Rebirth: 100 Days Before Doomsday - Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Friends With Benefits

“Is this about your boyfriends?”

The word ‘boyfriends’ hit Grace with an unseen force, leaving her completely stunned and frozen while she stared at Rune in confusion. “B-boyfriends?” She mustered out when she was finally able to form the word.

“Right, boyfriends. One from twenty-second floor and other one from twentieth floor. Are you worried about how you are going to explain about us to them?”

The way Rune talked, it seemed like he was so sure of what he was saying. On the other hand, Grace was way too stunned to even react properly.

What is he talking about? She found herself wondering while she continued to stand there like a statue while her deep green eyes were fixed on the devilishly handsome face of the man with whom she just spent an extremely intense night.

“Are you surpised because I know about them?” Rune asked as he tilted his head to the left and looked at her with a soft expression in his eyes. “If I have to be honest, you guys aren’t really doing a great job at keeping your relationship a secret. I’m sure everyone living on these top three floors already know what going on between the three of you-”

“There’s nothing going on between the three of us.” Grace was finally able to pull herself together and decided to put a full stop on Rune’s misunderstanding before things could go out of control.

He was clearly surpised by her statement, but didn’t look the least bit convinced which made Grace let out a deep sigh. She locked her gaze on his as she spoke, “I think you are talking about Davian and Dr. Kian. So let me correct you, the two of them aren’t my… boyfriends.”

“Then…” Rune appeared thoughtful, as if he was searching for the right word. A moment later, he continued, “… are you guys friends with benefits?”

Grace opened her mouth but hardly any word came out as she was completely overtaken by shock. Her gaze turned colder as she stared at the man who was spouting absolute nonsense for some reason.

“They are my friends. Only friends. Can you stop putting any other label on my relationship with them?” She asked, not hiding that she wasn’t the least bit pleased with him.

Instead of backing down, he actually snaked one of his arms around her waist and pulled her against him, causing a small gasp of surprise to escape past her lips. Staring down into her beautiful eyes, he spoke, “Why do you keep denying the truth, Ms. Blackwood? Why make yourself believe a lie?”

Grace stared at him, listening to his twisted questions. She would have loved to say that she didn’t understand what he was trying to say, but she knew that it would be a lie.

She watched as he raised his other hand and used it to cup her face as he continued speaking – “Stop surrounding yourself with lies. Stop denying yourself what you really want. And most importantly… stop pushing away people who really wants to be there for you.”

She wanted to ask if he was talking about himself too, but couldn’t make herself do it, knowing fully well that things wouldn’t be same after she would learn his answer.

She took in a deep breath and finally replied, “You don’t understand, Rune. Everything isn’t as easy as you think.”

“Things aren’t easy because you are trying to make them complicated. Stop running and you will see that nothing is that hard.” He immediately contradicted her.

“I can handle my own business. You don’t have to worry.” She said, trying to end the topic that was making her feel uncomfortable because of how well he seemed to understand her and her insecurities.

Instead of stopping like she wanted, Rune asked a question that took her breath away. “And what if I want to become your business as well?”

Grace started shaking her head, ready to pull out of his hold, but he didn’t allow her. “Let me speak first.” He requested and she found herself allowing it with a small nod of her head.

She knew that it was a huge mistake the moment he started speaking. But it was already too late.

He took in a deep breath and allowed his hand to slip from her cheek only to take hold of one of her hands. “There’s a lot that I need to tell you. Let’s start with how our first meeting wasn’t just a coincidence.”

“I know.” She replied, surpising him in the process. “Everything seemed way too coincidental. I have been having my doubts for a while.”

“Why didn’t you confront me then?” He asked, clearly surpised by her admission.

Letting out a sigh, she admitted truthfully, “I have a lot of other important matters to handle. The last thing I wanted was to waste my time worrying about why a twenty-two year old boy was trying to insert himself in my life. I changed my mind when I found out about the ring and your powers, I just didn’t know how to approach you. So I decided to wait for you to act first.”

A smile made its way to his lips once Rune realized that he wasn’t always as much in control as he believed. “I shouldn’t have taken you lightly. My fault.” He accepted his shortcoming without any issue.

Pulling his arm away from her waist, he started leading her toward the living area. He settled down on the big couch and pulled her to sit next to him. Once they were seated, he turned to face her fully while still kept holding her hand.

“That accident was something I planned. I wanted to catch your attention. I then rented this apartment here when I found out about you doing the same. Every time I tried to approach you, it was all planned.” He confessed while looking straight into her eyes.

Grace stared at him, taking in his confessions. “Why did you do that?”