96 Chapter 96: Will I find my Light?

'That was fast!'

But she couldn't fathom what made this guy fuming now! 

She turned her body to face him and tilted her head confusedly. She raised her eyebrows when she saw him march towards her. Her eyes followed his actions as he grabbed her arm gently and tugged her towards him.

Surprised by his actions, Hazel allowed him to pull her. But before she fell against his chest, something held her hand preventing her crash.

Hazel regained her balance and looked behind her to see Jinha holding her hand. Her eyes moved towards his face who was smiling at Usui calmly but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

Hazel swiftly turned her head towards Usui who was glaring at Jinha. But on sensing her gaze, Usui looked at her and smiled warmly.

Hazel pursed her lips but soon her face darkened when she heard voices around her. She raised her eyes towards the crowd gathered who shivered under her stare. 

"Oho! I guess we have some cleaning up to do."

The crowd gulped hearing her stern voice before dispersing instantly. Turning her attention towards both of them, she raised her hands which was each held by them and asked, "When do you guys plan on letting go?"

"I want to talk to you."

"Why, Princess? Do you hate holding my hand?"

Both of them answered simultaneously that Hazel looked at them strangely. Her eyebrows twitched when she thought of what others were viewing.

Two men fighting for a girl.. no wonder many eyes seem to love gossiping more than some studies.

Hazel exhaled before swinging their hands away. Usui looked at her with a pout while Jinha looked disheartened.

"Princess, do you abhor my touch?"

Usui swiftly raised his eyes towards him, warning him. But he lost it when he heard him say, "If you don't like holding hands, Princess you can hug me all you want."

Instantly, Usui grabbed his collar and slammed him against the wall. He snarled, "Mind your words."

Jinha raised his head and smirked, "Why, are you jealous that she likes it?"

Even though Usui knew that Jinha was trying to rile him up, he still gritted his teeth. He unsheathed his sword and pointed it at his neck, "One more word and I will slice your throat."

Jinha amusedly laughed. Did this lovesick prince think it was easy to kill him?

Suddenly a spear flew towards them and slammed against Usui who blocked it with his sword. Usui straightened up in shock as he watched Jinha dusting his clothes and gripping his spear which was flowing midair. 

Jinha irritated him, "I think you need more than that meek power to kill me."

"Why, you-"

Once and for all, we will decide who is the winner

But before their weapons clashed against each other, Hazel appeared in the middle and raised her hand, "Stop it" 

Both of them widened their eyes before they proceeded to stop their onslaught. Their weapons stopped right in front of her palm. They heaved a sigh when their eyes searched for injuries and found none.

Usui straightened his posture and scolded with his sword still pointing at Jinha, "You shouldn't jump in the middle of a fight like that, Hazel."

Jinha shook his head as he agreed with his words, "Princess, you were being careless."

Hazel's facial features twitched as she heard them utter their displeasures. 

'Oh, so it was okay for them to fight but not for me to intervene?'

Her eyes glared at them as she said slowly, "You guys have no grounds to scold me when you are acting like brats."

Jinha clutched his heart as he said, " My heart broke with your cruel words, my dear Princess"

Hazel rolled her eyes at him before turning to Usui who was pouting at her.

"Why are you here?"

Usui pursed his lips as he said, "I want to talk to you."

"Okay"

His eyes widened when he saw her folding her arms and tilting her head at him. 

'Did she think I wanted to talk in front of him?'

'Why is she so dense?'

Usui sheathed his sword back in his waist before grabbing her arm. Seeing her eyes widen, he muttered, "Come with me"

He dragged her away from the scoundrel into the cluster of trees surrounding them. Usui stopped when the trees fully covered them in darkness with a little light seeping through the leaves. Instantly he pushed her against the tree with him hovering over her.

Hazel flinched slightly when he slapped his arm beside her, caging her within his arms. She looked at his arms before looking at his golden eyes.

"Why were you standing too close to him?"

Her eyes widened at his absurd question, 'Wait, is this what he meant by talk?' 

