#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?”

#13

“Sucker,”

Chapter 5: His Wounds

“Well, you’re the only girl that actually made it on time,” Leon said

“I take that as a compliment!” I said as I shoved him on the shoulder.

“Hey, hey, no shoving the driver!” Leon said as he shoved me.

Leon parked his car, got out of the car and opened my door for me.

“Thank you,” I said and smiled at him. But when I saw his expression, I laughed out loud. I experienced a literal jaw-dropped look from a guy like Leon and let me tell you, it was hilarious. He quickly regained himself and took closed the car door behind me.

“Wow, you look… wow. I should kick myself at the ass for not noticing earlier,”

I blushed and looked at him; his blond tousled hair was wind swept and his wasabi eyes fixed onto mine. It felt like electricity, hot and painful at the moment. That is, of course, complete opposite from him.

I still could not believe myself for kissing him, seriously. I have no clue what happened to my body. It’s like it moved on its very own. But, what made me surprised was that he kissed me back and even embraced me, tightly to be matter of fact. I could still taste his lips upon mine and I wished I could keep that taste forever.

I shuffled uncomfortably from one foot to the other. The way Leon looked at me made me feel uncomfortable. Maybe it’s because no one has ever looked at me that way, ever. Maybe him, but I couldn’t tell.

“Hey, let’s get going,” I said.

Leon shook his head and held out his right hand.

“Shall I lead the way, my Lady?”

“Yes, you shall,” I laughed.

The decorators really out did themselves. Everything was magnificent, colorful, and beautiful under the starry night sky. The games are good too; in fact Leon won a cute little teddy bear, just for me. We went to a haunted house too, and I felt embarrassed holding onto Leon whenever the ‘ghost’ came out. Actually, the haunted house was his idea. Maybe his plan was for me to cling onto him. After all, boys are like that.

It was fun; we went to the tunnel of love next.

He weaved the through the crowd, fighting to catch up on them. He was disgusted at Leon for thinking up such ridiculous idea of how Morgan should cling onto him. She didn’t know he was just behind her, following her every step, keeping a close eye on her. He received a message from Redhead not too long ago.

I hate to say this but it’s urgent. Keep a close eye on the Jewel, thieves are nearby. They’re lurking everywhere.

He readied his guns and knives as he saw a couple of men weaving through the crowd like he is.

The Jewel.

Morgan.

He saw one of the men took out a gun and hid behind a stall. He saw the men aimed and he too then aimed.

“Sucker,”

A gun shot fired and he fell onto the ground.

“Shit!”

He shuffled towards an alley, a little girl saw him and he smiled while signaling her to keep quiet by placing his forefinger unto his lips. The young girl smiled and nodded and she too mimicked his actions. He got up, walked perfectly to the dying men and placed a small device on him and he took a few steps back. The device turned blue and started to squirt out a silver colored liquid which spread onto the men. As soon as the liquid touches the man, he started to turn into a liquid too; it’s kind of like an acid, only less painful.

He picked up the device and continued his pursue.

One down, two to go.

He saw Morgan and Leon went into the Tunnel of Love and he felt as though his heart has been wretched out from his chest.

His phone rang; it was a message from the Redhead.

Looks like Jewel is having a great time, total oblivious to the fact that you’re protecting her.

He growled and trusts his phone back into his pocket. No time to think about that must get the Jewel out of danger.

He whistled to the two men and he successfully caught their attentions. He waved his hand, signaling them to follow him. Thank goodness they were curious and as the matter of fact, they aren’t really a professional, by the looks of it.

He made them chase after him until he found a good spot, the car park, which was far from Morgan and yet big enough to cause a commotion without anyone noticing. To top it all, the car park was dark which his advantage was.

“Hey, you’re not Sig!” one of the men yelled to him.

Oh, so that dude’s name was Sig.

“Of course I’m not, I’m-”

Out of the blue, thug two punched him on the face. He grunted and took hold of thug two’s arm and flung him at thug one.

“You blardy bastard,” thug one said,

“You could have been killed!” his voice was old for a kid.

“Then shut up and kill him, we just lose sight of the Sight.”

“Funny,” he said as he wiped his blood from his cut lip.

Both men turned towards him.

“Funny how you guys actually gave funny nicknames to her,” he pulled his gloves down, to make it a little tighter.

“The least is that we didn’t give weird nicknames that don’t sound like it suits her,” thug number one said.

“Something like Red Rose? Sounds familiar doesn’t it?” thug two snickered.

