3. What is Love?

"Don't come near me!" I shouted as I grabbed a pillow from the bed. Without hesitation, I threw it at Tiger and the female doctor with square glasses.

"Ella, give her a sedative," Tiger ordered, then turned to the two bodyguards. "Tie her up."

I jerked my body further back and did not end up getting off the bed. But ended up being squeezed into the corner. "No way! Leave me alone!"

"Don't! You all should get out! Miss Misya has a psychological disorder; we'd better give her some space."

"Right!" I moved, grabbing the pen and attacking Tiger with the sharp end. Tiger parried it easily. His smile widened, calm and provoking.

"Then, let us face this instability together."

I rolled my eyes as I continued to paint. This wasn't the response I was expecting. I started jumping on the bed again, crushing the pillow with my bare hands, ripping off the cover, then hugging the mattress. My screams filled the room.

"Enough! I don't want to live in this reality! I saw the reflection in the mirror, and it wasn't me!"

"Huh, so you haven't given up yet." Tiger leaned against the door frame, not at all shaken. "Okay. How about I assume you're finding a new version of yourself?"

I grabbed the loose powder and applied it to my face excessively until it resembled a mask.

"Look at me! I am a creature that you can't control! I don't deserve to live in this world! I should be dead! I am a living corpse! Bury me, bury me quickly!"

Tiger raised an eyebrow. "You're so dramatic, but it makes you look more attractive, honey."

"Let her be like that until she gets tired. If she becomes dangerous to herself, call me," Ella said as she glanced at her watch, "I still have a patient visit."

"Yes, go. I knew Auntie would be unreliable," Tiger said curtly.

"Come on, Tiger. How about you? You take your medicine regularly, right?" Ella said, busy preparing the medicine and packing the medical equipment into the bag.

"How could it not. My life depends on it," snapped Tiger, throwing his face away.                                                                                                                                                             

Tiger's footsteps were heard approaching. I almost slipped in surprise. The man was standing there, wearing a white shirt that he had now rolled up slowly to his elbows, spreading his strong arms. His gaze was penetrating.

"Okay, let's say you're not Misya, but that won't get you away from me," he said calmly. "Maybe because you're different, I want to keep you."

"Do you still like me?"

"You know, I've always been interested in everything about you. I need you."

"I am not the Arthemisya, you know. There will never be anyone like her again," I said.

"Just having you back alive is enough."

I was silent. Our eyes stared at each other passionately behind the panic, and I did not realize it. My heart was beating too fast, far from normal.

"Then what if I said that you could harm me?" I asked softly.

Tiger raised an eyebrow. "It's only going to make it harder for us."

Footsteps came closer, and his breathing was now clear. "If I leave now, I might never know who you are. And that is a loss I am not willing to bear."

I closed my eyes. "I am not a good woman."

"So, do you want to be the evil woman I adore?"

I was shocked. Those words were deep. It is too dangerous to be just a defense mechanism for Tiger.

Tiger touched my shoulder gently, then said, "You don't have to pretend. Even your craziness is very adorable in my eyes. There is another side to you that I didn't know about."

Tiger kissed the back of my hand. "My life and death are yours, Arthemisya. As are you."

Tiger's words are always hard to digest. He's full of mystery. Natural, considering he's a stranger to me. Looking back at the incident, Arthemisya said Tiger didn't love her like I thought.

What exactly is this man sick with? What medicine is he taking? I want to end the series of mysteries and focus on myself. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get away from Tiger immediately. In addition to having power, his strange behavior is something I should be wary of. Maybe I will die twice because I underestimated this matter. Therefore, I must be vigilant.

My palms rubbed my face in frustration. "My crazy phase is over. I'm going to take a shower."

"Let me get some hot water ready," Tiger said, passing me into the bathroom.

He came out five minutes later and invited me in.

My common sense was wiped out for the first time since that day. I didn't know what action could open a way out. However, I hated that I felt like I was winning the battle of life in other people's places. My body was buried deep in the ground.

Pensive enough in front of the mirror made the water runny.

The bath began to cool.

The towel slipped from my skin, revealing the body I saw clearly for the first time: smooth without flaws, radiant white. Suddenly, I remembered my hands and feet, which were covered in bruises.

I rubbed the steam-filled mirror. 

Arthemisya's beautiful face was reflected there. The lovely face that had once been the target of her envy was now my own. But strangely enough, I missed my old self so much. I even missed my name.

"Milky, what should you do now?!" I whispered in front of the mirror.

Daydreams immediately sucked up the subconscious, creating new waves in the brain that gave rise to the source of fear. From behind the frosted glass, my reflection stared. Her gaze was sharp, and I realized she was the soul of the real owner of the body, Arthemisya.

 "Get out of my body! I know you heard me! You don't know your place! Get out of my body!"

I screamed so hard it felt like my vocal cords would tear. There was a bang on the door, then a broad chest covered me as I crouched down, holding my head. Strong hands wrapped around this body, tightening with each passing moment.

"It's okay; I'm here," Tiger whispered. Listen, my Love, you'll never go through this alone."

Tiger's words and actions were so overwhelming that he became my new fear.

"Go away!" I shouted, pushing Tiger. "Leave me alone!"

"I know you're pretending to be crazy, but you're not okay."

Instead of moving away, Tiger carried me bridal style. With calm steps, he landed me in a giant water container. Tiger took off all his clothes, leaving them scattered. Great nervousness struck. My eyes tried hard not to pay attention to the completely naked Tiger sitting opposite. His broad chest and hard, square stomach aroused a surge of curiosity.

Tiger grabbed one of my arms, rubbing the soap bubbles on the skin. I closed my eyes, biting my lip as Tiger's touch went down to my chest, occasionally playing there. Ripple after ripple crawled across my body. My breath roared deliciously. Desire bubbled up, begging for release—to immediately fall into Tiger's arms.

Tiger's chuckle distracted me for a moment. "You're so funny," he said, splashing water on me.

A heavy sigh was forced out of me so I could control myself. "Tiger, why are you doing all this? Is it not because you love me?"

"Who said I don't love you?" Tiger tilted his head.

I swallowed. "So, how do you love me?"