But his following actions made her heart thump fast when he knocked his forehead against her and murmured, "Did you forget what I said that day?"

Hazel furrowed her brows as she asked, "What?"

"Didn't I ask you not to be too chummy with any men?"

Her eyes widened at her sudden realization. Her thoughts immediately spiraled towards that day. His demands filling her mind.

'Don't let any guys come near you. I'm a very possessive person.'

'I wouldn't be able to hold on to my promise if anything like that happens.'

She whipped her head towards his dark eyes. She didn't know why but she instinctively plastered herself to the tree.

Usui smirked as he moved his face closer to her, "Do you not want me to keep my promise?"

Hazel widened her eyes in horror. She wasn't ready. She wasn't ready to share.

Her unwillingness was written all over her face as she turned her head away from him and bit her lip. Usui sighed before he straightened up, "I was just kidding, Princess. I will wait for you."

Hazel looked into his gentle eyes which were full of doting love towards her. Her heart clenched when she realized how much he was doing for her and yet, here she wasn't even rejecting him by giving a truthful answer.

She closed her eyes in shame. She should have told him not to wait that day. She should have told him that it would be a definite no.

She looked into his eyes and was about to open her mouth when Usui clasped his hand over her lips. He looked into her emerald eyes and smiled sadly, "Don't say anything now. I don't want to hear it. I will wait regardless of what you have to say."

Hazel gaped at him as he slowly dropped his hand. He smiled at her before kissing her forehead.

He whispered, "Don't reject me, Freya."

Hazel's body shuddered when she heard his pleading voice. Should she be cruel?

Should she be heartless? 

She watched him as he moved backward and smiled at her, "Go back to your friend, Princess"

He didn't want her to stay here for another minute. He was afraid of whether she would trample his heart if she stayed another minute here. 

Seeing her stare at him blankly, he said, "See ya later, my dear Princess."

He turned his back on her as he proceeded to walk away from her.

'Quicker... walk faster, Usui.'

But her hollow sound was enough to stop him in his steps, "Wait"

.....

Hazel slowly walked back from the trees. She saw the light at the entrance and gazed at the lit ground. She stopped just before the light and looked at her feet which was shrouded in darkness. 

She looked in front of her and saw her shadow on the ground. It was watching her as if asking her to come out. She gazed at her shadow on the ground blankly as she remembered something in her memory. 

His soft voice which always made her feel safe said, " Wherever you go, your darkness can trap your mind. The only way to break free from the darkness is by finding your light, Freya."

She remembered his soft smile when she gazed at him confusedly. He rubbed her head and said, "Don't forget that ever, Freya." 

"But will I ever find my light?"

To that question, she only remembered him smiling at her and mouthing something unclear to her.

Hazel knitted her brows when her shadow disappeared from the ground. She gazed at the sky and noticed the sun hiding behind the clouds.

'Will I ever find my light?'

She shook her head as she made her way towards Jinha who was surrounded by girls. She looked at the time and noticed it was break time.

She watched as Jinha smiled at everyone as he cracked jokes making the girls giggle. Hazel walked towards them and stopped in front of them. She cleared her throat attracting their attention. 

The group of girls immediately surrounded Hazel as they squealed loudly.

Jinha rolled his eyes as he asked, "Not only do you steal the boys, now you want to steal the girls too?"

Hazel rolled her eyes at his overdramatic reaction. Suddenly they heard a yell from the trees making everyone turn to the direction except Hazel.

Jinha's eyes slowly shifted to Hazel who refused to look back and was clutching her dress. He sighed, 'When will she move on?'

He touched her shoulder alarming her. She looked up into his worried eyes and smiled stiffly. She grasped his hand and shook her head.

Jinha sighed before turning to look at the trees just in time to see a figure rushing out. He could feel the anger and agony oozing out from his frame as he walked faster away from them.

'Did she do something?'

He turned to look at Hazel who was watching him sadly. Her lips were lifted into a sad smile as she watched the figure disappear from the view.