𝑻𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅

                                    

                                          
   ON THE WAY TO THE PARK
Grace's POV 
The silence between us felt heavy as we walked through the park, and I couldn't help but feel the awkwardness settle in. Bright had been so intense lately, and now, sitting beside him, I could sense the tension. When we arrived, Bright turned to Win and Mick, reminding them not to wander too far. Their cheerful responses lightened the mood, and they dashed off to play with their friends.
I was grateful for the distraction, but it only highlighted the strange dynamic between Bright and me. As we wandered a little further, I spotted a bench and suggested we sit down. The moment we settled, the silence stretched between us again, and it felt even more embarrassing.
Finally, I decided to break the ice. "If you don't mind, may I ask you something?" I said, my voice a little shaky.
"Whatever you want, princess!" he replied, his tone unexpectedly soft. It caught me off guard and made my heart flutter.
"Why did you say that you love me?" I blurted out, wanting to know what he really felt. His smile widened, and I couldn't help but notice how it transformed his face.
"There are lots of things that I love about you," he replied, and I felt my cheeks heat up.
"Like what? And please, don't tell me that I'm a brave girl because I'm not anymore. I'm scared of a lot of things...like dogs, the dark, and I'm..." I started to ramble, but he cut me off.
"It's not the only thing I see in you, princess. We all are afraid of something, but that doesn't mean you aren't brave," he said, his voice steady and reassuring.
"So, what are you afraid of?" I asked, genuinely curious. I wondered what could possibly scare someone like him.
"Good question! But honestly, I don't know. I'm not scared of anything!" He said it with such pride, and I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Confident, you are!" I replied, a smile breaking through my nerves.
"Of course," he said, and we both laughed, the sound easing the tension.
 As Bright spoke, I felt a chill run down my spine. "Honestly, I've never been afraid for myself or my own life," he said, his voice steady. "As the Mafia King, a lot of people want to kill me. They never lose the opportunity to try, but I've never been afraid of dying."
His confidence was both intimidating and oddly comforting, but I couldn't help but wonder about the weight he carried. "Maybe you're not afraid for your own life but for others...your brothers, for example," I suggested, glancing down at my hands. The thought of him feeling responsible for them tugged at my heart.
"You're right! Three years ago, Win got in an accident and..." he began, but I interrupted, unable to hold back my curiosity.
"Three years ago? That means Win had his accident just after your parents died." As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt a wave of regret crash over me. I knew Angel had warned me not to bring up his parents, but it slipped out before I could stop it. Bright's eyes widened, and I held my breath.
"How did you know that?" His voice was louder than I expected, though not angry...more shocked.
I fumbled for words, feeling like I was digging a hole deeper by the second. "Uh, um..." I stammered. How could I explain without revealing that Angel had told me? "Angel told you that, am I right?" he probed further.
"May...be! But don't be mad at her, please!" I looked down, suddenly feeling small and guilty.
"Look at me," he said, his tone firm yet soft. I hesitated, my heart racing as I feared he might scold me. But he added, "Look at me, princess! Don't be afraid. Please, look at me!"