Some stories start off like a fairytale.
Some start off mediocre.
Phoebe's started with tragedies.

A boy raised by wealth and power.
Became a man of danger. Death and destruction follow Taeyung’s every step.

People are fake.
But not her. 
Her fire, her spite, her beauty. It was a trap and he fell right in. 
Consmed by need.
He’d burn the world for her.
He’d tear down empires.
Rip through Earth.
He would have her or no one else would.

**********************************

I yanked my wrist free and snapped at him “Where are you dragging me?”
“You’ll see.”
He took hold of my hand again and pulled me along; I didn’t fight him this time and kept up with his pace this time. 
We reached the food court and sure enough the bitch and her little bitchettes were seated gossiping and licking each other’s asses not just sucking each other’s egos. 
As we approached, the group of girls stopped their chit chat and began staring at Taeyung, eyeing him up and down like he was a delicious, delectable treat. A pit of anger formed in my stomach, and I felt the sudden urge to deck the bitches in their faces, one right after the other.
“You thought you could just throw shit on my girl and get away with it?” He yelled in Korean, shoving their food and drinks off the table, sending their dishes flying, spilling the food all over themselves.
“What the hell Taeyung?” The leader of their little clique yelled, looking down at her very clearly expensive dress.
“Don't address me so informally.” He snapped loudly, the people in the room now looking at us.
That’s when the queen bee noticed Taeyung holding my hand. “Why are you holding that foreigner’s hand?” She looked at me with disgust.
“Bitch. Shut up with your nationalist bullshit.” I snapped ready to defend myself. But Taeyung stepped forward instead and said “You better watch the way you speak to her. Or I’ll make you regret it.” He threatened her. He looked angry, ready to jump down her throat and rip her tongue out. “I don’t typically hit women, but for you. I’d make an exemption.”
The girls looked at him shocked. 
I wasn’t, I’ve seen the violent side of him. I know how real it is.
Seeing him defend me like this. Protect me. It hit in a way I didn’t want to admit I liked.
I smiled starring her down. The frown on her face was so sour it nearly curled the milk in my tummy from the latte I drank this morning.
If looks could kill, the one she was giving me was lethal.
“How can you say something so cruel to me?” She whined to him.
Were they familiar with each other like that?
“You touch my girl again and I will personally beat your ass. I don’t care about gender; a bitch is a bitch.” I was stunned he threatened to hit a girl, again. 
I also surprised myself when I let him call me his girl without any resistance.
He turned and walked away, leaving them all baffled. 
“Why did you do that?” I asked.
“Because she’s a rotten little spoiled brat.” He growled. "And I'll be damned if I let her embarrass and harass my girl."

"Or running toward something." She looked me in my eyes, and in them I saw pain, but also a beautiful defiance.


They were so green. So deep. So daring. So enthralling. Like an enchanting forest. One I wouldn't hesitate to enjoy being lost in forever.


I couldn't look away; her gaze was holding me hostage. I was powerless against her eyes.


I surprised even myself when I said "How are your eyes really that green? They're like getting lost in a forest I never wanted to leave."


When she told me they were her mothers, I heard 'had'.


She is past tense, which means she doesn't have a mother anymore.


When I asked, what she said shook me to the core, she was so spicy. 'She stopped breathing' she said it so casually and like it was the most obvious thing in the world and I nearly died. I've never heard or seen anyone treat death like that before.


She laughed too, and things got lighter for a moment between us.


Chapter 31 - Gift