CHAPTER 508: FEAR

Coco had never gotten into a fight when she was still Coco Coison.

She was always prim and proper, always going to school and going back home after school— she didn’t even experience going out to hang out with friends because she didn’t have one.

College life? She experienced it, but not to an extent where she would go out to party with her classmates and make friends.

She only goes out for projects, research, and meetings, but never to have fun.

She already has fun with her sisters, and sometimes with her mother, so she didn’t feel the need to look for friends.

However, what happened back at the guild’s lobby haunted her.

I beat a guy.. I beat him until he was bleeding and unrecognizable.. Coco’s thoughts were flooded with the images of the guy’s swelling and bleeding face, causing her heart to sink further.

Unlike what happened back in the forest outside of Yogusho Village when she just knocked out the people who tried to get into Alhai’s and Heiren’s pants, Coco had beaten someone until they were bleeding this time.

Coco is scared of authority.

She’s scared and a coward when it comes to rules— the thought of the consequences of breaking one of the laws sends shivers down her spine, the image of what could happen to her was enough to keep her in check.

It was supposed to be enough to keep her in check.

What.. What happened back there? Why did I lose my cool and laid my hands on someone weaker than me? Coco stared at her hands that were meticulously wrapped in bandages by Kairo.

"Coco.. Hey, hey, hey.. Look at me."

Heiren’s voice snapped Coco out of her thoughts, her eyes darting upwards to look at the mediator who went to his knees to be on Coco’s eye level.

"Everything will be alright, okay? Don’t look so glum." Heiren mumbled, the corner of his lips curling up in an attempt to lighten the woman’s feeling. "Besides, me and Kairo are fine because of you.. You don’t have to dwell on it anymore."

Heiren, Kairo, and Coco stayed in the guild rather than going home after what happened.

It was obvious to the mediators that Coco was scared to walk out of the building without knowing what will happen to her so instead of leaving, Kairo and Heiren talked to the guildmaster.

Mr. Covez lent them a room on the third floor of the guild where Coco could wait for the result of what she did.

In the meantime, she can spend her time recovering with the help of her mediators.

Unfortunately, Coco was so shaken up with what she did that Heiren and Kairo have no clue on what to do to help her— it was as if she was the victim, but knowing Coco, they knew that it was only because Coco couldn’t believe she did that.

"They.. They were right, Heiren." Coco mumbled, her shoulders sagging forward as her eyes became glossy with unshed tears. "I’m a monster—"

"No, Coco." The brown haired mediator was quick to cut her off, his eyebrows creasing together slightly. "Don’t ever say that about yourself, do you hear me? You’re far from the definition of that word."

"But.. But you saw what happened to that man, Heiren.." Coco mumbled, her voice sounding like a whimper. "He was bleeding.. And.. And he was having a hard time breathing.."

Heiren shook his head and caressed Coco’s cheeks, his face darkening with glum. "That bastard deserved it."

"But no one deserves to be treated that unfairly." Coco frowned as her eyes flattered shut, her tears finally rolling down her cheeks. "I knew that I’m stronger than him, but I didn’t stop beating him.."

Coco’s frown deepened when she recalled how the man tried to shake her off, but her grip on his hair was so tight that all he could do was accept all her powerful blows to his face until he was beaten black and blue, swelling and bleeding.

Recalling the man’s unmoving body, when she dropped him and made him hit the floor, flashed before Coco’s eyes, causing her throat to tighten.

"What.. What if I ended up killing him, Heiren?" Coco’s voice broke as she fought so hard to not cry before Heiren. "What if they fail to nurse him back to health? What should I do then?"

Different thoughts and scenarios swirled in Coco’s mind, her heart hammering in her chest, and then, finally, she broke down into sobs.

"What.. What if I get kicked out of the guild because of what I did?" Coco cried and grasped Heiren’s shirt with shaking hands. "What should I do? What am I going to do? I don’t know what to do.."

Coco felt Heiren’s hands slide down to her back and soon, she felt his arms wrap around her body, caging her between his arms and burying her in his embrace.

"Those things won’t happen." Heiren spoke up, his chest rumbling against Coco’s cheek.

Heiren stroke Coco’s back, his palm gliding up and down to offer some comfort. "I won’t let anything happen to you, Coco.. Trust me on that."

Coco could only bury her face on his chest, her shoulders shaking as she cried, soaking the mediator’s shirt with her tears and didn’t bother to think about it.

Heiren continued to rub Coco’s back, but unbeknownst to Coco, there was a crazed look in his eyes.

What is this feeling? Heiren wondered, his eyes blown wide as he looked down at Coco, watching her closely and observing the way she leaned on him while crying her heart out.

Then, the memory of Coco beating up the man who had touched him crossed his mind.

Whatever it is.. I just want to see Coco do it again. Heiren thought, the corner of his lips curling up in delight as he leaned down and pressed a kiss on Coco’s head.

The sight of Coco fighting for him made him happy for some reason.