ILLUSION

Chapter-3

"You people think highly of yourselves, but unfortunately, your human capacity won't save you right now." At that moment, all the streetlights went out at once, and everyone around me froze.

When I turned around, I saw a truck coming towards me. Just as the truck was about to hit me,

"Should I stop this?" he asked, while I stared at the truck in fear and shock.

"Do you want to die?"

I closed my eyes. As the truck got closer, its speed slowed; it seemed like it was in slow motion. "N...no, stop."

"Why would I?"

Suddenly, everything returned to normal speed, and he quickly pulled me off the road, while the truck crashed into the wall.

Everyone had gathered around the truck.

The man's hand was still in mine, and he stared at me with empty eyes. I immediately pulled my hand away and ran towards the truck.

No, the man was seriously injured. "Why didn't you save him, too?" I whispered, looking at him. He was far from the crowd, and his gaze was quite cold, as if he were used to these scenes.

He came right up to me, grabbed my arm, and dragged me away. "Why didn't you help him? Why did you let him get hurt?" I yelled, holding my arm tightly and dragging me along.

Suddenly, he stopped and angrily, confidently said, "Do I look like a hero from where you're standing?!"

I recoiled and glared at him with hatred. "Then why did you protect me?"

He smirked irritably. "Did you think saving you wouldn't cost you anything?"

"W...what do you mean?"

"Will you be quiet?" he said, glancing sideways.

This man was so irritating. What I didn't understand was what the price of saving me was?

He walked towards a black car and got in. Suddenly, the other door opened by itself, and he called out to me, "Get in!"

I got in, and we set off. A few minutes later, we were in front of my apartment.

I looked at him before getting out of the car. "Thank you..." I got out and closed the door.

He shook his head coldly. "Merry Christmas," he said from the window.

Before I could reply, he sped away, and I went inside my house. I changed my clothes and threw myself onto the couch.

I turned on a fantasy series on TV and started watching it. I was doing this to figure out what happened today. At the end of the series, these characters would definitely fall in love with each other, but nothing can happen between me and that heartless jerk. The thought alone sends shivers down my spine.

I'd fallen asleep on the couch last night, and today, December 31st, was New Year's Eve. My coworkers planned a party for today, and I was getting ready to go. I put on a burgundy dress and left the house looking my best.

When I got outside, his car was waiting for me. I looked surprised, and he called out from the window, "What are you looking at? Get in!"

I got in. "Why are you here?"

"I came to drop you off."

"But why? I didn't call you..."

"I came because you'd need me," he said, adjusting his seatbelt and applying the brakes.

"I don't like you showing up everywhere like this."

"I don't particularly enjoy seeing you, but it's my mission," he whispered the last sentence.

"Mission?" I said, narrowing my eyes.

"Hmm," he murmured, his eyes still on the road.

"I was supposed to go to the doctor today," I said, putting my hand to my forehead.

He slammed on the brakes, stopped the car, and immediately got out. He walked to the side of the road. There was an injured cat on the roadside.

I got out of the car, too. "We need to take it to the vet," I said, approaching.

"It's too late," he murmured. "Again."

He stroked the cat's head.

At that moment, I could clearly see the sadness in his eyes.

I unconsciously placed my hand on his shoulder, supposedly to comfort him. But he immediately pulled his shoulder away and stood up, as if he wasn't the same man who had just been teary-eyed.

"Come on, get in the car," he said without looking at me.

We were both silent the whole way, and finally we arrived at the venue where the party was being held. He got out of the car and opened my door.

I only really paid attention to how he looked at that moment. He was wearing a brown sweater, black pants, and a black coat, and he had distinct and sharp facial features.

Suddenly, he said, "I know."

Then he took my hand and helped me get out.

"Stop reading my mind," I said angrily.

"If I were you, I wouldn't talk like that to a guy I'm pretending to be in a relationship with, even if it's just for show." We were walking towards the lounge.

"We're not going to pretend to be in a relationship, just act like my friend."

"That doesn't seem possible," the man said, looking at my girl coworkers.

The girls were looking at him, talking about something, and laughing.

"Look, maybe the love of your life is here," I said, giggling.

He placed his hand on my waist. This sent shivers down my spine. We entered the lounge.

Everyone was looking at us.

Lucy nudged my arm and asked, "Who is this handsome guy?"

I got excited and said, "Um... well..."

"I'm her boyfriend," he said, smiling. It was the first time I'd ever seen him smile.

Throughout the night, he was bombarded with questions, and he was acting so well that he even convinced me of this lie about being in a relationship. Honestly, I couldn't take my eyes off him.

"Let's go now," he said casually to my colleagues.

And he took my hand, continuing the act until we left the place and got into the car.

"What are you thinking?" he asked, looking at me.

"You acted pretty well all night," I said, a little annoyed. His being so relaxed was starting to get on my nerves.

As I said this, his attention suddenly shifted. His body went tense. I immediately turned around and looked in the direction he was looking...

That i***t Reynolds was standing there, glaring. It was as if he were waiting for us...

My chest tightened—not because he was angry,

but because I suddenly understood something.

He wasn't looking at me.

He was looking at him.