He felt his blood boiled up.

They are provoking me.

He tried to cool himself down as he picked up a handful of sand.

“What kind of name is that!? It’s not like she has red hair or something,” thug one continued.

“And we, I repeat, we do not fall in love with someone as oblivious like her!”

That does it.

He flung his handful of sand at both the laughing men.

“What the-”

He was fast, in fact the fastest among his team. That was the reason why he was picked and the other reason why was because he was friends with her (in a way) since young. They chose him and he will not let them down. He rushed to thug one as thug one was regaining his eye sight.

“You’ll regret it,” his silk voice purred in the man’s ear.

He jumped, and planted his foot on the man’s face, a prefect landing on the man’s face too if he would say so himself. When he brought his foot up, he smelt blood.

Good, he has a broken nose and maybe a few broken teeth.

He knelt down the man and took a fistful of the man’s dirty shirt and brought the man closed to his face.

“Don’t you ever insult her. You hear me?” he whispered quietly and deadly to the man. He then punched the man on the face and took out the device. Thug two regained his eye sight and was walking towards him.

He heard thug two’s footstep, he knew thug two has regained his eyesight and all, but it doesn’t bother him. Thug two picked up a metal stick that was stuck onto the ground.

My lucky day, he thought as he begun to pull the metal stick out.

No, he doesn’t care, why should he? He’s perfectly safe.

“Don’t come any close,” he warned thug two.

“You’ll regret it like you friend here.”

Thug two didn’t care and charged at him, holding the stick up high. Without looking back, he let go of thug one, placed the device on him and took out his gun. Without looking back, he fired a bullet at thug two. Thug two stopped running and he fell onto his knees, his eyes budged out from his sockets as blood trickled down his forehead. He dropped the stick which landed on his head and finally, he fell onto the ground.

When the device was down with thug one, he took it and placed it on thug two.

“I warned you,” he said quietly.

“You didn’t listen,”

He put the device back into his pocket when it was finished, used his right foot to cover the blood with sand.

And with the right timing, his phone rang.

Jewel is on her way to the car, and as I still care for you, I suggest you to not look at what are the love birds doing.

It was the Redhead again. He heard voices and looked up. Since she haven seen his face before, he wasn’t that afraid of her seeing him now for what she saw maybe just be another guy that came for the carnival.

His heart once again was being squeezed by an invisible hand; it squeezed his heart so hard until he fell onto his knees while he was clutching his chest. What he saw has scarred his heart, causing a thin yet visible line onto his beating heart.

He saw them kissing, passionately to be exact.

I couldn’t help myself, I guess. But that is no excuse. I felt like I’m betraying someone yet when Leon’s lips were locked upon mine, I couldn’t think properly, all I could think was his lips. His soft, soft lips upon mine.

Leon managed to unlock the car with my lips still attached to him and he broke the kiss.

“Jesus, Morgan. You’re one hell of a kisser,” he said while catching his breath.

“Yeah? I didn’t know that.”

“Well, you do now.”

He drove me home in silent, I’m sure he is still thinking about the kiss as I still am too.

“Morgan, we’re here.” He broke my thoughts just as easily as he broke our kiss and my kiss with him.

I hesitated and gathered my strength and asked him in a soft voice.

“Care to come in for a drink?”

He off his car engine and opened the door as I opened mine. We went in and I asked him to be comfortable as I make us each a cup of coffee. Carefully carrying both the coffee to the living room, Leon got up and took one of it and set it down on the coffee table. He then sat on the couch, looking as though he’s in deep thought. I took a deep breath.

“Look, Leon-”

He looked up at me, causing me to once again think about the kiss. I blushed and he got up from the couch. He took my coffee mug from my hands and set it down onto the table next to his. He tilted my face up and he kissed me once again. I couldn’t help it but to placed my hand in his soft, soft hair. I felt his hands on my waist as he guided me to the couch.

“Leon…” I said as he sat me down on the couch.

“Leon, don’t you think it’s a bit to fast? I mean, we just went out one night and on the same night we’re kissing like nobody’s business!”

Leon looked puzzled and finally he nodded. He smiled a sheepish smiled as I smoothed my dress.

“Drink up the coffee,” I offered him.

“Do you live here alone?”

“My dad’s at work.”

“Up till now? But it’s late,”

“He’s like that.”
“Do you want me to stay with you until your dad comes home?”

“No, its okay, like you said, it’s late,”
“You trying to get rid of me, Morgan? Cause I warn you, I’m not that easy to get rid off,” he shoved me on the shoulder.

