(FREYA'S POV).
I looked at Jason in disbelief. And he let out a long breath. Feeling guilty.
"Sorry, I was looking into you."
"WHAT?!"
I was getting shocked. Didn't know what to say. My mouth dropped open. Of all the things that had happened to me, this was the first time I heard someone secretly finding out about me.
"I know you think I'm crazyー"
"Yes, you are crazy!" I shouted.
And I was crazy too when I found out that there was a man who was looking into my life to the extent that Jason was. While he knows that I'm married. I don't even know the reason why he did that.
"Sorry, I just..."
"How far did you go to find out about me? For what?" I asked impatiently. My gaze was still focused on her. "I already have a husband. Are you ... are you crazy, Jason?" And that was all I could say to her.
As much as I thought about it, I still couldn't wrap my head around what she had done.
"I know this seems sudden, but I have feelings for you."
"No, no." I shook my head. "This is too crazy. I want to go out. That's enough. I don't want to hear anything more from you."
I rushed out of Jason's car with fear engulfing me. I didn't want to hear anything out of his mouth because right now I was attacked by panic. A shock that left me speechless.
I tried to walk as fast as I could when Jason got out of the car and ran, he caught my hand. Pulling me forcefully and bringing me to the edge of the sidewalk. There's no one there as it's a quiet street that rarely sees pedestrians.
"Freya, listen to me first."
"Don't touch me, Jason!" I shouted as I swatted his hand away.
"Okay, I won't do anything else. I'll raise my hand like this. So listen first," he said pleadingly. He looked at me with a helpless gaze.
I let out a long breath. Trying to remain calm.
"Talk from there. And explain in as much detail as possible," I insisted.
He seemed to gather her strength, staring at me, filtering something from his head that contained nothing. And I continued to watch him in trepidation. Perhaps, what he was about to say would shock me even more.
"I like you," he confessed.
It shocked me and took me by surprise. I never imagined I'd get a declaration of love from my husband's friend.
"I already have a husband, Jason."
"I know."
"And he's your best friend."
He paused. Then looked at me with annoyance.
"I don't care."
I swallowed hard at his crazy reply. Closing my eyes, I hoped this was just a dream. But when I looked back into his bluish eyes, I knew he wasn't joking.
"Why?" I asked helplessly.
"I don't know. It just came to me," he sighed. His brow furrowed. "At first I was just playing around with you. But I never thought that it would make me have feelings for you."
"Now I know why Devan always gets angry when I get close to you. Did you guys fight that night, before Devan left for Japan? He came home from work and asked if you were coming home to see me. And then he left. Came back with a wound on his face."
"Yes. And he's just a crazy bastard."
"You think you're not a crazy bastard?"
"At least I never hurt women," he says.
I looked at him with a furrowed brow, "I know he was rude to you, Freya. I know everything."
I stepped back. My eyes widened. I felt so scared of Jason. I didn't know what he already knew, but it made me feel a lot of anxiety. Fear, worry, and shame.
Something we had always kept a secret in public. I never thought that Jason already knew how bad my relationship with Devan was. Knowing that Devan never loved me and was always rude to me.
"Since when?" my voice shook as I asked him. I looked at him with widened eyes.
"Since the beginning."
"You bastard!" I pushed Jason's body roughly. "You're all assholes!" I shouted hysterically. I kept hitting him repeatedly but he just took it for granted. Until he grabbed both my hands, trying to make me calm down.
"I'm sorry, Freya. Even so, I didn't want to hurt you."
"Is it nice to see me looking like a fool? You knew that my relationship with Devan wasn't good, but you did it on purpose?" my voice trembled. Without realizing it, I was already crying. "Because of that incident at the restaurant. He locked me in the room like a pet dog. Do you know how I felt?"
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
I squealed, trying to break away as Jason suddenly hugged me tightly. I kept hitting him, but he just stayed still and kept tightening his embrace. I had no more energy to rebel or cry. All I could do was stand there like a fool. I didn't know what else to do.
"I was a jerk. I realize that. But, Freya ... I've never hurt the woman I love. I was honest when I said I liked you." He let go of the hug. Staring at me intensely.
I didn't blink as we looked at each other. I didn't know how to react.
"Knowing Devan doesn't love you and treats you badly, makes me want to protect you even more. I don't like seeing you hurt. My feelings for you make me want to get to know you more deeply even in my way."
I fell silent. Still crying. Still processing my messy brain and heart. My trembling hand gripped his arm. My eyes trembled as he looked at me with his bluish eyes that were like the ocean. Like a wave that smashed my feelings into a mess.
"Instead of staying with a man who doesn't love you at all, can't you let him go?" he asked, "there are men who love you sincerely. Can't you start a new relationship with me? I swear I'll take care of you and make you happy, Freya."
"No, no," I mumbled incoherently. Shaking my head repeatedly with my frantic thoughts.
"Freya..."
"W-wait... this is too sudden. This is too crazy... Jason, Iー"
"It's okay. I can wait. You don't have to give me your answer now. Besides, I need to prove to you that I love you. That I'm not messing around with my feelings."