A Glimpse Into The Past
1229 Words
Melina was still shaken by what she had witnessed that morning. But to her surprise, Ruth remained eerily calm. He didn’t seem like an ordinary man. If he were, he should have been frightened—yet he wasn’t.
Even when the men came searching the house, Ruth showed no signs of cowardice. His composure made it clear that he had encountered similar situations before. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to handle them with such ease.
As she indulged in her thoughts, her curiosity about Ruth’s origins grew stronger. Unable to hold back, she blurted out, “If you don’t mind, can you tell me who you really are? You don’t seem like an ordinary man to me.”
Ruth, who had been leisurely sipping his tea, frowned slightly. Did she really see through me? I don’t think I did anything abnormal. Women's intuition is terrifying. I need to be more careful with my words around her. I must find a way to act like an ordinary young man.
Shaking his head, he replied, “I don’t mind telling you. But I doubt you’ll like what you hear.”
Melina pouted. “Come on, tell me. I won’t tease you or laugh at your story.”
After a brief hesitation, Ruth spoke, revealing a glimpse of his past.
“Well, I don’t know who my father is. All I know is that my mother brought me to this place, but she passed away when I was very young.”
“After she was gone, I had no one to rely on. I had to steal food just to survive. There were others like me, and competition was fierce.”
“I lost my share of food many times because I wasn’t strong enough to fight back. But I refused to give up. I wanted to find my father and seek justice for my mother. So I fought to survive, every single day.”
“Without an education, getting a proper job was impossible. But I managed to find work that paid well.”
Melina listened intently, not interrupting even once. Her attentiveness surprised Ruth—he could tell she genuinely wanted to understand him.
“I constantly found myself in difficult situations,” he continued. “But I had no right to complain. Survival was all that mattered. That’s why I don’t care about things that don’t affect me.”
Melina sighed. “You’ve suffered a lot. I shouldn’t have asked. I didn’t mean to bring back painful memories.”
Ruth shook his head. “It’s alright. I’m used to pain. Actually, sharing this with you made me feel lighter.”
“You’re too kind,” he added after a pause. “You should save your kindness for those who truly deserve it.”
Melina was touched by his words. Apart from her late brother, who had always pampered her, no one had ever shown her such care and concern. She knew her parents were too busy working to elevate the family's status.
A soft blush crept up her cheeks as she thanked him.
Ruth, feeling relieved that he had satisfied her curiosity, couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the sight. Without thinking, he blurted out, “You look beautiful.”
Melina’s blush deepened. Realizing what he had just said, Ruth was momentarily stunned. Did I really say that out loud? Yet, he couldn’t deny that he had wanted to say exactly that.
Their hearts pounded in unison as they gazed into each other’s eyes, lost in the moment. Time seemed to stand still. But then, the sky darkened, and a rumble of thunder jolted them back to reality.
Melina broke the silence. “Since childhood, I never received my parents’ love. My brother was the only one who cared for me, always protecting me. But after he passed away in an accident, I was left alone. If he were still here, I wouldn’t have to marry that scum.”
She paused before adding, “Then again, if not for that, I wouldn’t have met you. Maybe this is what people call fate. When you suggested I marry someone trustworthy, I realized—you were the best choice. That’s why I proposed to you.”
Ruth raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were joking. Who marries someone they’ve only known for a few days?”
Melina shook her head. “Then tell me—why did you protect me from those men the other day? You could have turned me in and earned a hefty reward.”
Ruth sighed. “True, I could have. But I didn’t. While I only care about myself, I was raised to respect others. My mother would never have forgiven me if I betrayed your trust. That’s why I protected you.”
Melina felt a strange sense of warmth. “You’re a kind person.”
Ruth chuckled, shaking his head. “Would you believe me if I told you I’m the cruelest man in the world?”
She scoffed. “I’d never believe such a ridiculous lie. How could someone like you—who risked himself to protect me—call himself cruel?”
Ruth sighed. “It’s getting late. We should leave before more of those bastards show up.”
Melina agreed. “You’re right. But where can we go? I can’t leave Y City. If I try to cross the border, they’ll catch me.”
Ruth pulled out a key. “I have a mansion near the city center. We can stay there for a while. But I still think you should return to your family.”
“Hmm… I’ll think about it.”
With that, they packed their belongings and left.
Ruth called a cab he was acquainted with, and they headed to Rose Colony. Upon arriving at the gate, a guard blocked their way.
“What’s your purpose for visiting this place?” The guard’s tone was laced with disdain.
Ruth remained unbothered. “The mansion in the far corner is mine. I’m here to stay.”
The guard frowned, eyeing him skeptically. “You? The owner of that mansion? Take your girlfriend somewhere else. This isn’t a place for people like you to bluff their way in.”
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Ruth pulled out his phone and made a call.
A sweet voice answered, “What can I do for you, sir?”
Ruth briefly explained the situation.
On the other end, the woman grew furious. Within minutes, she arrived at the gate.
The guards immediately recognized her—she had been seen at the mansion several times during patrols.
They stiffened and saluted her. “What brings you here, ma’am?”
Her eyes narrowed as she scolded them. “You’ve got guts. How dare you stop the owner of the mansion? I’ll be filing a complaint about your behavior.”
The guards trembled and quickly tried to apologize, but she ignored them. Turning to Ruth, she greeted him, “It’s nice to see you again, sir.”
However, when her gaze landed on Melina, she frowned. “Is she your girlfriend?”
Ruth shook his head. “She isn’t.” He sighed, brushing off the tension. “Enough of this. Just lead us to the mansion. I trust you’ve been taking good care of it?”
The woman, looking relieved, nodded and escorted them inside.
- Writer