“Hey! Yes, I’m getting rid of you now because I’m tired.” I said and laughed.

“Walk me out?” he pleaded.

I followed him to the door and without warning, he pulled me towards him and again he kissed me, lightly this time.

“Goodnight kiss,”

I was stunned yet I still managed to muttered goodnight, closed the door, cleared the mugs, went to my room 

and wash up and I was in my pajamas when he arrived.

“I’m sure you had a wonderful time,” he uttered.

 I could feel his pain from where I was standing. He was at the window, facing outside and I was at the other end of the room, near my bed.

“Look, it’s not like that-”

“Save it, Red Rose.”

“But-”

He walked towards me and said softly, trying to control his anger, I think.

“Save it.”

I could feel him looking down at my lips.

“I could still taste you,” I whispered.

“After all the slobber he gave you? I highly doubt it.”

I was taken back. How dare he said that to me, I have a life too!

“Look, Red Ro-” he suddenly fell and I managed to catch him before he fell onto the floor. Even with his jacket on, I could still feel the heat coming out from his body and I realized he’s burning. He’s having a fever, a pretty bad one to be exact.

With much effort, I pulled him towards my bed. Took out his jacket without looking at his face which you might think I’m an idiot for not taking this opportunity to take a look at the face that has been there for me since young but the thing is, I’ve made a promised with him a long time ago and I intended to keep that promise. I placed his jacket onto a chair and rushed to the bathroom. I took a face towel, wet it with cold water and went back to him but not before closing the curtains so it could be dark. Therefore, I could not see how he looks like but I could see his outlined face. I wiped his face with much care when he suddenly gripped my hand. His glove felt soft and comfortable. I could hear him breathing rashly as he pulled me towards his mouth, maybe he wanted to tell me something yet he doesn’t have the strength to say it out loud.

Instead, he kissed me and he let go of me, falling into a deep sleep. I was shocked. Even though it was short, but the electricity I felt when our lips touched which is no way as good as Leon when he kissed me, even if it’s passionately.

I took off his boots, his gloves, and his shirt and placed them with his jacket. I smelt dried blood and I managed locate the blood and wiped it off with cold water. In fact, I wiped his entire body with cold water, so he could cool down. Finally, I placed a new face tower, wetted with cold water onto his forehead and sit on my study chair, drifting off to sleep.

He woke up just before the 5 in the morning. He cursed himself for not being able to take good care of his body yet he doesn’t feel as drowsy as before. He reached out to his forehead and took the face towel. He stood up, trying to locate his clothes and at that moment, he had a mini heart attack.

Did she take the opportunity to have a peek at his face?

That question wondered in his head for quite a while until he managed to come up with a logic explanation that she didn’t even dare to look at his face, not when he’s unconscious. He looked at his surrounding and saw the windows were shut tight, the lights were obviously weren’t on, the blinds were down and curtains were drawn. The bathroom’s lights weren’t on too. He let out a sigh of relive.

She would never, never betray his trust.

He looked around and tried to locate his Rose. He found her at the other end of the room, on the chair, shivering. He walked quietly towards her, put on his shirt and placed his jacket over Morgan. He then took the blanket from the bed and wrapped her around it.

He hesitated.

He then made up his mind, leaned down towards her and gave her a small peck on the lips.

“Thank you,”

With those words, he opened the windows and climbed out to the roof. He turned back and saw Morgan smiling in her sleep.

He too smiled.

#12

“You sound like a stalker.”

Chapter 4: His Concern

I woke up when I heard a thump.

“Shhh... go back to sleep,” I heard a voice said, not just any voice, but his voice. How can I go back to sleep when I felt him holding my hand?

“I can tell you’re not asleep but I would like to thank you for not opening your eyes,”

I can feel him kissed my forefinger and placed something sticky around it. He removed the rose I held on tightly.

“I’m sorry,” his voice croaked. “A token of forgiveness, I hope you’ll wear it at the carnival later,”

With that, I could not feel his presence any more. Thrusting my instincts, I opened my eyes and saw a stream of sunlight in my room. Underneath the sunlight rests a red parcel. I dived towards the parcel and I took a note out.

I’m sorry, please, forgive me. 

Consider that promise no longer one.

I set the note aside and opened the parcel. I gasped.

“Hey Morgan, it’s me, Leon.”

“Hey, Leon, wait. How’d you get my number?”

“From my resources,” his said, playfully.

