, you disrespected our father and mother! Now that you got dumped, you are willing to go with a stranger!? A hobo!? How could you lower your standards to such a level! You have no rights in this conversation!" Ophelia was out of her mind.
.... a hobo?
Lady! I was pretty successful believe it or not! I only died and got grave robbed...
"Ophelia! No matter how much of an older sister you are, you have no rights to reprimand your younger sister's foolishness." The aunts scolds her. But Ophelia was not listening. Ophelia snorted in discontent which snapped a vein in my head.
"..... Fine! But on three conditions" Ophelia points to me.
"Go on..." I cock my head to the side.
"Belphegor or whatever your name is. I don't care. But on the day of the meeting, and if you are able to prove that you are better than my boyfriend, then I am willing to make amends for my mistake." She slowly said each words. "But! If you are proven worse, then you will not only have to admit that you are a fraud, you will walk naked in the streets with a sign of being called a hobo down main street!"
Isn't that too far you *beep*!?
I saw the other three at the living room entrance listening intently. Mirana, Gisela, and Rosa, heard this winced. This was a bet that really goes too far.
"*Snort* How weak. How about we up that as well? If I am proven a better person than your boyfriend to your parents, you will do as I say for an entire week!" I smiled. "But if I lose, not only will I do as you've stated, I'll do it my whole life"
Seeing the determined face, I knew she was caught. She did not even hesitate to say, "Deal!"
She turns around and slams the door when she went out.
I turn to see that the aunt was glaring at me with deep red eyes.
"Hm? Want to make the same bet with me as well? I can go for any conditions you want" I really did try to provoke the lady. Why? Because she tried to hit me first.
"*Humph* Who'd want to bet with a hobo? I have my pride" she snorts.
"..... I was not a hobo to begin with lady. So I'd like if you would not call me that. Even the homeless and the nameless have an identity. They do not deserved to be slandered by stereotypical words created by conceited and wealthy people." I calmly said.
"*Humph* Who are you? Tell me if you can. I have not heard of your name once in the media. I have not heard of one accomplishment you've done. Don't talk about identity when you have yet to make a name." She just ignored my words.
Strangely, I was not even angry. I kept a calm look on my face and laughed inwardly.
The aunt left just as conceitedly as she acted just now.
Seeing the four stiffen girls, I felt bad. I've never shown a worse side than this today. "Sorry about that Meracle. Didn't want to show an ugly side after all this time. If you want to kick me out now, you can." I really did try to apologize to her. I got up and was about to walk out the door.
"Wait Jin!" She tugs at my shirt. "What is the real reason why you did that just now? I know you a little better now. So don't think your act can hide things from me like before" Her eyes leaked out tears. I was expecting her to be disgusted with me. But her eyes bore an mysterious understanding look.
'.... Dammit..... She must've seen me act before... Argh..... But that face..... Oh I hate myself....'
"I told you Meracle, the more you know, the more complicated things get. Just know that the ending that I am aiming for will make everyone happy" I smiled and rubbed her head.
"Everyone happy? Or is it everyone but you?" Rosa spoke up. After a long time, this was the first time she said anything.
I smiled towards her and said, "Everyone."
"Meracle. *Sigh* You are right. In truth, I wanted to use this chance to not only get to know your family, but to know more about you. Sorry if I did things a little forcefully without your consent. I just had to act this way because I have my own reasons. I won't ask you to trust me, but..." I sighed. I just can't lie in front of her tears at this moment but I held in the truths behind all my intentions.
"It's fine. Just prove it to me on the day of the family meeting. Just... Don't disappear within these next seven days" she smiled a heart breaking smile. One that could really shoot me and my act down.
I nodded my head. I hugged the crying girl in front of me and whispered, "I'll be back. I promise" and then I walked off without telling her where I would go. If I did, it would really break her heart. But to make sure things in life goes smoothly for both our sakes, I had to speed things up.
"Dammit.... I would never thought I'd have to speed things up so quickly" I cursed inwardly.
Lucian woke up a long time ago and watched the entire scene unfold. He saw and knew what Jin was thinking. What Jin was thinking was beyond what anyone would ever know. He was not thinking two or three steps ahead, he was thinking ten steps ahead. Everything went according to his plan more or less.
But Jin did not know that his current mental state was being affected by the cold qi released from his body. Lucian felt bad because he released such a state in order to keep Jin safe and what Jin was experiencing right now is the effects of the cracked seal.
“I’m so sorry Jin.” Lucian mutters. “I don’t want you to go back and kill people with those hands anymore. But you will surely need this cold qi where ever you are going now.”