#14

“My name is…”

Chapter 6: His Name

When I woke up, I found myself wrapped with a blanket and his jacket. In fact, I even hugged his jacket and tried to fill myself with his scent. It feels great to wake up with his smell that filled up my nostrils. I quickly went to the shower and washed up; looking forward to what the future might bring to me.

What’s your plan today?

We’re back to the notes, huh?

Yeah, for the moment, Red Rose.

It feels nostalgic though, why can’t you just talk to me?

After all, you’re just behind me.

Well, I just feel like writing to you.

I giggled when I read his note.

Alright, so what shall we write to each other today?

It was quite a long time until he actually sighed and I felt him turned around. He pressed the piece of paper in my open hand and he shuffled back to his position earlier.

Tell me truth, Red Rose, not that I don’t trust you. But I need to hear you answer my question: did you look at me face?

I was quite shocked but he needs to hear the truth and the truth I intended to tell.

“No. I would not disrupt the promise I’ve made to you last time.” I said, out loud.

He then put his hand behind, signaling me to pass him and I did.

Thank you. Those words are like music to my ears. Thank you for taking care of me too.

Not a problem.

I apologize for being bitter about Leon.

Its okay, I guess.

I sense that there are many questions you’ll like me to answer.

In fact, there’s one.

Fire away.

Were you at the carnival yesterday?

It was like a bullet in the head.

Straight to the point.

She was honest to him, so why not he be honest to her?

After all, that way, it’ll be fair.

Right?

He hesitated.

Yes.

I gasped. I knew it. Through out the whole outing, I could feel his presence, from the beginning. At the game booths, at the haunted house, near the Tunnel of Love. But I stopped feeling his presence after the Tunnel of Love. Maybe he was mad or trying to give me privacy at that time. I could feel him took a deep breath.

Why’d you follow me?

I can’t leave you alone, it’s dangerous.

Honestly, the whole reason why he didn’t want to talk to her straight was that he was afraid he might slipped some information to her without thinking. True, he was highly trained to not do that but he suspected he’ll wash down his trainings and start blurting everything out, for her presence sometimes made him feel like doing it. Most of the time, he would bite his tongue to stopped telling everything out.

He couldn't even control himself to not kiss her let alone tell her information. It’s too early to tell her everything.

Why is it dangerous? And why can’t I feel you presence at times?

It’s too early to tell, Red Rose, for both your questions.

I was rather frustrated with his answer. There are steps; there are secrets which he keeps it to himself and not allowing me to know any of it. I got up and walked towards my bed, pulled back the cover and lay on my bed with a huff. I could hear him sighed and I heard his footsteps increasing.

“It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, it’s that I can’t not now, but maybe. Soon, I hope.”

“You won’t even let me see your face,” I said, my voice was being muffled by the pillow.

I felt the bed sunk in due to the new weight.

“A face like mine will bring you nightmares you never had,”

“That’s a total lie!”

“I assure you, at the first glance of my face, it’ll bring you Hell.”

“Something like Medusa, instead of turning the person into stone, you’ll show them Hell?”

He chuckled.

“And instead of being a female, I’m a male.”

He started smoothing my hair.

“Tell me, how old are you?”

“I'm just a year older than you.”
“Serious?”

He chuckled again.

“Always am, Red Rose.”

“What is your name?”

I could tell he is trying to consider telling me his name.

“My name is-”

His phone rang, which was indeed at a good timing. He couldn’t stop himself, again. His tongue moved on its own.

Maybe it’s best they cut my tongue out.

He saw her curled into a tight ball as he picked up his phone. It was the Redhead.

“Hey, baby cakes. They need you. They were bombarding me with questions of where were you last night. Honestly, they thought I’m like your keeper or something,”

Which you’re acting like one.

“So, they sent me to check up on you.”

“I was sick, fever.”

“You sick!? Unbelievable.”

“Well believe it.”

“Whatever,” her tone changed from a bubbly one to a grump tone.

“Come immediately, they need you. Statics report, you know the drill.”

“I’m on my way,” he said to the female voice and I heard his phone snapped shut. I curled myself up tighter and tighter as my tears was trickling down from my eyes. He has a girlfriend was all I could thought.

“Red Rose?”

“Go. Just go.”

“She’s not whom you think,”

“Just go,”

“She’s a colleague,”

I sniffed and I felt his arms around me. He pulled me up, carefully covering my eyes with one of his hand. I closed my eyes and wait to whatever is coming. He crushed my body with his and he gave me a tight hug. I buried my face in his shoulder blades as he calmed me down.

“I assure you, it’s nothing. She’s nobody.”

I trusted him, I really do. After all, I was positive he won’t ever lie to me, just dodge questions, but not lie.

His phone rang.

I heard him cursed which was the first time in my whole life.

“Go, but come back. Please?”

He let go of me while I starred at my shoes.

“Enjoy yourself; I might be able to come back until much later. But I always, always will be there when you need me.”

With those words, he jumped from the roof and left me standing alone in my room, staring at the open window. I jumped when my phone rang.

“Hey, Morgan, free to come have lunch with me?”

I turned back and stare at the window again, watching the birds sailing high in the wide blue sky.

“Let’s do something fun today,”

Stupid Redhead for disrupting the moment they had together. It felt cruel to him for parting him and his Rose. He could not helped but think what will she do later. The image of Leon rammed into his mind, causing his to lose control of his bike. He skidded on the road and managed to avoid a white van. He quickly took control of his bike and finally braked. He was breathing really hard, for he nearly hit the van. He cursed for the second time of the day and continued his journey the place where they are going to meet.

Upon arriving, he saw Miss Redhead in her red singlet and black tights, he red hair was tied up into a high pony tail and she signal him to go into the room. He was nervous and realized he left his jacket at Morgan’s house. Once again, he cursed.

“It’s not like you to curse.”
“Yeah? Well, I’m having one hell of a headache.”

He opened the white door, which revealed a couple of men.

“This way please,” one of the men said and guided him to a larger room.

“Through that door, they are waiting for you. Both of you,” the man eyes both him and Redhead and he doesn’t like it, not one bit.

He opened the door and it revealed a larger crystal table which was sited with many men in business like suits. The chandelier above moved silently from the breeze that was caused by the door. The chatter once alive died away when he entered the room, he felt utterly naked without his jacket on but what can he do?

“Ah, Vincent. Take a sit, will you?”