“Oh, um, okay,”

“Look, pick you up at 6 later on? Just telling you in advance because I know how girls take a long time to dress up,”

“I see you’re very experienced, maybe you could tell me how long a girl takes to apply their eyeliner?” I teased.

“Oh hardy har har, I’m not THAT experienced, you know.”

“Would you like to know?”

“No way, you girls actually check how long you girls apply eyeliner!?”

“I was just kidding, honestly, I am not too sure myself, and after all, I rarely put makeup on.”

“I bet you believe in natural beauty, right?”

“You bet I do!”

“Well, I believe you look stunning without makeup on too,”

I blushed.

“Look, I’ve got to go, you know how long we tend to take, ha-ha.”

“See you later. Remember, at 6! I will be outside your house.”

“Wait, how’d you know where I stay?”

“Resources, remember?”

“You sound like a stalker,” I teased.

“A good looking one too, right?”

“Ha-ha. See you later?”

“Alright, bye.”

“Bye!”
“Don’t forget, 6 on the dot!”

“Buh-bye!”

I put the phone down and went to wash my face. He called me stunning! Even without make up on! Should I put some on? Or maybe I should just go without any make up.

“I suggest you put some on,” his voice said.

“Maybe a little,” I said, without looking out.

“I’m coming out,” I said and I walked out of the bathroom. I saw him sitting on the window, looking out. As usual, his back was facing me. I took the parcel he gave and went back into the bathroom, along with some of my cosmetics.

I closed the bathroom door and opened the parcel, I heard a thumped on the door and I faced towards the door.

“It’s just me, leaning on the door,” his voice called out.

I quickly took out the dress from the parcel. It was beautiful. Something I’m sure it can’t be bought anywhere and again, I was speechless. It was a red strapless sundress with a string of black sequences attached on it. It looked like a red rose was being outlined by the black sequences. I quickly put on the dress and applied eyeliner and lip gloss.

“I’m coming out,”

He quickly got up and ran to a shadowy corner. What he saw that came out from the bathroom door isn’t a girl that got picked on for so many times, no. Not the girl that has orange paint poured onto her jet black hair, no. But a beautiful young lady that just walked out of the bathroom, causing the room to shrink for it can’t compete with her beautifulness. She even made his knees feel weak just by her looking at him. True, she can’t see his face, thank goodness for that or she’ll experience a literal jaw-dropped look from a guy like him.

He congratulates himself quietly for the fact that he is able to get something that suits her. No, in fact, he should congratulate his neighbor whom was kind enough to sew such a magnificent thing and in such a hurry too. Then again, his neighbor was someone whom owes him tons of favors. He said a quiet thank you to her.

“So, how do I look?” Morgan asked the still shadow.

He blinked, grateful that she couldn’t see his sheepish expression.

“Breathless,” he said quietly.

She walked towards him and he could not do anything but to watch her.

She stood just a few inches away from his lips, placed her right hand upon his left cheek and slowly guild his face towards her; slowly guild his lips to hers.

She kissed him.

“Thank you,” she said and kissed him again.

He could not control his hands, but he wasn’t trying that hard anyway. He wrapped her in his arms and he didn’t want to let go of her, not now, not ever.

It felt magical, to both Morgan and him. No, not magical. Words can’t describe how it actually felt.

A car honk from below, breaking their moment. She broke their kiss and embrace. She cleared her throat and apologized.

She ran towards the door, opened and closed the door from outside, hoping he can’t see her blushed face. Unfortunately, he did and he was delighted. He stepped out of the shadow and took a piece of tissue from the bathroom, carefully wiped his lips. He then looked at the tissue; the color of her lip gloss was the color of a Sakura. A pale pink, yet noticeable color. Good choice of colors, he thought. He then climbed out of the window, jumped off from the roof and landed neatly on the ground below. He walked to an alley and he reached for his pocket, produced a set of keys and climbed onto his black motorbike.

I’m not stalking her; I’m just keeping her safe; keeping a good eye on her just in case.

He kept on repeating that to himself, lying in fact, to himself.

Truthfully, he was jealous. He wanted to bring her to the carnival, to have fun with her and not stalk her like some idiot. Maybe, be her boyfriend or something like that and not some sleek guard that is jealous of the life this Leon has. He gripped his motorbike handle tightly. Leon, why must he be part of her life now?

There I go again, being so unbelievable selfish.

He sighed.

He pressed on towards the carnival, not wanting to miss her in the crowd.