Chapter 7

Ruki

I woke up to Yuma and Kou arguing in my room. What are they doing here?! What time is it?

"You can't have her all to yourself plus Neko-chan likes me better!" Kou smirked.

Yuma snorted. "She wants nothing to do with you!"

"Um, guys?" I called out to them in a sheepish voice.

They both ignored me and kept arguing about me. I never had guys fight over me before but I knew they are only arguing because of my role as "Eve".

I still don't understand what is going on…

Before I knew it, Ruki appeared out of nowhere with a stern look on his face.

"Today Eve will be with me," Ruki stated bluntly.

"But, that's not fair!" Kou whined.

"I let you have her yesterday. It's my turn. Eve, come," Ruki ordered.

"Can I get dressed first?" I'm still in my nightgown.

Ruki sighed deeply at my little question. "Hurry up and meet me in the library. As for the two of you, leave at once," he said to his two brothers.

Yuma grunted before leaving while Kou pouted but he followed after Yuma…

Wow, they always listen to Ruki, huh?

I wanted to listen to Ruki too so I got out of my bed and threw on jean shorts with a light pink tank top. I then combed my brown hair, tied a pink ribbon around my hair to have a ponytail and put on a little bit of make-up.

I then went to the library to see Ruki already reading…

"Hello, livestock," he greeted in a low voice.

"Hello," I whispered.

I sat next to him at a table as he continued to read his book. I don't know what he wants me to do. Should I go to one of the bookshelves and pick out a book or wait for him to give me a book? I'm so confused and nervous. I don't understand.

"What's the matter?" He asked, not taking his eyes off of the book.

"Nothing…"

Ruki didn't bother to interact with me anymore and I just sat there like an idiot… I then tried to think about what to talk about.

"Oh! Hey, Ruki?"

"Hm?"

"We should form a book club!" I suggested with a huge grin on my face.

"None of my brothers would join. They aren't too fond of books," he sighed.

"Well, it can just be us two. We can pick a story every week and by the end of each week, we have to discuss it and pick a new story to read," I explained.

Ruki thought about it for a second and a small smile crept on his face. "That's not a bad idea but I have to pick all of the stories."

But we are supposed to pick them together…

"Um, okay," I whispered.

Ruki continued to read while I scanned the room. I wonder what Ruki wanted me here for?

After a little while, he finally closed the book and focused all of his attention on me…

"I suppose I shall tell you about my childhood since all of my brother's have told you theirs," he muttered.

"Ruki…"

"Do not interrupt me when I am speaking, alright?" He smirked before clearing his throat. "When I was much younger, I was born into a rich family. I was very spoiled since I was a member of the aristocracy. I would order the servants and maids around and treated them poorly, but karma bit me in the ass when my father who was managing a business became bankrupt. I knew nothing about this until I was woken up to all of the servants and maids stealing valuables in the house. I went to stop them, but they all banded together and beat me up."

He paused and I felt my heart pounding violently. I felt sad for Ruki… He says that karma has gotten him back but no one deserves that even if he wasn't a very friendly person…

"Anyways, the servants and maids mocked me how my own mother left me and my father for a secret lover and when I went to the garden to confront my father, I saw him, hanging there… After that, I stayed at our abandon home until I was found and kicked out. I wandered the street and all of the aristocrat families made fun of me and would beat me until I was taken into the orphanage. I was treated no differently because of my ignorance when I was a rich little boy."

I tried to process all of this but I couldn't. His own father took his life while his mother left Ruki for a secret lover… Poor Ruki.
"I did not tell you this story so you would pity me, Eve," he said bluntly.

"I don't pity you, I feel horrible…"

"That's pitying, livestock," he corrected.

I couldn't stop pitying him even if I wanted to. His story is so sad… I think in my opinion it's the worst one! All of the brothers have been through a lot… I couldn't imagine being in their shoes…

"So, about this book club… What were you thinking we should read?" He changed the subject.

"I thought you are going to pick all of the stories."

"I have read all of the stories and I want something different, so pick," he commanded.

"Okay…" My voice trailed.

Ruki and I stood up and looked through the bookshelves and I caught him smiling a couple of times, which made my heart flutter. I guess he uses books and different stories to escape his past.

I want to help him escape his past too!